Marianna Sachse
Built to Last: How Jackalo's Marianna Sachse Is Reinventing Kids’ Clothing, One Knee Patch at a Time
On this episode of Pitch Lab, we sat down with Marianna Sachse, a former public health advocate turned founder of Jackalo—a brand transforming the way we make, use, and reuse children’s clothing. Marianna’s journey from systems change to sustainable fashion is anything but ordinary, and her vision for a circular economy in kidswear is rooted in durability, responsibility, and a whole lot of lived experience—both as a mom and a maker.
From Public Health to Pants with Purpose
Marianna didn’t come from fashion—she came from public health, where she worked on systemic problems affecting communities. But when she became a parent and started buying clothes for her kids, she ran into a very different kind of system failure: children’s clothing that couldn’t keep up with actual children.
Ripped knees, flimsy fabrics, and a flood of fast fashion waste sparked a new idea—what if kids’ basics were made to last? And even better—what if you could send them back when your kids outgrew them, and get credit to size up?
Enter: Jackalo.
More Than a Brand—A Circular Model
Jackalo is rooted in the simple idea that kids' clothes shouldn’t fall apart after a few wears—or end up in a landfill when they’re outgrown. Marianna’s solution combines durable design, ethical sourcing, and a trade-up program that allows families to send used clothes back for store credit. It’s a circular system built from the start, not bolted on later.
What sets Jackalo apart?
Durable materials designed for play, reinforced knees, and sensory-friendly fits.
Sustainable production, including organic and deadstock fabrics.
Built-in circularity, meaning everything is designed to be repaired, reused, and resold.
Marianna even offers a repair guarantee, explaining that “a stitch in time saves nine” isn’t just a cute phrase—it’s a strategy for avoiding waste and making clothes last.
From Side Hustle to Social Impact
Jackalo started small. Really small. With a Kickstarter campaign and a one-woman marketing machine, Marianna cold-emailed bloggers, built affiliate programs, and set up grassroots events to get the brand in front of parents who cared.
Her background in health communications gave her an edge in messaging. But the real traction came from customer love—especially among families with neurodivergent kids who value comfort, durability, and consistency.
Jackalo has since earned spots in Techstars, the NASDAQ Milestone Makers program, and several national “Best Sustainable Kidswear” lists. But for Marianna, the goal isn’t just recognition—it’s reach.
What We Learned
Public health and fashion aren’t as far apart as they seem.
Marianna saw that stable, dignified work is a critical health intervention. Jackalo builds jobs and products that contribute to well-being on both sides of the transaction.Durability is a design choice.
Jackalo doesn’t just make cute kids’ clothes—they engineer them to last, be repaired, and move on to the next kid in line. That’s sustainability in action.Sustainability is more than organic.
Marianna uses a smart blend of organic and deadstock fabrics—and isn’t afraid to make strategic tradeoffs when it means avoiding landfill-bound materials.Circularity starts with the first stitch.
Most brands bolt on resale after the fact. Jackalo was built for it from day one. That gives them an edge in quality control, brand trust, and customer loyalty.Awareness is everything.
Great products mean nothing without visibility. That’s why Jackalo is now raising on WeFunder, turning customers and believers into investors.
Why Invest in Jackalo?
With rising demand for sustainable, circular fashion—and growing regulation around corporate responsibility—Jackalo is positioned for scalable growth.
Marianna’s current WeFunder campaign will help the brand expand its colorways, avoid stockouts, fund product development, and build toward the future—including a brick-and-mortar retail hub that doubles as an educational space for repair, dyeing, and reuse.
“We’re not just trying to be the best sustainable kids brand. We’re trying to be the best kids brand. Period.”
Join the Mission
👕 Invest in Jackalo on WeFunder: wefunder.com/jackalo
🌎 Help build a circular clothing model that keeps kids dressed and landfills empty.
🧵 Follow the movement on Instagram: @hellojackalo
