Great British design talent at Pitti Bimbo in Florence
20/06/2019
Brits-at-Pitti-Bimbo-June-2019
Almost 50 UK brands are showing their latest collections at international childrenswear fair Pitti Bimbo in Florence, showcasing the breadth and diversity of British creative talent.
The Brits in Florence group includes established labels such as Tom Joule, Caramel, The Bonnie Mob, Frugi and Angel’s Face alongside a raft of newer brands including Mabli and The Middle Daughter.
For the full British exhibitor list, please see the attachment above.
Brands to look out for as part of the UK group in Florence, co-ordinated by UKFT and supported by the Department for International Trade (DIT), include
- Ari London
With two design studios, one in the bustling vibrant heart of London and the other located in sublime Scotland, Ari’s team of skilful designers work progressively and in harmony with in-house artisans who are constantly crafting new techniques, re-imaging age old procedures and unearthing distinctive and renewably supportive methods of creating the exceptional fabrics we use in our exquisite Collections. We care passionately about the precious world in which we live.
We are blazing a new pioneering and rebellious trail in the luxury design led end of the fashion industry; delicately disrupting the status quo. We don’t create seasonal collections, instead we design our clothing to be fluid and transient, to be in tune with nature’s gentle ebb and flow and your own temporal moods. Successfully bridging the gap between luxury and sustainability; you could call us an enigma, wrapped in a smile. We will both surprise and at the same time delight you with our dedication to utilising fabrics that will bring you closer to heaven without damaging the fragility of the earth. Organic cottons, sumptuous silks; responsibly sourced.
- Bebe Bombom
British brand for beautiful baby and children nightwear and occasionwear. Featuring timeless hand-smocked designs and delicate prints. Ethically made in super soft Peruvian Pima cotton, the world’s finest, prized for its exceptional durability and softness. As a result of their commitment to the empowerment of women, many women artisans are able to work from home, caring for their own children, while making the most beautiful and detailed handsmocked pieces.
- Bella & Frank
Bella + Frank is named after two of the world’s cheekiest Italian Greyhounds. Our brand is about family, headed by mother and daughter, Hannah and Lesley. Our brand is about nature, with a relentless obsession with plants, animals and the wild. Our brand is about creativity, unfiltered and unadulterated expression.
Sustainability is both a practice and a goal at Bella + Frank. We hope that introducing by eco-consciousness to young minds, we will help raise a generation of environmentally aware consumers. The brand is for parents who want their children to be creative, individual, inquisitive and as adventurous as they like and in the most natural and liberating ways possible. Lesley and Hannah both believe that if you’re seeking to inspire children there is, perhaps, no better way to do so than with what they interact with everyday: clothes that are practical, well-designed and consciously made.
- Cute Cute
Cute Cute is an exclusive British brand. Their passion is to create the finest hair accessories that make every little girl feel like a Princess. The brand was founded by Magda Haroon in 2012. Each design is tastefully created using carefully selected materials from all over the world. Attention to detail is the key as everything is hand crafted and finished to the highest quality. Suitable from newborn up to teens.
- David Charles
David Charles supplies top boutiques and department stores worldwide. David Charles has dressed European Royalty and cinema stars for the red carpet since 1970. With attention to detail and fashion elements the collections are always innovative and glamorous, specialising in clothes for the special occasion. The clothes are what every girl would like to wear and parents happy to buy.
www.davidcharleschildrenswear.com
- Holly Hastie
British fashion designer Holly Hastie graduated with an honours degree in fashion and textiles and has spent many years designing for British and international women’s wear brands in London, Paris and Sydney before going on to establish her own collection of luxury designer children’s wear.
HOLLY HASTIE is a beautiful British contemporary classic brand for girls who love colour, quality and style. Luxury designer children’s clothing made with fine attention to detail, perfect for daywear, parties, special occasions, bridesmaids, flower girls and ceremonies.
Design and quality are at the core of the brand.
The collection is designed in Great Britain, and sold in boutiques and department stores worldwide.
- It’s In My Jeans
We believe denim should be as relevant for kids as it is for grown ups. Which is why we bring together stylish, contemporary and streetwear fashion – giving kids a new level of expression through denim. Our designs are inspired from the global denim scene to ensure your little ones don’t miss out on the cool stuff!
- Jem + Bea
Multi-award winning luxury accessories brand Jem + Bea was launched in 2015 by friends Dominique Hughes and Rebecca Da Silva Lima. Unable to find a desirable changing bag on the market when looking for themselves, they set about creating a collection that was both covetable and practical for stylish mothers. Before launching Jem + Bea, Rebecca designed for Mulberry, Anya Hindmarch and Burberry while Dominique, who has a serious handbag obsession, came from a law background, giving them the perfect platform to start the brand.
In keeping with the first style that was brought to market – the now iconic Jemima Bag – each new bag is designed to be modern, fashion-led and luxurious, offering something different, such as a mini clutch, a fresh colour way or a hands-free option. As a wardrobe staple, Dominique and Rebecca believe bags are an indispensable part of your style, identity and personality, so why should a changing bag be any different? Every season, new collections are designed and crafted in premium leathers and materials that they have lovingly hand picked. Functional details are cleverly worked into the brand’s designs, to create beautiful bags that are durable enough to stand up to the rigours of daily life with a baby.
- Le Mu
Le Mu is a UK brand specialising in occasionwear and accessories that will excite and delight little girls aged 2 to 12 years.
Our collection consists of stunning dresses and skirts featuring rich layers of tulle and lace with exquisite details such as hand stitched flower embroidery, sequin trims, lavish pearls and golden buttons. Creativity and product excellence are at the heart of Le Mu’s design process and from the selection of the highest quality materials to the hand crafting of the finishing touches, nothing is overlooked. Layers of luxurious fabrics, oversized bows, bejewelled belts and detachable collars are just some of the design elements that make the collection so distinctive and chic.
Our exclusive range of complimentary accessories including jewelled headbands, sparkling tiaras and lace & pearl clutch bags offer the perfect finishing touches to transform any little girl into a fairytale princess. All Le Mu’s garments are delivered in beautiful gift or dress bags to keep them safely stored for that special occasion.
- Mabli
MABLI was launched in October 2016 with a vintage inspired selection of Merino Wool clothing and blankets, with styles suitable from birth to 6 years. Now the range goes up to age 12 in some styles, and have introduced other natural fibres, such as Organic Pima Cotton and Linen.
With a versatile fit and a slow-fashion aesthetic, our clothes are designed for longevity; fitting your little ones for as long as possible, to treasure and hand down the generations.
- Mori
We believe that every moment is worth embracing; from the sleep deprived times to the snuggles fuelled by laughter, each moment is a magical milestone important to your growing family. That’s why at MORI we create products that help to welcome a baby into the world, with a gentle touch from sustainable materials.
We use the softest and highest-quality products, which are made with a families wellbeing in mind. Crafted carefully from sustainable sources to ensure that our manufacturing methods are environmentally conscious, and that only natural materials touch your baby’s delicate skin. Made from organic cotton and bamboo, our signature fabric is exceptionally soft on a baby’s delicate skin. This unique material feels softer than silk and is safer than regular fabrics as it is breathable and thermoregulating. Both of these properties keep a baby at the right temperature every night, through every season making organic cotton & bamboo a soft, safe and sustainable fabric to dress your baby in.
- Tiba & Marl
Tiba + Marl was created in 2015 by London duo, Anna Tizard and Lydia Barron. Both Mothers, they spotted a gap in the market for contemporary, trend inspired parent changing bags. Anna, a former Bag Buyer for Urban Outfitters and Topshop, and Lydia, a Footwear and Accessories Designer for Kurt Geiger and Sigerson Morrison, set about to provide cool Mums and Dads with a range of cleverly designed, super functional changing bags where an edge of cool always comes as standard.
- The Middle Daughter
Arriving in kids fashion-land in 1991 after ten years of creating some of London’s most decadent parties, under the mantle of Pushca, Ric & Deborah then spent the next two decades building the no added sugar brand.
Saying goodbye to the brand in 2018 presented a fortuitous opportunity to reflect and consider what the next adventure should be. Taking the metaphoric clean sheet of paper they have devised a new story – that story is The Middle Daughter.
The Middle Daughter is exclusively a girls wear brand for ages 2 -14 years. The concept is to create fashion-forward pieces with a minimal aesthetic, offering a modern wardrobe for the fashion-savvy girl.
The distinctive handwriting of the former brand will be evident yet imbued with this pared-back spin, as is the mindset; less obsessive about building an empire and more inspired to unleash this new girl with lashings of mischief!
Image credit above: AKAstudio – collective