Bali Move? Here's Why Muslin Basics Still Sell, Fast Fashion Doesn't

Do Muslin Baby Clothes Hold Up For a Move Overseas?

Yes — muslin baby clothes hold up for a move overseas to a hot, humid place like Bali, and outlast cheap fast fashion where it counts. Muslin is a loosely woven cotton fabric that breathes in heat, softens with every wash instead of pilling apart, and moves with an active toddler. Pack fewer, better pieces, not a suitcase that falls apart by month two.

Why We Started Epic in Bali

We didn't set out to start a clothing brand. We moved here for the life: the ocean, the slower mornings, the space for our daughter to run barefoot instead of being stuck indoors. What we didn't plan for was how hard it would be to dress her for it.

Bali heat is relentless in a way that most baby clothes just aren't built for — coastal areas here sit around 75-85% humidity with temperatures near 27-32°C nearly year-round (BMKG, Indonesia's national meteorology agency). Within our first few months, we noticed our daughter would get overheated and irritable in anything stiff or synthetic, and the "cute" outfits we'd packed from home were the first things she'd fight us on wearing. We went looking for something soft enough for her skin, light enough for the climate, and loose enough that she could crawl, climb, and chase the dog across the yard without the fabric bunching or catching. We couldn't find it. So we started making it ourselves, for her, and then for families like ours.

Muslin vs. Fast Fashion: What Actually Happens After 20 Washes

This is the part nobody tells you before you pack a suitcase for an overseas move: cheap synthetic basics don't hold up to daily wear in the tropics. Between the heat, the sweat, and the washing machine running every other day, thin polyester blends pill, stretch out, and lose whatever softness they started with, usually within a month.

Muslin behaves the opposite way. It's a loosely woven cotton fabric, typically around 180-200 thread count — roughly half the density of a standard quilting cotton (Cotton Incorporated) — with gaps you can see if you hold it up to light, so air moves through instead of getting trapped against skin, and it gets softer the more you wash it instead of breaking down. For a toddler who's sweating through naps and playing outside daily, that matters more than a print or a price tag. You're not just buying an outfit. You're buying something that has to survive daily wear in a climate that's unforgiving on fabric.

What to Look For When You're Packing for a Move

We get asked by parents relocating here (or anywhere tropical) what's worth packing. Our answer is always the same: pack for the climate, not the wardrobe you had at home.

What to prioritize when you're packing baby or toddler basics for a hot climate:

• Breathable, loosely woven fabric: anything that traps heat against the skin makes an already-hot move harder on your kid
• Lightweight layers over bulky pieces: easier to wash, dry, and pack, and easier for a toddler to move in
• Room to grow and move: relaxed fits that don't restrict crawling, climbing, or sitting on the floor
• Fewer pieces, higher quality: five outfits that hold up beat fifteen that fall apart by week three
• Easy-care basics: you'll wash more often in humidity, so fabric that improves with washing, not one that degrades, saves you money and stress

Designed for Exploration: Less Fuss, More Movement

The real test of baby clothing isn't how it looks in a photo. It's whether your kid forgets they're wearing it. That's what we were chasing when we made Epic. Our daughter doesn't stop moving here, and she shouldn't have to think about her clothes to do it.

When the fabric is soft enough and loose enough, kids stop tugging at collars, scratching at seams, or overheating mid-play, and parents stop double-checking outfits before every outing. That's the quiet win of getting the basics right: one less thing to manage on a day that already has enough moving parts, especially in the middle of a big move.

FAQs

How do I care for muslin clothing so it lasts through a move and beyond?

Caring for muslin during and after a move is simple: machine wash cold, skip the fabric softener (it just coats the fibers), and let it air dry when you can. Muslin gets softer with every wash on its own — that's the fabric doing what it's supposed to do, not a sign it needs extra care.

What sizing should I pack for an overseas move with a growing toddler?

When you're packing for an overseas move with a growing toddler, size up rather than down, especially if you're stocking months' worth of basics at once. Relaxed, roomy fits give your toddler room to grow into over a move and won't restrict movement in the meantime. A snug fit that felt right at home often runs hot and tight in a tropical climate.

Is muslin actually gentle enough for sensitive skin?

Muslin is one of the softest, most breathable fabrics we've found, and it's why we started making it for our own daughter. The loose weave lets air move through instead of trapping heat and moisture against the skin, which is often what triggers irritation in hot climates to begin with.

A Note from Bali

If you're in the middle of a move (overseas, out of your comfort zone, wondering what's worth packing), we've been exactly where you are. Skip the suitcase full of things that won't survive the first month. Start with a few pieces that are built for the life your kid is about to live.

Shop our muslin basics →

— Vanessa & Bob