Labels to Watch: Children’s fashion labels from Pitti Bimbo

All eyes are currently on Florence. After the men’s fashion fair Pitti Uomo, attention now turns to the children’s fair. For the 98th edition of Pitti Immagine Bimbo, which focuses on clothing, accessories and lifestyle for the little ones, FashionUnited has rounded up some promising brands and new additions to the event, which will transform the Fortezza da Basso event site into a children’s paradise from January 17th to 19th transform.

Tetoi Vienna

The start-up Tetoi Vienna, founded in November 2022, is bringing life to Austria’s once prominent fashion scene with its children’s fashion. Just one year after the launch, the company received a great response and presented its first summer collection for babies and toddlers. Driven by the motivation to offer high-quality clothing that does not become unusable after a short period of use, the brand lets actions speak for itself and relies on extensive transparency in material selection and production. Classic, timeless designs are intended to remind us of Vienna’s classic past.

Image: Tetoi Vienna

The brand works with a neutral color palette that allows for combinations or coordinated ‘sibling looks’. The gender-neutral range of jumpsuits, bodysuits, top and pants sets, hats and vests are manufactured in Seoul, South Korea. Tencel Lyocell is the most frequently used material, for which young entrepreneur Maximilian Gadermeier cites the advantages of the material’s breathable, temperature-regulating, antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties as the reason.

Image: Tetoi Vienna
Image: Tetoi Vienna

About Tetoi Vienna:

  • Founding: 2022 in Vienna, Austria
  • Bestseller: Alpine fleece set, consisting of trousers and top
  • Target audience: Babies and children up to six years old
  • Points of sale: Online shop on tetoi-vienna.com, regular pop-ups in Austria
  • Distribution: In-house, [email protected]
  • Pitti Man: Padiglione Cavaniglia – B/8
  • Prices: From around 10 euros for a hat to 40 euros for the Alpine fleece set
  • Production: Mostly using cellulose fiber Tencel Lyocell, manufactured in Seoul, South Korea

Retta Jane

Is it possible to design the pattern construction of a garment so that it can keep up with the changing, youthful body and last longer for its wearer? The American interior designer Retta Tussey has taken on this challenge. With over 20 years of experience in the creative field, including at the US fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger, Tussey understands how to create products according to special requirements. Her aim is to make it easier for young customers to grow up and to give them designs that appear neither too childlike nor too adult.

Image: Retta Jane
Image: Retta Jane

Shapes, colors and details find their inspiration in Tussey’s wardrobe, which houses vintage pieces passed down from generation to generation. The style of tunics, trousers and skirts moves between sporty functionality and nostalgic elegance. High-necked, straight-cut dresses and bright patterns are reminiscent of the 60s. An elastic waistband and enough seam allowance prevent it from growing out quickly.

A placement in the higher price segment was a conscious choice: the brand’s pieces should be seen as an investment and subsequently passed on instead of thrown away. Production takes place in Chinese factories in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, one of which is even run by women, emphasizes Tussey. The inventory team and technical design team operate out of New York.

Image: Retta Jane
Image: Retta Jane

About Retta Jane:

  • Founding: Soft launch in 2023 in Missouri, USA
  • Bestseller: Bow tunic ‘Augusta’
  • Target audience: Girls aged seven to 14
  • Points of sale: Online shop on rettajane.com
  • Distribution: In-house, [email protected], St. Louis showroom
  • Pitti Man: Padiglione Centrale – J/4
  • Prices: About 61 euros for a t-shirt, 167 euros for pants and 320 euros for a cape
  • Production: Technical design in New York, manufacturing in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

Hanska

Nora and Hannes Hänska are a creative power couple. They launched the bag label that bears their last name in Berlin in 2014 after the two had studied art and design. Nina Hänska’s preference had already been for minimalist accessories, whose prototypes Hannes Hänska perfected until they were ready for series production. Since design, detailing and small series are implemented directly in the house, the former premises of the German architectural firm Hänska, a familiar and efficient working atmosphere is required.

Image: Hannes Hänska/Hänska
Image: Hannes Hänska/Hänska

Since 2021, the school bags have been produced in a family business in Porto, Portugal, while the other collections have been handmade in the Berlin studio. In addition to backpacks, the brand’s range also includes pencil cases, gym bags, shoulder bags and carrier bags, which combine the characteristics of high functionality and are intended to make everyday life easier for young and old.

Hänska also offers absolute transparency regarding the production and origin of the materials. So it’s no secret that the cotton used comes from Germany, the ‘Seaqual’ yarn made from marine waste comes from Portugal, the magnetic fasteners come from China and the vegan apple leather comes from Italy. The place of production of each individual piece is also mentioned in the brand’s online shop.

Image: Sebastian Schiefner/Hänska
Image: Sebastian Schiefner/Hänska

About Hanska:

  • Founding: 2014 in Berlin, Germany
  • Bestseller: Backpack ‘Ikasi’
  • Target audience: Kindergarten and school children
  • Points of sale: Online shop on shop.haenska.com, Mjot and Lila Lämmchen in Berlin, Tutu et Tata in Cologne, Rimini and WoMenArt in Basel, Mina and Lola in Vienna.
  • Distribution: In-house, [email protected], showroom in Berlin
  • Pitti Man: Padiglione Cavaniglia – A/13
  • Prices: 98 euros for a shoulder bag to 305 euros for a school bag
  • Production: German cotton. Production of the school bags in Portugal and other products in-house

Hanevild

The Danish fashion label Hanevild (in German: Wildhahn) takes advantage of the charm of simple Scandinavian design and the cozy hygge lifestyle that invites you to enjoy. Founded in 2023 by Ninna Pedersen, the company pays particular attention to comfortable, nostalgic knitwear that looks like grandma sewed it. Sweaters with the embroidered, brand-typical motif of a rooster, vests, but also dresses and two-piece sets form the range and are intended to leave a “light, environmentally friendly impression”.

Image: Hanevild
Image: Hanevild

Wool and cotton are used for yarns and fabrics, which are intended to offer good wearing comfort thanks to their soft finish. After the garments are manufactured in India, the embroidery and details are applied by hand in Denmark. Pedersen also works as a freelance photographer and captures the images from the brand campaigns herself behind the camera. The next collection will be available from February.

Image: Hanevild
Image: Hanevild

About Hanevild:

  • Founding: 2023 in Denmark
  • Bestseller: Signature sweater with a rooster motif
  • Target audience: Children from three months to six years
  • Points of sale: Online at hanevild.com, babygarderoben.dk
  • Distribution: In-house, [email protected]
  • Pitti Man: Padiglione Cavaniglia – N/1
  • Prices: Around 40 euros for a skirt to around 70 euros for a sweater
  • Production: India, decorations applied by hand

Kalumi

The fact that the body grows so quickly in infancy is a challenge for many parents. The German brand Kalumi found a solution with a body that grows with the body, which formed the basis of co-founder Katharina Costa’s master’s thesis during her fashion studies. After receiving the ‘Exist’ start-up grant, a funding program from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, in 2022, she founded a GmbH with co-founder Liesa Eschemann and quickly gained notoriety.

Image: Kalumi
Image: Kalumi

In a compact spinning process that prevents pilling, a merino wool-silk mixture is produced in German-speaking countries and then processed in Germany into bodysuits, leggings and turtleneck sweaters that grow with the child. Part of the brand covers six clothing sizes and offers a resource-saving, long-lasting option for a manageable baby wardrobe.

Apple green, lemon yellow, powder pink or anthracite form the basis of the color palette – a modern approach that is intended to stand out from conventional brands. Photos from the campaigns remain unedited and are intended to represent young life as it is – including drool stains and small imperfections.

Image: Kalumi
Image: Kalumi

About Kalumi:

  • Founding: 2022 in Germany
  • Bestseller: ‘Grow Free With Me’ bodysuit
  • Target audience: Babies and toddlers
  • Points of sale: Online shop at kalumishop.com
  • Distribution: [email protected]
  • Pitti Man: Padiglione Cavaniglia – N/8
  • Prices: 60 euros each for the bodysuit, leggings and turtleneck, 226 euros for the baby set consisting of four bodysuits
  • Production: Wool-silk blend fabric made in the DACH region, product production in Germany

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