About the ZoëBakes x DeLaurent Apron

About DeLaurent

The story of DeLaurent (a family name) was 23 years in the making. My name is Henri, I’m 23 and I grew up in my mom’s kitchen watching her bake. She’s a pastry chef, but she took a break from professional kitchens to raise my brother, Charlie, and me, and she worked from her home kitchen. This break was arguably the best idea she's ever had because it set her off on a new direction in her career and she got to be home with us.

I'm not sure how it started, I was 5, but at some point she started a blog about what she was baking. Next came books, then Instagram and a whole world of ZoëBakes creations followed. I’ve watched as my mom does what she loves in the kitchen. She looks like she’s having so much fun, it never looks like work, and it brings me as much joy to watch, as it does to eat what she bakes. My mom made me realize that you can love your work and spend your life enjoying your passion. She seems to transform the anxiety of the world into something beautiful through her baking. To me, she is a superhero, and her superpower is creating happiness. For herself and other people, including me. At the end of the day that is what baking is all about.

About the Apron

My mom’s apron is more than just a piece of cloth for utility, although, it is that too. It’s her cape. When you put on your apron, it has to be comfortable and allow for all the movement in the kitchen. This is often called the “dance” in a professional kitchen. For my mom it is literally a dance. She ALWAYS has music playing. That’s why she likes a cafe-style apron made of super soft linen—so she can move freely.

Before we designed our own, she would fold, cut or otherwise modify the aprons she bought to suit the way she bakes. We designed the apron to fit anybody and every body. My mom is a messy baker (her words, not mine), so she wanted it to wrap around as much as possible, so her clothes underneath aren’t dusted with flour or have hand prints of cocoa (true story). Once my mom decided what her perfect apron looked like, my grandma, who was visiting at the time, helped me create the first prototype. From there a family business was born.

Keeping it Local

When we were making DeLaurent the idea wasn't just to make an apron, it was to make a reminder of what you’re capable of and the love and happiness you can spread. With that in mind we cut no corners and took no shortcuts. It was important to us to find a local maker who would not only put the care and effort into making something beautiful and long lasting, but also shared our passion for spreading love. We found that vision in a local manufacturer who also repairs old denim items so people can keep wearing the jeans they feel great in. Their business also has a value system of treating their employees with value and respect. That’s a must for us.

Giving Back

DeLaurent became my way of helping my mom spread joy but we wanted to contribute in another way. World Central Kitchen is an organization my mother and I love because their mission, a lot like ours, is spreading happiness and peace of mind through food. WCK goes to areas struck by disaster to set up kitchens to feed people in need of food and clean water. $5 from every apron sold goes directly to this organization and helping the effort to feed people in need.