How was Playtime Paris? Three retailers share their experience

Playtime Paris is truly an inspirational show with all the best brands under one roof. It gives a buyer like me the opportunity to meet the designers behind brands I currently stock but also  pick up brand new collections which are not present at UK shows. The feel of the show is truly international both with exhibitors but also buyers. It is now days rare in the UK to see buyers placing orders at shows but this was not the case at Playtime. There was a great energy and positive attitude at the show which was very contagious.

Brands which stood out for me were predominately from Belgium and Spain and here are some of my favourites:

Simple Kids – Beautiful prints, in strong colors on beautiful fabrics. Quality and design at its best.

Album di Famiglia – beautiful high end Italian brand reminding me of an up market All Saints for kids

Wovenplay – pure art.

Makie – a brand which I have had my eye on for years and it was wonderful to meet them in person and see the full collection. Simplicity at its best.

California Vintage/Made in Los Angeles – uber cool French brand rocking it up with fun tees for kids.

I found the show was dynamic, pleasant to walk with a positive feel all things considered (economical crisis).

The brands that I really liked :
AYMARA, a Belgium brand made in peru with a wonderful colour palet : burn earth, almond green, lavender blue-grey. Amazing skirts, great sleeveless tops with pockets.

Simple kids et son charme très citadin et coquin.

The brands that I carry at the store are Soft Gallery (very well cut, not too expensive, visaul communication to die for), Aymara, RitacoRita (stunning cardigans), Simple kids, Hartford (great Riviera style pants and superb colour palet), Kidscase (especially the baby  collection), FUB (I love! the stripped knits, a bit classical but very beautiful and organic at a fair price), bobochoses, Fanny Belette.

New for Fall 2012 : Lucas du Tertre, American Outfitters, Ketiketa, Finger in the nose and Bonton (the two last brands weren’t at the show…). I am also considering Nicethings  et Quenotte – I also like the glasses/sunglasses collection by Very French Gangsters !

I found Mini et Maximus new for its fun free style. So fresh in the middle of such an important offer of Bonpoint-like brands that think they invented it all!  The prints by Berlin based designers Noé et Zoé were also a good discovery. And finally Jess Brown, Atsuyo et Akiko  (loved their tutus), and the Kenana, stuffed creatures, especially the howls!

Playtime was as usual very beautiful, rich of nice inspirations/ideas and new brands. I found it very colourful…it seems true that people crave for colours in times of crisis. So many brands offering vibrant and neon colours, so much shocking yellow!

I have re-ordered two brands that I have been working with in the past two years : Emily et Ida (fun Liberty prints) and Yporquè who always invent playful products that kids love, like the super heroes hooded sweater, the PJ with incorporated cape,  the t-shirt with integrated sound of car or drums.

I found the Danish brand Soft Gallery  very poetic with its fable universe. I also liked Lucky Fish from New York, with its fun printed tee-shirt range all very colourful. For room decor : Les Gambettes, little tables and chairs inspired by the 50’s.
And of course my sister Beatrice’s jewellery line, B&A legami preziosi for her very sweet pieces. Last but not least, the little shoes by Sonatina di Lena..true gems!