American Apparel, Mini Rodinni, I Dig Denim, Scotch and Soda, (just to name a few) are all amazing international children’s designer labels that have an impressive range of fashion styles for boys, all of which are readily available at the touch of a keypad. With the phenomena of the internet and globalization, we are no longer restricted to the limited variety and quality of department and chain stores. We can have the latest styles and fashions for boys without dragging our unwilling children to often over crowded shopping centres or without leaving the comfort of our own homes. Although boys wear is still not as readily available as girls wear, with access to websites such as The Iconic, Orfeo and Scandinavian Minimal, fashions for boys from across the world are now in our hands.
But what about our local Australian designers? When we think about designer fashions for boys, we often think of international fashion heavy weights but forget some of our own amazing talents that are of the same quality and usually at a better price. So with the aim of highlighting some of our own local talents, I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 rated Australian Fashion Labels for boys. I will note that in compiling this list I was overwhelmed with amazing girls wear labels (which I may touch on in another post), from Australian designers that at least tripled anything I found for boys wear. This aside, here are my top 10:
1: Sudo
Probably my favourite Australian boys-wear collection, maybe because the clothes are designed by a dad of three! Available in all good boutique stores, their winter 2013 range does not let them down!
“Sudo is the brainchild of Melbourne based fashion advocate Terry Lay. A father of three children, Terry set about creating a fashion forward clothing brand for kids aged 2 to 12 years. Breaking away from conventional children’s wear, Sudo is for those who have an eye for fashion, styling and quality, with huge emphasis on fit, construction and function-ability. Sudo offers adult like styling and quality for the next generation.” www.sudo.com.au
2. Munster
As mentioned in previous posts, Munster is a brilliant advocate for boys fashion in Australia. With funky and fresh styles they manage to capture the fun side of being a child and produce exciting clothing!
“Munster kids is a collection of kids apparel that is driven by music, art and street culture. Inspired by urban legend Mikey Munster, the devious side of every kid, Munster garments balance a mix of kid themes and adult styling with durability and comfort leaving them satisfied and you feeling a little jealous.” www.munsterkids.com.au
3. Havaianas
As a must in our house, Havaianas couldn’t come in any lower than 3. With the boys having a pair from the moment they could walk, there durability and fun designs make them a winner for both the kids and parents!
Although not completely Australian, having began in 1962 based on the Japanese sandal ZORI, it wasn’t until after the World Cup in Brazil in 1998, that Havianas began to have an impact in the global market and spread to over 60 different countries including Australia by 2000. Now they are almost a household name and appear to have become a bit of an Australian icon, hence their inclusion in this list. www.havaianasaustralia.com.au
4. Minti
As an Australian and New Zealand brand, Minti is another fun fashion label that was established over 9 years ago on the ethos ” “would we wear that if we were small?” Sitting at #4 on my list their range of girls-wear is equally impressive.
“Since it’s inception in 2003 Minti was always set to go from strength to strength and be at the forefront of making awesome street wear for little people, with ranges that include clever graphics on deluxe cotton garments through to Hand destroyed denim jeans and more intricate cut and sew pieces.
Minti is owned by husband and wife teams Nick and Amy Joblin and Nick and Jenny Clegg. In March of 2008 Nick and Amy made the move from Auckland to Melbourne to keep up with the demand coming out of Australia, the brand is now very much an Australian and New Zealand brand with Nick and Jenny staying in Auckland to look after the NZ demand.
The brand is now designed out of Minti’s head office in Melbourne, Australia.” www.iloveminti.com/about
5. Little Horn
With the ethos “we are forever young,” Little Horn is a brilliant Australian children’s label. Stocked across Australia, New Zealand and online, it’s range of comfortable and practical boys and girls clothing is a must this winter. Exemplified in there 2013 winter range, is a combination of this season’s hottest color trends including bright and the blue/green fad that always works on boys. www.littlehorn.com.au
6. Polka
Another favourite of mine, is the ever tasteful yet fun designs of Polka. Stocked Australia wide, Polka incorporates a large array of styles, designs and colours that are flexible and practical. There girls-wear range is probably more impressive than there boys-wear range, but with their variety in design from season to season and their fun catalogue photos, they are definitely a must for any boy!
There own description of the label basically sums the brand up: “PÖLKA: WEARABLES FOR SMALL FOLK Welcome to a land where fashion is fun, you can mix it and layer it without help from mum! Cheery colours and patterns; for mr’s and misses, disguised as Vikings and Eskimo Princesses.” http://www.facebook.com/Polkakidswear/info
7. Alphabet Soup
With a website on the way, all you have to do is look at their facebook page to see just how children focused the owners of Alphabet Soup are. Based in Melbourne but stocked throughout Australia, the company produces a large range of boys tees, shirts, hoodies, shorts, denim, jackets and accessories for “fashion forward grommets.” With an emphasis on boys and what boys like, there prints are fun, modern and something the kids will love!
8. Chalk and Cheese
Established in 2005 by Tracy Eastwood, who returned to Australia after a stint of designing in the UK, Chalk and Cheese designs aim to reflect a unique style of fashion inspired by European trends. With an emphasis on simplicity and neutral tones with spurts of color, this label is a great example of fashion that could travel across seasons with its layering ability. Offering more than just unique fabrics for boys and girls, Chalk and Cheese made my list as they proudly manufacture in Melbourne! Something that I truly appreciate and I know many other mothers who’d feel the same.
So if your really looking to support our local economy and designers, look no further than Chalk and Cheese. www.chalkncheeseclothing.com.au
9. Eeni Meeni Miini Moh
This is an Australian label that produces more than just simple designs with a neutral palette and unique prints. Available as apparel for boys and girls, bed linen. toys and accessories, this is a label that has a social consciousness as well. Producing clothing that is available for boys and girls from sizes 0-12, “each collection embodies (their) habitual characteristics of combining natural fibres with a harmonious palette,” something that is refreshing and complimentary to current fashion colour trends. There designs are well thought out and reflect a care that can only be produced in a harmonious environment.
In addition to this, they are also passionate about embracing its “social responsibility to people and the planet.” Creating a team that are committed to ethical sourcing and selecting suppliers that share their beliefs. They use suppliers that adhere to their code of conduct and operate in accordance with internationally recognised minimum standards on human rights, labour, banned substances and the environment. In fact since they began production in 2002, they’ve donated over $250,000 to underprivileged children in clothing and monetary donations. www.eenimeenimiinimoh.com.au
10. Fred Bare
Probably most commonly associated with David Jones, Fred Bare is a wholly Australian company that aims to produce quality childrenswear that incorporate style and exclusive prints and artwork. Established in 1992 by Fiona Sinclair and her partner Robert White, they were originally only found in department stores but can now be sourced in the best boutiques in Australia, New Zealand and online.
As a more conservative Australian label, their boys wear pieces brilliantly complement some of the more trend based pieces from labels such as Munster, Minti and Sudo, or are ideal for more formal occasions. www.fredbare.com
So there you have it, my top 10 Australian childrenswear labels that produce what I consider to be the best selection of boys-wear fashions and styles in Australia. All with exciting 2013 winter collections on the way or on the shelf now, we have no excuse to not be supporting our own and dressing our boys in the best of the best from down under!!
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