SCHOOLWEAR BUYER: THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION FROM THE SCHOOLWEAR INDUSTRY
PENNY APPEAL – EDUCATION FIRST CAMPAIGN
67: News
68: The heart of schoolwear Charities appealing for support from the school uniform sector in 2016.
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SCHOOLWEAR | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK
Schoolwear NEWS: The latest news from the schoolwear industry.
SKOOLKIT OPTIMISES EFFICIENCY Hampshire based trade and retail schoolwear supplier Skoolkit has invested in a voice picking service to improve efficiency in terms of its warehouse picking. Skoolkit employed TopVox to install the voice picking system, which it uses to restock its shops each night, improving productivity and keeping the need for temporary staff to a minimum. TopVox was awarded a 2015 Logistics Business IT award in the Retail and wholesale sector for its work with Skoolkit. —
BAGS OF FUN FROM WILLIAM TURNER School accessories supplier William Turner, the exclusive UK distributor of the Affenzahn range of kindergarten backpacks, will be showing the collection at this season’s Bubble London at the Business Design Centre, Islington on 31 January to 1 February. Created to be both fun and functional, Affenzahn kindergarten backpacks encourage the play instinct in children, with key features of the animal character bags including pull out tongues and moveable loop arms, which can help develop motor skills. As a Bluesign System Partner, Affenzahn is fair trade and eco-friendly and uses materials from recycled PET bottles. —
BTS FOOTWEAR LAUNCH Following a strong children’s autumn sell through, German footwear brand Lurchi by Salamander is expanding into Back to School footwear for a/w 16. Showing at Moda Footwear at Birmingham’s NEC on 21-23 February, the launch sees 19 styles – nine for boys and eight for girls – all with leather uppers and the normal quality and fit you would expect from a premium children’s footwear brand. Predicted bestsellers are Anne, Caroline and Christina for girls and Jez, David and Thomas Tex for boys. Any style with a Tex lining, such as Thomas Tex, is also waterproof. Wholesale prices start at £19.50. —
NEWS IN BRIEF
BMB BUILDS SPORTSWEAR OFFERING On 5 January, Blue Max Banner (BMB) completed an acquisition of high-performance, bespoke sportswear business Orion Teamwear. BMB already had an established relationship with Orion, as it offers a stock-supported range of professional sportswear garments through its brochure. The acquisition will enable BMB to offer a new sportswear option in the form of Teamwear Kit Design in either cut-and-sewn or sublimated products. “Orion is a well-established brand in the schoolwear market and at a professional level, too, and comes with a strong customer base,” says BMB’s chief executive, Nigel Plenderleith. “Being able to offer sublimation, teamwear and stock-supported product gives BMB the ability to compete with the sportswear specialists. New product developments will be added to the stocksupported range and the colour options will be increased.” Mike Williams transfers with the business as Orion brand manager. Richard Metcalfe, the original founder of Orion Teamwear, and Mark Whiteley will concentrate on their other business interests. —
— The official Printwear & Promotion LIVE! 2016 show app is now available for download to iOS and Android devices. Available from Google Play or the Apple Store, the visitor tool can be used to interact with over 150 exhibitors, including over 60 clothing brands and distributors and to plan an itinerary, including seminars, fashion shows, demos and meetings.
MUDDY PUDDLES’ SCHOOLS SCHEME British children’s outerwear brand Muddy Puddles has launched a scheme for schools and nurseries called the Muddy Academy, which encourages outdoor learning. The Muddy Academy, which was created by the brand’s CEO Natasha Ascott, a former teacher, offers discounts for schools on a range of 100 per cent waterproof kit, from jackets through to trousers. It also provides free learning resources and rewards for teachers to use. “As a former teacher and parent I’m passionate about encouraging outdoor learning and play,” says Ascott. “If schools invest in some affordable, quality wet weather gear, teachers will be able to find new ways of educating outdoors.” Muddy Puddles has already signed up 1,000 schools to its academy and has recently employed two Muddy Academy Education Consultants to visit schools and grow awareness of the scheme. —
— A new report has revealed that reducing the burden of business rates could unlock almost 4,000 jobs and £1.75bn development over the next five years. The report by the British Property Federation (BPF), British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) and British Council for Offices (BCO), written by Regeneris Consulting, finds that approximately three quarters of any increase in business rates over a two to three year period is transferred to landlords as occupiers push for lower rents.
— A new survey from London 2012 legacy charity Join In has revealed that sports clubs across the country are calling for professional marketers to volunteer. Research shows that the majority of groups need volunteers with specialist skills to help with PR, marketing, social media and web design in order to grow their clubs.
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REPORT | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK
THE HEART OF SCHOOLWEAR For schoolwear suppliers looking to invest further in social responsibility and charity partnerships, CWB highlights three charities appealing for support from the school uniform sector in 2016.
WOOD STREET MISSION – SMARTSTART Manchester children’s charity Wood Street Mission is one of the oldest in the region, helping more than 3,000 families and 7,000 children every year by providing practical support to alleviate the impact of poverty and improve life chances. Both Manchester and Salford have high levels of child poverty, with more than one in three local children living in hardship. And while schools do have some funding to supply families with uniforms, it is not enough to help all children living in lowincome households. For this reason, in 2015, Wood Street Mission launched SmartStart Manchester & Salford. The objective of SmartStart is to distribute £1m of school clothing and sports kit to local, low-income families: enough to give every child living below the poverty line a school uniform. By helping with school costs, the project aims to improve the life chances of children in poorer households – who typically perform worse at school than their better-off peers – enabling them to fit in and not breach school regulations. SmartStart runs all year round, distributing donations of new, nonbranded school uniform and sports kit to local families through the charity’s Manchester base. Its peak time is during the summer, when it runs a highly customised service to provide uniform in time for the new school year. Wood Street Mission is now planning the project for 2016, and is interested in talking to suppliers of school uniform and sports kit who are interested in supporting SmartStart. It is also opening a new community shop in central Manchester later this year, which will distribute school uniform and coats, as well as other children’s clothing, toys and books to families throughout the year. The project has a campaign video, Every Super Hero Needs a Uniform, available to view at http://www.woodstreetmission.org.uk/Campaigns-at/ Every-Super-Hero-Needs-A-Uniform.aspx, which powerfully demonstrates the impact not having the correct school uniform can have on a child. — For more information, visit www.woodstreetmission.org.uk or email chief executive Roseanne Sweeney on roseanne@woodstreetmission.org.uk
SMARTSTART CASE STUDY: TRUTEX In 2015, the Wood Street Mission teamed up with schoolwear supplier Trutex to kit out over 1,700 children for the new school year. All families were given a ‘virtual budget’ from which they could ‘purchase’ the school uniform items their children needed most. These items were then posted out in time for September. On average, families – all of which were referred by a professional support worker – received over £100 of school clothes. “Trutex was delighted to supply Wood Street Mission to enable them to successfully provide school uniform to those in need around Manchester and Salford,” says Trutex’s marketing manager, Rowena Allen. “The scheme is a fantastic way to enable children to start Back to School on the same level as all of the other children. All Trutex uniform is ‘Made to Last’, so these pupils will also benefit from high quality products improving self-esteem.”
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REPORT | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK
PENNY APPEAL – EDUCATION FIRST CAMPAIGN
PENNY APPEAL – EDUCATION FIRST CAMPAIGN
PARENTING 2000 – SCHOOL UNIFORM BANK (SUB)
Formed in 2009, Yorkshire based charity Penny Appeal combats poverty in both the UK and overseas through a variety of projects including building wells, providing food, delivering emergency medical aid and caring for orphans and the elderly. All of Penny Appeal’s projects are carefully constructed and designed to be accessible and effective and offer a blend of emergency support, short-term relief, and longer-term sustainable interventions. This multi-focus approach means the charity can save lives immediately, improve situations in the coming days and weeks, and transform communities for years to come, always giving desperate people the support they need depending on their situation. In June 2015, the charity launched the Education First campaign to give children a comprehensive education in a quality setting, where all their learning needs can be catered for. Its schools in Asia and Africa are fully equipped with everything that pupils need to learn, develop and grow. Everything a new school needs is provided, including desks and chairs, a library full of textbooks, stationery and computer equipment, play areas and fully trained teachers. The schools offer a safe, inspiring and fun environment where orphans and impoverished children can enjoy lessons in English and the local language, covering a range of subjects. The charity’s school uniforms are proudly worn by the children, who relish being part of a positive community that will improve their lives. To help boost the campaign’s work in 2016, Omer Shah, head of programmes at Penny Appeal, is appealing to UK schoolwear suppliers for their support. “We’d love to hear from schoolwear suppliers that can support our Education First pupils,” he says. “A quality, practical uniform makes a big difference to the children – it gives them a real sense of belonging and is a positive reinforcement of the importance of education. You can help: whether it’s donating shoes, socks, shirts or whole uniforms, the children would be very grateful.” In the past six years, Penny Appeal has helped millions of people across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, transforming entire communities by helping to break the poverty cycle and build brighter futures. — Anyone interested in supporting Penny Appeal should contact Gemma Rathbone, media and communications officer, on 07766 904352 or gemma.rathbone@pennyappeal.org.
The charity Parenting 2000 was established in 1993 after the tragic death of James Bulger. Its objective, throughout the north-west of England and Wales, is “to advance the education of the public concerning safety issues in everyday life, and thereby to preserve and protect the moral and physical welfare of any vulnerable members of society, in particular, but not exclusively children.” In 2013, the charity formed the School Uniform Bank (SUB) at its centre in Litherland, in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside. The aim of SUB is to provide new or pre-loved school uniform items, in good condition, to families living on benefits who are struggling financially to kit their children out for school. Parents or young people can contact Parenting 2000 directly for support, or are referred to the charity by schools, health visitors, social care or other organisations that help and support families in Sefton. While the project sees great support from members of the public donating outgrown schoolwear items, it is keen to increase the number of new school uniforms it receives. “We have plenty of families recycling their uniforms, but unfortunately some are not fit for purpose,” says Parenting 2000 chief executive officer, Colette Aslanian. “Although we never refuse donations, we are in desperate need of new uniforms: we haven’t had any brand new school uniforms donated for a while. It’s lovely to see children go to school with one full, new school uniform and then we supply a back-up one to alternate.” Since the launch of SUB, Parenting 2000 has established storage for school uniforms in its other two centres located in Crosby and Southport, enabling the project to become Sefton-wide. — For further information on donating to SUB, contact Colette Aslanian, CEO of Parenting 2000, on 0151 920 7137 or email Colette.Aslanian@parenting2000.org.uk.
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INFORMATION | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK
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T U V W Y Z
www.affenzahn.com • A Mini Penny info@aweatheredpenny.co.uk www.aweatheredpenny.co.uk • Anaïs & I 07970 383188 www.littleicons.co.uk / www.anaisandi.com • Angel’s Face 01732 823 700 www.angels-face.co.uk • Atelier/Child 0085 2901 67843 www.atelierchild.com • Avery Row 07879 483910 www.avery-row.com Baby Alpaga Paris 0033 06982 82244 www.baby-alpaga.net • Blade & Rose 07920 752260 www.bladeandrose.co.uk • Blue Max Banner 01225 715070 www.bluemaxbanner.co.uk • Bob & Blossom 01273 679497 www.bobandblossom.com • Boboli 0034 937982000 www.boboli.es • Bobux 07808 730176 www.bobux.co.uk • Born in Britain 07717 696776 www.borninbritain.com • Bowtique London 07904 236856 www.bowtiquelondon.com • Boys & Girls 07803 725 324 www.boysandgirlsshop.com • Braveling 07786 071667 www.braveling.co.uk • Buffalo & Bear 07816 594481 www.buffaloandbear.co.uk Canada House – Republic of Kids 07711 746276 www.republicofkids.com • Cate & Levi 01380 859600 www.greenpioneer.co.uk • Chic Smart Clothes 0048 730717084 www.chicsmartclothes.com • Country Kids 01883 740066 www.countrykidstights.com • Cute Cute 01625 402252 www.cutecute.co.uk • Cyberjammies 07779 146051 www.cyberjammies.co.uk Dear Eco 0048 518771717 www.deareco.eu Emile et Rose 01392 677555 www.emile-et-rose.co.uk • Enchanted Forest and Friends 01475 745794 www.enchantedforestandfriends.com Fabric Flavour 020 7195 2234 www.fabricflavours.com • First Baby Shoes 0048 668601616 www.firstbabyshoes.com • Fluf 01380 859 600 www.greenpioneer.co.uk • Foque 0034 9863 66048 www.foque.es • Froddo 01707 888388 www.froddo.com • From Babies with Love 0044 8006 891912 www.frombabieswithlove.org • Frugi 01326 558 462 www.frugiwholesale.com • Funky Feet Fashions 01743 762316 www.funkyfeetfashions.co.uk Hatley 020 7544 4833 www.hatley.com • Holly Hastie 020 7127 9107 www.hollyhastie.com IDO 0039 0575 5331 www.ido.it Jax & Hedley 07919 368057 www.jaxandhedley.com • Jessie Jumbles 07966 018650 www.jessiejumbles.com • Joules 01858 435258 www.joules.com • Junona 07453 305723 www.junonastore.com KeriKit 01618 189038 www.kerikit.com • Kissy Kissy 01442 248099 www.finestforbaby.co.uk • Kite 01202 733222 www.kite-clothing.co.uk Lala & Bea 07769 704379 www.lalaandbea.com • Lelli Kelly 0039 05834311 www.lellikelly.it • Le Mu info@le-mu.co.uk www.le-mu.co.uk • Liberty 020 7734 1234 www.liberty.co.uk • Lilly + Sid 01788 824455 www.lillyandsid.com • Little Annie-Bets 07792 005309 www.littleanniebets.com • Little Wardrobe London 020 8061 2062 www.littlewardrobelondon.co.uk • Liu Jo Kids 020 8740 4097 www. brand-stable.com • Loud Apparel 020 7241 2456 www.loud-apparel.com • Love Made Love 07850 754853 www.lovemadelove.com Mad Pax 0113 258 8630 www.madpax.com • Magnus & Mouse 07983 505410 www.magnusandmouse.co.uk • Marmalade & Mash 07850 897304 www.marmaladeandmash.co.uk • Mayoral 0034 952 045204 www.mayoral.com • Mini A Ture 020 7348 7316 www.miniature.com • Muddy Puddles 01299 407150 www.muddypuddles.com Natasha Troy 07801 555670 www.natashatroy.co.uk • Nod 07825 567808 www.nodlondon.com • Nueces Kids 0034 637628481 www.nueceskids.com Oh…My! 020 7281 4141 www.ohmykidswear.com • Old Soles 0061 4176 86642 www.oldsoles.com.au Panda & Ping 07887 994559 www.pandaping.com • Panda and the Sparrow 07887 994559 www.pandaandthesparrow.co.uk • Patito Bebé 0034 616078489 www.patitobebe.com • Petite Pearl Lowe 07879 626356 www.pearllowe.co.uk • Pigeon 01865 379230 www.pigeonorganics.com • Plae 07887 538593 www.goplae.co.uk • Plakinger 0049 175 5273803 www.byplakinger.com • Platypus Australia 07967 416386 www.platypusaustralia.com • Poco Rosso 07876 522341 www.bohohemp.co.uk • Popupshop 0045 4242 0808 www.popupshop.net Rachel Riley 020 7935 7007 www.rachelriley.co.uk • RAP 07967 560633 www.arautorap.com • Red Urchin 07810 565999 www.redurchin.co.uk • Ricosta 0116 2597427 www.ricosta.de Salamander-Lurchi 01664 454920 www.hbshoes.co.uk • Sarabanda Minibanda 0039 0575 5331 www.sarabanda.it • Satsuma Bamboo and Organic 01795 410914 www.satsumabambooandorganic.co.uk • Six Pieds Trois Pouces 0033 6604 77007 www.sixpiedstroispouces.com • Snüz trade@snuz.co.uk www.snuz.co.uk • Step2wo www.step2wo.com • Sunuva 0800 7789789 www.sunuva.com • Superlove Merino 01248 800060 www.superlovemerino.com • Sways by Rains 07598 710626 www.sways.dk The Little Shoemaker 01273 504187 www.thelittleshoemaker • Tutto Piccolo 0034 965546899 www.tuttopiccolo.com Urban Merino 020 3393 3003 www.urban-merino.com ViccaBond 07507 638250 www.viccabond.uk Willa and Bobbin 07734 858236 www.willaandbobbin.com • Woodstock 07866 383042 www.woodstocklondon.com Young Soles 07515 369391 www.youngsoles.co.uk Zuma the Dog 07778 669680 www.zumathedog.com
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DIRECTORY | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK
ACCESSORIES
SCHOOLWEAR
AGENCY
ORCHARD AGENCY
BALLOON BIJOUX
Chris, Carol, Lisa & Ray are the team behind Orchard, a leading second generation childrens clothing agency in the UK, with expertise in London and the South East. Orchard Agency, 28 Fourth Avenue, Frinton-on-Sea, Essex CO13 9DX Tel: 01255 674301 Email: chris@orchardagency.co.uk carol&ray@orchardagency.co.uk
Hair Accessories, Jewellery, Bags, Purses, Belts, Braces, Sunglasses, Fairy range and School accessories. For a free brochure: Tel: 0208 207 2500 or email: info@balloonbijoux.co.uk www.balloonbijoux.co.uk
CWB BUSINESS DIRECTORY SCHOOL TIES
WELDON AGENCIES Established for over 25 years, two generations, covering all areas of the UK. Representing leading brands from Europe and Canada, catering for boys and girls 0 to 16 years. Styling from contemporary to traditional. FUN & FUN, LE CHIC, DEUX PAR DEUX, NO NO, BOBOLI, FOQUE, SARDON, LARANJINHA, ITTY LONDON Weldon Agencies, Southport, Merseyside Tel: 01704 576033 Email: barrieweldon@btconnect.com, andrewweldon@btconnect.com www.weldonagencies.co.uk
BABY & KIDS SHOES
VANHUIZEN AGENCIES
TIE & SCARF COMPANY
The specialist in
SCHOOL TIES plus badges
TO ADVERTISE IN THE CWB DIRECTORY PLEASE CALL FIONA ON
01484 848337 OR EMAIL FIONA.WARBURTON @RAS-PUBLISHING.COM
Van Huizen Agencies is a young, fresh and vibrant agency, for the more discerning retailer requiring beautiful and unique collections. OILILY CHILDRENSWEAR, LIONS OF PORCHES, NOA NOA MINIATURE COLLECTION Unit 1, First Floor, Paragon Works, Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 3JW. Tel: 07967 560633 Email: franck@vanhuizenagencies.co.uk www.vanhuizenagencies.co.uk
TO ADVERTISE IN THE CWB DIRECTORY PLEASE CALL FIONA ON
01484 848337 Warth Industrial Park, Warth Road, Bury BL9 9NB Tel: 0161 761 5151 Fax: 0161 762 0202 Email: tieandscarf@chaytow.com Web: www.tieandscarf.co.uk
OR EMAIL FIONA.WARBURTON @RAS-PUBLISHING.COM
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TALKING POINT | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK
PEARL LOWE Founder and designer, Petite Pearl Lowe As a child, Pearl Lowe would customise her own clothing for the thrill of knowing she was wearing a one-off creation. By the age of 10, she had already designed her first collection, which was sold in her mother’s boutique in Covent Garden. Despite this, Lowe’s path switched from fashion to music after leaving school. After having her four children, who include fashion model Daisy Lowe, she rekindled her passion for design, launching luxury kids’ lifestyle brand Petite Pearl Lowe late last year. Prior to its exclusive launch to trade at this season’s Bubble London, CWB gets an insight into the label, which is handmade by a team of seamstresses in Lowe’s hometown of Frome in Somerset and currently sold exclusively in Harrods. — Laura Turner: What are the milestones of your career? Pearl Lowe: I started out as a singer in the 90s indie band, Powder. In 2001, I launched Pearl Lowe Interiors, selling lace curtains, cushions and bedspreads. Five years later I began making lace dresses, which I sold through Liberty’s and independent boutiques. In 2009, I designed a capsule range of dresses for the high street chain Peacocks and in October 2015, I launched a luxury kids’ lifestyle brand, Petite Pearl Lowe. LT: What was the inspiration behind Petite Pearl Lowe? PL: I was inspired by 1900s circuses and by Cecil Beaton, the celebrated English fashion, portrait and war photographer who won an Academy Award for his stage and costume designs. LT: How does designing childrenswear compare to your past design work? PL: It’s a lot more fun, and my daughter Betty gets to invite all of her friends over for dress-ups.
LT: Any plans for a boys’ line? PL: I cannot tell you how many people have asked me to design a boys’ collection. We will in fact be launching a boys’ range for a/w 16. LT: Which other childrenswear brands do you admire? PL: I love BANGBANG Copenhagen as my daughter is quirky and loves everything it makes. I’ve always loved Caramel and Bonpoint, too, but my kids won’t wear that kind of thing anymore, which is such a shame. I’m going to have to wait for grandchildren. LT: Where is the brand currently being sold? PL: Harrods will continue to sell Petite Pearl Lowe, there will be a Selfridges pop-up shop in the spring, and then maybe the USA. LT: Anything else in the pipeline for the brand? PL: I’m launching candles and fragrances for kids in the New Year, which is really exciting, and I’ve also started to design soft furnishings.
NAME: Pearl Lowe JOB TITLE: Designer DATE OF BIRTH: 7 April PLACE OF BIRTH: Wimbledon NOW LIVES: Somerset
LT: What are your key considerations when designing for children? PL: The fabrics have to be soft and very comfortable to wear, and they cannot be provocative in any way. LT: Where do you source inspiration? PL: I get inspiration from films, flea markets, friends, my children. Sometimes, I’ll see a piece of fabric and a whole collection will be created from just that. LT: How would you sum up the brand? PL: It is a luxury, dress-up collection. It includes lots of silk, colour, tulle and sequins. The age range at present is two to 10 years, although we are adding teenage costumes for a/w 16. At present, there are 20 pieces in the collection. A couple of the signature pieces, like the harlequin leotard and the sequin cape, will carry on throughout the year. LT: Which is your favourite piece to date? PL: The butterfly costume for s/s 16 is my favourite. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 - 74
organic baby & child contact@omibia.com Tel: +44 (0)1342825724 www.omibia.com
See us at Bubble London 31 January - 1 February 2016 Stand C24