Meet Kristen: Founder of Sincerley Elle

Tell us about yourself and why you started your business.... 

I’m Kristen Bartz. Kevin, my husband, and I started Sincerely, Elle after becoming parents for the first time. When we found out we were expecting our daughter, Ellarie, we instantly fell in love with children’s clothing — the tiny details, the sweet prints, the heirloom feel. We spent over a year collecting pieces that felt special, and somewhere along the way I realized I wanted to create those kinds of designs myself. I kept thinking, “Why not make the outfits I’m always searching for?”
So, we officially registered the business in Georgia and jumped in. We learned a ton — from navigating suppliers, tariffs, and sampling to understand what true quality really takes. It wasn’t always easy, but every step made us more committed to creating clothing we’re truly proud of.
After welcoming our second baby, Wiley, I decided to take the leap and run Sincerely, Elle full-time, and left the corporate grind. Watching our ideas turn into real pieces that other families get excited about has been the most rewarding part. That’s what keeps us going.
Today, our goal is simple: to design children’s clothing that feels joyful, thoughtful, and uniquely ours — pieces made with the same love and attention we put into dressing our own little ones.

What is your favorite part about your business?

I love seeing other people get excited about our designs. I share a lot of sample sneaks and new design mockups in our Sincerely, Elle Smocks VIP group, and it’s always fun to read through the comments. Watching people react to a new print or ask when it will be available never gets old—it’s a great reminder of why we enjoy creating these pieces.

What are your favorite products you sell?

So far, my favorite style that we’ve put into production is the “Rain Dog” sibling set. The print has dogs in rain boots, holding umbrellas, and they’re all playing in puddles — perfect for Spring! The boy version is a simple short set, and the girl set is a britches outfit with a long sleeve top. The colors are kind of dark and moody (think Spring storm) but come together with the pastel yellow just perfectly. It’s certainly a design that isn’t seen every day. Oh! And our “You Know the Bow” Bloomie Set. It’s a woven, open back girl set with appliques that play on our favorite mouse’s bows. Having a 2 year old girl certainly played a part in this design!

To shop or learn more check out Sincerely Elle