From your kids foray into the world of haute couture, to the best British high street designers making timeless clothing for children, these are our favourite British brands helping your little one take their first steps with impeccable style.
Shopping for your own kids or otherwise can be such a pleasure, with a certain joy taken from the mini-me pieces available. With bigger designers extending their collections to childrenswear (Stella McCartney, Burberry and more), and other brands focused on creating just for little ‘un’s, we’re making sure the school run – and their very busy social calendar – can be their catwalk.
Rachel Riley
Luxury English children’s clothing brand Rachel Riley presents classic heritage style and is recognised for her elegant dresses and cotton attire for boys and girls. Gathering inspiration from the forties, fifties and sixties, clothing features fine tailoring, beautiful hand-smocking detail and vintage inspired prints, exclusive to the brand. A royal and celebrity favourite, and a constant award-winner, there’s a reason this brand is ideal for timeless tots.
Stella McCartney
Playful, colourful and full of natural energy, Stella McCartney’s kids’ collection is a consciously-crafted wardrobe for the next generation of eco-warriors. Cruelty-free, using only conscious materials, these bold designs have been created with a bold new generation in mind. Designed for children aged 0 to 16 years, the comprehensive range of clothing is comfortable and fully ethical whilst still being fashion-forward. Often considered a pioneer of green and ethical fashion, Stella has built her brand on respect for animals, the environment and mankind – so adults can feel good dressing kids in these pieces just as much as kids will feel good wearing them.
Pepa London
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Pepa London is a luxury childrenswear brand which takes its inspiration from founder, Pepa González’s Spanish roots, combining it with her British heritage style to create traditional heirloom pieces which can be treasured by future generations. London is an integral part of the brand’s identity serving as a continued inspiration: Pepa London’s core values of luxury and timeless style are reflected in their quintessentially British designs. A favourite with British royalty (most notably when Prince George and Princess Charlotte wore signature pieces for their first overseas engagement in Canada), expect to find peter pan collars, limited edition hand-smocked dresses, rompers and bloomers, and the softest fair isle knitwear for babies and young children alongside complementary accessories – including leather shoes.
Burberry
Perhaps no brand is more closely associated with the idea of Britishness than Burberry. Burberry Kids has mastered the art of shrinking down its ready-to-wear collection, encapsulating mini-me British style, and infusing it with just a touch more playfulness for little ‘uns. Outerwear icons are reworked; from honey-coloured trench coats in signature cotton gabardine to diamond- quilted jackets lined in Burberry Check. The range of classic and fun investment pieces for children are ideal to be worn, loved and then kept for hand-me-downs.
Rejina Pyo
London fashion favourite Rejina Pyo’s childrenswear collection caters for girls and boys aged between 2-8 years old. Reflecting the mainline aesthetic with a fun colour palette and playful details, the collections include printed dresses reminiscent of Pyo silhouettes and feature mini custom-designed buttons that have become a brand signature. The line has been made using sustainable and practical materials including organic and recycled cotton, and includes limited edition pieces that have been upcycled from past season archive materials. From the colourful workwear jackets and trousers designed to be mixed and matched alongside T-shirts printed with nature-inspired graphics, to the spring/summer seaside print in beach-ready shorts and shirts, this is a relaxed, easy-to-wear kids collection with a twist, and one which doesn’t create a divide between girls and boys fashion.
J&Josh
Introducing a stylish range of chic-casual clothing for boys aged 2-8 years from new British brand J&Josh. Inspired by the best elements of classic French and Italian design, the ‘made to play’ collection places importance on fabrics and cuts, with a splash of colour and trendy swimwear prints, that elevate boyswear staples. Mix and match chic modern classic wardrobe essentials, from linen cotton T- shirts and jersey cotton polo shirts, linen and pique cotton shirts, linen and cargo style shorts, chino trousers and luxuriously soft and lightweight knitted Egyptian cotton long-sleeve polos and hoodies.
Reiss
The inspiration behind the REISS kidswear collection is “a belief that children are individuals with personal style”. Following the line of the adult collections, items include a slick tailoring, well-cut dresses, t-shirts and knitwear, as well as children’s versions of the brand’s leisurewear in the same neutral tones. The brand’s overall ethos is to deliver signature wardrobe pieces that transcend time and trends – and it continues to do this with the childrenswear range, luxe high street clothing that goes beyond any passing trend.
LOVE BRAND & Co
This is a brand born from love, a love of of nature, wildlife, travel, adventure and family. Masters of distilling island life, LOVE BRAND & Co. offers a sophisticated summer lifestyle alongside doing its bit to help the planet and raise awareness for endangered wildlife. The story started when the founders travelled to India and were introduced to Tara, an elephant who would inspire them to create a brand dedicated to protecting endangered animals. For men and boys, this swim and resort wear brand features pants, shirts and polo shirts, and girls have a new range of swimmers. The entire collection uses only natural and recycled fabrics, each print telling a story from the natural world and their adventures. From swimming trunks scattered with dusty pink palm fronds, to Abaco linen shirts zig-zagged with hippy-lite prints, LOVE BRAND & Co is all about the good life, whilst teaching the next generation to give back.
Amaia
Amaia Arrieta’s concept when launching Amaia in 2004 was to make beautiful, handmade, classic garments at an accessible price point, utilising high-quality Spanish textile traditions and with sustainability at its core. Every season Amaia incorporates 3-4 Liberty prints into the collection as a nod to quintessential British heritage: prints are selected from Liberty’s archive and are printed onto chosen fabrics, for example, wool for winter. Visitors can explore the shop in Chelsea’s Cale Street village, as well as arrange appointments to create bespoke clothing for special occasions – from babies to flower girls and page boys – with just a four-week lead time. Whether it’s sweet smocked dresses, charming corduroy rompers or lovely little shoes, Amaia creates timeless treasures.
The Little Stamford Co.
Inspired by the British countryside and, of course, a love of babies, this brand is a nod to Stamford, Lincolnshire where the founder’s childhood was spent surrounded by dogs and ponies. Made from 100% organic cotton, core products include sleepsuits, rompers, dribble bibs, muslin blankets and squares, long sleeve tops and bodysuits to layer up for outdoor days. Designs are based on anything reminiscent of the British countryside, ranging from Land Rovers to Tractors, horses and ponies to delicate wildflower. Cosy, British, and perfectly suited for babies.
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