Couture for kids

Tiny tots and teens were back on the catwalk last week for Siam Paragon Kids International Fashion Week 2014. 

In its fourth year, the two-day event featured more than 300 children aged four to 13 strutting their stuff in a 10-show extravaganza sponsored by Siam Commercial Bank and Muangthai Life Assurance. 

There was more excitement too from behind-the-scenes as the annual showcase, this time on the theme “World Wonders Talented Kids”, welcomed one of the world’s most talented and youngest fashion designers, Cecilia Cassini. The 15-year-old French-American designer made her Asian debut with her latest collection called “Follow Your Dreams” or #FYD”.

The rising teen star, who has been dubbed the “Mozart of fashion”, launched her own label and her first collection in a trunk show in Los Angeles at age 10 and quickly won a following from such celebrities as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Kelly Osbourne and Heidi Klum.

Cassini’s passion for fashion was revealed at age five when she started cutting up and customising the dresses her mother had bought for her. Mum responded not with anger but with a sewing machine for the child’s sixth birthday.

The talented teen says she wanted to be a designer “because it means I can be myself and express both my sense of style and personality. 

“I’m free to be creative too,” she adds. “When I was little, I wanted a little black sequinned dress but there was nothing like that for kids. So I made it for myself. I’d describe my style as avant-garde. I love Bohemian chic and I also like haute couture. My icon is Karl Lagerfeld. I’m so inspired by him. He has a magic touch.”

Cassini has never attended any formal fashion training and says that once she finishes high school, she’d hoping to go to Paris.

Her studies get in the way of regular collections and for now she’s happy to design, cut and sew each piece herself. “I firmly believes children can follow their dreams without having to wait to become adults. If they love what they do and have the determination, their dreams can always come true,” she says..

The “Follow Your Dreams” collection had a definite Bohemian feel.

“It has everything that I like; fur, jewel, sequins, leather. It’s very ethnic, as I love culture and travelling,” she says. 

The clothes came in bright jewel colours as well as burgundy and emerald with Cassini adding details like gold coins and fur. Other special elements included ostrich feathers on sleeves and leather mixed with sequins. 

Another special highlight of this year’s event was the first kids’ couture collection by leading Thai designer Pravit Sawadviphachai, which featured 30 classy outfits for both boys and girls.

Beautifully crafted, the elegant patterns never overshadowed the lovely elements of kids’ clothing. Dresses and separates sparkled with sequins and hand-sewn feathers and beads, giving a pop art feel to the collection. 

Thai brand Kloset showcased its Forever Mine line inspired by tulips, amber and tree rings.

Kids 21, the luxury children’s spin-off of Club 21, presented special collections from nine of its many high-end brands, namely Baby Dior, Bonpoint, Dolce and Gabbana, Little Marc Jacobs, Lanvin Petite, Boss by Hugo Boss, Dsquared2, Scotch Shrunk and R’Belle as well as Stella McCartney Kids. 

Other foreign brands taking part in this year’s event included Gap Kids, whose “A Lesson in Style” collection from creative director Rebecca Bay exuded modern minimalism. 

Guess Kids’ new collection “Nonstop Fun and Fashion” was inspired by the music and style of Nashville and focused on denim, while talented young designer Tanat Hemwadee for Paul Frank Kids maintained the brand’s fun identity in the collection “Wild in the Street”.

Kids’ Planet at Paragon Department Store, which carries about 200 labels for youngsters, staged an exclusive show of the latest collections from 10 major brands including IKKS’ “Walk in the Forest” line. In warm and often dark colours with a strong nature theme, the clothes were best suited to the more mature set. Catimini, meanwhile, focused on a fun winter weekend in London and Diesel offered many items for special occasions, such as rock-inspired clothing for boys and sweet party dresses with animal prints for girls, all made with colourful fabrics. 

The Gaultier Junior line was inspired by the Japanese kimono and featured floral prints combined with the brand’s trademark sailor stripes in blue, red, and beige.

Kenzo Kids maintained its popular tiger graphic on sweatshirts, dresses, and even jumpsuits for newborns; Paul Smith presented single colours mixed with his more famous prints, including multi-coloured stripes, bicycle and vintage flowers while Le Petit Pumm, Laugh and Le Magie de Pumm served up playfulness, sweetness and innocence.

Several of the honorary models were the offspring of some of Thailand’s best-known personalities. They included Khunying Jada Wattanasiritham’s grandchildren Pan Pan, Prin and Pran, Surat Umpujh’s daughters Moomoo and Meemi and Naratipe Rattapradid’s nieces and nephew Metsapon, Thanwapong and Kulanis. 

Also striding along the catwalk with confidence were Palawi Issara’s daughter Wela, Voravud and Nandhamalee Bhiromvhakdi’s twins Nandhavud and Voranand, Kanokros Suwanwarang’s children Hugo and Hanna, Patiparn “Mos” Pataweekarn’s daughter Snow, Piyada “Aom” Chutharatkul’s daughter Nava, Nana Rybena’s twins Brooklyn and Bena and the three Wattanasin’s boys Laokhun, Jaonaay and Jaosamut.