Christmas shopping

It's a real pleasure to go from magazines to websites and to see so many creative and rich Christmas shopping guides. The one on Australian magazine LMNOP specifically caught our eye with its crisp layout and awesome selection of objects. Click on the link http://www.lmnop.com.au/signin/ to download the magazine pages. You'll have to sign up and it will take 2 minutes of your time but it's really worth it!

Atsuyo et Akiko just a click away!

Great news for fans of the famous Je t'aime bags and tees brand : Atsuyo et Akiko just launched their online shop a couple of days ago. Children's clothing, home decor, accessories, jewelry for all ages can now all be directly ordered online. The angel wings necklace and baby kimono onesi are among our favorites. A mix of Japan, poetry and dreamland. www.atsuyoetakiko.com/store/

Papier Mache online magazine

Papier Mache is not yet again another online magazine on children's. It is a beautiful newcomer from Australia (issue 2 just came out) very focused on visuals and inspiration, and easy to navigate. Produced twice a year, it balances with a lot of elegance news on products, mood boards, and fashion stories with an edge. More importantly, it reminds us that the children's market is what it is thanks to the children that surround us. They are the inspiration. Papier Mache is also a testimony to the fact that the children's market keeps on burgeoning with a subtle mix of retro and forward-looking brands.

Sneak Peek

Started in 1991, Christina Rohde was a pioneer in providing great style and quality clothes for children. Over the years, the Danish brand has stayed true to its roots with practical and fashionable designs mixing unusual patterns and fabrics. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect for Spring/Summer 2010. Christina Rohde will exclusively exhibit at Bubble London 31 January & 1 February 2010.

Life in color

Spring 2010 is a very rich season for Swedish brand Monamici, with colors such as red, pink, indigo, purple mixed with Liberty classics and Hawaiian pattern. The collection - all in certified organic - includes lovely dresses, tunics, skirts, pants and tops. The feeling is uplifting, fresh and beautiful. To buy Monamici products, visit the brand's own e-store. In the US, the line is carried by Field NY in Larchmont or at Petit bebe in Charlottesville.

Flying to London

You have probably seen the enchanting birds of Abigail Brown already. They often rest, anonymous, in the cages of Tamar Morgendorff. This month, they will take a stop at Liberty of London. A good occasion to admire the delightful robins, goldcrests, greenfinchs, swallows, blue tits and little owls and to buy one before they fly to warmer lands!

Online newcomer, with style

Umberleaf is a new e-store with a selection of stylish childrens clothing and accessories, as well as play items. We like the clean design and also the selection of products which includes one of our favorite lines, Atsuyo et Akiko. The store will keep adding great founds for modern and earth conscious parents. We recommend you add it to your favorites!

Gap + Stella : secound round

The yearly result for Gap was published last week: 25% profit jump. The brand announced today plans for a second collection created by Stella McCartney. It's no surprise to whom has tried to get some products from this first collaboration. On November 16th, I had put an alarm on my Blackberry to go get a wonderful tutu in subtle pink tones. I arrived at 10am to witness empty racks. There were one size 10y and one size 12y left, and the store had been opened for only two hours. I got it : next season, I'll get on line at dawn!

When technology brings fun in the closet

Stone Island, the casual yet beautiful men's line from Italy is launching Stone Island Junior, for boys 2 to 16. Keeping in line with the brand's ethos of reworking materials, functionality and contemporary designs, they're adding a fun touch thanks to technology and research. There's a heat reactive coating that changes color at high temperatures. From 27 degrees celsius upwards, the garments transform from shades of green to bright yellow or grass green. There's also a night vision element with light-sensitive prints. In the closet, we knew that girls just wanna fun...boys' turn now!

Made in USA

With the euro so strong and the dollar so weak, it's not an easy time for stores who carry mainly high end European brands. Estella's owners Chike Chukwulozi and Jean Polsky were looking for innovative ways to offer fashionable, practical kid's clothes to their customers at a reasonable price. They thought it was the right moment to develop their own line. Well, their gorgeous, functional and locally produced pieces are a success : they don't break the bank while offering the quality and style that Estella customers expect. The basic line of leggings and lap tees is amazingly popular with a range of 8 different colors, for children 3 months to 6 years. The fashion pieces (dresses, tops, denim pieces, overalls, etc) and knit toys bring a chic lifestyle complement to the range. Estella, 493 Sixth Avenue
New York. +1 212-255-3553

Ismodern

We are happy to announce that Ismodern will be back at Bubble in March 2010. The line was not shown at the last August edition as Tami Nguyen Rael had to move her family from LA to the East Cost. Her new collection feels like a good mix of eastern and western influences with clean shapes, tight fits and bright colors. Modern and nomad.

Around the world

French artist Julie Mercier has illustrated a bunch of children's books and magazines. She just created an exclusive and monumental atlas for L’Affiche Moderne, an ideal medium for kids to discover the richness and diversity of our great planet. The funny details and creatures will definitely be a source of numerous questions and discoveries, capturing children’s attention and imagination for hours. Available in English or French versions.

Boy's stuff!

Good news for parents who love coloring books with a twist : Rosie Flo's books are now available [almost] all over the world : Japan, Australia, China, etc. And wonderful news for parents who are desperately looking for boys activities : the books are also published in a blue version, under the name Johnny Joe, featuring all sorts of boy's favorites, from knights to astronauts to cars and dinosaurs. Famous London book store Daunts says "At last a colouring book for boys. Another sure fire winner". Rosie Flo's collections are available at children's/ toys stores, bookstores and at most of the Museum stores (Moma, Bristish Library, Tate Modern, The Wallace Collection, etc).

Tribeca welcomes Petite Pomme

Brooklyn beloved children's store Pomme recently opened a new retail space in Manhattan. Located in Tribeca, Petite Pomme is dedicated to newborn - 18th month children. Forget about the loft size and feel, it's all white and small scale in this new paradise, providing a cosy atmosphere for young parents and parents-to-be. Petite Pomme features the ideal selection of brands for an introduction to parenthood : Makie, flora and henri, Tane Organic, Jess brown, Tamar Morgendorf, Atsuyo et Akiko, etc. The best of modern design and quality to welcome little ones in this world. Petite Pomme, 186 Duane Street between Hudson and Greenich.

From Sweden with style

A hint of the 80´s, intricate buttons and details, pastel colors and a high fashion content : that's Franka's cocktail for Spring Summer 2010. The collection features thin silhouette trousers in khaki twill, chinos in papery twill, Liberty prints and lots of dresses. The Swedish brand now has an online store, to make sure moms from all over the world can have access to the collections in just one click.

Petit Couture is a luxury brand of infant and toddler basics, dressy apparel, accessories and select mama items founded in 2009 by Rebecca Kaykas-Wolff and Noree Milligan. Dedicated to sustainable and ethical business practices and as such, Petit Couture sources and manufactures exclusively in the USA. The manufacturing process is on a quarterly basis rather than the standard six-month product creation cycle for most items, a good way to keep Petit Couture client's attention with fresh fashion proposals. The brand will showcase its owl logo collection at Bubble New York in March 2010.

Windows overview

Christmas windows are flourishing here and there in London, simultaneously with the first cold days and the high street decoration lights. There's a great lot of maximalist-kitsch-overload and color explosion, as seen at Christian Louboutin, Conran Store, Selfridges and Marc Jacobs. Is Santa also going to be in excess mode packing his bags this year, that is the question...

mor mor rita is back on tracks

After a year long break to be with her family, Ryan Roche is back with a mor mor rita collection. The new line features well priced basics including leggings, simple but perfect underpants, tees, sweatshirts, stockings and jeans in beautiful organic cotton. The cashmere blend knits will make your heart melt. Don't miss the women's size stockings in mor mor rita's unique color palette.

On the subject of brand identity

Ola&Olek is a newly launched UK-based line from designer Eliza Lopatowska. She gets inspired from her native Poland and her little cousins to create a delicately touching line of organic tees and retro dresses & cardigans. Introduced at Bubble London last June, the collection is small but perfectly put together. The visuals are the strength of the identity of Ola & Olek. So much is communicated in those few images, immediately drawing us into the spirit of the brand. For the discerning buyer who likes something different with a strong point of view.

Milk Deco 3 launch party at YoyaMart, NY

Milk Deco, the bi-annual style supplement of Milk Magazine is out. This 3rd edition takes us to the usual places (New York, Paris, London, Tokyo) but also to Tanger, Stockholm and Utrecht for a greater diversity of home inspirations. YoyaMart's owner Stephane Gerbier (featured in the booklet) hosted a party at his Meatpacking district store last week. Stephane takes the pose with Isis Colombe Combeas, founder-owner of Milk, and her son Aliocha.

At home with Cocoon Couture

Launched in 2004 by Designer Ingrid Daniell, Cocoon Couture started as a collection of beautiful children’s bean bags. The brand has grown since, adding a range of wooden room accessories: height charts, bookends and wall arts. The vintage inspired Enchanted Tree is the perfect tool to hang one's little secrets. Cocoon Couture will exclusively exhibit at Bubble London 31 January & 1 February 2010 at the Business Design Centre.

The little stories of Karin

Featured in Junior Magazine, Vogue Bambini, Elle decor, Glamour, Karin Nussbaumer is an Austrian photographer based in Amsterdam. Karin loves telling little stories, using photography to play with fantasy, trying to tell as much as possible in each of her images. Playing widely with light, tones and props, Karin makes her stories a pleasant travel for the viewer. Karin is represented by Julie Seguinier at juliesagency.com.