There is no doubt that kids’ fashion is much more interesting and exciting than it used to be. There are almost as many collections for children as there are for adults and many leading designers have introduced junior ranges to partner their adult collections. Kids are taking an interest in fashion at a younger and younger age as well which means that parents are often feeling the pressure to provide the styles that their youngsters demand.

Scandinavian Success

In recent years many of the most appealing and successful labels have come out of Scandinavia. The culture in that part of the world is family orientated and the emphasis is on the outdoor lifestyle. In addition there is an impressive heritage of simple, functional yet attractive design which lends itself to children’s clothing. IKEA made a huge impact on the world of furniture and then a raft of kids’ clothing labels started to dominate that arena. However, an excellent new label has been launched and it is not Scandinavian.

Aussie Charm

Bandit Kids is an Australian brand which was evolved with the aim of making cool children’s clothing that the youngsters would want to wear and the parents would adore too.  Bandit Kids are keen to see children leading an active lifestyle in the great outdoors, adventuring, exploring and playing sport. They believe that kids should explore their imaginations, get artistic, act free spirited and revel in their impulsive side! In short kids should be little bandits.

Back to Basics

Bandit Kids also believe in going back to basics, keeping things simple and adopting a hands -on approach. Every garment in their range is handmade. The collections have different themes which kids will relate to and the original art featured is hand-drawn. The images are then turned into screens which are used to hand print the designs onto the clothing. They even use this technique for the labels so they don’t itch. Swing tickets are printed onto recycled paper with soy ink.

The Fun Factor

The range has met with immediate success and it is not difficult to see why.  It is certainly cool and possesses a unique look which is fun and funky yet eminently practical. Kids love the crocodile and parrot imagery and the quirky designs. The parents appreciate the practical styling and the fact that the collection isn’t trying to be too adult or fashion forward. The clothing is cool because it is original and fun, not because it is copying current adult trends or catwalk looks.

There is certainly an element of rebellion against kids’ fashion which is too overtly adult in style. More and more collections are shying away from high fashion in favour of fun which has to be a good thing. Kids should be kids. There is nothing wrong with youngsters taking an interest in what they wear but their clothing should not restrict them. It should rather help them to play and explore. Bandit Kids is a range which does exactly that.

Article by Sally Stacey