Can we talk children's clothes please?

[Grumpyoldhorsewoman]

Seriously researching the possibility of a children's clothes shop in my local, pretty affluent, town.
I know what I like - I have what borders on an obsession for nice children's clothes, but I'd like to canvas your opinions.
I would not want to stock any of the following brands, for varying reasons:
Joules
Oilily
Ikks
Pampolina
Jean Bourget
or any of the ridiculously expensive, froufrou designer brands (like D&G, Miss Dior etc)
I favour mid-priced, individual, age-appropriate clothes and am particularly partial to Scandinavian and French childrenswear.
Share your favourites with me (links to sites would be good)

Agree about boots new range, I used to really like the mini mode stuff too, a bit quirky and individual at a reasonable price, the new stuff is really dull.

I am very uncomfortable with the idea of spending loads of money on children's clothes tbh. When DD was born I was given a gift voucher for a baby/children's clothes shop near us. I went in the shop with DH, looked around for about half an hour and left having bought absolutely nothing. Went back again, tried very hard and finally left with a coat for her to grow into. I think the manager thought I was crazy to find it so difficult - and was probably very offended but it just feels wrong and extravagant. I'm afraid our childrens' clothes come from Tesco, Mothercare, H&M and Next. They are perfectly fine - why spend any more?

Decent kids clothes shop also just closed in our market town. Only choices now Tesco or Joules - nightmare. Was also fan of Mini Mode.

Drive further to buy in sales only - Monsoon (nice boys stuff if the shop stocks it or find at outlet centre) & John Rocha at Debenhams is acceptable to DS.

But you could say that about any luxury item gaelicsheep. I'm personally not bothered about having a new big shiney car, the latest flatscreen tv, expensive perfume (not saying you are) but I do find certain clothes for my Dds hard to resist!

Because of the labour conditions they're often made in.

I used to buy most things (that weren't handed down) from H&M and Mothercare, then when DD was 2 or so I had a sudden guilt trip about labour conditions so now get nearly everything from Tulip & Nettle. Less easy finding fairly-sourced things for grownups (but part of the reason I like Toast, since they make an effort).

But kids clothes get dirty, they get food stains, baby clothes get pooed and sicked on, and they grow out of them really quickly. A nice outfit for "best" maybe, but otherwise what on earth is the point? The last thing I want is to have to worry about my DCs clothes when they are having fun.

I don't own any of the luxury items you mention because we can't afford to spend money on things like that. But in some of those cases you do at least get what you pay for and they last for years. Unless you have a large family children's clothes don't need to last for years, and IME the more expensive the material the less hard wearing they are - I can certainly say that of DD's coat.

I am saying where I buy my children's clothes from. I am being neither thick, nor making a point, just saying where I shop.

Grumpyoldhorsewoman - can I suggest where I do think there's a gap in the market? Two areas in fact.

Firstly the ethical clothes mentioned down thread - if I had the money I would think about spending it in that way.

Secondly, children's outdoor clothes and equipment. There is a very poor selection available in mainstream shops. I was buying DS snowboots and couldn't get thick outdoor socks to go in them because they only start at size 12. I would think about including something along these lines in your business proposal if I were you.

Online is great as it's so easy to buy the clothes at 70% discount for the next year and onwards. Then I keep them all and reuse for next child. Quite a bargain really. But it might be hard to compete with online in terms of sales.

Food stains are one of the reasons why jersey doesn't make good children's clothes - things like cord are much easier to wash. T-shirt material seems to be about the worst there is for staining (although easy for them to put on when they start dressing themselves).

I guess I buy Dd1s clothes knowing Dd2 will also wear them, then they either get passed on to friends or sold on ebay. Most of the clothes I buy really do seem to last very well. Admittedly I tend to wait for sales to buy things too. Ds is currently wearing a boden t-shirt that has been handed down 4 times, and still looks like new!

See I have one of each flavour so that doesn't really apply here. We don't have children in the family to pass onto either, and our friends' children are younger, but bigger! Granted, I think if I had two or more of the same sex I would be more inclined to spend more on clothes.

I wouldn't mind paying more for hard wearing clothes if I could. Buteven so, the clothes I buy almost always last long enough to send off to charity with a clear conscience. But I don't agree with "designer" clothes for children.

That's useful, thanks MrsvWoolf.

Obviously that was just one example. In my town every child is walking around this winter in the same blue or pink snowsuit. Would be lovely to have somewhere with more choice of good quality, nice looking stuff.

But the OP isn't asking "Where do you buy your DCs clothes from?', she specifically asked us to name brands that fit into the category of "mid-priced, individual, age-appropriate clothes...particularly...Scandinavian and French childrenswear".

Clearly the brands you are suggesting do not fit into this category so you are either being thick or inflammatory!

I'll go for thick then. It did say to share my favourites and so I did.

Am possibly being a bit inflammatory now I suppose...

Thanks for all your suggestions - you seem to be suggesting the kinds of things I have had in mind.
The point of my wanting to open a children's shop is to provide the things I find I need occasionally, but struggle to find. I want ethical, not expensive that children look like children (not mini adults) in. Online has always been the first place I look for clothes for DD because (with the exception of Zara) I just don't like what's on offer on the high street and have problems with the ethics of the super-producers and also the 'designer dolly' mentality.
I love the suggestions of good outerwear, as that (along with socks and school bags), is a big source of frustration for me. I had to get my parents to bring DD2 a good pair of snow boots home from the USA because I couldn't get anything here without spending a fortune.
I'd also like to do my bit in providing an alternative to pink glittery stuff,high heeled party sandals, slogan T-shirts and camouflage.

Made by children, for children...

I like Hatley, Mayoral and Du Pareil Au Meme. DD doesn't have tons of clothes, and I find the decent stuff holds up to repeated washings.

I like Joules now, never bought it before as I was unreasonably pissed off by the baby bottle swing tag, but they seem to have changed it recently.

BonTon is fabulous for hard wearing basics in the über-sober but well cut French style.

Doré-Doré (DD) for tights (the best!) and socks

Petit Bateau for underwear

Start-Rite and Pepe for shoes; also Gallucci and Repetto

"Are people saying Sainsbos, Peacocks etc being thick or deliberately making a point, or a combination of both. Either way v. annoying."

In my case I'm making a point because:

a) where I live there aren't any posh children's clothes shops
b) DD grows too quickly for me to spend too much on clothes and I don't have anyone to pass them down to, so they represent extremely bad value for money
c) DD isn't very interested in clothes (she is 10), so buying expensive clothes would be a waste of money
d) DD is tall and very skinny and I only buy clothes that fit, which is very difficult. So shopping online is not an option. I buy from the shops I mentioned because I can usually find something that will fit from at least one of them.

If there was a more expensive clothes shop that catered exactly for DD's shape and size then I would happily buy clothes from there. I am also keen on shopping more ethically, but, again the clothes would have to fit.

Ej Sikke Lej and Plastisock are lovely. I like Molo, Smafolk and Mini Numph too. Petit Bateau, Mayoral also.

I really avoid shopping at the supermarkets and Primark/Peacocks etc because of the labour conditions that these clothes are produced in. Also, I'd rather buy organic cotton as I don't like the idea of my kids having all the chemicals used on supermarket clothes next to their skin.

I live in a big Scottish city and our neighbourhood sustains one or two kids clothing stores of the type you are proposing grumpy. One in particular has been going for decades and sells the kind of range of organic stuff/Scandinavian/snow gear etc that you are talking about. It is called Nippers and I think they have a website that you may want to look at for ideas.