This weekend the beautiful city of Porto played host to Portugal Fashion Week, and for the first time children’s fashion is part of the programme with the launch of their Kid’s Fashion Week. The beautifully produced shows meant we were introduced to a selection of diverse fashion designers from the women’s and menswear collections. Just look at Marques’ Almeida or Susana Bettencourt. This is just the beginning of something that is looking to group together the best kid’s fashion labels in Portugal and communicate to the world what these Portuguese design lead children’s fashion designers can do.
There was a small group of designers exhibiting in the dedicated showroom, and four brands taking part in the multi-brand runway show which took place on the Sunday morning. The quality of production on the show was good with each brand stamping their own identity on their individual segments of the show. (Laranjinha, Turquesa Beach, Phi Clothing and Play Up ). Maybe a change to the runway show timetable so that it could be sandwiched between the women’s and men’s shows on the Saturday would maximise the impact for the brands. This could help with the cross-over of International press covering the ‘grownup’ fashion and expose them to the wealth of Portuguese kid’s fashion.
There are some amazingly creative Portuguese kid’ s wear designers, and Portugal Kid’s Fashion Week can be a powerful vehicle to communicate to the world how strong their kids fashion pedigree is. However the ‘kid’s fashion’ needs to be billed alongside the women’s and men’s designers with this being the opportunity to lead the way for Kids Fashion Week integration.
Porto itself is the most beautiful location to host the show and it was a pleasure to be invited. I attended with Petra Barkhof and we were able to spend a lovely evening with Alejandra from Severina kids in the wonderful restaurant O Travessa.
The mixture of rustic beautiful historic architecture, emerging cool venues, fashion, and the friendly people ignited a conversation between Petra and myself about whether we could, or should live here. I think so… watch out Florence R!
Portugal Kid’s Fashion Week has got something that could be very special enabling the Portuguese kid’s fashion labels to collectively communicate to the world from the most beautiful of settings just how good they are.

















Editors Notes: Thank you Portugal Fashion Week & Moda Portugal for the wonderful hospitality – it was lovely to catch up with you in your home town of Porto Barn of Monkeys, Cherrypapaya and Kaleidoscope kids.
Katie Kendrick
Katie is a specialist in kids’ fashion and lifestyle, editor, consultant, content creator, and owner of Pirouette - a leading resource to the industry.
With a keen interest in both the business and creative aspects of the industry Katie has interviewed buyers, agents, stylists, designers, influencers, covered runway shows, produced trade show reports and curates thought provoking and engaging exhibitions.
She is passionate about good design, creativity and brands that manage to combine this with their environmental responsibility.
Subscribe to Pirouette's monthly Newsletter.
You might also like
February 12, 2023
The Loft Showroom NYC – this weekend!
If you are in New York this weekend make sure to give a visit to The Loft showroom. A great group group of brands have collaborated to host their own wholesale showroom in the Big Apple. There you'll…
February 10, 2023
‘Coup de Coeur’ selection FW23
Our 'Coup de Coeur' selection for kids' fashion & lifestyle products for AW23 / FW23.What a creative & encouraging AW / FW 23 season! Pirouette walked the aisles, browsed the stands, chatted…
February 7, 2023
Post Show Season AW23.
Initial thoughts…
Some initial thoughts about the AW/ FW 23 show season. From Pitti Bimbo, to Playtime to CIFF Kids - all the shows built upon their prior outings post lockdown. So with so much at stake for brands,…
January 10, 2023
Pirouette’s trade show schedule
for AW/ FW 23
So for many 2023 looks set to be a tough year. Independents will undoubtedly need to be at their creative best use their ability to quickly adapt to meet the challenges ahead. We know though just…
September 26, 2022
A look at Maison&Objet, Paris
The latest edition of Maison&Objet saw 162 brands exhibiting in the kids' & family section - representing just over 7% of total exhibitors. With the market for kids' furniture estimated to be…
September 23, 2022
Two new french facelifts – I love Playtime & Doolittle magazine
Well and truly back into work after Summer and we can report on some 'newness' popping up like an out of synch spring. We have a couple of facelifts - both for Playtime & Doolittle magazine, and…
July 20, 2022
Playtime Paris #29 Bonjour French brands!
Kids’ fashion SS23 collections, Playtime Paris #29 Katie chats with some fabulous french brands and ask them to pick 3 pieces to showcase their SS23 collections at Playtime Paris. Vive la…
July 1, 2022
Playtime Paris #29 preview
Playtime back to full force With the return of International travel Playtime Paris opens its doors tomorrow the 2 July ready to welcome visitors back to the show. Over 320 brands, with a mix of both…
July 1, 2022
Pirouette ‘Coup de Coeur’ – CIFF KIDS
Travelling isn’t easy at the moment. Unfortunately I have to leave Ciff Kids prematurely due to my flight being cancelled and the replacement flight scheduled earlier. It's disappointing because…