When
ran away to the circus. . .
Spring/Summer 2012 POPPY, the little girl whose adventures are depicted on the hem of little girls’ dresses, is off on her adventures once more. Together with her loyal dog, Fred, she has joined a circus to learn some tricks and meet new friends under the big top. Meanwhile, they also try their hand (and paws) at running a traditional sweet shop, complete with jar upon jar of old-fashioned sweets. As ever, each charming outfit comes with a storybook telling the tale of Poppy and Fred’s newest exploits. Three fresh spring colourways in the new Circus print feature Lemon Sherbet, pink Candyfloss and blue Spearmint, while multi-coloured Sweet Shop provides a fascinating complement. Designer Bryony Richardson has created this season’s all-new, printed-in-Lancaster cotton twill for dresses and skirts which withstand the wear and tear of little girls at play all summer long. Bryony’s hand-drawn illustrations give Poppy clothing its trademark nostalgic innocence – complete with a contemporary twist: a Pippi Longstocking for the 21st century. “When I was a little girl, I – like many others – harboured a secret dream of running away to the circus,” she recalls. “In my imagination, I’d fly high on the trapeze and ride magnificent horses around the canvascovered ring. In my garden, I’d act out some of these daydreams. “Our comfortable clothes are designed to take this kind of innocent outdoor play in their stride. Above all, our clothes are made to make little girls feel like little girls – not adults before their time.” The new fabrics are beautifully complemented for Spring/Summer 2012 with existing favorites, the Poppy and Seaside prints – the former in green and red, the latter in red, blue and green.
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Meanwhile, echoing the adventures of the fictional Poppy, her creators have been busy renovating a vintage 1950s Eccles caravan for use as a mobile shop in which to take to the road for their own escapades. In addition to clothing for babies, boys and girls aged up to seven – and now women too – Poppy also has a range of accessories such as pyjamas, little purse bags, berets and bootees, colouring books, greetings cards and invitations, and mugs. Aimed at creating a wonderful world of innocent fun, the brand takes children on a magical journey of play and adventure, drawing inspiration from the bygone eras and authors that influenced Bryony when growing up. The new collection will be available online at www.poppychildren.co.uk, in John Lewis (online, Oxford Street and selected stores nationwide), Peter Jones in Sloane Square and a wide range of independent boutiques across the UK, Europe and in the Middle East, Far East and North America. In the autumn, the team enjoyed successful visits to New York International Gift Fair (where Poppy was featured as gifts.com GiftRap’s Scoop of the Show) and ENK Children’s Club. A return trip to the Big Apple last month was equally successful. More than 25 US stockists have already placed their orders as a result.
February 2012
NOTES TO EDITORS * To get a taste of the new collection, take a look at our Look Book (http://issuu.com/poppychildrenbooks). * We’ve also attached a couple of images from the collection to give you a taste. Many more high resolution images (flats, cut-outs and lifestyle versions) are available – please get in touch. * For further information, interviews, prices lists, stockist details and samples, email gareth@poppychildren.co.uk or call 01609 765149/07929 869269. * www.poppychildren.co.uk. 44 High Street, Yarm, North Yorkshire, TS15 9AE. 01642 790000. * You can also visit us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/poppychildren) or follow us on Twitter (@poppychildren) ENDZ