The market for children’s designer clothing is bigger than ever—and top labels are coming along for the ride.
AlexandAlexa, the global online style destination for kids, sponsored the first-ever Global Kids Fashion Week (GKFW), which launched in London. The event ran for two days, March 19 and 20, and took place at the Freemason’s Hall in Holborn, London.
“Kids’ fashion is playful, fun, and innovative—we all believe it deserves its own dedicated platform,” said Alex Theophanous, founder and CEO of the website AlexandAlexa, in a press release for the event.
“This is why we are so proud to be supporting the very first Global Kids Fashion Week. With this event, we aim to put children’s fashion on the map worldwide.”
The schedule included two main shows—an exclusive media event showcasing the latest Fall/Winter 2013 trends from leading labels worldwide on Tuesday, March 19; and a public show with Spring/Summer 2013 looks from the AlexandAlexa brand portfolio on Wednesday, March 20.
All proceeds from the public show and auction go to London-based charity Kids Company. It provides practical, emotional, and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children.
Though designers are getting serious about kids’ fashion, kids are still in it to have a good time. The shows captured the whimsical and lighthearted elements of youth.
“Each and every young one either walked, skipped, or cartwheeled down the catwalk with a massive smile on their face and not a lick of makeup on their skin,” related one post on the Fashion Foie Gras website, also adding that the models were some of the healthiest that person had seen in ages.
Rather than the updos and fancy hairstyles usually found on runways, the kids sported natural looks: low ponytails, side braids, caps and bows, and occasionally a glitter-dyed hair part.
Accessories ranged from scooters to wicker baskets to colorful messenger bags and neon-colored headsets.
Styles were a playful mix of colors, textures, and patterns. All the kids looked so cute in the photographs of the shows that I had to go to the experts—my own five kids ages 6–13—to get their picks. They definitely spotted some standout looks, many of which are sold on the AlexandAlexa website.
The lineup of luxury brands and established designers was impressive: Kenzo, Oscar De La Renta, Paul Smith Junior, Junior Gaultier, Chloé, Little Marc Jacobs, BOSS Kids, Roberto Cavalli, Fendi, Missoni, Marni, Milly Minis, Roksanda Ilincic, John Galliano, Tommy Hilfiger, Juicy Couture, Nike, and Diesel.
Plus there were emerging or independent labels, which included Jottum, Kickle by AlexandAlexa, I Pinco Pallino, Suzanne Ermann, Simonetta, Anne Kurris, SuperTrash Girls, Kate Mack-Biscotti, Rachel Riley, Scotch Shrunk, Scotch R’Belle, and Wildfox.
The event was clearly geared to a family-friendly crowd. Several star-struck kids could not resist joining the act with a few unexpected walk-ons—or crawl-ons—during the runway show. Each show ended with a glitter rain shower over the smiling children.
Following the event, guests enjoyed a mix of playful activities for both children and parents, including a nail-painting bar from child-friendly brand Little BU, a photo booth, a giant bubble machine, a Kickle bloggers lounge in association with Dell, and more. Amber Le Bon was the disc jockey at the after-party.
GKFW aims to educate and inspire people about kids’ fashion—celebrating how this specialist category has thrived and evolved over the past five years.
“The time felt right to launch GKFW this year, to showcase children’s fashion in its own right and celebrate this thriving industry,” said Theophanous in an email to The Epoch Times.
“Since AlexandAlexa.com was founded five years ago, we’ve watched the children’s fashion industry grow and evolve into a stand-alone category with its own trends and creative milestones.”
Other supporters involved in the project included Sarah Curran, founder of my-wardrobe.com; Tanya Kazeminy Mackay, founding partner of Mama Mio; Portia Freeman, model; Pippa Vosper, founder of maternallychic.com blog; and Olcay Gulsen, Dutch fashion designer and founder of SuperTrash Girls.
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