Zupers padded leggings let young girls play hard and save their knees

While at Green Lake one day waiting to go on a walk with a friend, local designer Wendy Feller stumbled upon an idea. Why not design cute leggings made with strong, durable material and padded knees to allow her then five-year-old daughter, and little girls in general, to play hard without having to worry about ripped tights or skinned knees? In that moment, Züpers were born.

Feller, a former sweater designer (and inventor of Smittens, mittens designed so that two people can hold hands wearing one mitten), explains that the idea behind Züpers was "to empower girls to be active, while also wearing dresses and being girly." The leggings are made from a micropolyester lycra blend similar to yoga pants, making them practically indestructible. They feature moisture-wicking, UV protection and are machine washable, although Feller advises to lay them flat to dry. Other important details that only a parent could think of include an itch-free tagless label and bother-free flat seams.

Züpers are manufactured in Los Angeles and retail for between $34 and $36 each. They're available in nine prints and four solid colors and sizes 6 months to 6x. There are pale pink Züpers for ballet, ice blue for ice skating, floral, animal and mod prints for fun and denim print for everyday.

Heart-shaped pads made out of neoprene fit snugly into heart-shaped pockets at the knee and each pair of leggings comes with a spare pad. Extra pads are available for purchase as well, for $4.50 a pair.

A secret treasure pocket on the lower right leg provides a place for rocks, toys, flowers or any other item deemed worthy. The leggings come rolled up in a cute reusable brown cardboard "treasure box," as Feller describes it, becoming the perfect purse for imaginative little ladies.

Züpers are available online at zupergirls.com. You can also check out Züpers along with products from more than 30 other mom-owned businesses at the Northwest Enterprising Moms free Fall Event on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Magnolia Community Center located at 2550 34th Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98199.

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