Post written and photographed by Leah
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This is our third and final report on the Sydney 2011 edition of the Life InStyle trade-only event, incorporating , Kids InStyle, the baby and kids component of the show. If you’re new to the show then you can catch parts 1 and 2 below.
Read Best In Show: Kids InStyle Trade Event, Sydney Australia 2011 – Part 1 here.
Read Best In Show: Kids InStyle Trade Event, Sydney Australia 2011 – Part 2 here.
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As a mother of two little munchkins who have always refused to be covered with sheets or doonas, I have always been a huge fan of baby wraps and sleeping bags. One of the leading labels of these goods, is New Zealand company Merino Kids. Founded in 2003 by Amie Nilsson, Merino Kids only uses nature’s best 100% natural materials to create garments that will keep your baby warm and comfortable. Merino wool offers self heat regulation meaning no need for TOG ratings, is soft and comfortable for bub, and reduces skin irritation (no itching or scratching). Sleeping bags offer a patented travel option (as do the wraps) and are a hot recommendation for baby sleep wear.
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Bluebird and Honey are back again this season with their signature bold red and navy colour palette, gorgeous gift sets and whimsical animal characters. Their stand was just so charming, with wooden sleds and small conifers vivid feature points from which their products hung. My eye was drawn quickly to the red cases filled with gorgeous delights for bubs, and to the delightful girls pinafore which I’m adding to this years winter wishlist for Miss N.
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It’s almost unfair to give you a sneaky peak of the Spring/Summer 11/12 Cocoon Clothing Range as you need to get through winter to be able to actually get your hands on it. However, I’ve decided that a small glimpse is exactly what you need as a visual of what lies ahead in a few months. So, this winter whenever you’re feeling a little chilly, click back here and see what’s just around the corner.
Cocoon Clothing is the creation of Kirsty and Susan; two mums from the same street, with kids the same age. They know kids, and also know what us mum’s are after in an outfit. New to Cocoon Clothing is a divine new silk range at affordable price points (I’m talking under $100 for a silk dress ladies!) in a bevy of gorgeous prints. In fact, the range promises that all the girls prints are versatile enough to take your princess from a Hawaiian beach to a secret garden. Boys have not been forgotten either with the range growing to accommodate all the requests for casual, dress and swim shorts, shirts and tees.
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Eternal Creation is a label that most KSF readers would be familiar. Conceived in 1999 by Australian designer Frances Carrington, the label works with the Tibetan and local Indian communities of all faiths (now over 75 people of buddhist, Hindu and Muslim faiths) to run their own design and production workshop, the Hialaya Tailoring Centre. Everybody is part of the team and all items are ethically produced with love at the foothills of the Himalayas.
The Summer 2012 range is one to keep your eye on. I <3 the Giselle print, bright red lined flowers on a white background, that has been incorporated across the range into tops, skirts, dresses, pants…and my favourite, a gorgeous playsuit with Knickerbocker style bottoms. Sizing starts at newborn and spans to 10 years for both boys and girls.
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Knuffle Kid was the first stand I made a mad beeline for on stepping into KIS. Firstly, I was finally able to lay my hands on my favourite pieces from the upcoming Passport Agogo range for winter, and secondly, I caught a glimpse of the Forest for the Trees range for Summer 11/12 (which I provide a sneaky peek for you above). Oh sweet heart palpitations – I swooned, I clutched my heart, I went all googly eyes at the pieces before me. The detail that goes into these Australian designed and made pieces always amazes me, and as the range names suggests, you can become engrossed in these details very easily.
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Lauren Hinkley is a young designer with a natural flair for creating simple but beautiful giftware for babies and toddlers. From bracelets to baby soaps, wraps, prints, stationary and handmade baby outfits, this small label has grown from Lauren’s parents giftware store to having over 300 individual items represented in a bevy of Australian stores. Proudly Australian, The Lauren Hinkley jewellery range is sophisticated enough to be worn to a special occasion without overpowering your little ones outfit. With excellent price points, many of the items are perfect gifts!
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Sisters Danielle Thurston and Romi Okun are the brains behind the Australian designed and made swimwear label White Soda. With a strong fashion pedigree (their father was the founder of 80′s iconic children’s label Hangabouts), and higher education in both design and communications, it was inevitable that these girls would produce a successful label, and with their kids as inspiration, one that would be ideal for kidlets that spend much of their time close to the water.
The upcoming summer 11/12 range reminds me of a lolly shop for no reason other than a gorgeous array of richly presented bursts of colours ans styles with such names as sherbet, musk stick, and wizz fizz. I’ll be sourcing at least one swimsuit from this range for Miss N next season (she can never have enough!)
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Good quality children’s jewellery can be hard to find, especially if you want something unique and precious. I’ve been window shopping for a bracelet for Miss N for a while now, and after seeing perusing the items created by Little Lamb I now know exactly what I want – one of theirs! Each piece is made from sterling silver and/or 9CT gold, is superbly packaged and is stunning.
New to Little Lamb is House of Harriet handpainted delft (blue and white) porcelain imported from Amsterdam. I fell instantly in love with this range of divine brooches and pendants and anxiously await their arrival in a number of my favourite online stores I know snapped them up.
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Miki introduced the girls at KSF to Aunty Ollie a few years ago, and ever since then there has been no going back when it comes to dressing our kidlets and even ourselves (did you see the coverage of the Baby & Kids Expo where the whole team donned a piece?). Having a sneak peek of the Spring / Summer 2011 range will have the other girls green with envy, but I was sure to make lots of shots so I could reveal some of the new pieces to come our way.
For girls you will see the reemergence of red in flounce dresses, dress up dresses and rompers. My favourite however, is the bird themed prints – hummingbird and finches – particularly in the pearl style dress; and the rich purple toned florals. The boys can revel in St Tropez shorts and a continued expansion of prints for the Little Man Shirt.
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I’m a pretty sentimental type of girl, so when I came across Bajo wooden toys, I had flashbacks to my own childhood and found myself lovingly caressing many of the smaller toys, in particular the rocking horse. See my grandfather was a wood turner, and with a strong polish heritage this range just pulled at the heartstrings.
Nothing surpasses a good quality wooden toy. They are a safe natural alternative to mass produced plastic items, and each is truly unique with growth rings very similar to finger prints – no two the same. Wotjek (pronounced “Voy-tek”) developed the range is a small Polish village for his daughter. Word spread in waves, and the range is now international! The wood selection is amazing: beech, birch, sycamore maple, oak and cherry wood and all paints, adhesives and coatings are certified non-toxic. Bajo products start from around $12.00.
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Please check individual stores for availability and postage and delivery information.
