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• 07/07/2008

  The best children’s wear at FIMI

  • 

    Inside the fair

• FACT FILE

  Spanish exhibitors: 144

  Total net surface area: 12.000 sq mt

  Location: Feria de Valencia

   

  CONTACT

  Avenida de las Ferias s/n

  Valencia

  fimi@feriavalencia.com

   

  http://www.feriavalencia.com/fimi

   

  NEXT SHOW DATES

  January 2009

The 67th International Children’s and Young People’s Fashion Fair, otherwise known as FIMI, brought more than 300 Spanish and international brands to Valencia to present all the latest children’s wear for spring-summer 09.

One of the fair’s regulars, veteran kidswear brand Tutto Piccolo was celebrating its 25th anniversary in style with a particularly festive collection called Dolce Vita in bright colours, spots and stripes that set off to effect the children’s motifs sewn on to the garments.

Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada Baby was back in creative swing with simple patterns and comfortable fabrics and the designer’s signature bright colours. Denim, 3D animals and tie-dying round off the collection. For its part, Cri Cri went for something calmer and more relaxed with pastel shades and skin-caring fabrics.

AKR Kids looked to intense colour and urban inspiration. El baúl de Pinocho came up with more surprises, both for its original stand – resembling a doll’s house – and for a collection brimming with Liberty-style prints, patchwork and eye-catching coordinates.

Pan con Chocolate turned rich prints the brand had designed itself into the key feature of this summer collection: big flowers and abstract, arty prints combine with neutral shades, adding plenty of character. Lourdes gave a new touch to its highly personal style with original embroidery and prints that look like children’s drawings combined with extra-large polka dots in white, black, mauve and pink. The result is an imaginative, highly naïf collection. The Chupa Chups brand goes for carefree colour with its trademark lollipop as prominent feature.

Tuc Tuc divided up its collection into different creative lines, each one full of fun and colour. Sailor garments mingle with fruity features, Madras pictures and even denim. Details like bows, hearts and contrasting backstitching make up a collection which includes a growing line in children’s accessories.

Splash!
The spring-summer 09 kidswear line by designer Dolores Cortés, DC Kids, has a very African look. Bikinis, trikinis and swimsuits sport zebra print in neutral shades and chocolate brown, decorated with fun sew-on giraffes in bright colours. Oh Soleil! has also gone for animal prints, in children’s colours, as the theme for the spring-summer 09 season.

Dressed up to the nines
Ceremonial wear is always an important part of the spring-summer edition of FIMI. One of its leading exponents, Barcarola, again proved that kids’ clothes can be smart and elegant in this collection inspired by the 50s, where high waists on bulky skirts and Capri trousers contrast with tops and short jackets. Communion designs use sumptuous fabrics like natural silk and brocade, and sport champagne-coloured sashes. Rubio Kids by Hortensia Maeso presented an original collection where elaborate patterns are updated with organic and rustic fabrics like natural silk and raffia. Shades of beige alternate in striking veiling and layering effects.

Footwear makes a stand
Cuquito took the opportunity to present its latest line Cuquito Up, developed in partnership with Valencia’s Biomechanics Institute. Advanced technology has been used to create an innovative flexing material which is soft, breathable and ideal for growing feet.

Calzados Eli has gone for a new update on the ballet flat, in an aged patent look finished with decorative buckles, laces and flowers. The bright tones, both plain and combined, give children’s footwear a whole new dimension. Other brands at FIMI were children’s versions of Xti and Gioseppo, with a more urban, sporty style.

FIMI catwalk
The regular FIMI, now known as the Fimi Fashion Show by Fundación Once, as a result of a cooperation agreement reached with the Spanish association for the blind, looked to the silver screen to present collections by 18 participating brands, including Oh Soleil!, DC Kids, El baúl de Pinocho, Lourdes, Chupa Chups, Tuc Tuc, AKR Kids, Pan con Chocolate, Tutto Piccolo, Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, Bugui Bugui and Barcarola. Each chose a legendary film as the theme for the designs presented on the “cinematic” runway.

FIMI catwalk, spring-summer 2009

Exhibition and catwalk photos by Tomy Pelluz