As authentic as the merchandise he makes, Peter Tsakanikas, the visionary behind the new organic lifestyle brand Vive for Babies, has always been green at heart and a goodwill ambassador in his own right. After bearing the devastating loss of his own 15-month-old child, who died of head trauma in a babysitter’s care, Tsakanikas dedicated his life and livelihood to children’s causes, redirecting every ounce of his energy to charitable endeavors. Hell-bent on making a difference and imbued with a new purpose, the self-made millionaire/ environmental engineer traded in bioremedial soil contamination and clean water technology for high-end, planet-friendly infantwear.

What started out as a worldwide mission to develop a completely contained, sustainable community that produces healthy products for mothers and babies is now a full eco-luxe line that’s grown, harvested and handmade by the indigenous women of Peru, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting a local Peruvian orphanage. The 100-percent organic collection, made of Pima cotton in Fair Trade-certified factories, features hand-stitched, knitted and embroidered products ranging from $25 to $115 for newborns and toddlers. Taking an all-natural approach to manufacturing, the idiosyncratic line is entirely green from concept to fruition; the snaps are made of nickel- and lead-free metal and the buttons are made of wood and shell. Tsakanikas and his Vive team emphasize that organic, chemical-free garments are gentler on babies’ soft skin, which is five times thinner—and more sensitive—than that of adults, allowing for easier absorption of toxins found in non-organic clothes and linens.

“We found the richest opportunity to not only grow the world’s finest cotton, but positively affect an existing community with self-sustaining work in Peru,” explains Tsakanikas. “Our vision is based on a field-to-showroom team that brings the most luxurious and healthy products we can possibly produce. Every detail, from the growing, handling, dying and waste systems to the all-natural, lead-free materials and recycled tags, was considered in this process.”

Focusing on quality and green practices, Vive for Babies produces two collections in limited quantities based on the bounty of each year’s Pima cotton harvest. A small recurring collection of products will be produced each year, but the bulk of items will be discontinued and recreated to reflect the natural crop yield. Tsakanikas explains that scarcity and the exclusivity of the label is not a marketing technique, but rather a necessity. The label, which is stylish, chic and completely unpredictable, is infused with the feel of serene beach scenes, nature, birds and soft colors that resemble water and earth. “This is not your typical baby print with duckies and bears,” designer Anna Schwengle says. “Vive is made for the sophisticated mother who is socially and environmentally conscious and wants her baby to look stylish.” Not to mention, smart.

In an effort to create a fully environmentally conscious operation, Vive for Babies is also in the midst of developing a wastewater treatment plant in Peru. Each year, the brand intends to sponsor a new project that supports the well-being of less fortunate people in the country. Currently, five causes are bookmarked with the goal of creating self-sustaining trust funds for each. “We want to be able to empower farmers and factory workers,” says Tsakanikas. “Part of our mission is social sensitivity. We don’t care about owning land; we care about the product and the people, about working to build local economies.” Compassionate and clever, Tsakanikas took factors like these into account when deciding to set up in Peru, rather than other potential countries such as India and China where the Vive team felt that developing true community-owned Fair Trade work environments would have been politically and socially impossible. Vive is remarkably true to its etymology—the name comes from the French word for “life”—and as with life, Vive’s organic, non-chemical, non-polluting luxury lifestyle is greater than the sum of its parts. “Vive is about the team. No one individual is any more important than the next,” Tsakanikas states. He stresses, too, that organic isn’t just a practice; it’s a philosophy. “We feel that you can accomplish everything you need to do without burdening one’s body with unnatural things.” For more information on the eco-luxe line, visit viveforbabies.com.