Marketplace

What is a Unicorn?

Describing the import of buy, sell, trade marketplace etiquette and unicorns.

The practice of babywearing has given rise to an extensive social network and a rich material culture that encompasses the diverse carriers, wraps, and slings that reflect the diverse regions and traditions across the global babywearing community. These physical artifacts embody the skill, creativity, and cultural values of the small businesses and artisans who create them. Within the modern babywearing community, a vibrant swap culture has emerged, facilitated by online platforms and social media groups. Within these groups, parents avidly buy, sell, trade, and collect carriers, which hold significant personal and emotional meaning. Because of the close relationship of these material objects with the care and bonding of a parent with their child/children, the materials themselves take on a functionally sentimental value, carrying memory and experience from owner to owner.

As such, unlike many resale markets, highly sought after used carriers can sometimes increase in monetary value as they are used and infused with the love, care, and 'sleepy dust' of previous owners. The most highly sought after "unicorns" are so called due to their rarity and desirability within the market, and can fetch premium prices because of the deep emotional value ascribed to them by enthusiasts. This swap culture exemplifies how babywearing tradition transcends mere utility, enabling a communal celebration of parenthood, self-expression, and the perpetuation of tradition and values so integral in folklore.