KidStyleFile

Today I want to introduce you to some fine established and up-and-coming Australian baby and kids product designers.

These talented and individuals pour their heart and soul into their work, resulting in the most wonderful artifacts that truly capture the magic of childhood.

I also want to send out a big shout out to everyone who is inspired to create and bring what you imagine to life. However young or old you are, or big or small your enterprise, your passion represents a positivity, individuality and diversity in the world that burns bright.

Vive the independent designer!

Below, view my multimedia presentation of 10 Australian designers (Chalk ‘n’ Cheese, Paper Wings, mill&mia, Red Thread Designs, Imprintables, Quinn Macool, Look at the Wall, Red Wagon, Miss Haidee, Evie LaLa).

There is music, so turn it up

Get inspired with this directory of resources that will lead you to a bevy of unique and boutique Australian baby and kids designers showcasing their talent locally and internationally.

On your doorstep

• Hope Street Markets, Sydney (www.hopestreetsmarkets.com)
• Magnolia Square, Melbourne (www.magnoliasquare.com.au)
• Mothers Market, Hobart (hobartmothersmarket.blogspot.com)
• South Bank Lifestyle Market, Brisbane (www.southbankmarket.com.au)

Online & around the world

• Made It – Australian independent designers selling online (www.madeit.com.au)
• Bubble – The Kids Trade Show (www.bubbletradeshows.com)
• Playtime Paris – The International tradeshow dedicated to children’s universe and maternity wear (www.playtimeparis.com)
• Life inSTYLE/ Kids inSTYLE tradeshow, Australia (www.lifeinstyle.com.au)

Pick up the current issue of My Child magazine, and turn to page 12, to read my Trend Watch article on independent designers. 

Update 1 April 2008: extra 10% discount for KidStyleFile readers. Just mention KidStyleFile when you phone to make your order to receive the extra 10% off!

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Charlie’s Bucket stock the best in premium baby and kids clothing, toys, decor, and accessories for babies and kids from birth up to 10 years.

Charlie’s Bucket has the most divine bricks and mortar presence in Hobart, Tasmania, but until now, Charlie’s Bucket hasn’t had an online presence.

Today marks the Charlie’s Bucket online virtual debut, with a online/phone order sale especially for KidStyleFile readers. Yay!

You lucky lucky readers have the opportunity to snap up summer stock of Tea Collection, Moppit, Freshbaked, Milk on the Rocks, Confetti, Kookai Girls and Little Red by Mr Wolf for 50% off RRP, and Munster, Littlehorn, Paper Wings, Infancy, Kookai and Baby PT 40% off RRP, with selected pieces up to 60% off.

These are cheap cheap prices; absolute bargains! I haven’t found them on sale reduced by these amounts anywhere.

Here are some pics of the Charlie’s Bucket store to get you in the mood. Isn’t it just beautiful!

Here’s how to buy:

 

1. Select your goodies, pictured below

2. Place your orders from 10am via telephone on 03 623 12881 (email inquiries to Sandra at charliesbucket@bigpond.com)

3. Make payment over the phone with VISA or Mastercard, or direct debit; bank details will be provided on the phone, and your parcel will be shipped once payment has cleared.

Charlie’s Bucket charge $9.00 Australia for Express Post, and orders over $200.00 are posted free of charge.

Without further ado, onto the seriously cheap luxe-goods!

Click on the thumbnail images to view larger pictures of each item (opens in a new window, so make sure you have pop-ups turned on for this.)

Little Red Run for Your Life Shorts (Sizes 2,4,6,8 in navy and white available) $39.95 now $20.00

Freshbaked Red 50s Sun Dress (sizes 4,6 and 7) $39.95 now $20.00

Blu Bikki Lace Trim Shirt (sizes 1,2 and 4) $67.95 now $30.00

Freshbaked Denim Ruffle Pinafore (sizes 00,0,1,2) $36.95 now $20.00

Paperwings Roll Collar Jacket with Sparkle (size 10) $154.00 now $89.00

Littlehorn Come On Eileen Jumpsuit (sizes 5,6,7) $49.95 now $26.00

Confetti Esprit Vegetal Fraise Dress in dusty pink (size 4) $98.00 now $49.00

Freshbaked Cropped Cardigan (pink: size 7,8,10 cream : size 7,10,14) $39.95 now $20.00
Tea Collection Azmi Dress (size 3,5,6) $79.00 now $36.00

Moppit Cargo Pant (size 3,4,5,6,8) $59.95 now $35.00

Moppit Green and Navy Stripe Polo (size 6,8,10) $44.95 now $25.00

Munster Purple Barbed Boardshort (size 1 (blue) 3,4,6,7,8) $49.95 now $28.00

Moppit Check Short (size 00,0,1,2) $55.00 now $25.00

Littlehorn Pod Boardie (size 5,6,7,8) $39.95 now $23.00

Milk On the Rocks Indian Tee (size 18m, 4,5,6) $68.00 now $30.00

More products on the next page: click me! >>

Tiny People - www.tinypeople.com.au - operates their bricks and mortar stores from Kirra Beach and Byron Bay. Their website echoes their physical locations. Visiting it is like breathing in the clean, salty air and feeling the sun’s warmth on your skin.

Here’s some pictures, so you get what I mean:

See! Isn’t it a feast for the eyes!! Tiny People stock a fabulous designer baby and kids range, from Anne-Claire Petit, Brio, Birkenstock, Black Rabbit, Dwell Baby, Like a Bike, to Little Leona, Oeuf, Plan Toys and Zacharia Bier, to name just a few. What a delight!

Tiny People are currently having a sale, an event that always makes me rejoice, as they stock a good range of Paper Wings, which is one of my very favourite labels.

It’s also a good thing for Trelise Cooper Kids, Little Red and Edenstar fans; selected items from these labels are currently a massive 30% off!!

Just a small taste of what’s in store for you:

Edenstar Striped Sailor Tee $44.00 $30.80

Trelise Cooper Lucy Locket Dress $165.00 $115.50

Little Red Little Major Pant $50.00 $35.00

Trelise Cooper Regatta Pleasant Top $71.00 $49.70

Little Red Logo Tee $30.00 $21.00

Visit the sale section to view the entire parade of divine designer kids clothing currently reduced by 30%

Postage is free for orders over $150 (excluding large and oversized orders). Contact Tiny People for details on postage charges to your state.

One of the joys of travel is that you can go somewhere else and discover different ways of living — different food, customs, language, mode of dress. What a joy to see things from a fresh perspective, to appreciate and be inspired by the differences, and maybe incorporate a little of that experience into the tapestry of our existence.

Skimbaco - www.skimbaco.com - based in Durango in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is to me like a direct portal into a different world - a cornucopia of delights nestled in the wilderness.

The selection of products Skimbaco carry includes our very own Aussie designers Edenstar and Paper Wings, and this fact set the bar on the quality I perceived across their selection.

I was entranced by Riiminka Designs from Finland, Tea Collection, Lola et Moi, Droopy Knickers, Twinkle Kids. But what were they really like? What could I expect when they arrived? Should I be thoroughly excited in anticipation of their arrival, or prepare myself for disappointment in the event that the experience didn’t cut it?

So I browsed and watched and waited…until one day - PING - a sale! And, boy, was I am impressed with the results on every level.

Sales are the perfect opportunity to try something that you may not be able to afford on an ordinary day, or something that you have not tried before, and want to road test a time or two before making a full-price commitment. The great thing about buying internationally is that the seasons fit perfectly from a sale perspective; we go to winter when they go to summer, and vice versa.

I know it is a big jump to make from shopping online locally to internationally, but there are some unbelievable bargains to be had in Skimbaco’s sale section at the moment, and they are too good to miss. Trust me: you won’t regret this side-trip! (Check out my previous post for further details). Remember to use the currency selector so you can shop in AUD$.

To sweeten the experience further Skimbaco is giving KidStyleFile readers an additional 15% off purchases when you enter the discount code KIDSTYLEFILE at checkout. This will give you in total about 70% off most products in the sale section.Skimbaco are living up to their motto of ’spread sunshine’ alright!

You never know, you might even pick up some cheap Edenstar or Paper Wings while you’re there

Here’s some of what I bought, on sale of course Remember that the sale prices listed below will be 15% cheaper after you enter the discount code.

Droopy Knickers Tree Swing Baby Blue T-shirt
Price: $30.94 (AUD) On Sale For: $16.57 (AUD)

Riiminka Designs Purple Princess Dress
Price: $49.73 (AUD) On Sale For: $16.58 (AUD

Tea Collection Journey Canvas Jumper Aubergine
Price: $54.15 (AUD) On Sale For: $22.09 (AUD)

Twinkle Kids Cherry Blossom Small Felt Cake
Price: $19.89 (AUD)- Regular price. This item is sent directly from Hoboken New York, so will arrive separately from the rest of your order.

Big Fish Double Ruffle Tank Top
NOTE: Very small sizing. I recommend you order 2 sizes above what your child usually wears
Price: $32.05 (AUD) On Sale For: $8.83 (AUD)

Marimekko Summer Top
Price: $33.15 (AUD) On Sale For: $11.04 (AUD)

Marimekko Flower Skort
Price: $33.15 (AUD) On Sale For: $18.79 (AUD)

Tea Collection Sol Yarn Dye Stripe Tee
Price: $28.73 (AUD) On Sale For: $13.25 (AUD)

Tea Collection Sakura Canvas Vest
Price: $46.41 (AUD) On Sale For: $26.51 (AUD)

Lola et Moi Green Turtle Neck Shirt
Price: $35.36 (AUD) On Sale For: $16.57 (AUD)

Lola et Moi Paris Wool Dress
Price: $127.09 (AUD) On Sale For: $66.29 (AUD)

Check Skimbaco’s shipping charge table here.

One of my favourite clothing labels for kids is Australia’s Paper Wings - www.paperwings.com.au

Paper Wings is undeniably one of the most inspired and sophisticatedly whimsical labels on the market, equitably distributing it’s brilliance between girls and boys. It pulls this feat off with aplomb, and without cringe or non-ironic kitsch.

The pedigree of seasoned designers, couple Jason Gibaud and Michelle Fallon — they design together, and he does the sewing — who have worked on films including Moulin Rouge, Star Wars and Peter Pan, Paper Wings exudes quiet calm and unrestrained exuberance.

There is a lot of work, and a lot of love in these garments. Paper Wings has a price tag equal to these facts. Undoubtedly they are worth every penny you might spend. But can you afford to spend that many pennies? On an ordinary day, there’s no way I can. But on sale, well, watch me go.

These clothes look incredible and wear brilliantly and, on sale, well, that makes them just about perfect.

There’s only a small selection on sale at the moment, but what there is is still well worth the pickup. I am always on the lookout, and will let you know as soon as I pick up the scent. In the meantime, do your research, pick out what you like, and wait for it to get cheaper

Tiny People - www.tinypeople.com.au - have a small amount of these precious wearable artifacts on sale.

I highly recommend the Denim Pinafore $92.60 (down from $154.00) and the Red Stripe Dress for $107.70 (down from $154).

While you’re there, check out their sale page for Edenstar, Little Red and Trelise Cooper Kids heavily reduced.

Postage is $12.00, or free if you spend $150 or more.

Going further afield, US-based e-tailers are offering a lovely little price-reduced Paper Wings booty. Note that I have only included stores that offer reasonable shipping options to Australia.

Bella and Max - www.bellaandmax.com - have a number of girls Paper Wings items on sale, including the Striped dress for USD$63.8o.

Bella and Max also stock a lovely range of brands including Tea Collection, Harajuku Lovers and Petit Bateau .

They have a couple of Tea Collection items on sale for boys, and a wider range of brands on sale for girls. I highly recommend the Tea Collection Yuki Dot dress on sale for USD$31.50, and the boys Yuki Dot shirt on sale for USD$23.80. (We have the dress, and the styling and quality is A1. I’m impressed by Tea Collection overall; buy with confidence.)

Also, check out Bella and Max’s range of ‘Neige’ (French for ’snow’). Feast your eyes! These pieces are stunning! The Josephine Dress is on sale for USD$76.80, down from $128.

The Toby Coat is USD$84.00, down from $140. (To browse the full Neige range visit the Neige website - http://www.neigeclothing.com/home.html)

You will need to contact Bella and Max, for a shipping quote to Australia, but you shouldn’t be put off: Juliet is lovely, and a fast and friendly communicator, and charges are kept to a minimum.

Olliebollen - www.olliebollen.com have the Paper Wings Striped Leggings in black and white on sale for USD$34.50 a true bargain (1 size 2 and 1 size 6 only), and the long sleeved all over Shoe Print tee (1 size 2 and 1 size 4 only) for USD$36.90; another steal.

Olliebollen carry an extensive range of upscale brands including Camper, Tea Collection, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Absorba, Baby Lulu, Small Paul et al. Check out their clothing sale page; a huge range of quality offerings are within. They also have a good range of Haba, Melissa and Doug, and some Marimekko on sale in their toys and accessories section.

Postage is charged based on weight of the goods, and is calculated at checkout.

And last, but definitely not least, the wonderful Skimbaco - www.skimbaco.com.

Skimbaco is (pronounced ’skimba-co’) is the family business of Katja Presnal and her husband Matt — a former runway model from Finland, and a emergency services rescue helkicopter pilot respectively — and their three stunning offspring. They operate Skimbaco from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Katja has the most exquisite taste and style, and every product Skimbaco carries is selected with great care to ’spread sunshine’ (as is their motto) to their customers.

Receiving a parcel from Skimbaco is a great delight as they send in a box, not a post satchel, which somehow confers a greater delight to the opener. The website is also very helpful in that it has a currency selector, so you can do all your shopping in your home currency - AUD$.

During December I took advantage of one of the most delight-filled sales I have ever witnessed (crazy crazy prices and free international shipping, for example — don’t worry, I will let you know as soon as that’s happening again!), remnants, which include Edenstar, Tea Collection and Lola et Moi, of which are now still available.

Thanks to the great prices I took the opportunity to purchase a number of brands I hadn’t heard of before, Riiminka Designs, Twinkle Kids and Wati, for example, and dig in on some Tea Collection - ‘Journey Dress’ still available for AUD$33.14 : grab it, it’s beautiful!! -, Lola et Moi (incredible Owl Brooches; thank-you-very-much) and Droopy Knickers(!) - Blue Silhouette tee still available for AUD$18.78 (a tip on this piece: it runs large, size 2T more like an Australian standard size 3-4). The quality and detail of the items is superlative. I couldn’t be happier!

Katja also has a taste for Aussie design and stocks Edenstar, and Paper Wings…which is the purpose of this post, after all!

Skimbaco are currently low on Paper Wings thanks to their recent super sale, but they do have the Boys Skull tee on sale for AUD$44.19. (The skull print is worn at the back).

Skimbaco’s shipping costs are very reasonable; and shipping is free for orders over USD$200.