The Kind + Jugend 2009 trade show was held last week in Cologne, Germany. Kind + Jugend represents the cutting edge of baby and toddler goods globally, with the most prestigious brands in the market exhibiting.
KidStyleFile’s German correspondent Anna attended the show, and today shares with us her Best in Show selection – Angela
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Please see full coverage here.
It was my absolute pleasure to meet French toy designer Anna of Ebulobo and her irresistible new line ‘Wood Ours’.
As mother, an educator, and a lover of thoughtful design and the creative process, I was completely captivated by this divine Papa Bear, his little Baby Bear, and the delightful fabric pieces that help to create their story.
Anna explained this captivating range to me with a tale of meaningful connection: Papa Bear is as strong as an oak tree (hence the fabric ‘wooden’ knot which doubles as a pouch for baby on his tummy), and Baby Bear has long arms which help him to attach himself playfully all over his Papa. Papa is carrying a fabric fishing rod, satchel containing fish, and a lovely flower to take home to Mama bear.
There are a number of items in the ‘Wood Ours’ range including a fabric picture book, fabric ball with inner pouch and smaller bear characters.
Ebulobo products are distributed in Australia by: Divisible by Zero Pty Ltd – www.dbz.com.au
Imagine that you happen to have a background in engineering and bag design, that your partner is well experienced in the trendy design world an international accessories company… and add to that the knowledge that raising 6 children provides!
Ju-Ju-Be is a Californian bag company that was born from just this scenario. The result is highly functional, edgy bags and accessories made with soul.
Their top selling product is the ‘Be All’ Parent’s Bag. These bags come in a huge range of colours and patterns. Their outer Teflon coating and inner Agion coating means that they are both hardwearing and anti-microbial.
A great deal of industry and parenting experience has been incorporated into these bags. The organizational features include plentiful pockets, mesh pouches, a parent’s pocket, light coloured lining and a change mat with memory foam. These gems are even machine washable!
Ju-Ju-Be can be found in Australia through www.cheekybubs.com.au
What if I told you that you could have a safe, stylish, space saving place for nappy changing…. and that it can eventually become a child’s fold-away desk?!
No longer just a dream, TimKid created ‘Owo’, the egg-shaped changing table when they failed to find one similar for their own growing family.
Made from Birch Plywood, the Owo and various other furniture items from Tim Kid, are exclusively produced in Germany, and the quality is exceptional.
TimKid is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
If you are at the same stage of parenting as I am – then you can see toilet training in your not-too-distant future!
One product I defintely want in my arsenal is the Belgian ‘Dot Pot’. This product is a baby itself, having only been launched 2 weeks ago.
Not only is it aesthetically as pleasing as a potty might be, it is also three products in one. At first a potty (with hygienic flip handle for parents), it then graduates with your child to become a toilet minimiser seat and a handy step.
I love that this means I will be saving on storage space, adding less items of plastic to the planet, and only shopping once for three items! Even better – the product is made from recycled materials with the ability to be recycled itself in the future.
Dot Pot is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
French company BEABA have marked their 2010 range with the use of beautiful soft, muted colours and simple graphics. They are well known in France for their stylish and practical solutions to daily life with babies and toddlers.
One particular item, which caught my eye, was the Folding Baby Bath. It is designed for both daily use and travel and folds away to nothing! When assembled it is large enough for a bath recliner and it has a handy integrated plug.
Beaba is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
Environmentally conscious products with gorgeous designs, Krooom (yes, that three ‘o’s) continues to provide quality children’s furniture made from laminated recycled cardboard. Don’t be put-off by the fact that it is cardboard, their children’s stools even withstood my weary pregnant bod!
New additions to the collection are a castle and house. Both are two-stories, beautifully illustrated and can also be used as bookshelves.
Krooom products are available in Australia through Room to Grow. Check for stockists here.
Miki brought us the first news of Ella & Otto in July from the Bubble London Tradeshow, and I have been enamoured ever since. It was a joy to meet the Ella & Otto team and view their new organic collection, which oozes Scandinavian charm with its singature Moose motif.
You can purchase Ella & Otto products in Australia from The Hip Infant – www.thehipinfant.com.au.
Baby Bumex is a Russian company found on the boarder of Finland. They are specialists in creating natural birch veneer and plywood. Recently they have branched into creating children’s furniture. Each piece comes flat-packed and most assemble without nails or glue.
In particular, I couldn’t walk past the children’s rocking chair. What a divine combination of old-world style and modern design…. All in a puzzle chair – I want one!
Baby Bumex is not currently available in Australia. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
