Your Custom Text Here
It's not surprising that I love this new collection by Lu Flux called A Mouthful of Milk Teeth. It combines patchwork, kid's clothes and knitwear - three of my favourite things. Each piece is made to order from a mix of cotton and wool yarns and the items have great names, like Gummy Trousers, Flossy Skirt and Molar Helmet. Hmm, it's all a lot more fun than going to the dentist.
P.S. I like their Bear dress for grown ups too.
One of the very first pieces of clothing that I bought for Wren was a cute little printed romper from a small label called What Mother Made at Broadway Market. I was immediately drawn to the traditional shapes and colourful prints on the stall and thankfully, I wasn't the only one. What Mother Made have continued to grow, and they now produce a large collection of handmade kid's clothes that look like your Mother could have made them. Their new Autumn/Winter collection has just launched, so I chatted to founder Charlotte to find out a little more about the brand.
What inspired you to start What Mother Made? My grandmother used to make my Mum's clothes, my Mum used to make my clothes, so this passion for making garments is in our family and has always existed. I really wanted to carry on that tradition, it's something I feel we've lost in recent years. What Mother Made initially started as a hobby, then for the Royal Wedding we made a few pieces to sell at a local craft market. Everything sold out and since then we haven't looked back. What are the ideas behind the most recent collection? We were looking through family photos of when we were children, reminiscing. The clothes we were dressed in gave me food for thought. The shapes and textures were amazing and so it inspired us to create our own 'heritage' collection. What materials do you use and where do you make the clothes? We hand-make everything from a studio in Dalston, East London, and we're proud that we have been able to keep the process British. We use a lot of different fabrics; cottons, herringbone wool, African prints and fleck tweeds. Texture is really important to the new collection and the extra dimension it gives to the clothing. Where do you sell? We're stocked in a number of places across London at the moment (In With the Old, 57 Amwell Street, EC1R 1UR, Archie's Boutique) as well as through our website www.whatmothermade.co.uk. We've also kept the original stall we had when we first started the business over 2 years ago at Broadway Market, Hackney, every Saturday from 10am - 5pm. Do you have any children? If so, what is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Yes we have two. Madison who is six, and Arlo who is about to turn one. At home with the children we love making things; cars, magic telescopes, treasure boxes out of cereal boxes and bottle tops. If you can glue it or cut it, they'll be making something out of it! What is your favourite children's book? We recently bought the entire Roald Dahl collection at a car boot sale and are currently reading The Witches with Madison. They are absolutely timeless those stories and reading them to Madison is like being transported back to your youth. They're just brilliant to read. Do you have any exciting plans for the future? Lots, we're in the middle of planning for next year's seasons and we're looking to take the brand to Australia and Scandinavia towards the end of the year. We're also looking into British collaborations so watch this space...
I recently met Natalie Collier from Project Jelly and was inspired to hear her talk about her fundraising footwear designs. She makes great jelly shoes (I love the unisex Watermelon Rocks colour combination) and 25% of the profit from every pair goes directly to Mencap, a charity which supports people with a learning disabilities, their families and their carers. It's exciting to find someone working with charity in a fun and innovative way, so I asked Natalie to tell us a little bit more about the project...
What inspired you to start Project Jelly? Breastfeeding during the midnight hours and feeling like I needed to fundraise more! It's a long story, but put simply I wanted to challenge myself to make a change and see if I could start something new. Notebooks of ideas and gazillions of hours later, Project Jelly was born.
What are the ideas behind the current collection? The very simple idea of fusing a great children's shoe (made in the UK) with a big fundraising element. We have launched two colours this S/S13. Watermelon Rocks is our unisex red with a neon line sole. It's our bestseller! Who knew that all the cool Mamas were sick of navy for boys? So I'm really chuffed that the unisex red has gone down so well. We also have our glittery transparent Raspberry Mivi, which is very obviously inspired by the ice cream van lollies of the 1980's - YUM! These two will now be our core brand colours with two new exciting colour combinations due to be launched for S/S14. We would love to hear of fresh colour suggestions from our customers, so please send any ideas to hello@projectjelly.com
What materials do you use and where do you manufacture? It's a secret Jelly recipe blend! No, seriously they are made for us in a stunning Victorian factory in Northampton, the home of British shoe manufacturing. We use an injection moulding process based on the original shoe moulds from the early 1980's. Our Project Jellies are homegrown and proudly made in Great Britain. Plus, any overstock gets ground down and recycled into new shoes.
Do you have any children? If so, what is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Yes, two gorgeous Jellytots! Darcy is two and a half years old and baby Jude. Darcy is in shoe heaven and keeps rummaging through for a fresh pair every now and again. I think I've started off a shoe fetish for her like her Mama. They are crazy about each other and on a good day we love to hang out in our local woods and 'find the fairies' or hang with our buddies at Dulwich Park. On a bad day we're chasing around the house singing Mr Tumbles. The family is certainly complete - chaos reigns but it's all adreneline charged fun!
What is your favourite children's book? Mine is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (enough said!) and a very battered copy of The Walker Book of Poems c.1979. Darcy's is Pip and Posy and the hilarious Sarah Dyer picture book The Girl with the Birds Nest Hair.
Do you have any exciting plans for the future? YES!! A neon orange unisex welly boot for A/W13. We want to keep on raising money for Mencap and designing exciting new shoes. We are backed by the British Footwear Association who are helping us to draw up some future plans so please stay in touch and watch this space.
I was recently asked to come up with three ways to upcycle a coat hanger by Pretty Nostalgic magazine. I made a bird mobile from Recycled Home, some kid's bunny ears and a slightly crazy wire weaving. Here are my instructions for the bunny ears:
You will need: Plastic headband, wire coat hanger, pliers, gaffer tape, scissors, PVA glue, fabric scraps.
1. Stretch out your coat hanger using the pliers and create the shape of two elongated bunny ears, the wonkier the better. 2. Stick the wire ears onto the headband using gaffer tape. Be generous, you need to make sure they are secure. 3. Using sharp scissors, cut your fabric into long strips about 2cm wide. Try to keep the strips an even width all the way along. 4. Using a small piece of tape about 1cm long, fix the end of a fabric strip onto the headband and begin to wrap the fabric around the band, covering the tape as you go. 5. Take your time and keep it as neat and firm as possible. When you get to the end of a strip, secure it with a 1cm piece of tape. 6. When you start wrapping a new piece of fabric, secure it in place with tape and make sure you wrap the fabric over it to hide any joins. 7. Continue wrapping until you have covered all the wire ears and the headband. 8. Instead of tape, secure the final fabric end with a drop of PVA glue and leave to dry. Trim any loose edges for a neat finish or leave raw for a more authentic furry look.
You can see this and my other two upcycled pieces in the latest issue of Pretty Nostalgic.
I recently bought Wren the Bude trouser by Tootsa MacGinty from a great local kids shop. I was intrigued by the name (as we live in Bude) and wondered if they were a local company. A quick google told me no, they're based in London, but no doubt designer Kates' love of surfing inspired the name (this is a major surfing area!) I am very impressed with the quality and style of the trousers and bought them, fully intending that they would eventually be passed down to little brother Fred. It turns out that all Tootsa MacGinty's clothing (apart from a few dresses) is unisex. Kate founded the brand in reaction to the overwhelming genderisation of children's clothes – sludgy colours and camouflage for boys and glitzy princess themes for girls. “I believe our world is filled with colour, and everything is a possibility,” she says, “children like colour, they have big imaginations, they enjoy pretending, they love to dream and for them the world is full of possibilities. I don’t intend to limit their imaginations or make their world smaller by putting them in a sea of pinks and blues, or clothes that look like they were meant for adults.” I couldn't agree more and contacted Kate to find out more about the brand.
What inspired you to start Tootsa MacGinty? It’s a complete cliché but the birth of my daughter! And a subsequent return to living in London after living in Australia, the US and France since my late teens. I was working as a womenswear designer and was shocked by the stark gendering of children's wear and toys on offer on the British high street, so set about creating a stylish alternative. Where does the name come from? It is actually a term of endearment my daughter’s father uses. It is completely made-up gobbledygook! I didn’t want to choose a name that already had a preconceived connotation. I like that it is phonetic, sounds nice and looks good when written ….and is easy to Google! What are the ideas behind the current collection? The current Spring/Summer 2013 collection is inspired by the long summer holidays of childhood. In my memory they felt endless (no doubt, when my daughter starts school, as a parent they’ll feel eternal!) British seaside influences are found throughout the collection, such as the colourful “bunting” all over print, deckchair stripes, ice lollies, donkeys and sea creatures. What materials do you use and where do you manufacture? We always use natural materials (100% cotton, lambswool, cashmere etc.) and choose fabrics that wear and wash well; it is important that the garments will last to pass down to another child. We do most of our manufacturing in Portugal and a very small amount of denim comes from China. Everything is delivered softly pre-washed, itch free, pre-shrunk and ready-to-wear. What is your favourite thing to do with your daughter? Walking our big hairy sheep dog Rufus, going to see a good movie together (a bit of a rarity in kids film but when you see a good one it’s great to watch her little face light up!) Also, I like to get my running gear on and my daughter will jump on her scooter. No personal bests are ever achieved but it’s a good way to let off some steam. Plus baking and cooking – her favourite bit is the washing up! What is your favourite children's book? I love all the books by Allen and Janet Ahlberg. I read them as a child and now enjoy reading them to my daughter. Dr Seuss is great too. Fabulous to read-out-loud and always with a great moral story – The Lorax has felt particularly relevant of late. Does Tootsa MacGinty have any exciting plans for the future? We have extended our range up to a size 8 year old - available in late July/early August 2013. We've also just launched into the US market and I am looking forward to returning to New York this summer to build on the contacts and stockists we have already made.
Thank you Kate! Please visit the Tootsa MacGinty webshop here.
I'm digging the fantastical woodland theme of the new Oeuf autumn/winter clothing collection. Full of knitted crowns, Ewok ears, medieval-style dresses and bear suits, it is perfect for your little forest folk. All Oeuf's clothes are Fair Trade and very beautifully crafted from 100% baby alpaca. I like the fact that when you buy these special knits, you're not only purchasing an heirloom piece but also helping to transform the lives of women and children in Bolivia. Oeuf pays its makers a living wage and they work in small self-managing groups, making decisions as a democracy. This allows their children to go to school and greatly improves the quality of the artisans' lives. So happily, each piece is created for the benefit of everyone - you and them.
I am crazy about this new kids' label Pala Mino! Designer Louise Coughlan, used to make costumes for Giffords Circus and now she designs magical children's clothes. The pieces are all beautifully handcrafted using vintage fabrics and trims from Louise's treasured textile stash. The styles are playful and fun, yet also timeless. They are pieces to be treasured for a lifetime, as they amplify the carefree nature of childhood. I interviewed Louise to find out more: What inspired you to start Pala Mino? I work freelance as a costume maker and I get most of my work from industry costumiers. In addition to the work room, they also have a large warehouse and I like to look through the rails at lunchtimes. I am always drawn to the beautiful fabrics and shapes of the children's section, so I started taking patterns of my favourite pieces and it kind of went from there. What is the inspiration behind the current collection? I'm inspired by costume, film, pattern, shape, colour and fabric. I love films that transport you using pace, landscape and music. I often think of characters and imagine what their children might wear, Jane from Paris, Texas is a current favourite. I am influenced by my costume background but like to be inspired by a cinematic persona rather than a theatrical character. What materials do you use? Cotton, silk, wool, viscose. I prefer to use natural fabric. I have sourced vintage fabric through the years. I am usually drawn to print and/or colour. It's the same with trims and buttons. I have also taken clothing apart and re used it for small pieces like a collar, facing or piping. I am a sucker for a graphic print and get a kick out an unexpected colour combo. What is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Have a lazy morning in bed at the weekend. If we have no plans, there's nothing better than eating breakfast in bed. Then hanging out, reading, chatting, drawing, watching stuff on the laptop. It doesn't happen as much as I would like though, we always seem to be too busy. What is your favourite children's book? I think it is probably Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was the first book my eldest son loved reading by himself, up until then he would only read short stories. Do you have any exciting plans for the future? Oh yeah, as long as I can keep making and being creative. At the moment I do all the making and dyeing myself, if it gets too much I already know very skilled people who can help out. The process is as important to me as the product, this is reflected in the price point but the garments are not throw away. I'm hoping that they will be cherished, well worn and handed down.
Louise can produce all the pieces in different sizes to order. Please don't hesitate to get in touch!
Indikidual are one of my favourite new kids' brands. They make relaxed and comfy, organic cotton clothes with cute prints and playful details, which are just the sort of thing children should wear to play in. My favourites are the denim button back Bubble top and yellow banana print harem trousers. I interviewed founder Syreeta Johnson to find out more about the brand.
What inspired you to start Indikidual? When I went back to work after having my daughter Minnie and really struggled to get the balance between my job, Minnie, and my own life so I started to think of alternative solutions. I have always worked in fashion and have been a buyer and designer for women's, men's and kids' wear so I just decided to do what I do but for myself. Now I can work my schedule around family life which is great. I no longer feel like I'm being pulled in all directions! I love creating clothing which is a bit different to your usual kids' wear. When Minnie was born I was shocked that she had such a strong personality from such a young age and I really wanted to create a clothing range that reflected that kids are quirky, funny and unique in their own little way. What are the ideas behind the current collection? The SS13 collection is all about travel, with banana shaped balloons on the babygrows and colourful images of Russian architecture. The all over prints are geometric and colours are monochrome mixed with bold brights. The shapes are mostly unisex and can be mixed and matched to create a range of different looks. What materials do you use and where do you manufacture the pieces? We use 100% Organic Jersey from India. I'm really exited to be adding some organic indigo denim for AW13. What is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Me and Minnie love dancing. We often have a 'disco' in the living room, usually around 5ish when I'm running out of ideas! We pull down the blinds, put Minnie's disco light on and blast some tunes. She loves anything with a good beat, Daft Punk is a big favourite. She's totally mastered the robot by watching their 'Around the World' video! What is your favourite children's book? We love Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. Pippi is such a cool little girl, she does as she pleases, makes up crazy stories and turns everything into an adventure. Do you have any exciting plans for the future? We are just about to start working on the photoshoot for next spring/summers collection which is always exciting. Then we have all the trade shows coming up, this year we will be in London, Paris and Florence. I'm really looking forward to Paris, my sister is coming with me so I will have a partner in crime!
How adorable are these autumn/winter preview shots from Caramel Baby & Child? I am quite taken with every detail - the colours, the shoes, the tights and the hair, not to mention the clothes! I always love Caramel Baby & Child's collections and it looks like next season will be no exception. Now I just have to work out a way to become a six year old again in time for winter...
I love Jon Klassen's illustrations in this new book by Lemony Snicket. The Dark tells the story of Laszlo, a lovely little boy who leads a strangely solitary existence and is scared of the dark. Klassen's nostalgic illustrations are delightful, embracing a warm rosy palette combined with the bold forms of the ever lurking blackness. If you have ever been scared of the dark, I thoroughly recommend you read this book!
01
02
05
04
A lot of the kids' clothes I feature on here are fairly expensive, so it's nice to include a range that is more budget friendly - and from good old Mothercare no less! Their spring/summer Little Bird collection really is adorable. Designed by Jools Oliver, it features vintage-inspired smock dresses, toadstool pyjamas, rainbow-trimmed rain jackets and the cutest little pair of red T-bar shoes. The prices are fantastic too - those red buckle shoes are just £15! Mothercare is one of those great British brands that has an iconic history. It is where my mother used to shop and still the first place she goes for kids' things. I think Jools has done a great job to tap into this vintage vibe and continue Mothercare's tradition of making stylish children's clothes that are affordable for everyone.
I love these handmade cloth books by Victoria van der Laan. Victoria has been making things since 1976 and has an etsy shop selling her charming custom-made books for babies, kids and adults. I'm very impressed with her range of topics - there are books on science, dinosaurs, woodland creatures, musical instruments, fruit, mammals and transport to name just a few! Each book features interesting and non-traditional applique images as well as having a stylish typographic front cover. If you want a personalised book, Victoria can also embroider a child's (or adult's) name on the front, making a wonderful and very unique gift.
veryfrenchgangsters05
veryfrenchgangsters01
veryfrenchgangsters03
veryfrenchgangsters
veryfrenchgangsters04
I love this French brand which makes super cool prescription eyewear for three to fourteen year olds. Very French Gangsters launched last year and has now expanded their range to include four different styles, all available as both glasses and sunglasses. Each style also comes in several different colours and materials. I wore glasses as a child and the choice out there was pretty dismal, so I'm delighted to finally see someone offering a range for kids that is both stylish and good for their eyes.
donnawilsoncreativecreatures
donnawilsoncreativecreatures
Donna Wilson's designs always bring a smile to my face. They are fun, bright and more often than not, fuzzy. I particularly like her knitted creatures, so I was excited to see that she has a new kids craft book out called Donna Wilson's Creative Creatures, which gives step-by-step instructions on how to make lots of fun toys and games. My favourite projects include Big Ted and Wilbur's Mitten Kitten, Charlie's banana bunting and Olive Owl's Kite. The book is also presented in a really fun way as each project is photographed as a jolly diorama, so even if (like me) you don't have a lot of time to make things, it's still a good book to look at. Donna has also started a new kids blog called Birdie and Bear, where you can follow her adventures with her beautiful new baby boy.
Lilly Marthe Ebener is a fashion editor and stylist, based in Paris. She also designs beautiful handmade knitwear. Lilly designs for adults and children but I think her babies' collection is the best. It features vintage ski-inspired sweaters, ponchos and woolly trousers all hand-knitted from 100% alpaca. Her accessories collection is pretty cute too with pom-pom trimmed boots, bonnets and mittens in lovely shades of fox brown, cream and crimson. For more information and stockists, please check out Lilly's website.
I am on a brief holiday in Scotland at the moment - visiting family, but I wanted to let you know about a new magazine that I am intrigued about, which celebrates fatherhood. Through essays, interviews, editorials, art and photography, Kindling Quarterly aims to highlight creative individuals whose work and lives are inseparable from their role as a parent. This is a welcome discussion, as men who are active caregivers are no longer a novelty in today's society and thankfully, the magazine does not present them as such. Instead it provides a thoughtful dialogue about fatherhood that is frequently missing from our current cultural landscape. While the subjects of Kindling's stories may be fathers, each issue is also designed to appeal to anyone interested in art, creativity and community, as the magazine playfully assesses and celebrates the multitude of experiences that form contemporary fatherhood. The first issue is out now and I am looking forward to seeing many more.
thumb copy
I am so excited about this new film about Ina May Gaskin and The Farm. I loved reading Ina May's book Spiritual Midwifery before I had both my children and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in birth, children and seventies counterculture. Birth Story: Ina May Gaskin & The Farm Midwives tells the story of Ina May and her spirited friends, who began delivering each other’s babies in 1970, on a caravan of hippie school buses, headed for a patch of rural Tennessee. With Ina May as their leader, the women taught themselves midwifery from the ground up, and with their families, founded an entirely communal, agricultural society called The Farm. They grew their own food, built their own houses, published their own books, and, as word of their social experiment spread, created a model of care for women and babies that changed their generation’s approach to childbirth. The film is currently being screened internationally and will be released on DVD in the spring.
I am fascinated by documentary photographs, particularly by those that manage to capture the everyday so beautifully. That is why I am excited to hear about You Are My Wild, a new project which brings together fourteen photographers, each taking a weekly portrait of their children. This is the first week and new images will be posted every Tuesday. I look forward to following and seeing how the project evolves over time.
Images above by Rebecca Conway, Meaghan Curry, Ryan Marshall & Shelby Brakken.
BabyList
After promising to write a new baby wish list last month, I have been in two minds about whether or not to do it. The problem is that I genuinely don’t believe that new babies need very much. Having said that, there are undoubtedly one or two things that do make parents lives easier (and more fun) so in the end, this list has been written with a combination of fantasy and practicality in mind.
1. Wren loves cats so I thought that perhaps if we dress her baby brother up as a cat, she might like him a little bit more. Cat print body by Bobo Choses available from I Dream Elephants.
2. Made from 100% soft lambswool and knitted in Scotland, Donna Wilson’s mini blankets are the perfect size for wrapping up a little baby. Rainy Day Mini Blanket by Donna Wilson.
3. These hand crochet alpaca butterflies in a wooden frame would look lovely on any nursery wall. Hand Crochet Alpaca Butterflies by Oeuf.
4. I have done lots of research into cots, cot-beds and co-sleepers and decided that overall, this one is the best. It may not be the most super stylish cot on the market but it does offer the safest and easiest way to co-sleep with your baby. It attaches directly to the side of your bed, has a fully adjustable mattress height and gives the baby their own separate sleeping space right next to you. NScessity Babybay Co-sleeping Cot available from JoJo Maman Bebe.
5. I love knitted baby clothes and this striped playsuit from Kidscase is super cute. Fats Knits Playsuit by Kidscase available from I Dream Elephants.
6. This Japanese wooden mobile features multicoloured shapes, a tiny bell and a mirror. It also has room for a photograph of your choice to be slipped into a little pocket and comes with a piece of chalk to draw around your baby’s hands and feet on the pendants provided. GG Birthday Mobile available from Little Fashion Gallery.
7. Babies love sheepskins and these beautiful natural-toned rugs are British bred from the only registered organic sheepskin tannery in the British Isles. Organic Baby Sheepskin Rug from Toxic Free Boutique.
8. Perfect for keeping little toes warm, Freshly Picked moccasins are the coolest baby booties around.
9. Pared down kids stuff is hard to find but happily Caramel’s new range of baby sleeping bags includes this poplin bag in plain and simple petrol blue. Sleeping bag from Caramel Baby & Child.
10. We had a slow start with cloth nappies as when Wren was born, I was given a different set by a friend that didn’t really work out for us. I eventually discovered Little Lamb’s and haven’t looked back since. They are easy to use, simple to wash and quick to dry. I recommend the microfibre version paired with a Motherease wrap.
11. This handmade wooden rattle is such a treat. Expertly crafted from local timber, and finished in pure vegetable oil I'm sure it would be a joy to hold for both parents and children alike. Greifling Rattle from Objects of Use.
12. I am a big fan of babywearing and found my Babasling essential during the first six months of Wren’s life. They are really easy to use and it was definitely our favourite way to hang out together. Babasling Classic in chestnut brown.
13. Again, I have done a lot of research into double buggies and although there are some fairly whizz-bang models out there, I think that something simple will suit us best. I hope to get a Maclaren Triumph Twin for when the baby gets too heavy to carry.
14. Also for when the baby is a little older, I love these brightly coloured glass bottles by Wee-Go Life Factory. The bottles come with an easy to grip silicone sleeve and are completely BPA free. Glass baby bottles from Earth Baby.
15. Continuing with the non-toxic theme, these necklaces by Chewbeads are a brilliant idea. Designed to be worn by Mums and pulled, chewed and tugged on by their little ones, they offer a safe and stylish solution to teething pains. Silicone teething necklace by Chewbeads.
Liberty
I love Liberty. In fact, I think it is my all-time favourite shop. It has everything - A beautiful building, fascinating history, inspiring displays and an excellent range of both contemporary and antique design.
Little Liberty is the department store's new childrenswear section, which opened earlier this year. They have the cutest selection of kids clothes and accessories for little boys and girls. Here are a few of my favourites...
1. Yellow checked dress by Petit Bateau. 2. Blue striped knitted jacket by Stella McCartney Kids. 3. Red striped cotton pyjamas by Petit Bateau. 4. Pink and blue bow dress by Roksanda Ilincic. 5. Liberty print cat toy by Trousselier. 6. Baby blue Thorpe print ruffled bloomers by Liberty London. 7. Knitted bunny playsuit by Stella McCartney Kids. 8. White retro robot lamp. 9. Navy print jersey leggings by Liberty London. 10. Pink Douglas print sundress by Liberty London.