Little flea magazine - The Power Issue 7

magazine

A/W 2016 Issue 07

The

Power

Issue

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This year seems to have seen the rise of the female. Women everwhere are standing up for each other in business, motherhood and sisterhood whether it be about breastfeeding, pregnancy in the workplace, gender inequality or just supporting and encouraging each other, we’re seeing the power of ‘mama tribes’ go from strength to strength.

And this issue says it all - POWER! The power needed to run the gorgeous vintage cars and trains in our two fashion shoots. The powerful looks on our cover star and in our stunning beauty shoot. The power in being ourselves and keeping our own mind and spirit strong while raising powerful little humans. For our Autumn/Winter 16 issue, we want to raise a glass to all those bad-ass mamas (and papa’s!) who are staying true to themselves and standing together in solidarity while we smash this parenthood game.

So, this being our Autumn issue, we ask some of our Mama Flea brands what they love about the colder months, their answers make us yearn for snuggly jumpers and a roaring fire! We also showcase some beautful fashion pieces from our amazing brands in two super cool power enthused fashion shoots. You’ll find fabulous interviews, accessories to make you drool, the cutest baby items and super cool interiors to get you totally inspired.

On the toys front, you’ll find the latest play things from games to construction, many of which you won’t find elsewhere in the UK! We also have a yummy food feature with three fab easy to follow recipes for the whole family to tuck into.

I hope you love the issue as much as I do.

1

The

Power

Issue

This year seems to have been the year of the female. Women everywhere are standing up for each other in business, motherhood and sisterhood whether it be about breastfeeding, pregnancy in the workplace, gender equality or just supporting and encouraging each other. We’re seeing the power of ‘mama tribes’ go from strength to strength.

And this issue says it all - POWER! The power needed to run the gorgeous vintage cars and trains in our two fashion shoots.

The powerful looks on our cover star and in our stunning beauty shoot. The power in being ourselves and keeping our own mind and spirit strong while raising powerful little humans. For our Autumn/Winter 16 issue, we want to raise a glass to all those bad-ass mamas (and papa’s!) who

are staying true to themselves and standing together in solidarity while we smash this parenthood game.

So, this being our Autumn issue, we ask some of our Mama Flea brands what they love about the colder months, their answers make us yearn for snuggly jumpers and a roaring fire! We also showcase some beautiful fashion pieces from our amazing brands in two super cool power infused fashion shoots. There are fabulous interviews by the amazing Donna Tweedale, accessories to make you drool, the cutest baby items and super cool interiors to get you totally inspired. On the toys front, you’ll find the latest play things from games to construction, many of which you won’t find elsewhere in the UK! We also have a yummy food feature with 3 delicious, easy to follow recipes for the whole family to tuck into.

I hope you love the issue as much as I do.

Lots of Love, Anna

x

Contents 7 Mama Flea

We ask ‘What does Autumn mean to you...?’

13 What’s hot

The Winter wish list

21 The Railway Children

Sharon Cooper photographs our choo choo fashion shoot

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Interview with Lala & Bea

We investigate their gorgeous skincare range

37 Trends

Take a look at the emerging A/W 16

trends 51 Interview with Knit Planet

We explore this beautiful knitwear brand and

find out why they’re the best!

55 Manic Mechanic

Alexa Loy shoots our Vintage car story

showcasing the very best in boyswear 67 Accessory hunting

The coolest accessories to keep you cosy in

the winter months 69 The Play Store

Top toys for children of all ages 72 10 of the best...

Baby shoes 73

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Interview with Panda + Ping We get to know this gorgeous sleepwear and bedlinen brand

Front Cover: Photo by Sarah Winborn.

Model: Tilly @ Bruce & Brown.

Make-up by Sarah Massie Hair by Michelle McLeish

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Tiny Tots

All the coo’s and ahh’s for this selection of baby goodies

81 Ruby Loves...

The designer brand Raspberry Plum 85 Pippa’s Picks

Fairground Attraction in Pearl Lowe Petite 91 Interiors

Homewear for the little ones you’ll

want to steal!

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Sas & Yosh

We find out about Sarah & Yoshies collaborative projects

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Mother Shoppers

These super cool stylists show us how

to shop our winter wardrobes

True Beauty

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Sarah Winborn photographs strong

and powerful looks

117 The Gallery

Stunning artwork for your walls

Food to warm the soul Abi Waters cooks us 3 delicious meals 119

for the whole family to enjoy

125 We Love...

Gorgeous finds that we know you’ll

lust over too

131 Listings page Links to all the Little Flea brands

133 Store Focus

We get to know The Wee Department

Store

Hugh wears: Arrow print joggers and vest, Well Grounded Company. Black denim jacket, Scotch Shrunk.

Black boots, Dr Martens.

Photo: Alexa Loy

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www.laraandollie.co.uk

baxandbay.com 6

What does Autumn mean to you...?

The Summer has been awesome and we’ve loved wearing sandals and summer dresses and feeling the warmth on our skin, but there’s something special about Autumn/Winter that makes us feel excited. Maybe it’s the countdown to Christmas or the new winter collections or maybe it’s just the beautiful colours that Autumn brings... We asked our Mama Flea brands what they are looking forward to over the coming months.

Don’t Buy Her Flowers gift packages

Don’t Buy Her Flowers ‘I love that Autumn doesn’t have the busy-ness of Winter. There aren’t lots of social things going on and you’re not quite in to the madness of Christmas yet, and you can do that thing when you’ve passed up on a night out and feel like maybe you should have gone, then you look out the window to a cold, dark night and feel a bit pleased with your choice to sit in front of the telly with a pack of biscuits instead!’ Steph Douglas 7

MF Tiba + Marl ‘We love the opportunity to comout the heavy coats and looking forward to this of khaki, black (always layering on shearling, new season T+M bag.’

pletely swap wardrobes and get jumpers. We’re particularly winter’s rich colour pallette black!) and metallics - and leather and of course a Anna & Lydia

Gold Kaspar Baby changing rucksack

Lara & Ollie ‘Whilst it’s always sad to say goodbye to warm sunny days (even if they’ve been few and far between this summer), cosying into winter is lovely. A long blustery walk - ideally on a beach - followed by a pub roast lunch, crumble pudding and large glass of red wine is bliss, particularly if there’s a roaring fire going too. Although being up a mountain in the Alps, skiing hard all day and hitting a good apres ski bar for a few vin chauds and a dance in ski boots can’t be beaten! ’ Anna & Lesley

‘Grace’ and ‘Bea’ teething necklaces 8

MF Southwood Stores ‘Autumn is my favourite..... I got married in October. I love crunchy leaves under my feet and the colours make me feel alive, fires in the garden, LOVE LOVE LOVE’ Hayley Southwood Meraki skincare

Assortment of prints

Cadence London ‘I love the crispness in the air as the season starts to shift and the sharpness and clarity of light as the days begin to shorten. I also love the first layering of cosy jumpers over summer sun kissed skin as the days get colder.’

Cadence Pearson Lane

Radiant Heart necklace 9

MF Avery Row ‘We love the crisp autumn days when the sky is bright blue and the parks are deep with crunchy leaves in every shade of brown, yellow and crimson. For the kids, finding shiny conkers is the ultimate treasure! The excitement of dressing up at Halloween, and the promise of all the sweets they might get from trick or treating makes this time of year almost more exciting than Christmas’ Fiona & Helen

Bax & Bay

Go Everywhere Mat

Cotton blanket

‘The winds picking up, the leaves blowing around the garden, the forest changing colour. When I moved from London to LA I missed the seasons so much, especially Hyde Park in Autumn. Now I am back in Scotland you notice everything, the light changes, the landscape changes and the colours are both dramatic and stunning. I think about what clothes the boys need for winter and at the same time I think about how fortunate we are.

The nights closing in and chilly nights bring cosy nights by the fire, running through leaves and wrapping up warm for us but so much hardship for others.’

Lynsey Burns ZACK baby changing Rucksack 10

MF Mère Soeur

Raising The Future tee

‘I love freezing cold sunshine (those crisp, bright early mornings give me all the motivation I need to smash my day), kicking off all my layers and throwing my dressing gown on after a hard days mummying/working and, I hate to say it but, pumpkin spice lattes!’ Carrie Anne Roberts

Parent Apparel

‘We love nothing more than a winter evening. Our favourite thing is to sit in front of the open fire snuggled up with a massive goblet of GIN or red wine. Preferably both! This winter we will be sporting one of our Motherhoodies too for extra comfort.’ Becky Clarke

Motherhoodie

by Parent Apparel 11

www.tibaandmarl.com

What’s hot

This Autumn has got us falling for...

Mr Wolf We love the quirky and fun illustrations

by British brand Mr Wolf. This playful kids wear brand is designed and made with love in the UK and the unique gender neutral clothing for 2-9 year olds is created for fun loving, adventurous kids.

The range includes playsuits, tees, jackets, dungarees, trousers and dresses.

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Well Grounded Company Well Grounded Company make clothes for adventurous little individuals. For the well grounded child, with a good worldly knowledge and a hint of mischief! From super cute animal tees to cool arrow print leggings, these clothes meet the practical needs of every child because even a rebel needs a coat!

Willa and the Bear Willa and the Bear offer a collection of ethically sourced mix and match bedding, nursery accessories and original nightwear for babies and children up to 3 years old, using a variety of hand blocked, hand stitched and hand printed fabrics. They focus on traditional values of quality and style whilst striving to produce beautiful, practical additions to modern day nurseries and children’s rooms. We love this beautiful smocked nightie that comes with either short sleeves or long sleeves.

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Annaliv The Annaliv Autumn/Winter 16 collection draws inspiration from a Danish heritage and a childhood of adventure and escapades. Charming prints tell a story of wanderlust, vivid childhood memories and inspirational wanderings in Scandinavia. Beautifully made Nordic pieces perfect for Winter.

Tigerbella

Tigerbella are dedicated to bringing you a gorgeous selection of brands from the UK and Europe, including Angels Face, Billieblush, Billiebandit, Papu, Little Green Radicals and many more. Tigerbella is the perfect place to find new and exciting clothing for your little ones.

Vevian These super cute beautifully made shoes are the finest in hand crafted baby and children’s shoes, designed to suit every occasion.

They make a precious reminder of a special moment in a child’s life, a unique gift to be treasured forever. All Vevian shoes are produced in the UK and are cut from beautiful soft and supple leathers.

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The Magic Door Store Every child likes to believe in fairies and elves and what better way to feed their imagination than with a beautifully crafted magic door that leads them to a secret fairyland! Choose from a selection of fairy and Elf doors and accessories in a range of colours to make your childs dreams come true!

Lara & Ollie Lara & Ollie is an exciting brand of teething necklaces and bangles launched by two London mamas. The Lara & Ollie range features colourful and distinctive geometric shaped necklaces and coordinating bangles that don’t look like teething items. Babies and toddlers are immediately drawn to the jewellery and instinctively want to give it a good chew.

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Cadence London Cadence London is a fine jewellery brand inspired by the symbolic beauty of anatomy and organic form. It was born out of a desire to create unique timeless treasures that speak to the heart. Designed and hand-crafted in London, each piece is a talisman of strength sending a message of inspiration throughout your day.

Girlstalktoboys Compatibility and layering are the fundamental design principles of Girlstalktoboys, so every piece can be combined in one way or another.

Many pieces in the collection are unisex, allowing kids to be less restricted by the clothes they wear. Using inspiration from Japanese and Korean fashion, you’ll find drop crotch ankle grazer trousers, pleated denim midi skirts, oversized fleece blazers and smart button-up shirts for a smart laidback sophisticated look.

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Tui B Tui-B believes that you should be able to buy great quality, stylish, unique clothing and accessories for the little people in your life wherever in the world you may live. They work hard to source the coolest brands and their collection includes some fantastic, Southern Hemisphere, labels such as Anarkid Organic, Sunday The Label, eeni meeni mini moh, Sapling Child, Love Luck & Wonder, SOOKIbaby, Huxbaby and Minti and Zaibob. from newborn up to six years old.

Noodoll

Noodoll have teamed up with cool sock brand, Petites Pattes to launch a new exclusive set especially for new babies and first birthdays! Noodoll hand selected their favourite 4 sets of Petite Pattes socks and brought them together in a beautiful gift set with a complimenting selection of Noodoll toys and cards. The perfect gift!

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Lapin & Me The cutest little swan lights have arrived at Lapin & me along with lots of other amazing goodies including little woodland dolls, posters, retro toys and lamps.

Be quick before they fly off the shelves!

My Baby’s 1st ‘My Baby’s 1st’ are a family run UK business that specialise in unique gifts for babies and toddlers that are beautifully made whilst being fun and practical. Choose carefully selected gift sets for baby, 1st birthdays or 2nd birthdays. Or pick your own gifts from their selection. If you’ve ever found it difficult sourcing gifts for children, then this website is a must!

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Pepa & Co Pepa & Co is an independent children’s clothing brand specialising in brands for babies and children up to the age of 12. Every season they offer you exciting, handpicked clothing, all beautifully designed and made in Spain. These collections cannot be found on the high street, giving Pepa & Co its charm and distinctive style.

We can’t wait for more AW16 styles in store soon.

Little Lulu’s Luxurious and covetable, Little Lulu’s shoes are mini versions of shoes that mummy and daddy would wear! Handmade in the finest eco-friendly nappa leather, they give extra comfort and warmth by incorporating a soft padded layer between the lining and the upper plus refined stitching to maintain the soft feel on baby’s foot.

Scandibørn Scandibørn brings the very best of Scandinavian inspired Children’s design to the UK. From interiors to clothing to mama gifts, Scandibørn has it all and nearly a third of the brands are exclusive. A portion of the profits from this ‘You’ve Got This Mama’ mug go towards supporting the charity CoppaFeel. Brilliant!

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The Railway C hildren Photography: Sharon Cooper Styling & Art Direction: Anna Cascarina

Freya: Red dress & matching hair clip, Bryony & Co. Gold bag, Bobo Choses.

Poppy: Blue tiered dress, Scotch R’Belle. Spotty socks, Bobo Choses. Shoes, Young Soles.

Tea cups to hire from Buns & Bunting.

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Hair & Make-up: Susan Bradfield Models: Freya & Poppy

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Freya: Navy paisley top, Scotch R’Belle. Leather skirt, The Mini Edit. Yellow socks, Braveling.

Shoes, Young Soles Poppy: Green oriental print dress, Isossy Children.

Spotty socks, Bobo Choses. Shoes, Chapter 2.

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Poppy: Green button back dress, Bobo Choses.

Pompom scarf, Doodle Do. Spotty socks, Bobo Choses. Shoes, Chapter 2.

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Bussy bow dress, Scotch R’Belle

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Freya: Pink dress, Rachel Riley. Blue tights, Olivier Baby & Kids. Navy snood, Gugguu. Shoes, Start-Rite.

Poppy: Cream knitted top, Knit Planet. Lightning skirt, Little Eleven Paris. Pink knitted overdress, Doodle Do. Shoes, Young Soles.

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Pink knitted bobble hat & floral dress, Olivier Baby & Kids. Mittens, Papu.

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Freya: Blue dress, Little Eleven Paris. Yellow socks, Braveling. Shoes, Young Soles.

Poppy: Knitted dress, Knit Planet. Harlequin tights, Bobo Choses. Boots, Chapter 2.

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Freya: Lightning strike tee, Little Eleven Paris. Stripy knitted skirt & leggings, Bobo Choses. Mint green cardigan, Knit Planet. Shoes, Start-rite.

Poppy: Denim skirt & frill top, Girlstalktoboys.

Jumper, Bobo Choses. Long socks, Braveling.

Shoes, Young Soles.

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Denim African print dress & white fake fur cape, Isossy Children.

Navy tights, Olivier Baby & Kids. Shoes, Young Soles.

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Bunny print dress & matching hairclip, Bryony & Co. Reversible cape, Bobo Choses.

Footless tights, Braveling. Shoes, Young Soles.

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Denim dress, Well Grounded Company.

Mustard skirt, Girlstalktoboys. Pink bobble scarf & mittens, Olivier Baby & Kids. Spotty socks, Bobo Choses.

Boots, Chapter 2.

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Lala & Bea

Lala & Bea are inspired by fun pattern, colour and adventure and create products that children and parents alike will love. Lala & Bea products are lovingly made in Britain and the range includes lifestyle products and accessories from clothing to hats to blankets with lots more in the pipeline.

Donna Tweedale has a chat with the founders Katie and Caroline about their awesome skincare range.

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Your attention to detail in your products is quite something, from the reasoning behind your packaging choices to the texture of the product itself, this must be quite a process?

What do you find is the most exciting part of this process?

The philosophy you maintain of where your products are made and originate from, together with your use of organic fabrics in your clothing range. I can imagine a skincare range that shares that ethos felt like a natural progression for you?

Thank you! To be honest we love all of it. It's really exciting coming up with the concepts and researching (massive Pinterest addiction!) but nothing beats the feeling of opening that package and seeing that first sample. We have been totally amazed by the suppliers we work with and have been really lucky to find people who totally understand what we do and are trying to achieve. It is easier that they are all based in the UK and a quick trip to visit or discuss in person makes a huge difference in achieving the right product.

Having a background designing for brands has meant that we have always thought of Lala & Bea as a whole. We had an idea of what we wanted Lala & Bea to be and both being mothers, we knew what was really important to us and our families. The skincare range was actually one of the first elements to the brand.

Skincare is something as new mothers we both spent a lot of money on, what you put onto your new baby's skin is so important and we struggled to find a really good organic skincare range so thought we'd develop one!

Each product area has really grown in an organic way, as and when we have found the right people to help us develop the products. Our skincare was developed with the help of a fantastic medical herbalist who also has a degree in pharmacology and is now doing a masters in the 2 combined at UCL. She knows exactly what works together and how things can compliment or react, so when we challenged her to help us make a family skincare range that was suitable for pregnant women and babies with all of the elements that we wanted to include, we knew we were in great hands.

So, as a Mama wanting to give their little one a soothing bath and bedtime routine to settle them into a relaxed slumber, what would be your perfect routine with Lala & Bea products?

Bedtime can be such a special bonding time and getting a baby to calmly go to sleep can be a small victory! We developed our Organic Baby Oil with Roman Camomile oil as it has sleep inducing, calming properties and smells divine. You can use it in the bath and as a massage oil, so once your baby has had their bath we would really recommend a lovely soothing massage. You can also use the nourish balm on any dry patches as the healing properties of Rosehip Oil and the Shea Butter and Coco Butter are extremely nourishing.

For a good nights sleep, spritz our sleep tight pillow spray over the bedding so the calm scents of Lavender and Ylang Ylang can work their magic!

Katie & Caroline of Lala & Bea

How you give your customers an honest insight into what goes on behind the scenes through your blog is fantastic, Your latest look book shoot looked so fun! Any plans afoot; going into the next year that you would like to share with us here at Little Flea?

We have got so many exciting things in the pipe line. We recently extended our age range to 12 years old as we felt there was a lack of products available for that age range and have recently launched our Organic ‘Design Your Own’ PJ range. We have had so much amazing feedback because children can get really creative and inject their own personalities into what they wear. We are planning to extend our organic clothing range and creative & fun products for kids.

We can’t wait to see more. Visit Lala & Bea here

Design your own PJ set by Lala & bea

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Compiled by Donna Tweedale

TRENDS Girlstalktoboys

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Silhouette Olive Loves Alfie

Knit Planet

Amaia Kids

Girlstalktoboys

Raspberry Plum

The Wee Department Store

Milk & Biscuits 38

TRENDS

Bobo Choses 39

Papu

Someday Soon

Doodle Do Bobo Choses

The Magic Touch

Piupia Waddler

Chapter 2

Question Everything London

Yellow Lolly Indikidual 40

TRENDS Tigerbella

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Olive Loves Alfie Love Frankie

Yellow Lolly

Pop Idol Molo

Braveling

Beanie & Bear

Caroline Bosmans The Mini Edit

Miss Nella

Lapin & Me

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TRENDS

Scotch R’Belle

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Sproet & Sprout

Little Indians

The Little Eskimo

Smallable

Amy & Ivor Piupia Mainio

Sproet & Sprout

Annaliv PopupShop

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Mainio

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Compiled by Donna Tweedale

TRENDS

Sproet & Sprout

TAO at Olive Loves Alfie Bobo Choses

Chapter 2

L i n e a r JaxonJames

Ingrid Petrie Design

Olive Loves Alfie

Yellow Lolly

The Wee Department Store

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Compiled by Donna Tweedale

TRENDS Olive Loves Alfie

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Sophie Ochera

Fun with knits Tiny Cottons Yellow Lolly

Sally Nencini Caroline Bosmans

Sproet & Sprout

Sproet & Sprout

Tiny Cottons

Yellow Lolly

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Knit Planet Words by Donna Tweedale

Created from the inspiration their son gave them, parent team Micky and Nikky launched Knit Planet. And now... a Little Flea exclusive for you... with another child due January to add to their squad, the knitwear brand is going from strength to strength. Using techniques in knitwear to create soft flowing fabrics, your little ones will love wearing (and you will love seeing them in) these wearable easy to care for versatile pieces.

Your stand never fails to deliver a punch of vi- Your sense of fun; from the way you display brant colour and fun at Trade Shows. How did your collections online to your colour-ways Mr Donkey enjoy a busy show season? is infectious. I want to head to your planet!

How important is maintaining the fun factor Thanks! Yes we love colours, natural colours. We to you? think colour is something important for kids fashion, when we think of childhood we naturally get a colourful impression. And living in London for over 15 years, we do think if we are missing one thing here, it would be colours!!

As for Mr Donkey, he was quite enjoying the two busy days daydreaming, with his eyes closed. (yeah typical!). That’s why he brought his new friend Jr. Don Bee to the family, so that the buzzy working part were taken care of.

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Love & Imagination are our two key words. Knit for Love and Planet for imagination is reflected from the two sections of our collection, apparel and lifestyle.

The quality presented, warm aesthetics and design details were for the Love, and the fun side would belong to the Imagination. We are always surprised by how creative and imaginative a child is, they see and work things out in a different, unpredictable but instinctive way. Some of the links in between their

Knit Planet A/W16 collection

works and thoughts always get this ‘natural humour’ or ‘loveliness’ which constantly inspires us.

So we try to see and think like them to come up with visuals and designs from a intuitive perspective, which is pure and empathetic. We wanted to after all create a fun, happy and heartful ‘Planet’ for the little loved ones through their own imagination.

On the other hand our backgrounds are mixed with both sides of the world. Where we were embedded with the typical Eastern subtle emotional elements we guess those are partially culturally rooted too.

The materials you use are buttery soft. The

techniques beautifully executed. You must invest so much time in researching methods and 52

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developing how you can push knitwear to the is because not only do we want to make every piece really easy to wear for the kids and parents, but also next level?

Yes, it did take us some time to overlook the existing products out there. There are many knitwear brands that offer good products. We found most of the knitwear pieces are within the ‘traditional’ boundary. For us knitting is a different production method, it can also be very fashionable or at least not just for the winter! Mostly this was something we wanted to explore.

We try to upgrade the downsides that can be seen in knitwear, In the latest season, we have used bamboo fibre, which is much lighter in weight and also we tried some unconventional less seen designs: for example the loose finishing for little pocket T - with the ribbing seams you get a rough feel. The full opening button up for Butterfly Dress which is more breathable and cooling for summer. The string design for the Ruffle Playsuit and extra shoulder line for our Chubby T. The easy to wear and reversible feature in our SS17 Comfy Trousers. We wanted to create more bottoms using knitwear products and our AW16 Bubble Trousers are slick.

When we design, we also consider the adaptability and sustainability of what we produce. Many of our styles are unisex and easy to mix and match, some of them are also multifunctional and reversible. This

we want to maximise the usage as well as value of each product in this fast fashion world. For the toy design, we want to offer both creativity and function. Mr Donkey is a typical representation of this idea!

When we saw you at Dot to Dot you alluded to some additional pieces to your collection with incredible twinning potential.... Could we be seeing you over at Mama Flea sometime soon?

Yes of course! One of the most beautiful scenes in the world are children with their mothers. So in addition to the twinning pieces with your best childhood friends or siblings, from this September, our mummy/kids twinning styles will be available! Yay ~ and we are now also planning the daddy styles too - do you think our little pocket T is a good choice for the ‘big boys’...?

Yes we certainly do - we can’t wait. Thanks so much Micky and Nikky for giving us an insight into the Knit Planet world!

Click here to shop the collection.

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Manic Mechanic!

Photos by Alexa Loy Styling & Art Direction by Anna Cascarina

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Hugh: Overalls, Well Grounded Company. Baseball tee, Doodle Do. Black boots, Dr Martens.

Marcus: Denim overalls, Scotch Shrunk.

Cherry monkey boots, Young Soles.

Cars loaned by Rob Moss of Chevronic Centre, Hitchin.

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Opposite: Marcus: Sweatshirt, trousers and hat, Mainio.

Cherry monkey boots, Young Soles.

Hugh: Cross long sleeve tee and black dungarees, Girlstalktoboys. Black boots, Dr Martens.

This page: Marcus: Superhero cashmere hat, Olivier Baby & Kids. Grey car blackboard paint tee, Little Mashers. Purple long shorts, ABC123Me. Cherry monkey boots, Young Soles. Socks, stylists own.

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Hugh: Navy long sleeve top, blue cords & red shearling denim jacket, ABC123Me.

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Hugh: Short sleeve tee, Papu. Orange trousers, Doodle Do. Balaclava, Mainio. Black boots, Dr Martens.

Marcus: Sweatshirt, Gugguu. Blue shorts, ABC123Me. Cherry monkey boots, Young Soles.

Socks, stylists own.

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Opposite: Marcus: Red checked shirt, Scotch Shrunk. Blue cords, Scotch Shrunk. Cherry monkey boots, Young Soles.

This page: Hugh: Orange, yellow & blue zip up hoodie, yellow scarf & knitted trousers, Knit Planet. Black boots, Dr Martens.

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Hugh: Khaki green tee, Someday Soon. Baggy denim trousers, Girlstalktoboys. Orange & burgundy bobble hat, Papu. Navy boots, Young Soles.

Marcus: Black top, Someday Soon. Pink tracksuit bottoms, Little Eleven Paris. Cherry monkey boots, Young Soles.

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Marcus: Banana print gilet, Indikidual.

Patch trousers & t-shirt, Papu. Beige desert boots, Start-rite.

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Marcus: Stripe onesie, Indikidual.

Beige desert boots, Start-rite.

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Hugh: Arrow vest & matching trousers, Well Grounded Company.

Black patch denim jacket, Scotch Shrunk.

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Doodle Do

Elodie Details

Tigerbella

Mainio

Raspberry Plum

Waddler Miss Nella Ottie & the Bea Waddler

Panda and the Sparrow

Rockahula

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Chapter 2

Indikidual

Ottie & the Bea

Braveling

Gugguu

Knit Planet

Yellow Lolly

Yellow Lolly

Engel.

Yellow Lolly

Rockahula

The Wee Department Store

Raspberry Plum

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The Play Store

3d Paper Icecreams, Engel.

Hedgehog mummy, Rosita Lollipop

Firetruck, The Wee Department Store 69

Girl wooden set, Pinch Toys

Knitted doll, Doodle Do

Basket, Olive Loves Alfie

Whale, Waddler

Play house, Ottie & the Bea

We love to play here at Little Flea and we have found a fab selection of wonderful playful toys for children of all ages.

Soft toy, Tulipop

Miclik 48 piece set, Toyella

Traditional teddy, Bear Good

DIY gamer kit, Ottie & the Bea

Tulip game, Toyella

Play kitchen, Ottie & the Bea

Pirate doll, Olive Loves Alfie

Sorting box, Olive Loves Alfie 70

10 of the best...

Little Lulu’s

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Baby Shoes The cutest little toes derserve the cutest little shoes and this selection will keep those tootsies very happy indeed!

Tui B

Little Indians

Olive Loves Alfie The Mini Edit

Am

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n

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v Ve

Ivo

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Yellow Lolly 72

Panda

& Ping

Panda & Ping specialise in pyjamas, bedlinen and blankets and are all designed and made in the UK. Donna Tweedale talks to the creator, Philippa about the fun and colourful prints and their new designs as well as where the characters Panda and Ping came from.

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Important childhood memories for me can hold a common thread, that being what you're wearing. The blanket you carry your fresh little one home in, to the sleepwear they cosy into after a deep bubble bath on a wintery evening, to the pyjama's they're wearing to creep downstairs to check if Santa's been. These are some serious memories. Sleepwear is something that's paramount to a snuggled comfortable restful sleep.

Ping style and like a picture book with no words, you can assign stories and imagine fantastic adventures in those brief moments before you drift off to sleep.

That is so true! So many of my childhood memories are especially vivid because I can remember what I was wearing at the time but something I remember the most when I think back to our childhood home and the comfort of my bedroom is the bedding sets that we all had as kids. We were lucky enough to have matching curtains for our duvet and pillow sets and from Star Wars to Victoria Plum and Strawberry Shortcake, those bedroom sets will always be an inseparable part of those special times. Those character designs have definitely influenced the Panda &

It has been the most amazing year so far. We love

Congratulations on a gorgeous new collection, you guy's have certainly had an exciting year with award nominations and new lines launched.

You must be super excited for Panda & Ping going forward? our new baby range and we are thrilled to have been shortlisted for the Mumii and Little London awards. It really has moved faster than we were expecting but we have so many ideas for new characters and new products the hardest part is picking and choosing what to move forward with first!

There is so much more to come from Panda & Ping and to have already received Highly Commended Rising Star award at our first trade show Bubble London really did set the stage for us. The world is

our oyster!

We adore the story behind the faces of Panda and Ping, I hope Ping is hanging in there! It sounds like he get's into all sorts of mischief and extreme sports with your little ones! It's so lovely to have that family connection to your collections. What was it that triggered your thought process to bring Panda and Ping to together?

I think every soft toy becomes an honorary family member but especially the favourite ones. Like Pippa with Panda, I still have my favourite childhood teddy and I hope that our children will keep theirs forever too. There is so much love that is poured into these favourite toys - dragged on every adventure, clung to in every wobbly moment and slept with every night - how can you not keep them?!

Panda & Ping represent the child all grown up and the newbie just welcomed to the world and in between there is a childhood that will be remembered forever. Panda & Ping want that childhood to be snuggly, warm and cosy and parents are at their best when everyone has had a good night’s sleep!

Do you find your own children inspire much of what you create?

Did they play a part in the development of the latest character’s in your new range?

It certainly helps that we are both in that space and continually exposed 74

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to all things childish. Our children are our toughest critics and they do not hold back with the criticisms!

It makes us a better brand because we have our own expectations as parents in that we demand quality, practical products but we can offer what we know appeals to children as well, making everyone a winner!

It’s so incredible how your pieces are 100% British made, was this something paramount to you when starting your business?

This was always something that we were passionate about. Britain has a fantastic heritage in the textile and apparel industry, it’s brilliant to tap into this and be able to simultaneously support and create UK business. As a small business (we are currently only 2 very busy mummys!), it’s far easier to work locally and develop relationships with our suppliers and customers.

With thanks to Panda & Ping. See their collection in full at www.pandaping.com

All images from the Panda & Ping collection

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Follow us on Little_Flea_Kids

Are you addicted to Instagram?

So are we... Come and follow us for inspiration and exclusive insider info!

new collection now available AT www.little-indians.com

now up to six years!

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Tiny tots

Your baby is in for a treat as we find the cutest selection of mini goodies of the season.

Indikidual

Mère Soeur

Avery Row

Braveling

Gugguu

Tui B

Scandibørn

Dotty Dungarees

Willa & Bobbin

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Panda and the Sparrow

My Baby’s Name Is

Avery Row

Papu Tui B

Elodie Details

Om Baby

Knit Planet

Raspberry Plum

Sophie Ochera

The Wee Department Store

Abc123Me

Question Everything London

Olive Loves Alfie

Scandibørn

Yellow Lolly

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Ruby Loves

Raspberry Plum

Photography by Binky Nixon Stying by Anna Cascarina

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In this issue Ruby explores the wonderful world of Raspberry Plum. With their stunning prints and detailing, this brand always delivers the perfect collection of traditional pieces with a high fashion modern edge.

Bella Coat, Isidora dress and Cat & Mouse tights.

Available from Raspberry Plum

For boys and girls aged 6 months -10 years, Raspberry Plum injects an element of fun into their designs. The Bella faux fur coat and Isidora dress pictured here sit perfectly together with the heart and star motifs giving a focal point. The fur coat is super soft and the addition of the cat and mouse tights will keep your little one cosy for the winter months.

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Ruby Loves

Wink dress and Wink tights, Available from Raspberry Plum.

Furry slides (stylists own)

This Wink dress is definitely a favourite. In a gorgeous black & white check weave, this amazing fully lined smock dress with winking eyes embroidery is as playful as it is serious. The 3/4 length sleeves bring it bang up to date and teamed with the Wink tights, this is an outfit of champions!

The A/W16 Raspberry Plum collection features clear geometric form with simplified, modern illustrations. Resulting in a fun, beautifully made range that both children and adults will love.

See the full collection here.

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Pippa’s Picks

Fairground Attraction Pippa had a ball playing dress up in the beautiful Pearl Lowe Petite Autumn Winter collection. The sumptuous velvet and sequin capes are finished perfectly with feather and organza trims. Plus the cute black & white stripe leotard with exquisite attention to detail was a delight to wear.

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Silver sequin cape, £225

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Pippa’s Picks

Black velvet cape, £250

This stunning collection from Pearl Lowe Petite gives a nod to the vintage circus.

Humbug stripes with red tulle frills and black sequins are fit for a circus performer.

Gorgeous black velvet hooded capes with black and white stripe lining and feath trims take us into a mysterious wonderland. A hint of silver sparkling sequins give the whole collection a touch of magic.

The AW16 collection adds 10 additional pieces to the original collection and also includes a leopard outfit, red sequined cape and the return of the popular butterfly in Autumnal colours. It’s a serious collection for girls who take dressing up and having fun seriously. Available from Harrods, Selfridges & Pearl Lowe 87

Stripe leotard, £125 88

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Follow us on Twitter @LittleFleaKids

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These miniature doors create a magical entrance for the fairies and elves to visit your home.

Choose a magical spot to place your Magic Door.

Sign the welcome letter to the fairies and sprinkle some Magic Dust.

Believe and the fairies and elves will visit, sharing love and magic whilst you sleep.

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Interiors

Tulipop The signature Tulipop prints have been a huge hit in children’s interiors of late, and it’s easy to see why. These little characters are ridiculously adorable. All the Tulipop friends are not shy of fun and colour and can be found adorning these gorgeous melamine plates along with A-Z prints, lamps and other interior accessories. Dive in and explore the Tulipop world.

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Compiled by Donna Tweedale

Swoon worthy interiors for little (and big) kids!

Lullabuy A Teepee, let’s face it, is an awesome addition to any space for your little ones. Whether it be for imaginative play or a designated space for them to enjoy some down time. Lullabuy have some beauties to choose from. With a vast range of fun Interior pieces from cute lamps and cushions to the larger scale pieces you’ll be certain to find everything you need to revamp your home...and gorgeous things you may not need but can’t ignore!

Sally Nencini From the Dolly’s with a mischievous wink to the Fat Brown Bear. Each of Sally Nencini’s toys have serious air loom potential and could be a perfect partner in crime for any child. Taking the colour and print from the beautifully made blankets and cushions to the new range of storage stools, each piece has an undeniable quality.

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Bisou de Lou The relaxing vibe of Bisou De Lou is effortless. The shapes and fabrics just urge you to touch. Each piece is so tactile, versatile and timeless. Investment pieces that will grow with your little ones space. The rabbit head being a personal favourite of mine.

Such an individual addition to your home.

JaxonJames If monochrome is your bag you’ll love JaxonJames. A curated collection of pieces that each have a fresh modern aesthetic. Monochrome living with interesting pieces of great details and materials. Whether you live in a wall to ceiling black and white home or an eclectic mix of colour, you will find something here you love. The bat hangers are pure brilliance and the Fabels animal heads are divine.

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Doodle Moo With free printables on designs based on their prints Doodle Moo love to share the love of art. You can #doodlemoohappykids to share your kids handiwork on Instagram. Doodle Moo sell an array of prints and stationery all with a huge sense of fun and bursting with colour, a sure fire way to inspire your little ones.

Olive Loves Alfie Ashlyn Gibson, the force behind Olive Loves Alfie. She totally knows her sh*t. One of the first advocates for Childrenswear and Interiors. Author of ‘Creative Children’s Spaces’ as well as ‘Creative Family Home’ her passion is to bring the very best of childrenswear and home-wares and design inspiration into our homes. Renowned as ‘The Most Inspiring Children’s Independent In The Country’, Olive Loves Alfie and Olive Loves Alfie East are spaces of beautifully curated pieces for your little ones.

Also fast becoming a space for emerging brands to launch and showcase projects.

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Willa & Bobbin It’s quite amazing how a faceless little Liberty print bird can have so much charm and character. But they do. Handmade by Amy here in the UK, as a fairly new brand hitting the ground running and is a brand to watch. Whether it be Willa & Bobbin’s delicate mobiles for your nursery, Or. A ‘Rock A Bye Baby Bird’ as a stunning gift for a Mama to be. Or perhaps the ‘Gentleman Bird’ sitting in your home on display under a glass dome keeping a distinguished eye on proceedings? Whichever you choose. You’ll adore it.

Love Frankie An array of eclectic interior accessories. Love Frankie shows you how to really have fun with print. Embrace the humour, the colour the mix of different styles to create an individual vibe that represents your style. The junk food duvet is a great example of this, my kids love it! If you’re feeling brave go to town with Love Frankie and inject some real punch into your interiors. Prefer to take smaller steps? You’ll find a huge choice of key pieces that work individually with more mellow surroundings.

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Engel.

For party decorations or for added touches of fun in your home pom pom’s are always a good idea. Engels pom poms come in a vast array of colourways and are of undeniable quality. All products are sourced from sustainable sources in the Netherlands which translates an infectious sense of fun through each product. We especially love these fun circus inspired bamboo plates, bowls and cups.

Ingrid Petrie Design A collection of fresh modern prints with punches of colour and a huge sense of fun. Some prints display subtle affirmations to build your children. They can see a beautiful design encouraging them to dream big with a huge sense of adventure. We love these new simple prints with a hint of primary colours. We want all four!

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Sas and Yosh A uniquely collaborative duo

Sarah and Yoshie from Sas & Yosh

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When Sas and Yosh started their company in 2014 they spent all their time designing for their own brand of home wares and wallpapers. These days nearly two years after the design duo got together they now spend equal time creating designs for other brands and creatives. Working on collaborative projects and creating patterns for small and luxury brands in the Uk, Europe and Japan.

with our designs once the fabric is made up and the collection launched!

Talk us through one of your favourite designers to collaborate with?

We have worked on two wonderful collaborations with ‘Lilly et Louis’ a luxury organic kids brand in Berlin. As we have to design a few different patterns to cater for Boys, girls and unisex fashion in her collections we How did you get your first collaboration? get to create an exciting variety of different patterns in multiple colour ways for her to Our first collaboration, and most others choose from. have come through Instagram. Its such Our FW2016 collaboration for her launcha great platform to connect with other es this month with the theme ‘Night Walk like-minded people and businesses, and Through The Mountains’- and it was inspired find interesting people to work with. by ‘Lilly et Louis’ designer, Zohra’s 4 years journey living in the capital of China.

What do you like about collaborations?

Although Zohra always sends us a theme with mood boards and colour palettes she We love collaborating together on all our is always open to let us put our imagination work for our own brand so it seemed a natand creativity to the test when we work with ural next step to start working with other deher. The signers and like-minded brands who share most excitthe same ethos as us. ing part is We really enjoy getting briefs from the when she designer’s as we never know what theme shows us we are going to get next! Which makes life the samexciting and keeps us on our toes. Some of ples of the our recent ‘briefs’ have been ‘Jellyfish’, ‘vinpatterns tage scales’, we have Music boxes’ created and and ‘winter most espebutterflies’. cially when We like the we get to challenge see the final of creating look book designs that of the colfit the brand lection. It’s and the brief wonderful whilst still to see our injecting a patterns ‘Sas and Yosh’ used as part of her stunning fashion defeeling into sign. the work. But You can buy gorgeous things from this the best bit is collection now at www.lillyetlouis.com seeing what brands do continued on next page...

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10for1 AW16 made by Rie Watanabe

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Do you only design for Kids brands?

No we also design for menswear and women’s wear, as well as interior textiles.

We have worked on four collections for 10for1 Japan and have been excited to see a few of our patterns from her collections on TV in Japan being worn both by celebrities and models and in TV shows. You can also check out our very naughty sleeves created for Lingerie company ‘Darkeststar’ on our website!

Can any brands contact you to work together on collections?

YES! We love working with new people and brands. We do illustration for lots of other things besides fashion too so check out our website to see all the different projects and collaborations we work on.

With thanks to Sas & Yosh. For details about collaborating and to see their products, visit their website www.sasandyosh.com

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This could be your brand!

Would you like to advertise in our next issue? Get in touch for our media pack. hello@littleflea.co.uk

All clothing by Knit Planet

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Mother Shoppers are stylists Gemma, mum of one and Bertie, mum of two.

They met 10 years ago on an editorial shoot in an East London warehouse and have been friends & style partners ever since. After having children they both felt their style needed refreshing so they started their blog to help other mums, like themselves, rediscover their personal style. They understand that being a mother can mean being time and cash poor so they also take that into consideration when choosing and styling outfits. Their aim is to be your sartorial agony aunts; showing you useful hacks, easy wardrobe updates and the best sales and discount codes. They want to inspire you to get dressed, not stressed. Here, Mother Shoppers show us a selection of ‘wear now’ outfits perfect for the Autumn months ahead.

Bertie & Gemma both wear Mother tops from Selfish Mother 103

Jumpsuits Left: Bertie & Gemma wear Mothers Love Fashion breastfeeding Jumpsuits £65 Bertie wears Vans from Asos £60. Gemma wears faux snake Adidas Gazelles, Asos £95 Right: Jumpsuits as before.

Bertie wears pointed flats Asos £22.

Bag Whistles £65. Gemma wears shoes Office £30. Bag H&M £7.99.

Stripes & Coats Bertie wears coat £149 & top £25 both

by Autograph at M&S. Jeans Asos £16.

Boots Asos £55 Gemma wears Mac Asos £75. Top Whistles £55. Jeans Limited Edition at M&S £35. Boots Public Desire £34.99 104

Florals Gemma wears floral bomber Warehouse £55. Trousers New Look £19.99. Boots Asos £55. Bag Asos £25.

Bertie wears shirt H&M £19.99. Culottes Warehouse £29. Shoes Asos £22

Khaki Bertie wears top Zara £49.99. Jeans £16, Bag £38 & shoes £18 all Asos.

Gemma wears jumpsuit Warehouse £55.

Trainers Superga from Asos £55.

Bomber Jacket Both wear reversible bomber Whistles £150.

Bertie wears skirt Warehouse £45. Trainers Adidas £90. Gemma wears t-shirt Warehouse £12. Joggers Whistles £120. Trainers Puma for Asos £58.

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Sweatshirts Both Bertie and Gemma wear slogan sweatshirts by Parent Apparel £40.

And how absolutely adorable is Bertie’s little baby boy, Herb.

Now, he’s definitely an accessory we would like!

We’d like to thank mega fashion babes, Gemma and Bertie for their fantastic style ideas. That’s our winter wardrobe sorted!

Follow Mother Shoppers blog and find them on Instagram at @mothershoppers.

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True Beauty The beauty of youth is strong and pure. From a spattering of freckles to a cute button nose. Every child is unique. But all kids like to play dress up - so we had some fun with glitter, wigs, powder and flowers to show a different side to these natural beauties.

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Au Naturel

All clothes Stylists own. Black hat, Waddler. Blue fake flowers on hat, Rosita Lollipop

Photography: Sarah Winborn Styling & Art direction: Anna Cascarina Models: Lily from Scallywags Tilly from Bruce and Brown Make-up: Sarah Massie Hair: Michelle McLeish

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Space Age

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Bohemian

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Flower Power

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Black Magic 112

Gold Dust

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Mellow Yellow

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www.lapinandme.co.uk

The Gallery Poster, Lapin & Me

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Card, Lisa Jones

Poster, Lullabuy

Poster, Lullabuy

Poster, Ingrid Petrie Design

Poster, Doodle Moo

Poster, Engel.

Poster, Doodle Moo

Poster, Noodoll

Walls are nothing without art, so treat your kids to something beautiful to look at!

Poster, Tulipop

Poster, Ingrid Petrie Design

Poster, Lisa Jones

Poster, Lapin & Me

Poster, Olive Loves Alfie

Poster, Lullabuy

Poster, Ingrid Petrie Design

Poster, Engel.

Poster, Southwood Stores

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Food to warm the soul

There’s no better time to cook yourself and your family some deliciously warming, comfort food. It doesn’t have to mean rich and heavy food that’s going to slow you down though.

Try these healthy and nutritious heart-warming recipes to fuel your family through the cold autumn days.

Photography by Mark Waters

Freelance food editor, Abi Waters knows a thing or two about cooking for families. Having worked on countless cookery books, including many award-winning titles and being a busy mum of two daughters, makes her the go-to person for yummy child friendly food. Here she cooks three simple and delicious recipes for Little Flea that you and your kiddies will love.

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Red Lentil, Sweet Potato and Coconut Dhal This makes for a lovely restorative, warming lunch on a briskly cold day. I often make a big batch and either use the leftovers for lunches in the following days or freeze for easy reheat suppers.

Serves 4–6 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon chilli powder (hot, medium or mild depending on your taste) 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed 200g red lentils 350ml chicken stock (fresh or from a cube) 1 x 400ml tin of coconut milk Instructions: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a me- Tips: dium heat. Add the onion and fry gently for 5–10 minutes to release maximum flavour. • If you don’t have all the ground spicAdd the garlic and fry for 1 minute. es in your cupboard, you can substitute them all with 1 tablespoon of curry paste Add all the spices, stir everything together (madras works well). and fry for 30 seconds until the spices become aromatic. Add the sweet potato and • This is also delicious served with roastred lentils and stir to coat them in all the ed cauliflower. Simply melt a little cocolovely spices. nut oil in a baking tray, add 1/2 a cauliflower head that has been broken into Add the stock and cook gently for 5 minutes. florets and toss them around to coat in Add the coconut milk, stir, then simmer very the oil. Bake in an oven preheated to gently for 15–20 minutes until the potatoes 180°C (Gas 4) for 20 minutes, turning and lentils are cooked. Keep stirring and the cauliflower halfway through to stop checking every now and then and add a lit- the edges catching too much (although I tle water if it’s looking too dry or catching on love the black, crispy edges!). the base of the pan.

Taste to check for seasoning and add some more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with chapattis or naan breads.

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Beef Goulash This Hungarian classic is perfect for a cold Autumn night when all you want to do is close the curtains and buckle down for the night with your family. It’s also a great crowd pleaser and the quantities can easily be doubled to feed more people.

Serves 4–6 650g braising or chuck steak 50g plain flour 2 teaspoons paprika 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 6 tablespoons olive oil 8 shallots, peeled and quartered 1 garlic clove 300ml beef stock (fresh or from a cube) 1 x 400ml tin of chopped tomatoes salt and black pepper soured cream and chopped parsley or chives, to serve

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Instructions: Preheat the oven to 150°C (Gas 2).

Put the flour, paprika and some salt and pepper in a large shallow dish and mix it together. Add the beef and turn it in the flour gently so all the pieces are coated.

Heat half the oil in a large casserole or ovenproof dish over a medium heat. Cook the beef in batches until browned, adding a little more oil between batches if needed, then remove from the pan and set aside.

Add any remaining oil to the pan and fry the shallots gently for about 5 minutes to soften slightly. Add the garlic and fry for 1 minute.

Pour 2–3 tablespoons of the beef stock into the pan and use a spoon to scrape up all the sticky bits from the base of the pan – this is where all the flavour is!

Return the beef to the pan and pour in the Tips: rest of the stock. Add a little more salt and • You could add 1 or 2 red or orange pepper and stir everything together. peppers when you fry the shallots to fill Place a tight-fitting lid on the casserole and the Goulash out a bit and add another transfer to the oven to cook for 2 hours, texture. checking every now and then to ensure the Goulash hasn’t become too dry (add more • If you like your Goulash with a little kick, add some chilli powder to taste, or water or stock if needed). use more hot paprika if liked – experiCheck the Goulash after this time to see if ment to find the right combination for the beef is tender and the sauce lovely and your palate. rich. Return to the oven for a bit longer if • Make this Goulash the day before it is needed. needed so the flavours can really meld Serve the Goulash on its own with big hunks together and improve overnight. Genof fresh crusty bread to mop up all the sauce, tly reheat the next day when ready to or with rice, pasta or potatoes and garnish serve. with soured cream and chopped parsley or chives.

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One-pan Chicken, Chorizo and Rice This delicious paella-type dish will bring back memories of summer days whilst being heartwarming and soothing at the same time.

Serves 4–6 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion 2 garlic cloves, crushed 160g chorizo, sliced 2 large red peppers, deseeded and sliced 75g sun-dried tomatoes, chopped 200g brown Basmati rice 1 small glass of white wine or sherry 300ml chicken stock (fresh or from a cube) 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato paste salt and black pepper chopped parsley, to garnish

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Instructions: Preheat the oven to 150°C (Gas 2).

Season the chicken thighs all over with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large casserole or ovenproof dish over a medium heat.

Place the chicken thighs in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes on each side until the skin takes on some colour and crisps up a little. Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken and set aside in a bowl.

Add the onions to the same pan and fry gently for 5–10 minutes to release maximum flavour. Add the garlic and fry for 1 minute.

Add the chorizo and fry for a few minutes until the red, spicy oils are released.

Add the peppers and sun-dried tomatoes and fry for another 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir everything together so that all the lovely flavours stick to the rice.

Pour in the glass of wine or sherry and stir together, making sure to get all the sticky bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the stock and sun-dried tomato paste and season with salt and pepper. Stir everything together one last time, then place the chicken thighs on top so that they are half sitting in the liquid and keeping the rice below the surface so it can soak up all the flavours as it cooks.

Tips:

Put the lid on the casserole or dish and place it in the oven to bake for about 35–45 minutes or until the rice and chicken are cooked – check every now and then during the latter stages of cooking to ensure the liquid hasn’t dried out completely and add a little more stock or water if needed. Remove the lid for the last 5–10 minutes cooking to crisp up the chicken skin if preferred.

Abi Waters is a freelance food editor with over 15 years of experience in the publishing industry.

• Use Camargue red rice instead of Basmati for a slightly nuttier taste.

• You can cook this on the hob rather than in the oven if preferred, just leave over the lowest heat possible with the lid on for the same cooking time.

She is in the process of starting a new blog, In Abi’s Kitchen, but in the meantime follow her on instagram @in_abis_kitchen. To get in touch, email abiwaters7@gmail.com

Serve the chicken with a good ladleful of the delicious rice, garnish with parsley and accompany with green veggies if liked.

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We love...

We love... The gorgeous new baby collection from Smalls. Made with the same 100% superfine Merino Smalls has become famed for, the ‘Aroha’ baby range includes Baby Body, Baby 24hr trouser, Baby Hat and Baby Bleat (A blankety swaddle sheet in a coordinating printed bag). Smalls have also extended their range up to age 14 years.

We love... All the gorgeous temporary tattoos from Tattoofab. Choose from a whole array of designs from dinosaurs, to unicorns and from monsters to Russian dolls. You can even get custom made tattoos done. I feel a personalised tattoo coming on!

We love... This gorgeous travel bags from Atticus & Gilda. These fab bags are perfect for gifts, holidays, week ends away and sleep overs. Containing an eye mask, organic lip balm, bamboo tooth brush and an item of sleep wear of your choice, your little one will be the envy of their friends!

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We love... The beautiful range of toys from Pinch Toys. These 100% handmade products are spiced up with three simple and very important ingredients: friendship, love and care. Using materials such as cotton, felt, wood and non toxic paints these simply stunning toys make the perfect addition to a new nursery. We love the fish called Wanda!

We love...

The super cute new range from The Bright Company.

This kids pj’s and bedding brand has grown from strength to strength and every season their new prints have us lusting over the whole collection. This swans print is our current fave! Swoon!

We love... The awesomeness that is Mère Soeur. This cool mama brand has been championing women from the very start and her slogan tees and bad ass products give us mamas the respect we deserve.

These pins are spot on for any new mums, breastfeeding mums, or women who want to big up the sisterhood. We love the ‘Free the Nipple’ pin!

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We love... The wonderful and eclectic little shop, Rosita Lollipop. This beauty of a shop houses everything you need for kids gifts including clothing, accessories, books, interiors, jewellery and toys. It might be small, but it packs a big punch. A must visit for anyone in Hertfordshire. Website is under construction, but will be online soon. In the meantime - take a trip to the wonderful town of Hitchin and visit the store, you won’t be disappointed!.

We love... The fantastic selection of goodies at Ottie & the Bea. This amazing online store also has a bricks & mortar store in Blackheath, London. You’ll find a wonderful selection of books, toys, gifts, dress up and more. It’s a treasure trove just waiting to be explored.

We love... The cute range of new tees available at JaxonJames. The t-shirt is slim fitting in super soft 100% cotton, kind to skin and without an itchy back neck label for added comfort. Proudly designed and made in the UK, these tees have a strong typographic print that is perfect for sibling twinning!

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We love... The amazing new range of Raw Druzy gold dipped necklaces from Cult of Youth. Handmade in England, these are new additions and they are already selling out fast!

This new Taking Care of Business chain (below) is inspired by Elvis Presley and is gold fill with a teeny tiny lightening bolt. Lush!

We love...These adorable personalised baby grows by Scamp. Choose from a variety of designs, colours and styles. Their range of clothing, bibs, accessories and personalised wooden items are the perfect newborn gift.

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www.atticusandgilda.co.uk

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find us on Little Flea

Don’t Buy Her Flowers Doodle Do Doodle Moo

Dotty Dungarees E

Elodie Details Engel.

A

Abc123me

G

Girlstalktoboys

Alexa Loy

Amaia

I

Annaliv

J

JaxonJames

Atticus & Gilda

K

Knit Planet

Avery Row

L

Lala & Bea

Lapin & Me

B Barsham Barns Bax & Bay

Lara & Ollie

Beanie & Bear

Lisa Jones

BearGood

Little Indians

Binky Nixon

Little Lulus

Bisou de Lou

Little Mashers Love Frankie

Bobo Choses

Lullabuy

Braveling Bryony & Co Cadence London

Chapter 2 Cult of Youth

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Indikidual Ingrid Petrie Design

Amy & Ivor

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Gugguu

M

Mainio Mere Soeur Miss Nella Moluk

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Photo by Sharon Cooper

Mr Wolf

Sharon Cooper

My Baby’s 1st

Smalls

My Baby’s Name Is N

Noodoll

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Olive Loves Alfie

Sophie Ochera Southwood Stores Sproet & Sprout

Olivier Baby & Kids

T

Om baby

P

Tattoofab The Bright Company

Ottie and the Bea

The Magic Door Store

Panda & Ping

The Wee Department Store

Panda and the Sparrow

Tiba & Marl

Papu

Tigerbella

Toyella

Parent Apparel

Tui B.

Pearl Lowe Petite

Tulipop

Pepa & Co

Pinch Toys Piupia Q

Question Everything

R

Raspberry Plum

V

Vevian

W Waddler Well Grounded Company Willa & Bobbin Y

Yellow Lolly

Rockahula kids Young Soles Rosita Lollipop S

Sally Nencini Sas & Yosh Scamp Scandibørn

Scotch Kids

We’re always looking for exciting new brands.

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FOCUS The Wee Department Store is owned by 37 year old tea lover, Lucie Carr, a former Doctor and very proud Glaswegian who moved to Brighton for more sunshine. Lucie is married to Dave (Mini Cooper Man) who she met in 2001 by asking for a lift home in one of the new Mini Coopers he was promoting in Glasgow city centre! Fast forward 8 years later and they have 2 sons - Oscar who is 5 and Alfie who is 3.

An ideas person, some good...some very bad (her words!)

The Wee Department Store (TWDS) is one of Lucie’s ideas that she’s taken a step further than the rest. She started writing some ideas down in a journal and 3 journals later, it’s still continuing to inspire her.

On the very first page of the very first journal, she wrote that she’d like there to be some sort of mother’s co-operative element to TWDS and she still hopes for this to happen. Lucie has regular guest bloggers who are all parents and she does a seasonal photoshoot for TWDS where the people involved have mainly been parents too. She would like to get more people involved as it grows.

Lucie’s goal at the moment is to open up a bricks and mortar shop in Brighton. So far she has done several Pop Up shops, the longest being a month long in the heart of Brighton. She’s a people’s person so loves the buzz of a shop and dealing with customers face to face. Lucie loves to chat and this part is currently missing from being 133

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online only.

Lucie has focused on stocking some really top quality children’s clothing brands that are a bit different to other online shops. TWDS also has a very popular party department stocking word banners, lightboxes, balloons and many more gorgeous things.

There are several other departments which she’ll be working on filling out over the next few months and she is also hoping to grow the blog to make that a big part of TWDS. It’s a busy time for The Wee Dept Store and exciting times are ahead for this mama.

We are told that there are some very exciting collaborations coming up. First up is something pretty special for Halloween with one of the brands… We can’t wait to see what it is!

Here at Little Flea we are excited to watch her and her Wee store grow. Have a little explore at www.theweedepartmentstore.co.uk

Current brands for A/W16: GRAY LABEL WOLF & RITA GOSOAKY MONKIND BERLIN KIDSCASE MACARONS PAPU CARLOTA BARNABE THE BRIGHT COMPANY SLUGS & SNAILS

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