First ever Kids' Fashion Week lands in London with a bang as celebrities and their designer-clad children hit the mini catwalk
With a luxury childrenswear market thought to be worth £500 million in the UK alone and the likes of Romeo Beckham already making a foray into the world of fashion, it was only a matter of time before the kids got their own fashion week.
And last night the first ever Global Kids’ Fashion Week (GKFW) landed in London with a bang.
Stylish celebrity parents and their equally fashion-forward children were out in their droves at Freemason's Hall, Covent Garden, to witness the world's first ever kid's catwalk show, and it did not disappoint.
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| The very first Global Kids Fashion Week launched by AlexandAlexa showcased top designers A/W designs and drew celebrities like Jodie and Jemma Kidd to the front row |
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| The show had a fun and playful vibe as the professional child models claimed the runway as their own wearing designers such as Oscar De La Renta, Paul Smith, Gaultier and Missoni |
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GKFW cast a spotlight on premium kids’ fashion, from both established designers and emerging names and aimed to educate and inspire people about children's fashion – celebrating how this specialist category has thrived and evolved over the past five years.
The event, which was sponsored by designer e-tailer AlexandAlexa.com, opened its doors yesterday evening to a herd of excitable children and their parents who took full advantage of the treats on offer.
And the little tyke's every needs were catered for, as there was entertainment from supporting brands such as child-friendly nail varnish company Little BU, a bloggers lounge and a sponsored photobooth as well as a popcorn machine and candy floss, all in collaboration with event partner the V&A Museum of Childhood.
Ambassadors involved in the project include Sarah Curran, founder of my-wardrobe.com, Tanya Kazeminy Mackay, founding partner of Mama Mio, model Portia Freeman, Pippa Vosper, founder of the maternallychic.com blog and Olcay Gulsen, Dutch fashion designer and founder of SuperTrash Girls.
Speaking ahead of the event, Portia Freeman, an international model who has even modelled with her own young son for Italian Vogue, said: 'I'm super excited because I love childrenswear, I am obsessed so I am just here to enjoy it.
'I think it's important to celebrate children's fashion to show everybody just how amazing it is and women and men all around the world wear amazing clothes so it's really important that children can too.'
Designers showing included the likes of luxury labels Paul Smith Junior, Junior Gaultier, Chloe, Little Marc Jacobs, I Pinco Pallino, Suzanne Ermann, Anne Kurris, Supertrash.
As well as established brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Diesel and emerging independent brands like Rachel Riley, Anne Kuris and Wildfox were also featured.
Portia noted that she was looking forward to seeing Tommy Hilfiger, Oscar de la Renta and Chloe and although Romeo Beckham didn't make an appearance like many had hoped, she loved his Burberry campaign.
'He looked so cute, happy and smiley and it's great,' she said.
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The 24-year-old would encourage her own 3-year-old son Dylan (with Kooks bassist Pete Denton), to pursue his dreams if he wanted to follow in her modelling footsteps.
'I would let him follow his dreams, as long as he was happy, sane and healthy, that's the most important thing for me as a mother,' she said.
Portia and her son took their seats on the front row alongside Jodie Kidd and Kate Moss' make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, who both brought along their little bundles of joy too.
But as soon as the music began to boom and the models made their way out onto the catwalk, it was clear that one audience member wanted to join in on the fun.
Charlotte Tilbury's red-headed son Flynn, 3, wanted to make his own modelling debut and pranced onto the catwalk and strutted alongside the professional child models, much to the audience's delight.
'He had a Zoolander moment. He did some very dodgy Zoolander moves, I was like "Oh my gosh, what have I given birth to"', laughed Charlotte after the show.
Proving that fashion doesn't have an age restriction, the young models looked bang-on-trend in their stylish designs.
There were John Galliano waistcoats, Roberto Cavalli leopard-print handbags, Kenzo bobble hats and Fendi leather coats, to name but a few.
And it wouldn't be Kid's Fashion Week without an element of fun.
As the show drew to a close, the bass-filled beats of Kanye West Gold Digga played as three youngsters cartwheeled and break danced along the catwalk as the raucous audience cheered along.
Jodie Kidd's blonde-haired baby boy watched avidly as his model mother boogied to the beats and admired the clothes.
'It was all gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I just wish they made grown-up sizes in some of those dresses, they were so cute.
'It was really fun, a lovely idea. I've got my own little boy and it's just so nice shopping for them so we've had a really lovely afternoon,' she said after the show.
Emily Johnston, founder of hit fashion site FashionFoieGras.com was front row at the show. She said: 'Never before have I seen a catwalk that brought about so many smiles in the audience. From kids skipping to kids cartwheeling down the runway, each and every look they showcased was beautiful and very professionally presented.
'Although, I do believe this is the only event in the fashion calendar when a young one can storm the catwalk and cause laughs instead of sheer panic.
'It was all wonderfully executed and left me rethinking the plan to wait on little ones. I foresee this being a permanent fixture on the fashion calendar.'
The fun-packed show drew to a close to the sounds of Calvin Harris' Feel So Close as the young models made their way down the catwalk clapping excitedly in unison, clearly having the time of their lives.
Alex Theophanous, founder and CEO of AlexandAlexa.com added: ‘Kids’ fashion is playful, fun and innovative – we all believe it deserves its own dedicated platform.
'This is why we are so proud to be supporting the very first Global Kids’ Fashion Week. With this event, we aim to put children’s fashion on the map worldwide’.
Nrews Source:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2295770/Global-Kids-Fashion-Week-lands-London-bang.html
