Children's Fashion Fairs

Children’s fashion fairs will be taking place throughout the summer, the first of which were Pitti Bimbo and Bubble London both last week.
The third show is Playtime, which will take place in Paris, at the Parc de Flora, 4th- 6th July. The fair will be open 9.30am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday and from 9.30am-5pm on Monday. Playtime is one of the few fairs dedicated to children’s fashion and maternity wear. They have also just launched a new website -www.playtimeshopping.com- so you can find out where to buy the brands you see there.
The next show on the agenda is Kleine Fabriek, held at the RAI in Amsterdam, on the 5th-6th July. You’ll be able to see over 400 new collections from new designers along with well known brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier Junior and Hugo Boss, as well as interior products, gifts and toys.
On 2nd-4th August Bubble New York will be held at 269 11th Avenue.
Next up, is the ENK Children’s Club, which is also held in New York and runs 2nd-4th August. ENK has hundreds of children’s brands exhibiting as well as catwalks of the collections.
The last of the summer children’s fashion fairs is CPM. Held in Moscow, it is the biggest of the fairs and features women’s, men’s and children’s collections. This runs from the 6th-9th September.

Posted by: Laura Chatterton

Is Emma Watson starting her own fashion range?

Children’s favourite Harry Potter star, Emma Watson, is rumoured to be starting her own fashion range for teenagers.
Since her debut in Harry Potter the star has made her mark on the fashion scene, becoming the new face of Burberry and making friends with Karl Lagerfeld, which is apparently, who is rumoured to be her mentor on this latest project.
It is also suggested that the star is going to donate all the proceeds to the children’s charity UNICEF.
We certainly hope the rumours are true…..

Day by Day Report from Pitti Bimbo, June 2009

Read all about it and visit http://www.juniormagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=206

Calvin Klein spring/summer 2010 catwalk show Pitti Bimbo

Levi Jeans spring/summer 2010 catwalk show Pitti Bimbo

Simonetta spring/summer 2010 catwalk show Pitti Bimbo

Monnalisa spring/summer 2010 catwalk show Pitti Bimbo

Diesel Kid spring/summer 2010 catwalk show Pitti Bimbo

Replay & Sons spring/summer 2010 catwalk show 17:00 pm Pitti Bimbo

Billionaire Junior spring/summer 2010 catwalk show 12:00 noon Pitti Bimbo

Miss Grant spring/summer 2010 catwalk show 14:00 pm Pitti Bimbo

Miss Blumarine spring/summer 2010 catwalk show 11:00 am Pitti Bimbo

Bubble London the kids trade show review

Today the fashion team took a short stroll to The Business Design Centre, in Angel, for The Kids Trade Show, Bubble. The event happens twice a year, and to our advantage is held just a two-minute walk from our office.
As well as getting to eat some yummy cupcakes, we also got to look at the spring/summer 2010 collections and noticed a few up and coming trends. Vintage prints, sorbet colours and nautical stripes were the biggest trends we spotted. Organic cotton was also very popular and used in many collections by Frugi, Jake and Maya and Petit Bateau to name a few.
Some brands that caught our eye include Little Duckling, which have some gorgeous vintage prints of illustrated girls wearing deep red and navy dresses with hints of mustard yellow. These were featured on cream dresses, tops and shorts with frilled hems.
Cotton and Milk, one of the few collections featuring bright, fun colours, had knitwear with nautical stripes in sunshine yellow, bright red and grass green on cream backgrounds with a slightly slashed red neckline and drawstring hem to give some shape. This was teamed with a white cotton A-line skirt covered in brightly coloured polka dots with a thick yellow border making a fun, retro outfit. Other outfits included a mustard yellow knitted short-sleeved jumper together with burnt orange and navy blue lumberjack check shorts for boys.
Hucklebones had a Chloe style pinafore dress with a cream ruffle neckline. Jake and Maya impressed us with their double-breasted Spring/Summer jacket in a golden yellow with cream buttons and trimmings. There was a gorgeous bib-style powder blue top by Ola & Olek, with vintage style buttons complete with diamantes, perfect for special occasions. Other brands that wowed us were Aravore, with their crochet neck detailing on vest tops and Kik-Kid with their use of bright vintage prints and knee high socks.
The displays in the press office were also very fun; with toy stuffed animal heads popping out of bird print wallpapered walls and a camping scene by the entrance, complete with pink logs and a plant growing out of a teacup.

Posted by Laura Chatterton 22/06/09 at 5.17pm

Emma B launches children's website

DJ Emma B launched her fun new website www.youshouldwriteitdown.com at the V&A Childhood Museum in Bethnal Green last night.

Mother of two Emma wanted a place where parents could record the cute, funny and odd things their children say as they grow up. A sort of dictionary of children’s words and phrases, the website means you can immortalise you child’s unique little quirks.

Anyone can post words on the website and it is a lovely reminder of how creative and comical children are.

See our interview with Emma B in the August issue of Junior, on sale July 2.

Posted by Emma Bigg

Thomas Sabo celebrates 25th Anniversary

High-end jewellers Thomas Sabo is set to celebrate its 25th Anniversary this year. Spontaneously conceived in 1984 in Germany by jewellery devotee and business man Thomas Sabo, it was a risky venture. However, over the past quarter of a century it has become one of the most renowned sterling silver jewellers in the world, specialising in charms.

All of the collections are influenced by the changing trends of the fashion world, ensuring that Thomas Sabo is also a legendary name in fashion. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted; from initial ideas to the finished product. They can be combined with any outfit as well as with each other, creating a truly unique look.

Here at Junior we love the gorgeous Disney Charm Club collection. Available on bracelets and necklaces, the charms are interchangeable and can be attached to clothing and bags. Charm Club pieces are available nationwide and online from £13.99.

For more information, see www.thomassabo.com.

Posted by Emma Bigg

Cool website

1: Cotton Voile shirt £64 by Maan (ages 2 - 6); 2: Indigo print dress £35 by Bakker Made With Love (ages 3 - 8); 3: Wavy silk and cotton mix skirt £64 by Bellerose (ages 4 - 8); 4: Cotton romper suit £21 by Bakker Made With Love (ages 6 - 8 months); 5: Cotton indigo skirt £46 by Maan (ages 2 - 6) all from www.smallable.com

John Smedley celebrates 225th Anniversary

Quintessentially British luxurious knitwear brand John Smedley has had more than one reason to celebrate this year. As well as celebrating its 225th anniversary, the label won the coveted Gold and Heritage Brand awards at the recent UK Fashion Export Awards, which recognises excellence in selling overseas.

From small beginnings in 1784 at a water-powered factory to modern production with computer-controlled machines, John Smedley has been at the forefront of the knitwear industry for its entire history. Seven generations of the Smedley family have ensured that the brand is constantly adapting whilst consistently retaining its quality and classic design.

The label has continued to evolve and it has been over 115 years since the iconic ‘Jaybird’ logo was first adopted and half a century since their renowned fine-knit sweaters were first produced.

For this Autumn/Winter season, the John Smedley ‘Little One’ collection features 12 exciting new colours; from vibrant pink to dove blue, and gorgeous new details such as the Jaybird logo for boys’ sweaters and cute ribbon details for the girls.

This week, the Junior Fashion team travelled to Derbyshire for exciting anniversary celebrations. It included a visit to the Lea Mills factory for an insight into how the garments are made, lunch with Chairman Ian A D Maclean, and a sneak preview of their new Spring/Summer 2010 collections featuring highlights like fine stripes, billowing shapes and classic colours.

For more information, see www.johnsmedley.com/shop

Posted by Emma Bigg

Welcome to the House of Harlow

Watch out for cool new brand House of Harlow from mother and socialite Nicole Richie. The label, named after her daughter Harlow, is set to launch in the autumn and will begin as a jewellery range for women with a distinct boho chic edge. Affordable and wearable pieces, influenced by Nicole’s love of the sixties and seventies are available at Kitson’s online boutique, www.shopkitson.com.

However, the most exciting part is that we will see the brand evolve with childrenswear collections over the coming year. Nicole has said that the collection will be inspired by her own style and that of her partner Joel Madden. Expect hippie chic for the girls, and vests and suits for the boys.

Posted by Emma Bigg

Credit Crunch Couture

Parents and children alike won’t have long to wait for high fashion design at affordable prices this autumn. Top British designer Stella McCartney is to launch her first childrenswear collections with GapKids and babyGap later this year. McCartney asserts that it was her desire to design a collection for children and her view that children’s clothing should be more accessibly priced that led her to collaborate with Gap.

Famous for her easy-to-wear, ethical and glamorous clothes, the childrenswear collections are certain to get the next generation hooked on morality chic. While it has not yet been revealed what the collections will include, they are expected to hit stores in the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Ireland and Japan in November; and we can’t wait!

Posted by Emma Bigg

Pioneering Childrenswear

The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) Annual Dinner in Rugby last week saw the emergence of new talent in children’s fashion. Now in its 15th year, the coveted Student Design Innovation Award was presented to graduate Grace Sherriff for her “Whatever the Weather School Coat”.

The brief was to design an innovative childrenswear garment that combined unique design with practicality and purpose. The coat is truly heaven sent to parents and children alike in preparation for the British winter, with a waterproof cape and hood enclosed in the coat’s collar, rucksack grips on the shoulders, a detachable inner jacket and fluorescent trims and tabs for safety in the dark winter evenings.

Other entrants included a “Sensory Soother” teddy bear dressing gown, which has a concealed recording device and small speakers that are activated by a soft switch, giving parents the chance to record stories and lullabies that can then be played back to the child. While there are no plans to produce the designs just yet, Marks & Spencer are looking at some of the ideas with an aim to incorporate them into future products, so watch this space!

Posted by Emma Bigg

Luxury baby and maternity store unveiled in Brighton

Mamissima Mother & Child is Brighton’s first lifestyle boutique for mothers and babies. The store offers beautiful maternity wear from Faire Dodo, Parisian label 1et1font3 and Citizens of Humanity and stylish baby offerings from local designers. If you can’t head to Brighton see their online-shop www.mamissima.co.uk

Double Whammy for Caramel Baby & Child

It is set to be a very happy birthday for luxury childrenswear brand Caramel Baby & Child this year. This week the brand was chosen as one of six “Brands of Tomorrow” by Walpole, a not-for-profit organisation providing a community for growth and improvement for British luxury brands.

There is further reason for celebration for brand founder Eva Karayiannis and her team, as this summer sees Caramel Baby & Child’s 10th anniversary. The garden of their Notting Hill store plays host to a birthday party on July 2, with champagne for the adults and entertainment for the children.

The event will be hosted by model Natalia Vodianova as Caramel Baby & Child support her Naked Heart Foundation, a charity that builds safe and inspiring playgrounds for deprived children in Russia.

For more location and event information, see www.caramel-shop.co.uk

Posted by Emma Bigg

DKNY Kids celebrate 20th anniversary with limited edition collection

DKNY Kids have unveiled new, limited edition pieces for Autumn 2009 in celebration of the label’s 20th anniversary. Donna Karen has returned to her distinctly New York roots with glamorous urban rock ‘n’ roll inspired pieces that give a nod to the 1970s of Blondie’s Debbie Harry and punk rock singer Patti Smith. There are puffed sleeves and bang-on-trend exposed zips and studs, on a softer note, there are floral prints and subtle pinks and browns on metallic dresses, pleated skirts and tunics.

The boy’s range also has a musical influence, with iconic t-shirt graphics of concert posters and guitars. Cargo pants, combat trousers and jeans complete the rough-and-ready look, which is sure to be a hit. This collection is one not to be missed and in stores from September - here’s a sneak preview.

Posted by Emma Bigg

Ola & Olek

Watch this space, this brand are going to be big www.olaandolek.com

Oscar's Miniatures

An iconic and prominent designer in haute couture for the past four decades, Oscar de la Renta is now passing on his design DNA to the next generation by launching a limited edition collection for girls.

Following in the steps of designers such as Galliano, de la Renta has created miniature versions of his adult ready-to-wear collections. The dresses were unveiled at his Melrose Place boutique in LA last week and will retail from $200, with $100 from each garment being donated to the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) – a charity that protects and ensures children’s welfare in America.

The Hollywood elite adore de la Renta’s elegant, glamorous and feminine frocks and they are a popular choice for the red carpet. While the collection is sadly not available in the UK, it is available at de la Renta’s boutique in LA, so here we come Hollywood!


Posted by Emma Bigg

Medium Fashion

Little Fashion Gallery, the luxury childrenswear e-tailer, has branched out to the teen market. The website will start selling the collections late summer on their ‘Medium Fashion Gallery’ page and will include brands such as American Apparel, Little Marc Jacobs, Finger in the Nose and Tatty Devine.

For more information visit www.littlefashiongallery.com