Bags of Calm, designed by an Autistic Mum
It all started with a couple of supermarket shopping bags, a pair of scissors, and a desperate need to feel in control.
When I created an organising system using pods for my baby bag, it wasn’t just about tidiness—it was survival. Suddenly, I felt braver venturing out of the house, more confident in the chaos of new motherhood. At least now, I looked like I had my s*** together.
Because let’s be honest—those early days are terrifying. A newborn with no instruction manual, an overwhelming amount of kit, raging hormones, and exhaustion like nothing I’d ever known. But when I’m organised, I feel in control. And when I feel in control, I feel calmer.
That little system changed everything for me. I went from an anxious, overwhelmed new mum to a mumpreneur who could work from home while raising my kids. I scraped together just enough money to create samples and show them to potential buyers. And then, PacaPod took its first steps.
It was an instant hit with my fellow mums (which was my real test). John Lewis snapped it up. Then Dragons' Den. Soon, our bags were selling in stores around the world. They weren’t the cheapest, but they were made to last—designed with care and a strong commitment to sustainability.
Since 2008, PacaPod has been helping parents feel more peaceful and in control with its organising system.
Then came Covid. Lockdowns. Isolation. It reminded me of those early baby days—stuck at home, in pajamas, torn between cherishing time with my children and battling loneliness. And as a single mum to two teenage daughters, there were challenges. Something had to change.
I learned a lot about my kids, my business, and myself. My team’s needs shifted too—no one wanted to go back to rigid office life. We wanted freedom. Flexibility. A way to blend work and play in the same day.
So, my new routine became bike rides to yoga, coffee and laptop time in a café (with cake—hence the biking), dog walks with friends, a quick dip in the sea, or an impromptu train ride for a meeting in the city. I realized I needed a bag that worked for this new way of living—a bag that could adapt to whatever the day demanded.
I ran a survey, and I wasn’t alone. The response was overwhelming: people needed a bag that simplified life, just like PacaPod had done for parents.
So, out came the sticky tape and shopping bags again (high-tech, I know), and I created something new.
A bag with an organising system for life as it is now. With everything people have loved about PacaPod since 2008—just evolved for grown-ups.
When my daughter was diagnosed with autism, I started recognizing those same traits in myself—especially my deep need for organisation. No surprise there.
This new backpack is designed to adapt—slimline for bike commutes, expandable when you need more space. The secret is in the pods: mix and match a dry bag, cool bag, overnight bag, gym bag, computer bag, shopping bag, or nappy bag. Carry just what you need—without juggling three different bags.
It’s for those of us who want to work and play, without the stress.
