The History of wickelkinder GmbH and Manduca
In June 2002, Petra Schachtner founded the company Wickelkinder. The logo developed later – a small caterpillar – carries a deep symbolic meaning: from the very beginning, the caterpillar has the ability and potential to transform into a butterfly. A powerful symbol for the development of a baby into a toddler and eventually into an adult.
2002 – The Beginnings of Wickelkinder
During its early years, Wickelkinder focused on the marketing and further development of babywearing products. The Marsupi is a particularly good example. Together with several babywearing consultants, Petra Schachtner helped to further develop this cleverly designed hook-and-loop baby carrier with ergonomics in mind. To this day, many parents enjoy using the Marsupi for newborns.
From Caterpillar to Butterfly
In autumn 2007, the great transformation finally began: the Wickelkinder caterpillar became the Manduca butterfly.
2007 – The First Manduca
The Manduca was presented for the first time at the Kind + Jugend trade fair in Cologne and was immediately nominated for the Innovation Award.
The first model was the Manduca NewStyle. It was made from a blend of hemp and organic cotton and, at that time, was still manufactured in China. Initially, it was available in four colours: natural, red, petrol and black. Brown was added later.
How to Recognise the Manduca NewStyle
The first generation of Manduca carriers is easy to recognise by its sewn-on pink logo featuring the pink caterpillar. In January 2008, the Manduca NewStyle officially became available for purchase.
2008 – An Exciting Time for Babywearing
We at loeweli had the opportunity to experience and support this development first-hand. What an exciting time it was! Back then, there were very few ergonomically designed baby carriers available.
We presented the Manduca at trade fairs and street festivals, in midwifery practices, hospitals and many other places. Wherever we introduced the Manduca, the response was enthusiastic.
2011 – The Manduca PureCotton
Once again, the Kind + Jugend trade fair was the setting for an important new development. In September 2011, Wickelkinder presented the first Manduca with an embroidered logo – the Manduca PureCotton.
It was available in seven beautiful colours as well as the BlackLine and Limited Edition. The Manduca PureCotton developed into a market leader, and over time the range was expanded with more and more accessories.
2018 – The Manduca XT
In January 2018, the Manduca XT was presented for the first time. It quickly became popular with parents and developed into another successful Manduca model.
A Baby Carrier for Generations
A good baby carrier lasts for many years – and Manduca continues to demonstrate exactly that. Many carriers are passed down within families from one generation to the next. Even today, we still see first-generation Manduca carriers being used, carrying babies ergonomically and comfortably just like the Manduca XT.
2025 – The End of an Era
The increasingly crowded baby carrier market and the significant decline in birth rates created enormous challenges for the baby industry. Wickelkinder GmbH also entered a crisis from which it was ultimately unable to recover. In September 2025, the company had to file for insolvency.
A Special Final Achievement for the Manduca XT
But Wickelkinder GmbH is bowing out with one final major achievement: the Manduca XT, still produced by Wickelkinder, was named a joint test winner by Stiftung Warentest together with one other baby carrier among nine carriers tested in issue 7/2026. Congratulations on this very special achievement!
We are grateful for everything that has been. The many awards and prizes Manduca received over the years recognise the work of Petra Schachtner and her wonderful Wickelkinder team. Everything achieved in terms of awards and honours up to December 2025 belongs to the era of Wickelkinder GmbH.
Thank You for Almost 20 Years of Manduca
It is the parents of the past almost 20 years who, together with us at loeweli, can celebrate the designer and manufacturer behind this very special baby carrier. Petra, thank you for the time we shared, for the many ideas, for your passion for ergonomic babywearing and for all the Manduca carriers that have accompanied parents and their babies over so many years.
Manduca Continues
The Manduca brand has been sold, and the new brand owner is continuing it under the same name.
