French retro-modern

Donatienne Cerise is a cute brand and store with a great selection of handknits, bibs, home decor and furniture. All products are made in France with a special focus on quality of materials + workmanship. We like the re-invented old classics: "vichy" pattern school apron, colorful version of the classic French school chair. Donatienne Cerise 12, rue de Nice 75011 Paris or online www.donatiennecerise.com.

Stroller-bike

Here's a fantastic product from the Netherlands: Taga, multifunctional urban vehicle uniquely designed to suit the needs of today's parents and children. Taga combines the benefits of a premium stroller and a carrier bicycle to create a new transportation modality. The bicycle is converted within seconds into a stroller, allowing parent and child to conveniently enter the premises, ride an elevator or ascend steps. There is no need to lock Taga outside and no parts are left behind. A perfect way to stay green and fit!

Mimi'lou for kids and mums

Mimi'lou is a decor collection designed by a German mother based in Paris, former art director in advertisement. The collection features pillows, lamps, wall stickers, bags, stationery and more. The wall stickers are really unique : so colorful, poetic, enchanting, with real size animals, real size kids. You can even order personalized portraits of you children that look like hand-painted art. Lovely!

20th century design for kids

Molly–Meg is a company dedicated to bringing 20th Century Modern design icons to the world of children. Specialising in children’s furniture from the 1950s to the present, Molly-Meg aims to show that good design is not just for adults. The best of contemporary design along with vintage classics can be brought together in a perfect combination which kids will love and that will evoke nostalgia among parents. Founder Molly-Meg Price is a former childrenswear designer, now Kidswear Editor for leading international fashion forecasters WGSN. She believes that these “new antiques” can appeal to every age and blend seamlessly into any contemporary home. We can only agree on that.

Dream House

This modernist doll house is the dream toy for all kids, but also for minimalist lovers of any age group. It is made of waxed birch plywood and acrylic glass. The studio has a movable back and front. It comes alone or with furniture (beds, table & stools,shower with wash stand, kitchenette and a movable room divider) and outdoor facilities (roofed pool, staircase, catwalk, sun deck and movable bench monoliths). Hours of concentration guaranteed! By Sirch, the German company behind the wonderful SIBI wooden toys collection.

Ilze Vanaga pour Bubble

We're delighted to share with you the image of the season Fall/Winter 2010, courtesy of Latvian photographer Ilze Vanaga. Based in London, Ilze often goes back to her home country to shoot the innocence of her childhood via the eyes of her niece. She secretly dreams of moving to New York some day. May her involvement with Bubble Trade Shows ad campaign bring her luck in the new continent! Thank you Ilze.

Surreal Mix Media Artist

We had a complete crush on the work of Wanda Kujacz. Her photographs are quite remarkable; her mix media work is just unique. Kujacz uses photoshop and proceeds like a visual DJ with images she founds in her personal archive for inserts and collages. She sometimes adds poetic drawings. "The majority of my work is inspired by unbelievable stories I have heard from my Polish Grand-Ma when I was a little girl while living with her; absurd, surreal, incredible stories she believed in and so did I and do I, like an escape, an door constantly open to something else...". Wanda is represented by Julie Séguinier at "La Maroquinerie" www.juliesagency.com.

Long lasting

Proudly debuting its newest collection at Bubble New York, Little Esop brings the best in 100% organic baby clothing. Using only the highest quality production and paying meticulous attention to detail, Little Esop clothing aims at lasting for generations, to be truly sustainable. Inspired by vintage looks and updated with modern functionality, Little Esop provides wearable, washable, and comfortable clothes.

Emotional Design at Bubble London

It is made from bamboo & tactile 100% cotton fabrics and comes in three different sizes. It is fun, good looking and clever. Described as "emotional piece of furniture" by its designer Brit Leissler, the Punch'n'Cuddle creature integrates playtime, fitness and emotional balance for children & parents equally in a domestic environment. We are always thankful to people who give us design emotions. So thanks a lot Brit!

Bubble London Report

Bubble London, the Kids Trade Show, scored another record attendance at this weekend’s show, with a rise of 15% in visitors on the January 2009 event. The 150 collections from fifteen countries cemented the event’s position as one of the most exciting shows on the international kids’ calendar.


Michael Berry, childrenswear buyer for Selfridges commented, “There was a really diverse mix of brands at Bubble this season, and as well as the more commercial names there were a lot of brands at the show that I haven’t heard of before. Bubble London has managed to keep its edge and is clearly going from strength to strength.”


Exhibitors were equally impressed with this season’s show. "Bubble London is a breath of fresh air in the childrenswear industry,” says Michael Schlaeppi of Skyline Agencies, representing Noppies and Sterntaler. “London, and specifically Islington, is a very good location for the show and the venue is fantastic, providing a very relaxed atmosphere for our customers. Bubble London has the opportunity to bring the ‘buzz’ back to the industry with fresh ideas and become the key point of reference for every childrenswear buyer. We'll be back!”



Daniel Stockley from Huckelbones adds “This is our third show and the new venue is great. There is a great mix of brands and exciting products this season. The show is really creative and the atmosphere is very relaxed.”


The fifth edition of Bubble London will be held at the Business Design Centre on JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 1, 2010 and will present autumn/winter Collections for 2010.

Bubble London : quick update (day one)

Excellent first day at Bubble London. Exhibitors, retailers and press all gave very good comments on the show in general and said they love the new venue. The "Stand out award" was given to Poppy for the best stand decoration. Poppy will get a free space at the next edition of Bubble London. A full show report will follow soon.

Bubble London opens tomorrow!

Bubble London will open tomorrow, Sunday June 21st at 9am with over 150 exhibitors (Molo Kids, Petit Bateau, Mini A Ture, Bonnie Baby, Katvig, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Bright and Stripes, Ed Hardy Kids, French Connection Kidswear, Hucklebones, ilovegorgeous, No Added Sugar, Their Nibs, ej sikke lej, O'Neill, Pepe Jeans London, Mexx, Bloch, Tip Toe Joey, Dandy Star...).
OKIDO will also run fun workshops for children twice a day. Find out more on http://www.bubblelondon.com/visitors.htm.

Mini scale mania

Kids are living in lucky times : after Vitra for kids, it is now the turn of Knoll to come with a collection of spirited, modern furniture scaled for a younger generation. Here's a Eero Saarinen 1948 Womb chair, made exclusively for Knoll, that, the firm says "displays the Finnish-born designer's flair for challenging rules, breaking molds and setting new standards for modern design". An inspiration for airports to design kids lounges?

Glamping anyone?

It's a new trend in the UK. Understand glam(our) (cam)ping, in other words sleeping under a tent with all the possible comfort : furniture, feather beds, wood-burning stoves and flushing toilets. Because in times of crisis, we have more than ever a Swiss family Robinson soul... http://www.featherdown.com/

Maclaren's entry into the nursery furniture category

Interior designer David Netto founded his residential decoration and architectural design shop, David Netto Design, in 2000. Around the time he was shopping for a crib for his daughter, Netto developed a line of stylish modern baby furniture, the Netto Collection. This month the brand was acquired by the stroller company Maclaren. David Netto will continue his involvement with this innovative brand and will collaborate with Maclaren to design and develop future collections and other juvenile products.

News from Spain

The new edition of Naif Magazine is out! It's number 3, featuring Fashion, Design (Matali Crasset), Travel (Rio de Janeiro). Good news, we've heard that Naif will soon be available in the UK and the US.

Old days clothing for newborn

We know why we love vintage : we have to pay a lot today to get the equivalent of what was produced in the past (fabric, cut, workmanship). Moreover, we like that feeling of uniqueness wearing things from other centuries. Bel Heir is the best place to find perfect vintage pieces for babies and children (0 to 5). The selection, (focusing on the 20's-50's) is amazing; the quality as well as, the owner washing and restoring every piece. Belle Heir is based in the US but ships all over the world. www.belleheir.com.

Seven cool dads

The latest edition of Milk, released at the beginning of this month (next week in the US!) features a great story called "Daddy Cool". The seven stylish fathers posing with their children will be exhibited in large scale at Bubble London next Sunday!

Bubble London supports Kids Company

Kids Company is a charity that provides practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people. This year Kids Company will help over 13,500 children and young people through a walk in street level centre in Lambeth, through their program in 37 inner city schools and through their post sixteen educational institute, The Urban Academy. Bubble London is proud to support Kids Company and to help the kids who will benefit from their actions.

Poppy&Ned @ Bubble London

Welcome to the world of Poppy & Ned, a magical place capturing the innocence & wonder of childhood. Beautifully designed by Jessica Seaman, the clothes are made in Nepal and India using the finest fabrics. From July, their Pure Cashmere collection will be in Barneys NY. Well done!

For girls 12 month – 12 years

When she had her daughter in 2002, Beth Miles started to scour flea markets for items that were clean of branding and trends that overwhelmed her delicate, beautiful nature. That's how she created ses petites mains, attempting to capture the styles and details that she so hoped to find. “I love the idea of all fabrics being able to be worn together. As children love to throw 'anything' on, I designed all the pieces work together. Shirtwaists with slips; slips as dresses; slips as loungewear; tunics with bermudas; halter overalls--darling with or without anything underneath". Bubble New York is a great supporter of this unique and precious line from San Francisco.

A surprise from the little boat!

The ad campaigns of Petit Bateau always create a moment of surprise. They communicate well with both kids and adults, combining playful ingredients+colorful fantasy+hints of surrealism (yeah!) in an organized manner (wehw...). This season the brand brings a new element of excitement through their collaboration with fetish music&fashion label Kitsune who designed a limited edition of (already cult) tees. Petit Bateau will be at Bubble London, June 21-22.

Neverland inspired

Patouche, new label designed and manufactured in Canada launched with great success at Bubble New York last March. Retailers and press liked this playful line which brings a touch of dress-up into everyday wear. Spring/Summer '09 is about lostboys, fairies, mermaids and pirates, reminding a trip to Neverland dominated by cotton prints, natural linens and nautical stripes.

Buy less and buy better

Our children's Gorilla has always been one of our favorites decor/play brands. Great materials, design & execution as well as humor + ethics. The brand, whose motto is "buy less and buy better", has just signed with a UK distributor : Thorsten van Elten. We hope the whales, monkeys and other funky gorilla characters will spread quickly across the country.

Another Bubble exhibitor in exclusivity at Colette!

Inspired by the crochet and knit works of our grandmothers, Loica Bonini's collection offers pieces of the traditional new born & baby wardrobe, treated in a contemporary way. Absolutely refined and unique, this collection for boys (o-2 years old) will be displayed in exclusivity at Colette's Dococo space in Paris, May 12-30.

Memorial Day special treat

We can't resist to post this funny video of Iggy Pop. Watch it with the kids and enjoy their laughter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsXkjkC5OxI

Home sweet home

New York City–based couple Robert and Cortney Novogratz have been renovating and designing unique homes for families for over ten years. They live in Soho in a sophisticated bohemian townhouse (featured in Milk Magazine "styles" number 2) with their 7 children. In the book published this month by Rizzoli, they give realistic advice on how to create original, warm interiors with ease. You'll find practical info, inspiring pictures and humorous anecdotes about the pitfalls and pleasures of renovation and, of course, advice on how to decorate kids’ rooms. With 7 kids under 10, you can trust their words!

Right Komplot

The Little Komplot is a Sustainable chair for children made out of recycled plastic bottles, covered by felt. We love the simple shape and playful aspect as well as the natural and 100% recyclable materials. Available at www.hay.dk.

Children's touch

Plush is a sparkling new children’s clothing + accessories brand from Belgium. It’s huggable, it’s cute, it’s raw and somewhat rock’n’roll! The handmade colourful high-class tees finished with felt up-prints are
simply fun to wear. No wonder : the choice of material, colours and forms of the upprints is decided togheter with children.

T-Shirt couturier

Shirin Roubeni, designer of SHirin Kids is passionate about designing her own prints. She combines innovative drawings with quality craftsmanship to redefine the fabric of the basic cotton tee. The end result is a sophisticate and delightful eco-friendly collection. Every piece is individually hand silkscreened with water based inks which create a soft transparent look complemented by pure and vibrant colors. Many of the miniature designs find their equivalent counterpart in the adult line, creating a a delightful perk for mother and child in Shirin's Mommy and Me Couture combinations.

Paper anime

Keisuke Saka is a Japanese paper engineer making fun kits to assemble. It takes about two hours to complete, so it is the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon. Just make sure you have scissors, craft knife and glue. The colorful designs are printed on good quality paper, and a few moving parts produce fun movements. Available at paperanimation.com.

Danish delights

Debuting this season at Bubble London is Sebra Interior for Kids. Launched in 2004 by designer Mia Dela, this innovative and beautifully designed Danish brand offers an extensive collection of furniture, bedding and accessories for children. A large part of the collection is handmade and uses natural materials such as wood, wool and cotton. www.sebra.dk

Rooms with a twist

We love the selection of children's room on the charming website Bianca and family. If you have beautiful kids rooms, you can submit some images and be part of it. Just one thing : you'll have to revise your French!

Liberty by Minihaha

One of Bubble’s London favorite vendors, Bebe by Minihaha, is launching a range using the world famous liberty flowers. What can we expect from the Australian brand? Exclusive prints and special attention to detail, comfort and softness for newborn to 6.

The little shop of images

"Chez Violette and Lolo, the little shop of images" is the idea that sprung from the encounter of photographers Violaine Rogasik and Laura Farrell. The two graduates from ICP (NY) decided to create a small agency specialized in Kids Fashion Photography and to compose images in which imagination, dreams and happiness of childhood converge with adventures and fears. The two are currently casting a small network of emerging photographers from the Americas, Europe and Asia that share a passion for childhood in their art. Meanwhile they already have beautiful selection of images available that can be seen on www.violainerogasik.com.

Preppy-Boho from Chicago

Benny & Moon, based and produced in Chicago, is a collection of stylish, preppy-boho clothing for children ages 2 to 6 years old. Launched in 2009, the design inspiration is drawn from influences of art, photography, film and vintage wardrobes. The founder also has two lovely nieces as well as several other little boys and girls in her life who continually inspire her to create comfortable classic pieces for their everyday adventures. Benny & Moon will be showing at Bubble New York in August.

Glow in the dark wall sticker

At day time, the Cocoboheme stickers decorate the walls discretely. At night, they start to glow, bringing magic to the house. Don't miss the animals chalk stickers and the animal bibs...all fun! www.cocoboheme.com

Bling bling!

Iceing on top is a must-have jewelry collection for baby, child and teen. It’s loaded with sparkling gold facets and comes in pretty colors like rose, yellow and white gold. A line of fine jewelry with a signature eye-catching look that has also incorporated eco-friendly values into every facet of the collection, from the product to packaging. Iceing on top will be at Bubble New York in August.

News from Salone del Mobile

A new cool product has been added to the Magis’Me Too range of children’s furniture. Villa Julia by Javier Mariscal was launched at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan last month. The black and white Villa Julia comes with stickers so chidren can personalise their playhouse. Villa Julia will only be available in the fall, so we recommend to save it for Santa's list.

Okey, Kid!

Launched in 2007, Okido (hybrid of “ kid” and “okey”) is a science and arts magazine for 2 to 7 years old children, published four times a year. Each issue has a theme and is illustrated by contemporary artists. With the help of the unforgettable characters Messy Monster or Yoga Monkey, Okido is all about inspiring our children with games, stories and recipes. Don’t miss Okido Magazine at Bubble London for exclusive workshops and activities.

New comer in Miami

Located in the heart of the Bird Road shopping district in Miami, The Nest & Cradle is a light-hearted and fun boutique, much like the collections in display. Newly opened (August 08), the Nest & Cradle offers a wide range of products, "good designer products rather than designer labels". The owner Carmen Uriarte confesses her clients particularly like the colorful modern dresses from Pink Chicken, the sophisticated look of Chase'n Sky and Jasper Wren's jean birdie dress, which Carmen calls a "window stopper". Besides from clothing, clients have a preference for the Orbit stroller, the store's best selling product. We wish a long life to The Nest&Cradle!

Paraguay produced, fair trade of course

Aravore (meaning 'a piece of Heaven') produces organic baby wear and accessories for babies and toddlers from 0 to 5 years. Aravore produce the collections in their own workshops, and work with small-scale farms in Paraguay to produce the cotton they use, which is certified fair trade as well as organic. Yanina Aubrey, social entrepreneur and founder of Aravore Babies, ensures that her business model not only helps parents in the UK to provide luxurious, yet ethically produced, clothing for their children but has made a real difference to many women in Paraguay, where the products are made.

Happy shelter

Native Play Designs tipis will be on display at Bubble London in June. Handmade in Wales from 100% cotton, the Native Play tipis provide a refreshing antidote to the garish polyester pop ups. They are cooler inside as well, and available in different versions of colors/patterns. The company owner says : "Give the children an imaginative play environment and a few simple toys and watch their imaginations run away with them". We are sure that those tipis will provide many happy playtime memories!

Dococo @ Colette

May stands for Play at Colette, the famous Paris adults'concept store. "Dococo", a one month concept for kids will take place in the mezzanine of the Rue Saint-Honore store with a selection of clothing from APC, Balouga, Bonpoint, Cacharel, Little Marc, and the latest creation of Matali Crasset : the "Composit'" couch for Dunlopillo. Each Wednesday and Saturday kids will be entretained at the store with events around arts and crafts, starting with an animation from Make It Magnetic by Laure Fischbach.

Fashion Bible

Kids Fashion Designers is a Must Have for everyone who is interested in kids fashion. The 400 pages book features a great selection of international designers. Each designer is introduced through many different photographs from articles, catalogues and look-books, as well as various sketches and moods. Most of the designers presented have shown or are showing at Bubble, The Kids Trade Show, some of them in exclusivity. Check out Babybean, Dagmar Daley, Finger in the nose, Flora and henri, Ismodern, lemlem, Mor Mor Rita, No added sugar, Oeuf, Pink chicken, Tzawa, Wovenplay and more.

Kids with attitude

You might have come across the work of Photographer Lesley Semmelhack, who has recently worked with Small Magazine and Marilyn Tov. Lesley says her inspiration has always stemmed from the raw and honest energy of children. This former Conde Nast girl casts all her shoots herself and finds it to be almost as fun as taking pix. We love those "kids being a little less stereotypical" or, in other words, kids with attitude.

Ferd goes online

A couple of years ago, Ferd launched a "boys only" collection that drew a lot of attention. They have grown since, adding a beautiful girl's line. Today they are launching their online store. As a welcome gift, 25% discount is offered to the readers of this blog. www.ferdkids.com, promotion code Bubble25.

Stella roars

Stella McCartney's shop in Mayfair, London exhibits such an exciting window display this Spring. We couldn't help sharing it here: Dinosaurs have taken over in a multicolor fantasy-land. And if you're in town, check out also Dover Street Market's celebrating Barbie's 50th birthday.