Save The Date

Bubble, Bubble, Bubble

The 11th edition of Bubble London opened its doors this morning with firm favourites and newcomers ready to show off Autumn/Winter 13 collections. 

Key areas of this season's show include our extended Bubble GUM area and fresh and eclectic designers in Nest. 

Bubblegramming

Here's a sneak peek on how we've been spending our Saturday at the Business Design Centre. 

Sunday & Monday from 9.30am 

Save the dates! 

50 shades of grey on Purebaby stand E12. 

We can't get enough of Melanie Porter 

colourful tights from Slugs&Snails 

Putting together our Homegrown installation 

Pretty dresses from Poppy 

See you tomorrow!

Magazine & Breakfast

Look what's landed on our desk! 

If you're visiting Bubble London, treat yourself to a free breakfast courtesy of CWB Magazine on Sunday and Monday between 9.30am and 11am. Just take your voucher to the breakfast lounge on the Gallery Level 2 and pick up a coffee and a croissant.

Bubble Bound

The wait is almost over. In just three days, Bubble London’s strongest-ever line-up of international brands, new and exclusive labels and the best of British design talent will be unveiled at the Business Design Centre, Islington.

Browse over 280 collections of the best in children’s fashion, footwear, accessories and interiors.

Click here for the full list of exhibitors and to preview this season’s floor plan.

Maximise the potential of your business and receive expert advice completely free of charge at our retail-oriented seminars, which will run across the two-day event.

Click here for an up-to-date schedule.

Discover a variety of brands specially selected for their freshness and individuality within the newest area of the show, NEST.

Click here for the full list of NEST brands.

Look out for the new Bubble Hub, a dedicated information point designed to help you make the most out of your trip to the show. The Bubble Hub can be found on stands G22 & G24, Gallery Level 2.

Sit down and relax on Hitch Mylius’ contemporary upholstered furniture bringing style and comfort to the Bubble Plaza.

Showcasing labels that are designed and manufactured in the UK, Bubble Homegrown’s second season features new collections as well as updates on returning brands.
Click here for the full list of Bubble Homegrown talents.

Enter our Lucy Moose competition inviting children to share their creativity and design their own ‘Stuff Your Doodle’ for a chance to win a 3D version of their work.
Click here for all the details

Raise a glass and join the Bubble team on Sunday evening at the newly opened John Salt, 131 Upper Street, Islington from 6pm.

Continue to support London-based charity Kids Company which provides practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children by making a donation when picking up your complimentary show guide.

SAVE TIME AT THE SHOW 

REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR FREE TICKET TO BUBBLE LONDON

Our Little Men

Word on the internet is there’s a new father magazine in town and it’s called Kindling. 

The Brooklyn-based publication explores fatherood through 'essays, interviews, editorial, art and photography'.

Definitely one to watch! 

Graffiti Styles

Cute Graffiti is a collection of hand painted designs, screen printed onto the most beautifully soft 100% organic cotton T shirts.

All styles are unisex and available from newborn to 3 year olds.

Don't miss Cute Graffiti at Bubble London on 27 & 28 January 2013. 

Homegrown Talent

Showcasing labels that design and manufacture in the UK, Bubble Homegrown’s second season features new collections as well as updates on the brands featured in June and feedback from retailers stocking British brands.

Carly Gledhill, designer and owner of Corby Tindersticks, explains why remaining homegrown is so important to her, " I was lucky enough to find a fantastic factory just 45 minutes drive from my flat, I can pop up and see them whenever I like and I know the quality is going to be good. With a lot of people struggling to find work in the recession I want to try and support local suppliers wherever I can! "

Don’t miss Corby Tindersticks on stand VC2 and the exclusive  Homegrown installation as you enter Bubble London highlighting the quality and style synonymous with British design and production

La Belle

Earlier this year saw the launch of a brand new children's fashion label Belle Enfant. 

Belle Enfant  is a British luxury fashion brand offering an effortlessly chic collection of clothing and accessories with a focus on pretty detailing and classic finishes in washed neutrals, blush and sherbet tones. 

The brand is the creation of childhood friends, Fleur Vidler and Henrietta Newman. Both keen followers of fashion with a love for beautiful things.

Designed in-house and sourced from a select number of expert suppliers, Belle Enfant  has a key emphasis on quality and style.   

Discover  Belle Enfant at Bubble London on 27 & 28 January 2013.

Into The Woods

Grubbies is back at Bubble London with their perfect denim dungarees for 0-5 year olds.

This season, the new Grubbies collection has a forest play theme. Key for AW13 are the ‘Forager’ dungarees – fully lined, robustly built and with ‘handwarmer’ bib pocket.

Grubbies has again teamed with illustrator, Marion Lindsay, to create two rich and mysterious British woodland designs for their cotton kerchiefs.

  

Grubbies is one of a growing tribe of new brands who manufacture exclusively in the UK and will be featured as part of the Bubble Homegrown feature.

Spotlight on aden + anais

By Shoshana Kazab

When Raegan Moya-Jonesmoved from her native Australia to the US, she never expected to start a global business which would one day attract celebrity fans. After moving to the US and starting a family, Raegan knew that swaddling in muslin would be a part of her traditions as a mother. But when she tried to find a swaddle like the ones she remembered from home, she couldn’t. Those that she did find were too small; too thick and heavy; too restrictive; too unattractive. Though disappointed, Raegan did what any mother would: she made sure her children could have the very best by rolling up her sleeves and getting to work. And that’s why she started aden + anais.

Along with a business partner, Raegan created aden + anais, named after their children, and rolled out the first product collection in 2006. The swaddles won over parents, pediatricians and even started a celebrity following.  

In 2008, Raegan became the sole force behind aden + anais and is now leading a brand with innovative products and partnerships with some of the largest retailers in the United States. Today, aden + anais is sold in over thirty countries worldwide and Raegan has published her first book (2010), Swaddle Love, which chronicles the history, science and techniques of swaddling. In it, she also recounts her personal journey from new mother to business entrepreneur.

Where does the aden + anais style and design aesthetic come from?

The aden + anais®style is really based on my own personal taste and I think it has evolved from there. I’ve never been a big fan of cutesy baby designs so when I started to design our swaddles I wanted to create something that I would use for myself and my own girls. I also recognise that different styles do better in different parts of the world. For instance, one of my favourite designs is Super Star because of the big bold colours and the simplicity of the design. This pattern is very popular is Australia, but the primary colours are not as popular here in the US, which is why we created Super Star Scout. It has the star pattern but in a more subdued colour palette.

What do you think differentiates aden + anais from other brands in the baby industry?
We offer a combination of unique, contemporary designs with great functionality in what I believe to be one of the loveliest fabrics on the market that also happens to be breathable.  I whole-heartedly believe that this combination is ultimately what sets us apart in the industry.

You are not only a business woman, but a mother to four girls.  What advice would you give to a new mum about getting that much needed sleep?
It is really all about creating a routine. Babies thrive on routine and I always found that being militant about sleep routines worked in our home. We always put the girls down to sleep swaddled and in their cot at the same time for their morning nap, afternoon nap and evening bedtime. I would give them their milk in the same place (in the rocking chair in their bedroom) read them a story, swaddle them, put them in their cot, turn on the sound machine with white noise when they were very young and a lullaby as they got older and kiss them goodnight. All the girls were sleeping through the night by the time they were 4 months old.

What can buyers expect to see from aden + anais here at Bubble?

Along with our popular classic product range and designs, we will be debuting a new collection with designs that were developed specifically for the European market. We’ve created three prints: make believe,  lovely, and night sky .  Each print is available in a wide range of products including swaddles, bibs, sleeping bags, musy multi-use blankets, cot sheets, changing mat covers and dream blankets™.

We will also be debuting two completely new lines which include a line of muslin toys and an innovative product called the easy swaddle™.  The easy swaddle combines the softness and breathability of our signature cotton muslin, with a revolutionary design using snaps to create the perfect swaddle every time.

Don't miss aden + anais at Bubble London on 27 & 28 January 2013. 

Doodle Competition

Bubble London has teamed up with Lucy Moose, inviting children to share their creativity and design their own ‘Stuff Your Doodle’ for a chance to win a 3D version of their work.

How to enter:
* Submit your entry to info@lucymoose.com no later than Monday 28 January.
* Pick up an entry form on the Bubble London Plaza on Sunday 27 & Monday 28 January and hand in your drawing to Lucy on stand G33.

The winner of the competition will be announced after the show and will be featured on the Bubble London blog and in CWB Magazine.

 Good luck!

Back to Marmalade&Mash

Marmalade&Mash will be brightening up the winter season and Bubble Londonat the end of the month with an exciting Autumn/Winter 13 collection.

With a colour palette that would be at home in the 1970's, fabrics that have an edgy, warehouse vibe and the trademark classic silhouettes that the British brand do so well, this collection promises to bring a sense of eclectic Britishness.

All images via Flannery O'Kafka