Full Disclosure….am just posting this because I do genuinely love their stuff! No payment was given for gushing!
As a slightly nerdy uncool ‘rent, I am always happy when our parental nerdiness shows up in our kids! Our own little creations!
I love that they are as into movies and comics etc as we are!
When I comes to fashion I love finding stuff that isn’t chain store cute. This is especially hard when Caity is such a pink and lover of all things trademarked!
Budget constraints and a total lack of creativity in myself tend to thwart this endeavor mostly.
However..Vancouver is FILLED with amazing people who design and make kids clothing. Like crazy full of them. Thanks to Twitter and amazing people like Sue at Raspberry Kids and Anne-Marie at Yoyomama I have been discovering more and more of these people and now wish I was rich.
I wish I could buy every single cute toy that Raspberry Kids has for Tara. They are all fun and safe and environmentally friendly.
I have picked up a few pieces so far and hope to keep doing so. My kids LOVE the unique pieces we have found for them and I LOVE that.
I bought dresses for Caity and a hip long sleeved T for Adam from Redfish Kids Clothing. Caity LOVES those dresses and with the leggings we picked up, wears those things to school, parties, playdates…pretty much anything that takes her fancy. They are pretty and washable and the distinctive Japanese prints means she stands out from all the Disney Princesses.
Adam likes the T when he is in a Team Edward mood!
At Christmas my mom gave the kids some clothes she had found at a recent craft fair. They were from Kiki Kid’s Wear and again have been HUGE hits with the kids.
These retro themed shirts have been a huge hit with the kids and I really hope they do more designs as again, both kids LOVE em. They have fun baby stuff too.
I have perused Agoo Apparel on and off for a while. I will admit to finding their items a bit steep in price – however – the materials they use are UV resistant and geared for active wear and a really great idea. Needless to say when a chance (through blessed Twitter) arose for me to volunteer Tara as a model for their Spring collection..I jumped at the chance.
When we dropped by earlier in the week for a ‘fitting’ my older kids managed to score an outfit each. They had to wear them out of there AND wear them the next day to school.
Tara – IMHO – looked freaking adorable in the stuff.
So on Thursday, with Caity as my assistant, we arrived for a photo shoot at ANOTHER great institution that I had heard of through Raspberry Kids – Bopomo Pictures.
That was organized chaos of cute babies and lovely little four year olds….interspersed with photoraphers and assistants cooing and squeeing to get the right reaction out of reluctant models like our little Tara.
She did okay..but was a tad overwhelmed by it all. But looked adorable and I cannot wait (fingers crossed) for people to see the end results.
It was really fun and the folks from Agoo are awesome as are the photographers at Bopomo.
The clothes are super too. It was great to see all these wriggly kids bouncing around in them. A true test of any ‘active wear.’
I think my main point is..if you can….support your local designers and entrepreneurs. It is tough out there and these creative people deserve our support.
I would be forever bankrupt but have gorgeously dressed kids if I could have my way.
Vancouver is filled with amazingly creative people and I LOVE that the interwebz has gotten me tuned into just a few of them so far!
Tara in her first Agoo outfit!
Amber says
I really love the feeling of supporting our local businesses, and try to do it whenever possible. I really believe that if we support these folks, we’re also supporting ourselves and growing a healthy community. This is the sort of community I want my children to grow up in, after all.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..What is This Post About Again? =-.
Sue Sinclair, Raspberry Kids says
Thanks for the shout out Mrs. Crunchy Carpets,
Considering I doubt I could even sew on a button anymore, I spend my time seeking out awesome local Vancouver and Canadian designers and bring their products to our site.
We only wish our warehouse space and budget for inventory meant we could support more of them.
We are pleased to be working with Petra from Kiki Kids Wear (www.kikikidswear.com) on a couple of upcoming events. Her fabric selections are divine and her clothes are incredibly high quality and all made right here in Vancouver.
Have a wonderful weekend ya’ll,
Sue
Sue Sinclair
Chief Executive Mom, Raspberry Kids
On the Web: http://www.raspberrykids.com
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Our latest newsletter: http://www.raspberrykids.com/newsletter-jan11-2010
Annemarie says
Hi Keri – what a lovely post and SO true as well, Vancouver is brimming with amazing crafty people. I love Kiki Kidswear, ages ago I used to work with Petra, the brains behind it all and the quality of her work is incredible.
I can’t wait to see the pix of Miss T in her Agoo apparel and I hope to see you soon too.
.-= Annemarie´s last blog ..games people play =-.
ao says
Hi Keri,I have some new baby clothes and have uploaded some on the blogs. Not used to blogging that much and still trying with taking pictures, uploading pictures and blogging pictures 😛
So far only 2 entries. But hope you can visit and take a look and feedback what I should do 😛
Thanks
Ernesta Rossi says
Supporting local businesses is great — supporting local female owned businesses even better! Koodos to you!
SmalltownRN says
It’s nice when you find sites and places that work with your philosphy and teachings..and don’t cost an arm and a leg…and more the bonus when the kids like it as well….good for you…and great for them!
.-= SmalltownRN´s last blog ..Life is a gift…….. =-.
coffeewithjulie says
Awesome info and links! I’m always looking for Canadian products and especially retro clothes for DD who loves to look a little different.