blogs about children’s fashion

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Ciao Bimba


Handcrafted dolls for girls and boys.

Inspired by the wild imagination of children and the beauty of play, Ciao Bimba is a Waldorf-inspired doll brand founded by Maria Asenova and Denitza Velasquez that showcases beautifully handcrafted luxury dolls for boys and girls.

 Ciao Bimba dolls are lovingly made by hand in Sofia, Bulgaria using only natural, safety-compliant materials like wool and cotton and exclusively European designer fabrics. Each doll requires up to 10 hours of creative work and construction by expert dollmakers, ensuring unique characteristics and truly one-of-a-kind dolls for children of all ages. While traditional Waldorf dolls are usually simplistic and lack facial features, Ciao Bimba’s dolls have more intricate and pronounced features to encourage the doll-child bond.

“Our vision is to design handcrafted natural fiber art dolls that speak directly to children and inspire them to invent their own worlds,” says Denitza, who splits her time between London and Sofia. “We believe in the importance of surrounding children with natural toys that are safe, beautiful and soothing to the soul.”

The name Ciao Bimba means “hello baby girl” in Italian and is inspired by Denitza’s daughter Maya’s nickname from family travels in Italy. Reflecting the beauty and diversity of children across the world, Ciao Bimba dolls are available in several skin tones. The boy and girl dolls have distinctive traits and personalities, quickly becoming a child’s favorite companion.

The company also has available doll accessories like doll baskets, necklaces and dresses, as well as bookmarks and necklaces. For girls who love to match their dolls’ outfits, girl’s dresses in several lively coordinating prints are also available.

 

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ZigZag


New Norwegian kid-friendly brand is designing comfort and quality for your little ones.

Marta and her husband live in Stavanger, Norway. They recently launched a modern, minimalist children’s brand called ZigZag for children ages one to six years – and it’s adorable.

“I make the clothes and scout for cool fabrics myself,” Marta tells us. “The mission and idea behind ZigZag is to make something that’s “designer” but not pretentious, simple but with a little sophistication, for parents who want to avoid chain stores and get something comfy for their kids.”

ZigZag wants you to enjoy dressing up your little ones, which should be easy with ZigZag’s always-new and innovative patterns and designs. Marta’s clothes, swaddle and blankets are tested by her friends’ kids -so cute. Seeing a smile on one of her small customer’s faces is one of the most rewarding feelings she can get.

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SUNS Shoes


Cool kicks with a cause for kids and their Moms.

SUNS Shoes is a unique collection of footwear made from an innovative material that comes to life with vibrant color and hidden surprises when exposed to the sunlight.

Created by Craig Reingold of Sperry Top-Sider & Toms shoes, his wife Jeanette, Dave Mesicek of Sperry Top-Sider & Common Soles and his wife Lisa, SUNS uses the positive energy of the sun to not only a fun pair of shoes, they are bringing sunshine into the lives of others by inspiring acts of kindness, empathy and gratitude to make the world a better place for all.

Simple Acts of Kindness (AOKs)

As they like to say, at SUNS their product is footwear, yet their mission transcends the brand. As parents, these founding couples have witnessed the detrimental impact that bullying, negativity and violence can have on kids. Two of their daughters came up with a plan and started an initiative at their school to increase and spread positivity through a program based around being kind to one another. It caught on amongst the other students at their school and other schools in the area.  The SUNS creators are inspired by their efforts, making SUNS mission to join the movement to make the world a brighter, happier place through simple acts of kindness.

The idea is very simple – an act of kindness, no matter how small can make someone’s day better. If we all try to be nicer to each other, the outcome has a ripple effect of spreading smiles. Who couldn’t support that?

Smile-Worthy AOKs

  • Hold the door for a stranger.
  • Tell a friend you appreciate them.
  • Send a thank you note to your teacher.
  • Take a co-worker to lunch.
  • Tell a family member you love them.
  • Help a friend with a project.
  • What would you do to make someone’s day?

“The culture that SUNS promotes isn’t about ignoring problems, it’s about doing the little things that everyone can to help us get through those cloudy days,” they say. “It’s about remembering the sunlight right behind the rain, that helps us feel empowered to perform acts of kindness that can help make our world brighter each day.”

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Talula Little


Namaste – A yoga-loving organic baby wear company.

Talula Little is an ethically motivated, family run business that just introduced the first of its GOTS-certified organic cotton baby wear – a fun collection of bandana dibble bibs that features adorable yoga-inspired illustrations and graphics. In fact, the company’s mission is to make beautifully handcrafted baby clothes that are comfortable and fun to wear.

“Our first project combines all the things we love the most – practicality, a holistic lifestyle and ethical mindfulness,” Lisa and Aviv tell us. “We are so excited that we couldn’t help ourselves and have included some poses inspired by our own little yoga baby!”

Every time you purchase a Talula Little product, you are supporting the production of organic clothing, encouraging its growth and actively contributing to a better and more sustainable world. That’s because Lisa and Aviv buy directly from co-op organic farmers in India in full compliance with Global Fair Trade practices.

“We have a toddler girl and everything we do is to empower her future. We firmly believe in organic production. It is so vital to the sustainability of our planet and for the next generation.”

Lisa and Aviv also believe that a healthy and positive lifestyle is the key to living well. Through practicing and teaching yoga, sensible eating and being mindful to use ethically sourced products wherever possible, they aspire to be extremely conscious in how they manage their daily lives – even as new parents.

“We all strive to give our little miracle-bundles only the best we can in life. However, this is often quite expensive and inevitably out of reach for some. Of course, there are countless cheap and cheerful baby products out there to cater for struggling parents. But in our experience, cheap and cheerful comes with a cost of its own – inferior quality and longevity sacrificed for price and profit.”

Lisa and Aviv dreamed about contributing to the community in some way and raising their own bundle of joy gave them the push to finally grow “a small business baby,” Talula Little. “We are so proud to say that our products are not only fun and comfortable to wear, they are ideal for a baby’s soft, delicate and developing skin, especially Eczema sufferers.”

New collections coming soon.

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Cooee Kids


An exciting and new, 100% certified cotton clothing line for kids.

When Anna Hesemenn and Naomi Wells meet while living in Uganda, they enjoy a mutual admiration and curiosity for the fabulous cotton available in this African country. Together with Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA), they create a company that makes children’s clothes with respect to the planet, the environment, the development and empowerment of people, and the fabulous raw materials they use. With social responsibility and good ethics at its core, their company ensures the entire production process supports the Ugandan people who make the clothes – from the farmers to the seamstresses.

Cooee is a new, sustainable kids clothing brand that makes beautiful everyday clothes for children ages two through seven. All garments are made exclusively from 100% CmiA-Certified African cotton grown and produced in Uganda. Anna and Naomi – who still live in Uganda – personally ensure the integrity of the field-to-fashion production line, working closely with artisans to make a positive impact. Cooee Kids also features unique hand-drawn print designs that engage a child’s imagination.

“We are both hugely excited to launch our first Spring Summer collection,” Naomi says. “It’s a dream come true for us. We care about our planet and how we leave it for future generations. Parents across the globe care more and more about where their children’s clothes come from and we are one of a handful of brands that can guarantee their fabrics provenance. We manage the entire production process first-hand and ensure every single garment meets our stringent measures.”

Cooee Kids’ SS18 collection of dresses, skirts, t-shirts and shorts brings to life things that make kids smile. The girl’s hero piece is the sky-blue monkey love dress that features a montage of monkeys printed around the neckline. Boys can choose a from a t-shirt printed with a mischievous crocodile on a bicycle, to a surfing monster catching a big wave.

Cotton Made in Africa (CMIA) is an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) that helps smallholder cotton farmers improve living conditions in Africa for both themselves and their children. Child labor, dangerous pesticides and genetically modified cotton are strictly forbidden. Smallholder farmers get a fair and timely payment and are trained in modern, efficient and sustainable cotton farming practices. This helps the farmers to generate higher yields and incomes.

Anna and Naomi introduced their first Cooee Kids collection to the UK and German children’s markets in early March. When will it be available in the States? Ask them, right here.

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Tea Collection


Tea Collection’s first-ever tween collection is inspired by the United States.

CRT has long been a fan of Tea Collection, the globally-inspired children’s clothing brand made “for the little citizens of the world” to make the foreign more familiar. Tea just launched a newly sized collection designed especially for tweens, one co-founders Leigh Rawdon and Emily Meyer feel strongly about creating because this age group has always had limited fashion options.

From signature dresses and leggings for girls to bold and bright graphic tees and pants for boys, to rompers and bodysuits for babies and newborns, Tea designers bring the beauty of international cultures and modern design to children’s clothing. Twice each year, they go out into the world in search of inspiration for their clothing collections. They discover new places and faces, time-honored traditions and handmade creations. Now, they are bringing tween girls the power to express themselves.

That’s because Tea Collection inspires global connection and curiosity for children. “We want to give kids the world, to help them discover that no matter where we live or what language we speak, there is so much we all have in common.”

We think it’s a fine, fine passion for these times.

Blu & Blue New York


Premium denim, redefined for kids. 

Since its launch in December 2015, retailers, customers, parents and kids are instantly taken by Blu & Blue, which has also built a wildly successful following among influencers and celebrity fans, too. Blu & Blue founder Aaina Jain leverages her family’s 35-year reputation in manufacturing quality denim to produce clothing for babies and toddlers that is versatile enough to wear all year long. Blu & Blue’s seasonal collections are contemporary, fashion-forward, comfortable pieces that are safety-tested, adorned with hand embroideries, denim techniques and washes. The denim in also combined with different fabrics, for a new, unique look for each garment. The super-soft yet durable apparel stands up to active playtime.

Company Mission – Do Denim Right #BluDoneRight

Blu & Blue is well-designed, mindfully-made and contemporary, with quality you can feel.  “Each Blu Product is made with you in mind – a quality conscious, fashion forward parent who values well designed, elegant and sustainable clothing for their children,” Aaina says in an interview with Home Business magazine. “Each product is thoroughly quality checked and given the Blu seal of approval before it is packaged and shipped directly to you.”

All Blu & Blue fabrics are free of lead, phthalates and flame-retardants. Every step of the design and manufacturing process is conducted in-house. Each Blu Product is thoughtfully designed, cut, stitched, ripped and repaired and washed at the company’s own state-of-the-art sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing and washing facility. Special softeners and treatments are used to make the fabrics butter-soft for extra comfort, luxurious texture and look. The company also uses “saliva friendly” fabrics that are pre-washed for a safe and super soft garment.

The company says its strength lies in “our passion and commitment to deliver quality.” Retailers – check out Blu & Blue’s launch of the new Fall/Winter 2018 Collection at Children’s Club January 7-9!

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Qatrah


Have you heard of the slow-fashion movement?

Veteran women’s fashion designer Charu Wadhwa’s slow-fashion infant wear label Qatrah is designed in New York and ethically handcrafted in India by local artisans. Using handwoven, heirloom-quality fabrics, each Qatrah piece stands out in a sea of disposable fashion with designs that endure and can be passed down for generations.

“I think slow fashion lies in the essence of the textile process of Qatrah, where materials pass through the hands of one craftsperson to the other,” Charu says. “Qatrah is an effort to eschew factory and sweatshop culture in favor of equal pay and better working conditions for our artisans to create beautifully made pieces that can be worn, treasured and handed down from one child to the next.”

Charu’s clothing designs focus on freedom of movement for babies with airy silhouettes that reflect her Indian heritage. Rompers, harem pants, low-slung trousers and cotton-silk blankets (perfect for baby’s first trip home from the hospital) round out the breezy collection for 0 to 2-year-olds, available at www.qatrah.net.

Exquisite, Enduring Artistry

Qatrah is an ode from Charu to her daughter, Aria. Her newest collection, Little White Bird, has flowy, away-from-the-body silhouettes that feature the symbolism of the bird as its central motif. Charu revives the traditional Indian crafts of Daraj (reverse applique) and Chikankari (white on white embroidery) of Lucknow, with her distinctive, intricate embroidered designs of subtle bird details and playful, colorful tassel accents. The comfortable, breathable fabrics are all lovingly hand-dyed and finished on hand looms.

Upliftment

Charu Wadhwa is a designer with a strong interest in sustainable practices in the fashion industry and works for the upliftment of skilled and semi-skilled craftspeople. She hopes to be part of the new wave of designers and entrepreneurs that implement more conscious and careful practices within the fashion design field.

Charu’s extensive background in high-end women’s fashion sets her apart from other micro-fashion designers. Educated at NIFT in New Delhi and FIT in NYC, she has over a decade of experience working for the most esteemed design houses, including Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. From Nicole Kidman at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Naomi Watts at the 2014 Oscars, to Katie Holmes at the Met Gala, she has been instrumental in many memorable red carpet fashion moments.

“Do you know who made your clothes?” asks Charu. “At Qatrah, we work with artisans directly and towards their upliftment!”

Now, who wouldn’t love that?

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Veyo Kids


mittyz™ – Awesome snow gloves for toddlers.

Veyo Kids makes mittyz snow gloves, a unique design that helps make outside playtime more fun for babies and toddlers. The unique design makes them easy to slip on and fit perfectly around bulky coats. Plus, they’re adorable.

Functional, Fun Designs Make a Great Mitten

  • Keeps little fingers warmer
  • Stays on better, which makes playtime last longer
  • Flip inside-out for easy drying or cleaning

New Dad-at-the-time Drake is inspired by every parent who has ever gotten a child ready to play outside, particularly in cold weather. “I mean honestly – what goes on first?” he reveals on his website. “The coat and then the gloves? Or the gloves, so that the coat sleeves stay over the glove cuffs? And the thumb…seriously?! Why in the world won’t my kids’ wiggly little thumbs go into the thumbholes?! And is the liner supposed to come out with their thumb when they take it off, so that I can never get their thumb in there again?”

After scouring local sporting goods store looking for some better toddler gloves, Drake develops his own prototype: a “thumbless” glove that still allows functionality with a thumb pocket, a big gauntlet to go over even the puffiest coat, made from super warm, water-proof material that can be flipped inside-out to be dried or washed.

Sounds like mittyz™ to me!

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Walsh Brothers Shoes


Great advice for choosing the right shoes for toddlers … all the way from Ireland.

“It’s very tempting to buy every pair of cute little shoes you see in the shops,” says Paula Casey, marketing manager for Ireland’s Walsh Brothers Shoes in Co. Kerry, “but some can be damaging and uncomfortable for the child. Because they’re at such a young age, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to explain or communicate that too easily, if it does occur.”

Everything You Need to Know About Choosing Shoes for Your Toddler

Paula has shared this nifty graphic that pulls together professional advice to consider when investing in a pair of shoes for your toddler. Good stuff in here!

About Walsh Brothers Shoes

Founded in 1902 as a general drapers and boot store, Walsh Brothers Shoes is run today by the third generation of Walsh brothers with the same love of shoes Grandfather John realized over a century ago. In Kerry, Walsh Brothers Shoes is recognized as a premiere footwear retailer catering to all ages. With 49 different sizes and a range of width fittings available, you can be sure to find a shoe that fits. Walsh Brothers Shoes carries children’s shoes from leading brands like Clarks, Duberry, Susst, Vans, Inishfree, Lelli Kelly and more – sports and school shoes, boots and sandals as well as dancing shoes and school bags. With the launch of the WalshBrothersShoes.ie website in 2014, the Walshes have extended their services internationally, providing delivery to the rest of the world!