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My favourites from Pitti Bimbo 97

Pitti Bimbo 97

It was an honour and big fun to be part of the 97th edition of Pitti Bimbo. Yes, only three more until the B I G 100. So exciting!

Trade shows are not an easy playing field these days (still not) however nobody can beat Pitti to their program, hospitality and flair. And they win in terms of discovery factor too.
That is why I would like to share 7 brands that stood out to me and may not be on your radar at the moment. However, I think they should be and deserve to be.

Let’s have a look at these stars from around the globe, found at Pitti Bimbo:

Appulu

Appulu

Each Appulu garment is created with kids in mind, with breath-ability and airiness for comfort. ‘Being from India we stay true to our indigenous roots and take pride in our skilled artisans and create for global consumers.’
Slow processes, small batch production, limited quantities and pre-orders to avoid any waste and excess production. Appulu decided to go as far as batch dying their own yarn in eco-friendly naturally derived colors, all hand processed from organic waste to cured yarn. My eyes were instantly drawn to their attention of detail in each piece and you can see the craftsmanship that has been put into each garment, it is simply beautiful.
Photo Credits: F. Guazzelli
 

flying ace kids

Flying Ace

Flying Ace was founded by four best friends, whose dream was to enhance children’s everyday lives with fun and adventure. By stepping away from the traditional costume industry, they wanted to create something special. Adorable capes, fun socks and the best summer hats, everything is made from using GOTS certified fabrics and dyes and manufacturing them in small facilities in their home country, Georgia, as well as in Spain and Portugal. Every piece is designed collaboratively with emerging Georgian artists with the primary goal of celebrating the wonder of childhood and complementing children’s limitless imaginations.

 

C'era una Volta

C’era una Volta

An Italian label dedicated to dress children beautifully, just as they are. In this collection the brand dedicated a capsule to FLOCUS. A new intelligent fabric that is both more ecological, softer and warmer than regular cotton. A fascinating fabric, that is just getting more recognition, and I love that a children’s brand picked up on it. The collection is beautiful and called ‘Postcards from my memories’, with a palette taking from Italy and Japan. Toned by a vintage flair; a delicate terracotta, a rich ochre, the cleanest sky, a dandelion white.

 

Boatilus

Boatilus

Family eco-friendly footwear for people who care about the product’s ecological impact and about the future of the planet.
The Franco-Italian founders are both parents, and 7th generation shoe manufacturers, who have been making footwear since 1810. Today, the brand creates and manufactures in Europe for their sandals and boots to be BIO-based & 100% RECYCLABLE !

 

 

oseree kids

Oséree

This stylish brand, already quite popular for women, makes each piece expertly handmade in Italy, just launched a collection for the youngsters.  The brand’s signature metallic thread glitters in the sunlight and while it is very on-trend, it is also stretchy and comfortable with no itch! Glam!

 

wooxy kids

Wooxy

Wooxy is a new brand for kids based and produced in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Georgia seems to be a place to watch.) ‘Our outfits brings to peace different styles that gives children a sense of freedom and creates a festive mood as well. The materials we use are made of 100% of organic cotton.’
I love their timeless silhouettes, colours, and soft fabrics. Easy pieces that always look fantastic!

 

flower mountain naturino

Flower Mountain for Naturino

What is not to like? Colourful, design-led, fun, chunky, cool, and comfortable. This vegan shoe line has been created together with Japanese designers who combine innovation with the nipponic design tradition.

 

Of course, I will need to mention the two activities I organised for this edition. In order to create a fun and light connection between press/influencers and the brands. The Pitti Olympics and Summer Look in 1 minute, a fun styling game.
By diving into the pieces in the S/S 24 collections of the brands on display, participants playfully connected with the brands at the fair. Let me know if you are planning to attend the fair in January and I will make sure to have you on board.

Top Image Credits: Eeva Suutari

My ‘Coup de Cœurs’ from Pitti Bimbo 95

 Pitti Bimbo 95
Yay! I was back! Back in Florence and back at Pitti Bimbo. If you are hesitating or wondering if you should go in January, do it. It is great to catch up, to see the new collections in real, to enjoy a bit of Italian flair, because that really is the little secret ingredient.

So, Pitti Bimbo number 95 it was, with the theme of ‘Pitti Island’ – a physical and spiritual point. A lab that experiments, multiplies, and diversifies. An island of discoveries, explorations, and visions. My kind of island!
A place for meeting and being together before everyone sets out on their own journey. And that is exactly how I felt during my time in Florence. I am ready again to take away inspiration, colours, fabrics, designs, and ideas… for my own journey.

Yes, it was small. Smaller than usual. But selected and very fine. And it allowed time to meet and talk; to walk around and not run; to have a longer lunch and catch up with colleagues. It was lovely!

Top Buyers and key press attended, 211 brands in total, ranging from ceremonial (a section that is booming again), active wear, leisure, luxury, and contemporary. A total of 3 thousand visitors, with over 2,100 buyers, of which 40% came from more than 50 different countries.

It is also worth noting the great attention that Pitti Bimbo has received in the press and on social media, with almost 200 registered journalists, influencers, and media operators, and around 15,000 interactions achieved by the trade show social media channels.
Every little thing adds up to something big!

 Pitti Bimbo 95

Now, what were my favourites? I will tell you:

The Apartment section is still my favourite of the fair, and it was a lovely presentation once again. And full of inspiration!

Stand out collections and new finds are:

Raspberry Plum – Aleksandra never disappoints, but this must be my favourite collection so far. Amazing prints, cool accessories, vibrant colour combinations, and a bit of glam. I will show you more of S/S 2023 here very soon.

Artemis & Apollon – NEW brand from Greece with a quality, cotton clothing range sharing Greek mythology. Margarita, founder, started the brand during covid inspired by her childhood loves, Greek mythology and sketching.

Tiny Beans – NEW brand from Berlin, Germany. Designing supersoft organic bedlinen for babies and children with a mix and match system. You can select covers, pillow cases, and sheets in any design you love and any size you need. No more sets!

Paade Mode – Linda, another superwoman that always delivers. Beautiful dresses, superb prints, and just such a cool mix and match of fabrics, colours, and designs.

Looks by Luks – new discovery. They are famous for their turbans, but they also presented some very beautiful and cool pyjamas. I will write more about them here very soon!

“In the Fortezza, among the stands, there was great and widespread satisfaction. And many exhibitors were positively surprised by the international turnout and attendance. They saw some of the best buyers in the kids wear world, motivated and willing to bring customers back to their stores and department stores. And who greatly appreciated the selection of collections, launches and special projects in the Fortezza. More and more oriented to tell the world of kids wear in a wide dimension, from design objects and accessories, to books and vintage.”

 Pitti Bimbo 95  Pitti Bimbo 95  Pitti Bimbo 95

This time I want to share a few more ‘Coup de Cœurs’ with you. The ones I discovered outside the Fortezza da Basso. All with a vegan menu/offering, of course:

Shake Cafe – yummy shakes, smoothies, bowls, and more treats. They are all vegan and great ‘pick me ups’ after a day at the fair and high temperatures outside. They serve great breakfasts too, if you would like more than a croissant and a cappuccino. 4 locations around the city!

Santo Falafel – all-vegan, fast food restaurant specialising in falafel.  It also serves various flavours of hummus, fattoush salad, soups and other traditional Middle Eastern dishes. I had a huge salad with falafel and various dips on arrival day, and it made me very happy. If you love falafel like me or just want to change a bit from Italian food…

Gelateria Edoardo il gelato biologico – another fantastic location. Piazza del Duomo. Dark chocolate and fruit sorbet flavours are common vegan options. Edoardo, however, has creamy options for vegans and they are sooooo good. Wednesday was so hot, even the Italians were moaning, I had to treat myself to a cool break. The almond is killer, and the salted pistachio is absolutely fab. Everything is organic too!

Le Luna – the last evening was spent under the stars, together with colleagues, vino, and plates of delicious food, including a vegan menu for me that was out of this world. Surrounded by nature, a view of Florence, and a perfect ending to my journey.
Thank you and see you in January!

Images: AKAstudio-collective

My big Pitti Bimbo 90 recap!

Pitti Bimbo 90
Children’s fashion is going through a demanding process of which we are all aware. This means that things are a bit slow, some markets are suffering, and overall we are missing diversity. The situation is not new and when going to a fair I am especially looking forward to seeing how everyone is dealing with it.

Therefore it was great to see, again, a very strong international attendance on both sides of the market – exhibitors and buyers. An attendance that values the efforts Pitti Bimbo makes in terms of research, collaborations, shows, innovation, and creativity. The general look of the fair, for example, was my favourite to date. I absolutely loved the colourful and very inspiring installation you can see in the first photo.

A great resume is something Christina Rohde said: “It is a really unique opportunity for visibility. And the atmosphere was very pleasant, very friendly, a bit like a festival. This is the first time I felt that the children’s wear industry was being taken seriously. The visitors were true members of the trade, well-prepared, and this is an aspect that is often missing at other fairs. The brands and the event itself make the rendezvous interesting for clients: as soon as you go in, you understand the great effort that has been put into making the atmosphere so incredible, from the colours to the design to the energy, it’s all really exciting.”

Over 550 brands exhibited but with the different pavilions that each follow a topic like sport, street, or elegant it is very easy to get around and to stay inspired. And the number of buyers almost reached 5,900, from almost 80 foreign countries. With an overall number of visitors of 10,000.

Pitti Bimbo 90

Pitti Bimbo 90

And yes, the atmosphere was excellent, very positive and uplifting. Which I found so important because it is easy to look at all the difficulties and to focus on everything that is not going well right now. Together with the catwalk shows, the pop-ups, and the presentations, that were all very upbeat, we were thrown into a fun mood for the whole season.  Filled with colour and energy!

Trends

1970s Hippie and retro inspiration with more deep colours and especially purple and green combinations! (a little too much for my taste especially it was around a lot). All over, and again, there was and is a lot of things we have seen already. And not just stuff that was cool 30 years back and is here again. No, things that keep hanging around season to season.

Basically – it is difficult to talk trends. Brands are playing safe and even the stronger ones with good fashion collections are missing a bit the special detail. The piece that makes your fashion heart beat a bit faster or that you absolutely want to work within a shoot for example. This is what is missing for me right now.

So what else did I see a lot and that stood out a little? Tartan fabrics, jacquard knitwear, and athleisure is still big and going nowhere. Everyone is doing sneakers, suits are more sporty than tailored, and accessories are beanies instead of glam scarves.

So basically, if you have a couple of children (like I do) – they wear older siblings stuff and look like out of an S/S 2020 lookbook… which leads me to my next topic…

Pitti Bimbo 90

Sustainability

Mentioned as a trend by many but personally, I think eco-sustainability is no longer that but an actual reality. And rightfully so! However, it was a big topic during Pitti Bimbo 90 and incorporated into shows, exhibits, and presentations. And of course, the brands are more and more sensitive towards protecting the planet. From the materials used to the graphics, and the communication.

Now, what I found surprising was that I thought we are well passed the moment of awareness. And I wondered why I am seeing, again, so many pieces that just lacked a sense of fashion. Pieces that were foremost sustainable and yet very plain, simple, and ‘pure’. Should we not show the world, the parents, and our children that sustainable can be chic, fun, and cool? Are we not steps ahead of beige, brown, and hemp fabrics?

Nonetheless, it is very encouraging to see how brands approach sustainable practices. Now we need to communicate to the consumers.  Because they have the power to change things through their purchases and to be a role model for their children.

Personally, I find the whole progress very interesting and inspiring. All the possibilities, research, and progress is fantastic. There are so many ideas on how to be more kind to our planet. Shame we did not start earlier but at least we are on it now…

Would you be interested in an article to highlight fashion brands that are really at the forefront of sustainability? Let me know!

Images 1&2: AKAstudio – collective
Image 3: Eeva Suutari
Image 4: Giovanni Giannoni

Pitti Bimbo 90

Pitti Bimbo 90

Tickets are booked, a bed will will be made for me and than it is time to join Pitti Bimbo – the kids fashion fair held twice yearly in Florence, Italy. And they are celebrating its 90th edition from 16 to 18 January 2020. Which means that this incredible fair has now been running for 45 years!

The theme of the Pitti Bimbo winter fair is ‘Show your flags‘ and they will celebrate an important landmark with new creative installations, an attentive selection of brands, international collaborations and a calendar of not-to-be-missed fashion shows and exhibitions. Moreover, for 45 years it has been the epicenter of kids lifestyle. What started with the wardrobe, has expanded to lifestyle and accessories in a world that has managed to engage the entire family. Again, an extraordinary international portfolio ranging from designer labels to small experimental brands will await us for three days in January.

And what about the flags?
A rectangle of material, an inlay of lines, colours, and designs. A flag is never a silent fabric, it always has something to say; it consistently arouses emotions because it speaks in universal messages. It is expressive, enthusiastic, insolent. And it flutters, falls, is lowered, raised, carried and folded. Flags are beautiful geometrical compositions; they give pleasure to the people who see them flying. And Pitti is like the United Nations of Fashion where every brand has its own flag, but also where each one of us can become our own flag.

What’s the new?

The Top Floor of the Central Pavilion is home to THE KID’S LAB! A whole 3,000 sqm of innovative venues including KidzFIZZ, Ecoethic, The Nest and Kid’s Evolution.

One of the highlights of the 90th edition will be a prototype of  the Concept Store of the future. In collaboration with Cilab and The Playful Living which focuses on the effects of digital transformation in the retail world.

The new kids’ collection by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac for United Colors of Benetton makes its debut at the Teatrino Lorenese, within the colorful, playful and lively world of “65 Benetton Street”.

US magazine Hooligans will celebrate its 5th anniversary with an exhibition about the 5 senses. All to be seen, smelled, heard, tasted and touched, on the Top Floor of the Central Pavilion.

What else during Pitti Bimbo 90?

Two Pitti Immagine special runway shows present sophisticated collections from the Apartment section and the innovative creativity of KidzFIZZ. The labels of Children’s Fashion from Spain will also hit the runway.

The historic French children’s fashion house Petit Bateau and the online platform Treedom present a new environmentally and socially sustainable project: the planting of a tree with each purchase of a new birth kit in organic cotton

The not-to-be-missed runway show of Monnalisa returns. The Tuscan brand, a leader in premium childrenswear, will present their new collection with a charming fashion show at the Stazione Leopolda, on January 16.

The photographer James Mollison will present photographs of school yards from all over the world, exploring different environments and children’s play dynamics. Within Sport Generation in the Padiglione Cavaniglia.

 

Pitti Bimbo 90

Pitti Bimbo 90

Some figures: We will see 543 collections and more than 6.400 buyers are expected. And a total of about 10.000 visitors.

How about you? Will you be there? Let me know! First Christmas and then I will get excited about discovering all the new collections, the shows, catching up with people, and talking about children’s fashion all day long! A passion is a passion.

And of course my friend Dimitra will be there with her selection at The Nest. When small is beautiful and among the brands at this edition are: Atelier Parsmei, Jellymade, Mimookids, Mimù, Minì&Made, Naoia, Tiny Tots Barcelona, Weekend House Kids, Wool in Love, and Yay.

Pitti Bimbo
FORTEZZA DA BASSO
Viale Filippo Strozzi 1 – Florence
16 – 18 January 2020
every day 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
last day 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

 

Images: AKAstudio – collective

What happened at Pitti Bimbo 89 this summer?

Pitti Bimbo 89

This time I will not let you wait as long as I did for the Winter edition and share my finds, experience, and news from Pitti Bimbo that took place mid-June today.

Based in Florence, Italy keeps its spot to be the best trade show in the kids’ fashion universe.  To sum up, the headquarters of kids’ fashion and lifestyle attracted approximately 10,000 visitors – again!

And this summer edition was packed with events, shows, and special projects as never before. From innovative projects on research to the latest ideas from the big brands, smaller independent designers or parties. So a lot was going on (and I have to admit that it was not always easy to keep track for me) but everything I saw was also of really high quality. Altogether, the special projects are supporting the whole event, the collections and definitely my experience as a press visitor.

Overall, my favourite project was the newly added Upper Level of the Main Pavilion. The great innovation of Pitti Bimbo 89 and it is called The Kid’s Lab! In short – younger, more experimental brands from the parts of Kids Fizz, The Nest, EcoEthic, ActiveLab, and Kids Evolution have separate but joined together areas here. Which makes it much easier to navigate and to enjoy. In essence, there is light, there is a red line and there is a lot of inspiration up there!

 

Backstage of the FASHION SHOW OF APARTMENT

Pitti Bimbo 89 in numbers:

+ 603 collections, 399 of which from abroad
+ 5,100 buyers, 2.400 of which from abroad
+ a total of 10,000 visitors

Generally speaking, the industry is not very dynamic at the moment. And we have a lot of ‘the same’, no ‘risk-taking’ collections and a shift is slowly coming in the wholesale process too. But the brands are committed and they try to be innovative as much as they can and allow themselves in this economic situation. And the general feedback from brands was that the quality of visitors was very good. Good orders, serious interest, and inspiring conversations are essential. And in the end, it is all that matters, isn’t?

Also, my trend report for Summer 2020 will follow shortly!
Backstage of the FASHION SHOW OF APARTMENT - 013

More highlights:

Meeting the famous French designer and illustrator, Nathalie Lété. She came with her first book in English, that is filled with 200 pages of illustrations and instructions dedicated to arts and crafts.

Australian brand Banabae who showed in The Nest. An ethical and contemporary baby brand, with a big dose of Woodstock and 70’s vibes. Really cool designs for nursery beddings, rompers, and baby accessories. Loved it!

The shows – see below for more!

Manuela, from Hungary, had a lovely collection. Cool earthy tones, beautiful silhouettes, and interesting textures. My favourite collection from the brand to date.

Not to miss, Miss L. Ray came with a lovely collection that is great for tweens. Lots of easy to wear yet chic styles with a sporty influence. Cool mix of fabrics and fluid shapes.

 

il gufo

Kid’s runway shows:

Il Gufo presented in a very romantic setting in the Torrigiani Gardens in Florence. They built a secret garden in a greenhouse and the show was vibrant and just wonderful.

In brief, the Summer 2020 collection originates from two ideas: a dichotomy between urban and natural elements. And in that sweet garden, we saw children playing, having picnics, and jumping in puddles. Personally, it was refreshing to create a collection with endless possibilities that, most of all, allows children to be children.

 

Cherry Papaya

The Moda Portugal Show. For the first time, a multi-brand show with Portuguese brands took place, founded by CENIT, a branch of the Portuguese Association of Clothing and Apparel Industry, Kids. Six designers showed: Cherry Papaya, Knot, Laranjinha, Patachou, Phi Clothing, and Play Up.

All in all, it was a very cheerful, happy and colourful show that had the real summer feeling and lots of joy. Especially Cherry Papaya showed a cool and fresh collection that appeals to both, boys and girls. And Spoiler alert: Watch out for something special happening between Cherry Papaya X Paul & Paula next year.

 

Pero Pero

The Apartment Show. Always a beautiful show with a great set design. And a great start into the Friday since the show is held in the morning. We saw Pero, Michaela Buerger, Velveteen, Amelie et Sophie, and Piccola Ludo and the theme was “con la testa fra le nuvole”, meaning “head in the clouds”.

Pero was fantastic as usual. Beautiful garments with lots of details, flowers galore and magnificent hats to make it perfect. (they are from Lorna Murray by the way)

Furthermore, The Apartment celebrated its 10th anniversary as well. Focusing on elegant and original brands destined for high-end boutiques, it is always a feast for the eye to walk in here.

 

PITTI BIMBO SUMMER PARTY! - 039

And the final click? The Pitti Special Click Party!

Filled with great music, entertainment, food (Italy!!!) and, most of all, great company.  I always feel that this is such a good way to let business be business and to enjoy. Not to mention that having fun together is a good base for working together. Coupled with the stunning Villa Le Corti, the place to be that evening, a synchronized swimming performance, yummy food… we all danced into the night!

In a word: Grazie!

 Backstage images: Eeva Suutari / Runway photos: Giovanni Giannoni / Party photo: AKAstudio – collective

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