On July 4-5, Amsterdam will be the home town for the 11^th edition of kleine fabriek. The fair is known for being very lively, well organized, international (lots of Scandinavian, German, Belgium visitors), and I have to say that Amsterdam is a great destination for food and shopping, especially the flea market along the canals on Monday mornings. 400 children’s labels will be present this season including Bellerose (one of the greatest children’s brands), Kidscase, L’Asticot (a new Swiss brand). The organizers announce a children’s book store, a fashion photo shoot and as usual, cafes and live music. Let’s hope that this previous boutique show who became so big will keep it beautiful and exciting.

There are more and more great online stores of all kinds on the net, and it is a very nice thing to have so much choice, just a click away. Like in real life, one can wonder around large e-stores who carry hundreds of brands, or push the virtual door of smaller, more selective places. I recently found myself browsing through the cool mix at so-cute.biz and really enjoyed the visit. It seems that French owner Elsa Zaffini likes to keep the assortment quite focused : a simple, graphic, modern style for functional, practical, easy pieces, all with an attitude. For 0-8, from fashion to home decor to books and gifts, only great names : Bensimon, Bobo Choses, Bright and Stripes, Franka, Holly’s, L’esprit de Luna, La petite Luce, Mini Rodini, Monamici, Shampoodle (and more). Don’t miss the little “braderie”, with friendly discounts.

Anita Da Silva (Yan Yun Wang if you call her by her  Chinese name), is the founder of Chalkboard, the first Shanghai based children’s store selling Western designers. Her assortment includes Kicokids, Hunter, Si tu veux and a nice selection of accessories, toys, home decor. Anita Studied fashion at Esmod Paris and lived in France for 5 years; she travels a lot, very often to the US. Before having her little girl called Sophia Jenna (now 2 years), she worked as an editor for Elle China. A pioneer with international culture and excellent taste, Anita tells us more about her passions, ideas and life.

Can you tell us what is the philosophy behind Chalkboard? I want to offer an artist view to the new generations, help stimulating Chinese children’s imagination and encourage originality in China. That is why I named the store Chalkboard, it’s all about expressing your imagination. The more you draw, the further you go. Chalkboard is a brand, a shop who thinks of the future, of the new Chinese lifestyle.

Speaking of lifestyle, can you describe yours? Busy, always thinking about what’s new, what’s next…like everybody who lives in an up-coming city. Having fun at the same time of course. I love it.

How about your own style? I mix and match, casual and effortless chic…until 2 weeks ago; I had a little accident because of my hairdresser’s assistant; still recovering!

How is your typical week? Phone calls, meetings, solving problems and have some little guilty pleasures…

How about your perfect Sunday? Having brunch with my family and friends outdoor. See the green, see the kids, the most beautiful things.

What are your inspirations at the moment? Today I heard the news about Apple; 600,000 people pre-ordered the new iphone 4 online; I am one of these, I wonder how much work and ideas behind, this is it- the inspiration of very now. The real inspiration is to change people’s life, looking forward to seeing my daughter when I talk to her with Facetime.

The book on your bedside table? The 30 years of Chinese Modern Art.

The music in your ipod? My husband mixed it for me. Mainly house and techno. I plan to buy the Soul Train Series. Love them.

What are your favorite cities in the world? Paris, Paris and Paris. I have so many good memories out there. Friends, restaurants, beautiful shops and French movies…I can’t stop walking, shopping 12 hours in a row in Paris.

And your favorite stores? Bon Marche, Merci and Bonpoint’s falgship in Paris.

What is your favorite child-related online destination? www.milkmagazine.net, especially for the “Look de Rue”, and Pirouette of course

What is your favorite child-related magazine? Milk magazine

Your favorite movie to watch with the whole family? Sophia is still too young to enjoy movies, but I guess she will soon love watching movies about animals. Looking forward to it.

What do you prize most in life? My family

A strong belief? Work hard and love hard

What are you especially proud about? My ideas and my go-get character

Your favorite place for the holidays? Portugal, horse riding and spending time with my family on the beach

Fluke is a UK-based brand with a very good energy. I noticed their debut at Bubble London last year, and they really seem to go in the right direction. I guess that after 20 years working for the children’s industry, the owner Frazer Bradley knows what he is doing. The collections are produced in ethically audited factories who respect the environmental standards. At this stage the brand shows exclusively at Bubble London. Let’s hope it will soon expand its presence at international shows. If you want to buy products for your children, the best way for the moment is to visit the brand’s own e-store www.flukekids.co.uk.

Juno is a proud New Yorker – she recently recommended a stay at the Plaza to a family friend, because “that’s where Elouise lives” *. Juno has a little sister Maris (almost 2 years); she speaks German with her family and English at school. Right now she is busy learning to ride a bike, to learn to swim and to horseback ride. Her longstanding passion is ballet. Her mom, Nele Husmann, is a journalist.

Juno

What do you want to be when you grow up I want to dance Marie in the Nutcracker. And I want to own a farm with lots of animals, especially horses and dogs

What is your favorite famous person My friend LOLA is my favourite person on earth

What makes you happy/laugh Playing tag with Papa

What makes you sad/angry When people don’t pay enough attention

Your favorite books The legend of King Arthur; Little house in the big woods

Your favorite films Noukie; My neighbor Totoro; The Sound of Music

Your favorite animal I love dachshounds and white horses

Your best holidays you ever had My daytrip to Disneyland. And Christmas in Germany

A city that you would dream to visit I want to go to Paris

Who chooses your clothes in the morning I choose my own clothes

Your favorite color Rainbow, silver and gold

Your favorite outfit My new hot pink shorts and a shirt

What is the piece your like the most from your wardrobe My layer-dress with little pink and white and green flowers

What is the next item you would like to get Pants for horse back riding and matchning boots! And I want Crocs!!!

Nele

Your favorite children’s brands Hartford, Flora & Henri, Bu and the Duck, Bonpoint, Zara Kids

Your favorite children’s stores In New York, Kisan Concept Store (they have the best selection on earth!) and Bu and the Duck; Julie’s in Munich, Germany

Do you buy a lot online for your children and what are your favorite e-stores I only buy German children’s books over the internet at Amazon, and that takes a lot of work. Typically, I rather shop in real boutiques to get the materials and the sizes right

A website that inspires you http://sites.google.com/site/laescuelitadeesperanza/home

What criteria you consider when you buy something for child I typically wait for a sale to find great bargains. Key are the quality of the design and the materials. PLUS: Juno must love to wear it

Last item you added to your child’s wardrobe Hot pink terry cloth shorts

Most precious item you bought for your child Pink lacker shoes from Pepe

Best gift you gave for a child’s B-day Pretended shaving foam

Items that you find hard to find A warm and stylish winter coat

Favorite pieces in Juno’s wardrobe The dresses my mom has sewn for Juno and Maris in Liberty fabric

Where are you going for the summer holidays We will be spending a month in a mountain village in Rhodes, Greece

Hartford, Flora & Henri, Pepe, Bu and the Duck, Bonpoint, Zara Kids, Kisan Concept Store, Julie’s

* The famous Plaza Hotel in New York has recently been transformed into luxury residences/apartments and part of the first floor and basement host luxury boutiques including a large Eloise store

This was another very lively edition of Bubble London. The exhibitors were all enthusiastic and reported good foot traffic (a lot more international) and, the most important, a satisfying amount of orders. This is really good thing to hear for everyone in the industry.

I loved Molly Meg ‘s wall display of vintage chairs, Milk ‘s exhibit “One Day, one Look”, and the collections of Little Duckling and Minti were particularly interesting. I’ll write more about these two brands very soon.

I am sure we all played the same tricks to make our sons and daughters eat, around 18 months. A spoon for papa, a spoon for mama, the little train, the little car brings food in your mouth, etc. At Bonton in Paris I found that marvelous neon color spoon shaped as a plane. So crafty!

US based photographer Davina Zagury did many projects around childhood, starting with a beautiful story on vintage toys called “The Land of Lost Toys”, published in Milk Magazine in 2004. Later she worked, in collaboration with the store Pomme, on “The Doudou project”, featuring children and their favorite teddy or dolls followed, a couple of years later by a story calls “Sibblings”. When she became a mother (her little boy is now 2), she thought she would love to have a professional picture of her and her son. That made her think it could be a great project to work on, that would give a wonderful opportunity to other moms.  She set up a studio for Mother’s Day weekend and she photographed 26 mothers with their children. Davina says it was challenging but everyone had lots of fun and the results came out beautiful. Unforgettable experience and precious portraits.