Real Moms. Real Solutions. Our Chat with the Founders of Larken

Motherhood often inspires innovation, and for Katie Kruse and Maggie Winterfeldt, it sparked a mission. What began as two moms navigating postpartum recovery and pumping while learning to balance parenthood and their careers evolved into a mission to make things more comfortable and supportive for other moms everywhere. Katie took some time to share with us how their challenges shaped their brand, Larken, the power of listening to moms, and why embracing the messy middle has been their biggest strength.

Larken has become a go-to brand for moms looking for comfortable, functional maternity and postpartum essentials. What inspired you to start the brand, and what was the moment you knew you had to a better hands-free nursing and pumping bra?

Larken was born from our struggles as new moms trying to navigate difficult pregnancies and postpartum journeys. My co-founder Maggie and I were both practicing attorneys, pregnant with our second daughters, and anxious about what returning to work would look like—especially the logistics of pumping in between meetings. We tried every nursing and pumping bra on the market and came up empty. Everything was either uncomfortable, awkward, or just not functional for everyday wear.

We knew we could design something that both functioned the way we needed it to but was also comfortable. After brainstorming several options and playing with various fabrics, the “aha” moment came on Mother’s Day 2017 when my mom pulled out her sewing machine and helped bring our first working prototype to life. We knew immediately—it was the solution we’d been searching for, combining simplicity, comfort and function.  After testing the prototype ourselves and realizing the dramatic difference it made in our own lives, we wanted to help as many moms as possible and get it out into the world.

Many moms struggle to find nursing and pumping bras that truly work for their lifestyles. Did your personal experiences shape the design and functionality of Larken’s products? 

Absolutely—every inch of our products is shaped by real-life experience. Between the two of us, Maggie and I have faced infertility, miscarriage, postpartum anxiety, mastitis, and the daily chaos of trying to feed babies while returning to work and manage toddlers at home. We knew firsthand how uncomfortable and clunky traditional bras were—full of clips, itchy fabric, and awkward holes that didn’t actually make the process easier.

We set out to create something better. The Larken X is the first all-in-one nursing and hands-free pumping bra without any elastic, snaps, zippers, or hardware. It’s buttery soft, breathable, and adapts to your body throughout pregnancy and postpartum. It’s designed to actually work for real moms, through real moments—from the NICU to middle-of-the-night feedings to back-to-back Zoom calls.

Motherhood is a beautiful but often overwhelming journey, especially in the postpartum phase. How does Larken help moms feel more confident, comfortable, and supported during this transition? 

At Larken, we know that motherhood is both beautiful and incredibly tough. We actually chose the name “Larken” because it means fierce. It’s a nod to the fact that motherhood is beautiful but challenging, and all moms are fierce.  We created our products to be a soft landing—literally and figuratively—for moms during one of the most vulnerable and transformative times in their lives. Our bras and essentials aren’t just comfortable, they’re comforting while also providing the functionality moms need during this time. They’re designed to meet moms where they are—whether that’s surviving the third trimester, healing from birth, navigating breastfeeding challenges, or trying to sneak in a nap.

We’re also intentional about building a community where moms feel seen, supported, and celebrated. We share honest stories, open up about the hard stuff, and champion the idea that moms matter too.

Motherhood comes with enough challenges—what are some ways Larken helps make nursing and pumping simpler, so moms can focus on what really matters? 

We’ve eliminated the things that make traditional bras frustrating—no clips, no zippers, no wires, no holes. Our Larken X bra can be worn all day and night, so moms never have to waste time changing bras or dealing with uncomfortable hardware. Whether they’re nursing, pumping, or doing both, the design allows for seamless transitions, which means one less thing to worry about.

Our fabric is ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and stretch-recovery tested—so it grows with your body and feels good even on cracked nipples or engorged breasts. It provides light support without being compressive so you can wear it all day and even sleep in it overnight to help simplify those middle of the night nursing and pumping sessions.  Our products are designed to support moms in every sense of the word.

Your community of moms is at the heart of Larken. How do you stay connected with your customers and ensure their voices are heard in your product development? 

Our customers are our co-creators. We regularly gather feedback through surveys, social media, customer service emails, and DMs—and we take every single one to heart. I have a folder of messages from moms that I turn to on the hard days—stories from NICU moms, working moms, first-time moms—sharing how Larken made their journey a little easier.

We also test new products with real moms from diverse backgrounds, shapes, and sizes before bringing anything to market. Their feedback directly influences everything from our sizing to fabric choices to design refinements. We never assume—we ask, we listen, and we learn. We are soon launching an inner circle so we can have more regular, direct conversations with our most engaged customers to ensure that our future designs meet their needs and take as much feedback as possible into account.

As mom founders, how do you balance the demands of running a growing business with the unpredictability of motherhood? Any time-management hacks or mindset shifts that have helped you along the way? 

We truly believe that balance is a myth, but integration is real. Some days it looks like answering emails during nap time, taking calls from the carpool line, working on the computer next to a little one watching a movie or from the soccer field, or jumping on a Zoom call with toddlers on our hips. We’ve learned to give ourselves grace and accept that things won’t always be perfect—but they can still be meaningful.  Some days may be heavier with work, and others may be heavier on the home front. It’s always in flux,, and being adaptable is key.

One mindset shift that’s helped: embracing the messy middle. Entrepreneurship and motherhood are both unpredictable, and instead of fighting that, we try to lean into the flexibility and build a business that honors that messiness. Also, having a strong support system—personally and professionally—makes all the difference.

What advice would you give to other moms who have an idea for a product but don’t know where to start? 

Start small, start scrappy—but start. Commit to making one step forward, no matter how small, every day.  You don’t need to know everything before you begin (trust me, we didn’t!). Google things, ask questions, and reach out to other women in business. Most importantly, solve a real problem you care deeply about. That passion will carry you through the inevitable ups and downs.

And if you’re afraid? That’s okay. Do it scared and do it anyway. The world needs your ideas, innovation, and solutions.

What’s been the most rewarding moment since launching Larken—whether it’s a piece of customer feedback, a milestone, or a personal moment of success? 

There have been so many powerful moments, but one of the most powerful moments was early in our journey when we received an email from a mom in Canada who desperately wanted to try our bras—but we weren’t shipping internationally yet. Her name was Layla, which is also my oldest daughter’s name, and I felt an instant connection. I personally packed up a few of our products and hand-wrote the customs forms at my local post office just to get them to her.

A few weeks later, we learned her story. She had been pregnant with twins—a boy and a girl—and tragically lost her daughter, Sunny, at 26 weeks. Her son, Rocky, was born extremely premature and faced a long NICU stay. She was pumping around the clock to provide for him, and she said our bra was a lifeline. It gave her the comfort she needed in those grueling moments and made it easier to do the one thing she could do for him—provide milk and hold him skin-to-skin.

Her story reminded me of why we started Larken in the first place: to show up for moms in their hardest, rawest, most human moments. To be part of her healing and her strength was deeply humbling—and something I’ll carry with me forever.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new mom navigating the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum, what would it be?

You matter too. Your mental, physical, and emotional well-being are important, and by doing the things you need to do to support your well-being, you are being a good mom and supporting your baby too. Let go of the pressure to do it all “right” and instead do what’s right for you. Ask for help. Lean into your support system. And remember to trust your gut—there’s no one right way to be a good mom.

Any exciting new products or launches in the pipeline?

We’re always working on innovations that combine the comfort and functionality Larken is known for—because we believe moms deserve products that make life easier, not harder. While we can’t share all the details just yet, we’re constantly gathering feedback from our community and exploring fresh ways to support them through every stage of motherhood.

In the more immediate future, we’re thrilled to be launching new colorways of our best-selling Larken X bra this year, bringing more options to a product that moms love to live in.

Trying to find the right size nursing and pumping bra can seem overwhelming. How can Larken customers find the right size for them? 

We totally get that sizing during pregnancy and postpartum can feel like a moving target. That’s why we designed the Larken X with flexible sizing that adapts to your changing body—many moms wear the same size throughout pregnancy and postpartum.  Others opt for two different sizes to have an option for when they prefer a more relaxed fit and light support and also size down for a more snug fit when they want a bit more support.

Our website includes a helpful sizing guide and FAQs, and our customer support team is always available to offer personalized help. 

Larken’s story is about more than just a bra—it’s about two moms turning their struggles into something that helps others. From those first “aha” moments to the heartfelt messages they get from moms every day, Katie and Maggie built a brand that puts women first. At Rumble Tuff, we’re proud to cheer on moms and support women-owned businesses like Larken that are making motherhood a little easier.