Thursday 29 November 2012

The Lowdown On The London Most Curious Kids Fair

If you follow us on Facebook no doubt you have been bombarded with information, but just in case you don't we'll break it all down for you so you know exactly what it's about, what to expect and how to be there!
 
A MOST CURIOUS KIDS FAIR
~ Design-led, hand-made & fashion forward products for families with style on
their minds ~
A Most Curious Christmas Kids Fair, London
When -Sunday 2nd December 2012
Where - York Hall, Bethnal Green, E2 9PJ
Entry - Adults £2.50, Children under 16 FREE (no need to book, pay on the door)
Time - 10.30am - 4.30pm
Nearest Tube - Bethnal Green (only minutes away!)  

Following the success of the first Most Curious Baby Fair this summer, the coolest baby fair in the UK has relaunched with a more grown up version. Now not just for babies, bumps and tots, the fairs will cater for children up to 10 and the team are returning with a huge London date, featuring over 50 suppliers. And when better to do it than in perfect time for Christmas - meaning super smart shoppers will find a wealth of
design-led, handmade, vintage and unique presents and gifts perfect for the most style-savvy children, parents and babies in their lives.

The fair will showcase handpicked exhibitors who offer everything from the best in children's most fashion forward brands, beautiful handmade maternity pieces, aesthetically pleasing interior products and illustrations perfect for children’s rooms, along with retro style accessories, vintage collectables and classic toys.
 
There will be entertainment and activities for the kids, as well as the all important Father Christmas Grotto with gifts from Vintage Toys.co.uk - oops, I mean our elves! The School of Craft (as stocked in the Design Museum) will be creating the coolest Christmas themed Mexican Wrestling masks and a portrait wall! And the lovely Little Bird will be helping the children make wonderful Christmas decorations. There will also be tea and cake for the adults and a soft play area by Dancing Cubs for the littllies. The grotto runs from 12pm to 4pm but all other features will be running all day.

Set up by Becky Hoh-Hale, interior design journalist and stylist, and fine art graduate Gemma Goodwin, the fairs are sure to feature only the most beautifully created and style  conscious products. 

Please see below for a full list of exhibitors, who are all BEYOND wonderful!
We can't wait to see you there!
Becky and Gemma - Most Curious
xxx

Chic eKids is a multi-brand retailer of children's fashions, offering an eclectic mix of luxury designer clothing for babies and children from newborn to 6 years old, with something for all tastes and budgets, from traditional pieces such as Petit Bateau to contemporary brands for fashion conscious parents such as Kicokids and Jakeandmaya.


Intent on bringing back imagination and fun for kids through to products that encourage children to play both alone and together, Clockwork Soldier offer acitivities and games for children which are colourful, educational and beautifully designed, with a definite mission to encourage kids to remember there is a life after computer games!
 
Lulu&Nat ~ http://www.luluandnat.com/index1.html
Driven by colour and inspired by India, Mumbai-based Lulu McEvoy and London-based Nat Robinson launched Lulu & Nat, a home and lifestyle range for adults and children which includes bedlinen, wall hangings and cushions, with each piece being totally unique, having been handcrafted in India using tradtional techniques.


Red Urchin ~ www.redurchin.co.uk
Family designed tees, babygrows and tops with cute characters, cool colours, ethical manufacture as well as great quality - these gorgeous products are inspired by what kids really want and are perfect for newborns through to 8 years (and their supersoft cotton means no irritating "scratchy bits" either!)

The Cat In The Shoe ~ www.thecatintheshoe.com 
Beautiful hand-crafted, whimsical, fantastical toys with amazing attention to detail that kids of all ages will love ( and, we imagine, a fair few adults too!)

Handmade by traditional woodworkers, Anaiza furniture focuses on their three passions - children, animals and beauty, with a goal to integrate these into a new kind of nursery furniture, designed to be cherished for years.

 
Cissy Wears ~ www.cissywears.com
A cool children's concept store aimed at design-centric parents who aren't prepared to compromise on taste, Cissy Wears focuses on fuss free fashion for girls and boys 0-8 years,  along with vintage children's pieces, decor, gifts and toys.
 
 

 
Hop! Toy Shop ~ http://hoptoyshop.co.uk/
Selling a multitude of firm favourites including Playmobil, Fisher Price, Sylvanian Families and Jellycat aswell as knitted soft toys, gifts, cards, homeware and plenty of crafty stuff to do, Hop is both online and has a shop located on Chatsworth Road, both of which are onestop shops for everything a kid could ever need!

Julia Boggio Studios ~ www.juliaboggiostudios.com
As London's best loved family portrait studios, this fine art photography is beautifully stylish, creative and artistic, and guarantees you'll feel like a rockstar with one of their shoots, whether it's family, newborn, babies or pregnancy.


Many Hands ~ http://www.many-hands.co/ 
Many Hands brings together a carefully selected group of well-known and emerging illustrators and artists, meaning it's easy to browse and buy beautiful prints, design led homeware and colourful accessories, with styles ranging from bold graphics to paper craft to elaborate illustrations.


Maximoos ~ www.maximoomoos.co.uk
A break from technology led games, Maximoos offer the best in simple, traditional and beautifully crafted high-end toys, which not only give kids the chance to be creative and expressive, but evoke fond memories from parents and grandparents with toys that will take them back to their own childhoods.

 

 

Molly Meg ~ http://www.molly-meg.co.uk/
Specialising in designs from the 1950s through to the present, Molly-Meg is dedicated to bringing 20th Century modern design icons to the world of kids with a carefully selected range of “Miniature classics” for children by leading designers, proving that good design is not just for adults.


Niddle Noddle ~ http://www.niddlenoddle.com/
A kid’s boutique with a passion for design offering unique and exclusive fashion, accessories, books, toys and homeware for children and their parents, which aims to showcase plenty of fab new brands, many of which are exclusive to Niddle Noddle.


The Modern Baby ~ www.themodernbaby.co.uk
With a background in interior design and combining modern, vintage and retro, Modern Baby houses everything that you could possibly wish for for decorating nurseries and children's rooms, specialising in products which will grow with your baby and will look great for years.
The Wooden Horse ~ http://www.thewoodenhorse.eu/
With one of the best selections of eco-toys online, The Wooden Horse offers stylish, educational toys, accessories and decorative items made out of beautiful natural materials.

Yellow Lolly ~ www.yellowlolly.com
Offering a constantly evolving range of up to the minute style-led brans, Yellow Lolly is THE online destination for beautiful scandinavian baby and kids clothes for 0-6 years, alongside toys, accessories and beautiful nursery decor.


A Little Adholla ~ www.alittleadholla.com
London based label A Little Adholla creates bold, fashion-forward kidswear and accessories, with a focus on striking and global-influenced prints and fun, geometric patterns.


I Dream Elephants ~ www.idreamelephants.com
With a mission to provide kids with stylish and affordable outfits which combine basic essentials with quirky cool pieces, I Dream Elebephants handpick garments from designers who specialise in creating stylish clothing for kids and babies.


Born from an idea from mother and daughter Madeleine and Delphine, Lapin & Me is built upon a love of vintage and new to create a treasure trove of toys, homeware, accessories and fashion, designed to make kids and adults alike smile.


Lettie Belle ~ www.lettiebelle.com
For gorgeous designs and friendly interior accessories for tots' and kids' bedrooms, Lettie Belle offers stimulating, eco and handmade design focused products for the discerning youngster, including hand-stitched cushions, giclee prints, bags and brooches as well as bespoke items.


Perfect for letting little feet breathe and helping tots to walk and crawl safely, Little Fun Feet offers soft leather baby shoes for all occasions for babies ages 0 -24 months, with over 30 fun designs and colours to  choose from.


Little Nest Box ~ www.littlenestbox.com
Specialing in beautiful modern kid's decor, littlenestbox houses of handmade, colourful, playful collection
of mobiles, cloud pillows and personalised products, perfect for brightening up nurseries and kid's rooms alike.

Marie Donn Photography ~ www.mariedonnphotography.com
For creative, perfect family and kid's photography, mum of two Marie knows the importance of capturing family memories and making time for one another, which she knows can be hard nowadays. Marie cites her two children as her main inspiration in her photography.

 

Rockabye Baby ~ www.rockabyebaby.com
Bringing plenty of RocknRoll to the world of kids and babies, Rockabye baby offer cheeky, cool, fun, 100% cotton fashion - or as they put it themselves, "funky stuff for body and bum".


A beautiful collection of handmade cards, jewellery, baby gros, personalised prints and stationary, Rosie Wonders offers whimsical fun for all ages.


Severina Kids ~ www.severinakids.com
Severina Kids creates a beautifully crafted collection of toys and objects from its Buenos Aires’ based workshop and each piece is handmade in limited numbers by local artisans from recycled vintage fabrics, scrap fashion remnants and eco felt.


Beau Bibs ~ www.beaubibs.com
Beau Bibs are unique, handmade garments, designed to add a touch of glamour to baby's outfit - made from organic, ethically sourced fabric with hand embellishments, they are perfect for every days or special occasions.


Home and Kids ~ www.homeandkids.co.uk
With both a shop in Hither Green, East London and an online store, Home and Kids is a collation of beautiful and inspiring products for parents, kids and their homes, ranging from cushions and bedding, toys and baby clothes, kids party accessories, candles, furniture and much more beside.
Polarn O Pyret ~ http://polarnopyret.co.uk/
With an ethos that understands that children need clothes they can play in, Polarn O. Pyret are renowned for their durable, contemporary classic childrens fashions for up to 8 years, along with the self proclaimed "greatest stripe in the world".

Beau LOves ~ www.beauloves.co.uk
The Beau LOves brief is to create a quirky collection of gender-neutral kids clothes (where possible) that are adventurous, fun, stylish yet creative and very importantly all made with love in London.


 
Beenie Buds & Co ~ www.beeniebudsandco.com
beeniebuds&co combines founder Dee's knowledge of graphic design with the fashion world to create a place bringing together a collection of quality kidswear and fun accessories, mixing emerging and established brands to offer affordable and stylish childrens attire.

Bonnie Baby ~ www.bonniebaby.co.uk
Award winning Bonnie Baby is a luxury babywear fashion label selling beautiful British-designed clothing for babies and children, focusing on innovative use of colour, imaginative design and superb colour.


By Graziela ~ www.bygraziela.com
In the 1970's, Graziela Preiser's designs were present in almost all German homes, as her fabrics, bedding and crockery in bold and colourful designs were present in almost all German homes - and now the cult designs are available once again as the label relaunches it's iconic products with the help of daughter Nina. 

Dolly Mixture
Lovely vintage dolls with individually designed handknitted clothing and accessorries from orginal mid century patterns.

 

Gigi and Co ~ www.gigandcompany.co.uk
Remembering a childhood full of fun clothes and bright colours, Gini created Gigi and Co to recreate those memories and designs which are up to date and of the highest quality.


Helen Gordon ~ www.helengordon.co.uk
With a background in textile design, Helen is inspired by nostalgic fairytales, textile patterns and vintage styles, with a collection of children's clothing, accessories, stationery and interior products. All her prints are hand painted in her studio and all products are 100% finest quality cotton.


I WISH I WAS A ~ www.iwishiwasa.net
With a background in film & tv costume design, Tamsin produces imaginative children's costumes designed to encourage creative play, which are perfect for parties or just for everyday fun.


These gorgeous, quirky fabric pieces are influenced by an art background, and Jessica's signature toys are her "art dolls", although her collection includes hair accessories, prints, Christmas decorations, rag dolls and painted mugs.


 

Tights for boys - such a simple idea, yet such a good one! Titans are made of highest quality combed cotton, have branded waistbands just like Dad's pants and will delight their young wearers with vivid designs that feed little imaginations.


With a tomboy daughter Charlotte found it hard to buy clips that were not the usual girlie fare, so she started to make clips that her daughter would wear, and after other Mum's asking for accessories for their children, Lottie Nottie was born in 2011, and now offers a range of accessories, bag tags and tidies


Mini Moroc ~ www.minimoroc.com
A range of contemporary verse authentic kids clothing,Mini Moroc adds a Moroccan twist to a modern look inspired by a lifetime of experiences and wonderful memories, with a lot of thought going into the beautiful intricate details of silk braiding designs.


OH BABY LONDON ~ www.ohbabylondon.com
Firmly sat in the school of "maximalism", Oh Baby London offers baby and kids clothes with a sense of humour that reflect sparky little individuals - a range of clothing filled with life-affirming anarchy.



Peter Rowe
Vintage clothing awesomeness from the 30s to the 90s for kids up to 16


 
Little Bird http://www.littlebird.co.uk/
They offer deals on the coolest handpicked events for all the family and will be doing Christmas decoration activities just for us!



School of Craft ~ www.schoolofcraft.co.uk
School of Craft knows kids love to make and do, and helps them to explore worlds of possibilities through culture and art, whilst learning new skills. Offering "projects in a box", each pack comes with simple instructions and everything needed to make, play and create.






Monday 6 August 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like...





As a combination of late and early we wanted to show some pictures of our launch fair last month and give you a little round up of a great day! But we also have some exciting news that we will be back bigger and better with the Most Curious Christmas Kids Fair at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London and are now open for applications!

If you make, create or stock the coolest, design-led, fashion forward products for mummas, babies and children up to 10 then this is the fair for you. Right in the heart of East London cool and the first weekend of December (when everyone suddenly panics and starts gift shopping!) this fair is bound to be bustly, busy and great for all exhibitors and visitors. We will also have a grotto with Father Christmas (eep!) and festive activities for the children, led by the hottest crafters and makers on the scene.

We have also just confirmed two boutique versions of the London fair, a little smaller, a little cosier but nonetheless just as special. The first, very exciting, is a Brighton date – the city where Mrs Most Curious whiled away her misspent youth and the first ever Most Curious date in the coolest city by the sea! That will be at the lovely Unitarian Church in the city centre on the 24th November.  The second is in Most Curious's current hometown of Norwich on the 9th December at the beautiful and atmospheric Assembly House. JINGLE BELLS!

You can now apply for a spot at all the fairs, which are set to be an important date on the calendar for those in the hippest end of the children’s product industry.
Please apply on our web form here.

Next up a look at the fun we had at our launch event in Norwich! Thanks to Small Dog Marketing for the super swanky online application forms, Gemma Goodwin for the wicked design of the save the date card and Joanna Millington for the great image from our first photoshoot. Proper Crimbo one in the planning stages!

Sunday 22 July 2012

Thank you for making our first fair a corker! Plus new dates, new outlook!

Jou-joux's toy stand, just some of the beautiful products at the fair
Wow, we have just about recovered from the first A Most Curious Baby Fair and are super pleased with how it went. We have lots of pics to upload and a full story to tell but for now we just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all the fantastic stallholders who transformed the medieval venue of St Gregory's Centre for the Arts into a haven for style conscious and design loving parents.

Thank you to the workshops guys Arts Desire, Pete's Music, Doodles4Kids, Squidgy Prints and Presma and not forgetting Spoonful of Sugar with their candy floss cave,  for making the outside a haven for nippers too!

We learnt lots of things at the fair for our future events so would like to move away slightly from the vintage side of things (it will still be there don't fear vintage fans!) but feel that the Most Curious speciality is the design-led, trend-aware, fashion forward world of products for style savvy families. We don't want to limit ourselves and want to show you, well, just beautiful things!

We also feel that our remit reaches right through from maternity up to kids up to 10, so a baby fair no more - please be upstanding for A Most Curious Kid's Fair! It's been quite a week, so we'll get all our branding sorted asap, promise!

We are also excited to announce the special Christmas addition of A Most Curious Kid's Fair will take place in the heart of UK cool, the East End of London at York Hall, Bethnal Green on the 2nd of December, with a grotto and festive activities galore as well as 40 + stands of awesomeness. We are open for applications early next week so we'll keep you posted.

Image credit: SLB Photography