One Mom’s No-Knot Scarf

The Windsor Star:

Inventing a scarf that fastens with Velcro instead of a traditional knot may not seem like a breakthrough — but for one Winchester, Ont., woman, the simple creation has become a booming business.

Diane lefebvre is the originator of the no knot scarf, which is designed to fit snugly around a child’s neck and to break free if the scarf is tugged or becomes caught.

A year ago, the fleece scarves were available in one store in Winchester, just south of Ottawa. Today, they are sold at the Bay and at Zellers stores across Canada, where they retail for between $12.99 and $14.99.

“I think we are in around 70 stores across the country,” says Lefebvre. “It’s all happened pretty fast.”

Lefebvre came up with the idea for the No Knot Scarf in late 2005 after a relative from her hometown of Montreal told her about the strangulation death of a child.

Lefebvre thought about her own children, and about how the accident could have been prevented.

A few weeks later, her two young daughters were wearing No Knot Scarves. Things took off from there.