The stylish wares of 3 Sprouts have been, well, sprouting up everywhere. There’s no patch that doesn’t seem to carry the collection. So how did this mom-of-one with one on the way get to the forefront of the Canadian design-for-kids new wave? And why is she still wheeling a Peg? The inspiration for the towels, sleep sacks and beanbag chairs (pictured) that make up the brand’s arsenal followed the birth of her two-year-old daughter, Safia, and her need for highly functional yet attractive products. “I wanted to provide items that made sense for parents, but that kids would still delight in using,” she says. Khurana, along with her brother, Amit Khurana, and friend Obsidian Graham, established the company in 2007, collectively bringing a pedigree that includes stints for Kate Spade and coveted lingerie line Khurana. Accordingly, top-notch fabric is key to them. “The sleep sack is a really soft French terry,” says Khurana. “And besides safety, it helps promote routine. The baby wears it and slowly realizes it’s time to wind down for sleep time — it’s wonderfully functional. And we try to always include an organic option.” Balancing between her family and business is “a constant struggle,” but she acknowledges that she has “a certain flexibility in my job that helps me be a better mom.” A flexibility that will be key when her second baby arrives. And why does she still rely on her Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico? It turns out the sensibility echoes that of 3 Sprouts: highly functional, kid-pleasing and built to last. We asked her to share a few of her other favourite finds.

Secrets of her Success

On making it through the week
“I’ll sometimes cook on the weekends and store the food for the week. This makes life easier on weekdays when we are short on time.”

On combining work with play
“Safia has just started participating in the kitchen and really wants to be a big girl. When we’re baking, I’ll get her to pour a little bit of water or milk into the bowl and I’ll let her mix. She loves doing that stuff. Or I’ll set her up with her own little bowl, and she’ll do things in tandem.”

On instilling cultural values in her kids
“My background is Indian, and my husband’s is Pakistani. Safia’s with my mom throughout the day, when not at Montessori. She eats traditional food there and speaks the language too. Food and language are the key parts to a culture. My husband especially will speak to her in Urdu. We grew up like that, where you knew two languages.”

Her best business tip for moms
“Do something fresh, but not too far from what people feel familiar with. We aren’t looking to revolutionize anything; we just want to give it a fresh spin. We know that people still want to buy blue for boys and pink for girls, so instead of including baby blue and pastel pink, we offer a navy and a hot pink.”

On saving space at home
“I use the space beneath the crib to store extra linens and baby clothes in the next size up. I let no space go to waste.”