Record attendance Bubble London

This season childrens fashion fair Bubble London received a record attendance with a rise of 37 per cent in visitors on the June 2009 event. Taking place on 31st January and 1st February, it was the largest edition to this date featuring 197 brands from 19 countries and a record number of ‘green’ labels. Bubble London opened with over 60 show debuts from brands including denim label Rockefella, Bazaar D' Etoiles from France, retro childrenswear label Gelato, Dutch label Claesens, new eco-friendly kid's wear brand Pili Pala, Trelise Cooper from New Zealand, classic kidswear label Little Legend, European-inspired label Deux par Deux, Nelly Stella from Taiwan and Calvin Klein Jeans & Underwear.

International visitors, who made up 15 per cent of the total visitors, came from Russia, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Sweden. Buyers in attendance from key multiples and independents included Fenwicks, Harrods, Selfridges, Debenhams, Children Salon, ASOS, House of Fraser, Le Bon Marche, Brown Thomas, The Little Baby Shop, Monsters with an attitude, The Hambledon, Couverture, Bibi Klamer, Elias & Grace, Petit Aeme, Petit Bebe and Saffron and Lewis.

Renowned photographer Mary McCartney launched two special t-shirts in collaboration with Mini A Ture. Made using organic cotton, the designs will be sold through Mini A Ture retailers worldwide. All proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts go directly to the Sunway Children’s Home, a small orphanage in India. The Environmental Justice Foundation launched the latest of its exclusive designer campaign t-shirts in collaboration with children’s brand Let Them Eat Cake and chose British artists Stella Vine and Annie Kevans to design the limited edition 100 per cent organic t-shirts. The proceeds of Tee range will go towards EJF’s cotton campaign against forced child labour in the production of cotton.

The ‘Stand Out Award’, launched last season at Bubble London to recognise brands for their inspirational in-store display, was awarded to Little Duckling. The award was decided by a panel of industry judges including Eva Klaus Kid’s Wear magazine, Laura Kirkpatrick from CWB magazine and retailer Corina Papadopoulou from Kidsen. Little Duckling will get a free space at the next edition of Bubble London.

The next edition of Bubble London will be held at the Business Design Centre on 20 – 21 June 2010 and will present spring/summer collections for 2011.

Image: Little Duckling at Bubble London