Like women’s and men’s fashion, children’s fashion is also experiencing an ongoing upheaval in the direction of a sense of responsibility, circular economy and sustainable fashion trends. This change is largely due to parents’ interests and values, as well as the general demand for more conscious consumption.
As expected, these trends will also be on display at the British children’s fashion fair Indx Kids in July. Over 140 brands will attend the event on July 2-3, taking place in the West Midlands region of England. Clothing, shoes and loungewear for different age groups will be on display at the fair.
Indx presents the main trends that will shape children’s fashion in the coming season and explains how the brands implement these trends in their collections.
Organics and sustainability
The primary focus, according to Indx, is on using eco-conscious materials as more brands strive to improve their supply chains and fabric offerings. Organic materials are just part of the trend, which also includes transparency in supply chains, efforts towards a circular economy and support for environmental organisations. For example, the Kite label has introduced a rental offer for children’s clothing and the Mai brand only works with suppliers who meet the ‘Global Organic Textile Standards’.
Gender neutral fashion
As in the adult world, inclusion and equality is becoming an increasingly important issue in children’s fashion. Brands are embracing this trend through unisex color palettes that move away from the stereotypical pink and blue.
The Ducky Zebra brand shows this color change in their designs and will present their colorful clothing at the fair. Sally Dear says she’s focused on a “bright, cheery color palette — as opposed to the news mongering,” the label’s founder told FashionUnited. Children were also involved in the color selection for the collection: they helped to spice up the initially selected color palette.
interplay
Some trends go beyond pure fashion: In addition to clothing, some brands also offer interactive employment opportunities. They introduce characters and games designed to bring children closer to the world around them. Hatley is one of the labels that will present such a concept at the fair. The brand will present a pajama collection called ‘Books to Bed’ where children can read books and see the illustrations on their own pajamas.
This translated post previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk. Translation and editing: Pia Schulz