The Kids are Alright

Mothers whose sense of fashion extends to their kids now have another range of classy clothes from which to choose with the opening of Kids 21. Managed by Club21 (Thailand), the new boutique features smart and trendy outfits by 30 leading brand names including newcomers to Thailand, American Outfitters, Caramel Baby and Child, and Veja shoes.
Kids 21 recently launched its Spring-Summer 2013 collections designed for newborns to tweens. Catering to the uber-stylish kids of today were dresses and separates from Marni Kids, Caramel Baby and Child, and Simonetta as well as impeccably-tailored dress and jacket combinations from Lanvin Petite while the boys got to enjoy a choice of cool hoodies, quirky tees and accessories like scarves by American Outfitters.
Division manager Pavanaree Tohseang says that Kids 21 is the first fashion and lifestyle emporium dedicated to children by Club 21, Asia’s leading purveyor of luxury fashion.
“This multibrand store is the destination for discerning parents wanting to dress their kids in stylish, fashionable threads made from the finest materials. We offer a finely curated selection of almost 30 fashion apparel brands for youngsters aged 0 to 14 years, including the children’s range of adult lines from Comme des Garcons PLAY, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Sonia Rykiel and Stella McCartney.
“Other recognisable lines include chic Italian label Il Gufo, elegant Simonetta and trendy Scotch Shrunk. In addition to ready-to-wear, Kids 21 also carries a wide range of accessories, soft toys and premium gift ideas,” she says.
Print sleeveless dresses by Stella McCartney Kids, are perfect for the summer with easy-care fabrics in soft jerseys and cottons. McCartney draws inspiration from the life and energy of children, and her latest collection echoes the liveliness of summer through fun and modern styles for girls, boys and babies. A new swimwear range of eight new styles including bikinis, swimsuits and swimming trunks, has been added in an array of tropical prints with parrots and pirate motifs.
Boys can be stylish and comfortable in a modish mix of practical tees and bermudas by Little Marc Jacobs. The designer’s children’s line recalls the themes that have made the adult collections a success. The collection for both boys and girls sets off into a casual and colourful world punctuated with quirky touches, such as red and blue hearts set against red and white stripes to give a cruise style to tops and dresses in cotton/jersey embellished with delicate bows.
“We tend to think that mothers choose clothes for their children but kids today have opinions of their own and like to express these through what they wear. At Kids21, we offer a stylish and high quality selection so customers can really enjoy mixing and matching for various occasions,” Pavanaree adds.
“The mini-me can be found not only in the well-known brand names but also through outfits from new designers such as Anne Kurris of Il Gufo.”
The trend in designs for the young set is colourful, with hues that don’t always match but look cool look together.
“Many think that children grow so fast that it’s not worth paying a lot of money for their clothes. Some mothers insist on quality and good looks but still buy wisely, mixing and matching separates that will look good for a variety of occasions. Shoes are different, as without a good fit, children’s gait can be negatively affected. Veja Shoes for small children are created with a reinforced sole and built-up toe to better meet children’s needs. The soles are made of wild fair trade rubber from the Amazon so they’re ecofriendly too. Falling between sneaker and slipper, the tennis Veja come in organic cotton canvas and leather tanned with acacia extracts,” Pavanaree.
Kids 21 is also designed to appeal to the young customer with artificial glass, a toy corner and fitting rooms that resemble wigwams.