WORDS BY APRIL HOLLAMBY
From bibs and belts to strollers and changing bags, luxury kids’ accessories come in many forms, albeit some more practical than others. Whatever you’re searching for, FARFETCH’s global selection of boutiques dedicated to kidswear has it all — find the season’s most-wanted kids accessories below.
Rubino Kids, Italy
Rubino Kids’ first store opened in 1991 and is located in Aversa, between Naples and Caserta, stocking must-have pieces from iconic brands including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi. ‘Our vision is to give our customers the most choice possible within luxury kidswear, to have full availability and exclusive access to whole collections,’ explains boutique owner Aniello Vecchione. ‘We have always considered accessories to be the main part of the styling when it comes to creating outfits, with special consideration to bags, hats, hair accessories and belts.’
The boutique’s most popular pieces include strollers, changing bags, gifting and soft toys, notes Vecchione, while established brands like Fendi and Versace — especially for strollers — ‘never go out of style’. But emerging kidswear names remain ‘a fundamental prerogative’. ‘Brands such as Off-White, Palm Angels, MM6 Maison Margiela, Khrisjoy and Vision of Super offer an alternative style for our customers,’ she says.
Childsplay Clothing, United Kingdom
An east London institution that has grown from a single store in 1990, Childsplay Clothing now offers a curated global selection of children’s designer labels, including exclusive pieces and exciting collaborations. ‘The vision for the brand is to inspire children to express themselves and discover their own sense of style,’ explains Nick Bassi, CEO of Childsplay. ‘We believe in offering the complete look for our children — from Gucci GG belts to Fendi footwear, we’ve got the perfect finishing touch for any stylish look. Small accessories that can transform a look have always been popular with our clients: the tongue-in-cheek humour of the ‘FAKE’ Gucci baseball hat really grabbed us; Versace’s Medusa head crossbody bag is a show of class and style; and if we’re going for cute, then it has to be the Fendi monogram bunny-ear baby hat.’
Mancini Junior, Italy
A family business since 1956, the Mancini founders’ daughter Sonia opened the kidswear-dedicated store Mancini Junior in 1993. ‘[Our boutique has had a] clear goal since the beginning: hospitality, vast choice, commitment and quality,’ explains the boutique's owner Jessica Marino. ‘We carefully select accessories from the top brands in the industry: the Fendi Boots, Gucci bags and the classic Versace sneakers are our most popular products.’
As for the season’s most-wanted kids’ accessories? ‘The major highlight of the season is certainly the entry of Off-White into the kidswear world; we expect big demand for the iconic black and yellow backpack. Plus Palm Angels’ accessories, such as the hats.’ Her personal favorites of the season include Dolce & Gabbana's printed backpacks, Balmain boots and Versace's stroller.
Daiami Luxury, Italy
Italian boutique Daiami Luxury, based in the Frattamaggiore region of Naples, has been a go-to destination for the best new-season kidswear for 25 years. Emerging brands coexist with artisanal pieces, including clothing, shoes and accessories for little ones. ‘Our boutique is modern and elegant with clean lines — we work with the best brands around, showcasing total looks from them to fully satisfy customer needs,’ says owner Carmine Anatriello. ‘The most popular accessories come from all the top brands — such as Fendi and Versace — but the more unique they are, the higher the demand.’
Daiami Luxury’s seasonal accessory buys are informed by ‘current trends, personal taste and, most importantly, what is unique,’ continues Anatriello, whose highlights for the season include cult designers such as Iceberg and Sprayground for backpacks and accessories.
CoccoleBimbi, Italy
Opened by Isabella Saponaro in 1989, CoccoleBimbi is now led by her two sons, Cesare and Sabino Morisco. ‘Our mission has always been to change the vision of kidswear: inclusivity, sustainability and equality are the core values of our brand,’ explains Cesare. ‘The best-selling products are bags and hats: Moschino, Stella McCartney and MSGM are among the most popular brands. For FW21, we received good feedback for the colorful Marni bags: it’s the first season that the brand has [produced] these kinds of accessories and customers really appreciate them.’ Looking ahead to the standout accessories for the season, he adds: ‘Molo offers a huge assortment of cool kids’ accessories, from hats and crossbody bags shaped like tigers and fawns, to floral backpacks.’