Only in small sizes
- Source: Global Times
- [13:22 July 13 2010]
- Comments
Jumpsuits with style from Chalkboard. Photo: Cai Xianmin
By Tom Mangione
Nobody is immune to fashion, not even toddlers. As Shanghai continues to develop at a frenetic pace, the market for boutique items continues to grow and boutiques for children's clothing are no exception. The Global Times trekked across the city to get a look at what kinds of styles Shanghai has to offer its young fashionistas. The result? Shanghai is ready to offer its stroller set haute couture jeans, French designer dresses, matching beach wear, sleek board shorts and more.
Looking for some flair
One of the more well known places in the city for children's clothes is the Nihong Children's Market. In Chinese, the word nihong means a "secondary rainbow," or a fainter rainbow next to or beneath a larger one. The name is surprisingly appropriate since most of the children's clothes inside the underground market are overstock from the children's lines of other retailers. In the middle of all of this is 口中缘 (Kouzhongyuan), a shop specializing in customize-able, flared jeans and brightly colored tops for children. The clothes are flashy - studs and glitter are often used without restraint. A pair of jeans, made-to-order can be had for 200 yuan ($29.50) and up.
Kiddies one-stop shop
Three weeks ago, Lollipop opened its second children's boutique, and its first in downtown Shanghai. Before that you had to trek all the way out to Hongqiao in order to visit this boutique superstore dedicated to all things kids-related. In addition to a selection of premium branded children's clothes, Lollipop carries strollers, high-chairs, furniture and baby food. Lollipop sells boutique children's brands such as Cabana Life and Appaman, the brand "worn by Angelina Jolie's children" according to shop owner Wendy Krueger. A boy's two-piece UV50 bathing suit set of a navy blue, faux wetsuit zip-up top accompanied by navy-blue and white-striped swim trunks with a sailboat pattern sells for 495 yuan. An Appaman girl's mod dress in pink and light blue runs for 289 yuan.
Chalking up the board
Chalkboard, a "children's concept shop" beckons from its townhouse location near exit 3 of Line 1's Changshu Road Metro Station with a brightly lit sign evocative of 1950s Americana. Inside you'll find racks of children's clothes among toys and accessories. Owner Anita Wang is a trained designer and former fashion writer for Elle Magazine who started the shop two months ago. Half of the collection is from American children's fashion company Kicokids, while the second half is split between two French brands: Si tu veux and Dada Club. From Dada Club, a red dress with a flat front and an exposed back is 400 yuan, while Kicokid's plaid, orange and white boy's short-sleeve shirt goes for 503 yuan.
