As CEO and founder of House of Henry, a premium baby and children’s clothing store, Darci Pratt is a real-life example of the classic expression, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
When Pratt’s son Henry was born six years ago, she found herself constantly searching for children’s clothing that was beautiful, practical, and durable.
These often-frustrating and fruitless shopping quests inspired Pratt—who had spent almost eight years in retail leadership roles with companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, and Bloomingdale’s—to create and launch her own line of children’s clothing.
“Parents invest so much in their kids, and I wanted to create pieces that weren’t just adorable for one season, but could truly keep up with childhood,” Pratt says, adding that House of Henry was officially launched in May of 2022. “That vision led me to develop my own custom-milled House Blend Bamboo fabric, which is buttery soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, incredibly stretchy, and durable enough to become what I like to call ‘hand-me-down quality.’”
House of Henry carries clothing from newborn sizes through about six years, including pajamas, rompers, dresses, everyday playwear, and seasonal collections.
At first, Pratt sold the clothing at outdoor markets across the Valley. But it didn’t take long for House of Henry to develop a loyal customer base, so after a period of consistent sales, Pratt took on a short-term lease at an East Valley mall.
“The response was overwhelming and confirmed what we had hoped—that our customers wanted a permanent place to shop House of Henry,” Pratt says, adding that in late June, she opened a brick-and-mortar location in Gilbert. “The community has been incredibly supportive, and we’re so grateful. One of my favorite parts has been seeing familiar faces from our market days walk through the doors and say, ‘We’ve been waiting for this!’”
As Pratt notes, every House of Henry clothing piece is part of her own brand.
“We work closely with a small group of trusted manufacturing partners who bring our designs to life,” she says. “Our prints are created alongside talented artists and designers, and every collection is thoughtfully developed from concept to finished product. In fact, I’ve even designed several of our prints and clothing styles myself.”
No matter which clothing items they select, shoppers can rest assured that quality is at the heart of everything Pratt does at House of Henry.
“Our clothing is intentionally designed to last through spills, playground adventures, countless washes, and multiple children. We believe children’s clothing shouldn’t be disposable,” she says.
Beyond the clothing, Pratt says customer experience is what truly sets House of Henry apart.
“We’re a small family business, which means every customer matters to us. Whether someone shops online, visits us at a market, or walks into our store, we genuinely want them to feel welcomed, appreciated, and excited to come back,” she says. “Many of our customers have been with us since our very first pop-up markets, and now we’re watching them return as their families grow. Those relationships mean everything to us.”
While shoppers appreciate the full line of House of Henry clothing, Pratt says the bamboo pajamas are especially popular.
“They are definitely a customer favorite because they’re incredibly soft and designed to fit much longer than traditional pajamas, thanks to the stretch of our fabric,” she says.
House of Henry’s daywear pieces, especially the twirl dresses and bell rompers, have also become highly recognizable styles.
“Parents love that they grow with their child, transition through multiple seasons, and are comfortable enough for everyday adventures,” Pratt says. “One of my favorite things is seeing siblings coordinating in different prints. We design many of our collections so families can mix and match while still giving each child their own personality.”
Looking back, Pratt—who is married to a City of Chandler firefighter and is now also mom to Emma, age 3, and Lucy, who will turn 2 in October—is delighted with her decision to open House of Henry.
“I’ve always wanted to own a business, but motherhood gave me the courage to finally build one,” Pratt says. “Our goal has always been to create more than just a clothing store. We wanted to build a place where families feel welcome, kids are excited to visit, and parents know they’ll receive genuine, personal service every time they come in. Watching that vision come to life has been incredibly rewarding.”
Pratt also thoroughly enjoys the relationships she has developed with her customers.
“I love watching families grow alongside our business. We meet parents when they’re expecting their first baby, then before we know it, they’re coming back shopping for a younger sibling, celebrating birthdays with us, or stopping in just to say hello,” she says. “At the end of the day, we’re not just selling children’s clothing. We’re building a brand rooted in family, community, and creating products that parents can truly feel good about putting on their children.”
“We work closely with a small group of trusted manufacturing partners who bring our designs to life."—Darci Pratt
"At the end of the day, we’re not just selling children’s clothing. We’re building a brand rooted in family, community, and creating products that parents can truly feel good about putting on their children."—Darci Pratt