We are off for the summer...

With this inviting picture from Andrea Tese, we are wishing a good summer to all of you. See you in September!

Sartorialist mini

Scott Schumann, better known as The Sartorialist, is sharing the photos he did with his kids for Style Piccoli : very well done, very inspiring! We hope to see more stylish little people invading his wonderful blog.

Swiss handmade

Naef offers the highest quality toys, combined with timeless design concepts. Handmade in Switzerland, the toys are meant to be handed down from generation to generation passing on the tradition of having a special hand made object. And today more than ever, we want beautiful, thoughtful, meaningful objects to surround our lives and our children. In New York, Naef is available at YoyaMart, 15 Gansevoort Street and at the MoMA store 11 West 53 Street.

Back to school in Brooklyn

We know many of you are still roasting on a beach, but we can't help reminding that Back to school is a close reality. Artist Laure Fishbach decided to celebrate in a joyful way at Pomme in Dumbo, Brooklyn. We highly recommend a visit to the store to see the walls decorated with fun magnetic silhouettes, in real life, quickly before school starts again!

Milk Magazine #25

The Back To School issue of Milk magazine will be released at the end of August. The special Back to school issue will feature stories and articles about Tel Aviv, Northern designers, field hockey, Le petit Nicolas (not to be confused with Sarkozy the dwarf), Katarina Bosse, a portrait of Bonnie Young in her Manhattan loft and a lot more...Can't wait!

Popsicles strollers

Planing a vacation in South Beach Miami ? The Roddler will be the perfect accessory with its luxurious Art Deco accents. Produced by Kids Customs USA, a company joining forces of the automotive and apparel industries, to breathe new life into juvenile product market. The website advertises : "Targeted to tasteful and affluent parental units your kids will boast the coolest wheels on the boardwalk." Funky!

Brand new Kiwi line...

New Zealander Rebekah Davies-Patrick is nuts about hand-knits. For her new line Biisoo (born August 2009), she has sourced organic New Zealand and Australian merino wool, dyed with low-impact, metal-free dyes. Samples were made by "local knitting fanatics" – most of them mothers and grandmothers. The garments are finished with 100% silk filament ribbon, leather and vintage mother of pearl buttons. Expect the matinee jackets, vests, hats, booties, shawls and blankets to be perfect! To add an element of phylantropy to this handknit luxury for infants, the company will work with charities that protect and improve children’s lives: Save the Children, Women’s Refuge NZ and Child Helpline International. Long life to Biisoo!

Bubble New York Report

Bubble New York hosted it 8th edition at Cedar Lake (547 West 26th Street) from August 2 thru August 4, 2009. Everyone loved the new venue, a dance theatre with its industrial structure, modern finishes, high ceilings and great natural light.



The event was well attended with nearly 1,000 visitors (975 to be exact). Leading department and kids stores from the U.S. were represented (Barney's New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Chasing Fire Flies, FAO Schwarz, Giggle, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Takashimaya, Yoya, Estella, Pomme, Ibiza Kidz, LMNOP, Sweet William, Nonchalant Moms, among others) as well as international retailers and buying offices.



Bubble New York showcased 60 cream-of-the crop national and international vendors including 12 new collections. A wide array of products was spotlighted including clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, home décor and toys.



Organic brands are still a very important and growing part of Bubble (55% of exhibitors). According to visitors the show has become THE place to discover interesting and unique organic lines.



“We’re very pleased with this edition, everyone at the show was upbeat. Bubble is focused on staying a beautiful, inspiring and ‘human’ sized show of highly selected brands with a consistent mix. We think it is important to stick to our concept even in these hard times, and not to compromise on the quality of our collections, partners and displays. We believe that "post-crisis consumers" will shop differently, with higher expectations about their shopping experience and the quality of what they buy. They will look carefully for clever, well thought products that respect them and respect the planet. We wanted Bubble to reflect this vision ” said Florence Rolando, co-founder, Bubble.

Cool drink, no sugar

We were happy to welcome WAT-AAH at Bubble for the second season in a row. The modern, fun, with-an-attitude beverage is a great way to convince children to drink water instead of unhealthy beverages, like sodas. Jack, the son of the founder named the drink at the age of 9 and gave lots of input and opinions on what a label and the bottle should look like. He said, "WAT-AAH!" should be for kids" and it “should not be boring”. Mission accomplished, WAT-AAH! is a cool product currently available in 300 stores in NYC including Whole Foods, and it will be available in the east coast United States shortly. Europe? We hope soon too.

Ready Steady Go!

Bubble New York opens tomorrow Sunday August 2nd in its beautiful new venue, Cedar Lake, in Chelsea New York, just around the corner from our previous location. Thank you Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet for hosting us this season!

Precious newborn UK brand

Let Them Eat Cake is an exciting new British Children's wear brand. So new that it is not in stores yet, but already "the little darling" of the press in the UK (coming issues of Junior magazine and Anorak). Everything is handmade to an exceptional standard by a small team of talented seamstresses in Bath. The brand, which is ethical and green, combines beautiful and rare vintage fabrics with a crisp, thoroughly modern edge. Stay tuned...we'll let you know more very soon!

The good and the beautiful

"Kids need clothes, but they also need a healthy abundant world. Barley & birch was created to give them both." The shirts, one pieces, pants and hats from Barley and birch are made in the USA using 100% certified organic cotton and water-based inks. The brand really makes a point in making sure their production doesn’t pollute the earth, the water, or expose farm workers to toxins. Behind the philosophy are colorful and original designs. A good way to combine the good and the beautiful.

Product therapy

Atsuyo et Akiko is back to Bubble New York for the 3rd season. We can't wait to discover their new collection of tees, jewelry, home decor, for kids + mums. The Japanese duo based in Brooklyn has great talent to mix styles and influences : Asia meets France in NY; poetry meets industrial in an organic land. Their products make you dream, they make you travel and most important : they make you happy! You can find Atsuyo et Akiko's collection at Pomme (Dumbo, Brooklyn); Sweet William (Williamsburg, Brooklyn); Poppy Store (LA); Couverture (London, UK); Kido Store (Australia), etc.

The little elephant is growing...

This season Elephantito is all about classic Liberty prints to bold, colorful chintz in 100% pima cotton fabrics. With “English Garden in Full Bloom” as the theme, the collection of dresses and separates will be the must-have collection of the Spring 10 season. Cherry on the cake : the gorgeous shoe collection. Now a complete line in neutral colors / interesting textures / metallic finishes — perfect complements to the apparel in full bloom.

Photo exhibit at Bubble

The name Steven Visneau might ring a bell. This season's Bubble image, the little girls on the beach? It's his! He is also the guy behind most of the gorgeous images in Small Magazine. To make sure you get to see more of his work, Bubble New York will feature an exhibit of his photos, including this captivating and mysterious green story!

Traditional funky

Launched at Bubble London in June, Jake and maya met a great success. This nostalgic in feel yet funky collection will cross the pond for Bubble New York, starting next Sunday at Cedar Lake, Chelsea. Muted colors, delicate embroidery and traditional shapes..but nothing boring : details such as over-sized ruffles and large buttons bring a contemporary twist, so dear to us at Bubble.

Sustainable knitted jewelry, and more

Anabel Fournier lives between Kenya and Bolivia where she produces a beautiful knit collection called Fournier. She started a poverty alleviation project while living in Bolivia eight years ago, providing work for low income women in the city of Cochabamba. There are around 80 knitters and seamstresses at the workshop year round producing Fournier and also private label brought by Anabel. Fournier is manufactured with the finest Peruvian pima cotton, baby alpaca and a new blend of baby alpaca with bamboo. Don't miss the new baby toys and knitted jewelry at Bubble New York next Sunday!

Fly me to the moon

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, Okido just released a special issue packed with cosmic games, stories and recipes.
Enjoy the ride!

You are invited

Here is one for you...An invitation to the Small Magazine Party at Kico Kids pop up store in Chelsea, New York tomorrow Wednesday July 22nd. The Small Draw Original Art Coloring Book will be on sale in an exclusive launch, with an exhibition by Grant Cornett. Wish we were there too, but we're busy like bees preparing Bubble New York in 2 weeks!

Bubble online with Earnshaw's

"The digital edition of Earnshaw's is brought to you by Bubble" was mentioned on the newsletter sent earlier this week by Earnshaw's, the US children's trade magazine. For those who haven't received it, clik on the link and you'll be able to flip through the pages...