Checking out new designs

WWN – Checking out new designs.

I popped up to the trade show ‘Top Drawer’ to check out the latest design in fabrics. Although it’s  a gift show, it is very design orientated and show cases a lot of new designs, whether it be on china, paper or fabric based products. When selecting new fabrics for Skibz products I don’t always go for ‘baby designs’ as I’m not a great fan of twee little prints, hence a lot of Skibz designs are based on fashion fabrics that perhaps, you may well wear yourselves and this is a big selling point for us.

However, I also like to link it with what’s ‘going down’ at the moment. This season I saw a lot of muted shades, grey is still big as it has been for the last 2-3 years, but also duck eggs blues, dusty pinks, creams and mustards. I didn’t see a lot of bright colours but noticed pastels mixed with fluorescents which looked fantastic, although I’m not quite so sure on nursery products.

Animal skin prints such as leopard, snake and zebra were nowhere to be seen, however the old small repeating animals in one colourway were still ‘doing it large’.

Design wise it was a mix of flamingos, pineapples and palm trees in mixed Latin American/kitch styles. Plus, a lot of 80’s patterns returning especially geometric/zig zag prints as above. I especially loved these from Laura Spring!

Add all of this with a lot of metallic textures and prints and you have what’s happening now and for the next season plus a few more no doubt.

When considering what works well for baby products I also have to consider size of print as a large design would look silly on a bib! I do not like anything too ‘dark’ such as guns, skulls or scantily clad bodies, it has to be happy, positive, fun images to go near little ones!

I felt truly inspired upon my return so do look out for new designs based upon this.

Competitions

 Congratulations to Deborah Parsons and Namrah Nissa winning ‘Manic Monday’ on our FB page and #Winitwednesday over on our Twitter page. Bandana Bibs going free!

Offer of the Week

Ooh la-la! Just to prove Skibz takes its fashion credentials seriously, we're introducing a classic navy blue and white French Stripe - this will look great forever, and probably last forever too - a potential Skibz heirloom! You can't beat this combination of colours which will appeal to both little lads and little ladies. As absorbent and hardworking as ever, like all the Skibz baby bibs, this will wash beautifully time and time again. Especially now it’s HALF PRICE!

Check them out at http://www.skibz.co.uk/shop/baby-bandana-dribble-bib-navy-stripe-original

Until Next Week

Helen x