Pictured is Anna and Wynona from Ivy Designs from when they were little!


What's the story behind Ivy Designs (i.e. history)?
My sister Anna and I grew up watching and learning from the talented women in our family so our interest in craft and dressmaking started with our own childhood. Textiles class in high school led me to a few short courses in Fashion at Central St Martins in London. Anna completed a diploma at the Fashion Business Institute, but neither of us pursued work in the industry. Working on leading children’s magazines meant that I was exposed to some of the most gorgeous children’s products and I found inspiration there. Then my daughter, Ivy, was born and I started making little dresses for her. A captive audience at a friend’s baby shower encouraged me to pursue it further. So Anna and I got together, experimented with lots of different things and came up with our first range for summer 08/09. We made everything ourselves for the first few months and things have really blossomed from here.

What makes Ivy Designs different from other kids fashion labels?
Ivy Designs is all about “handcrafted style for the modern child”. Our items have a retro look about them, often incorporating unique handcrafted touches but they are made for children of today. Cut, fit, durability and original designs are important to us. Our range is a little bit dressy but always easy to wash and wear. We make all of our garments in Australia, in limited runs using premium materials.

What inspires your designs?
Our biggest inspiration comes from our own kids, particularly the girls. Everyday things that kids are into, such as animals, nature, animations and storybooks also inspire us. Often our ideas come from experimenting with different fabrics, buttons, ribbons and drawings.

Any hints for us as to what we can expect from Ivy for Summer 10?
We’re really excited about summer! We will stay true to our style, with gorgeous designer fabrics and handcrafted details but you can expect to see a few of our original illustrations included in the range.

What's been your most exciting/fulfilling/wonderful moment since launching Ivy Designs?
To be honest, stocking in Baby’s Got Style! We aimed for this when we first started the business last year, we are thrilled to be here. We get a buzz seeing our products in retail shops and whenever we send a parcel overseas. The regular feedback we get from customers is fulfilling. We’ve also met lots of interesting and like-minded crafty types, which is a lot of fun! Our family and friends have all been very supportive.

Are Ivy Designs products available elsewhere in the world?
Since we sell online, we have customers from all around the world. We also have an exclusive stockist in Singapore.

Do you have a favourite Ivy product?
We both love the hair candy, it adds a bit of fun to any outfit. From last season we loved the crochet sleeve tops. This season it just has to be the Owl dress.

How would you describe your own personal style?
Our styles have changed a lot since having kids and starting the business. Simple & timeless pieces rule. Once in a while we might throw in a key trend item but our wardrobe is generally made up of casual clothing. For me, embroidered cotton kaftans are a favourite and Anna loves her maxi dresses.

What can't you live without?
Our supportive partners and the kids... and the Dustbuster gets a good workout everyday.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a fashion designer but university steered me into a career in advertising. Anna wanted to be a flight attendant, like a lot of girls her age back then. We both had a desire to sell our own creations though. When we were around 10, we made a whole bunch of hair ‘scrunchies’ and door knocked around the neighbourhood. We sold them for $1 each and pocketed about $20, which at the time was a lot of money! We now feel privileged to combine all the things we have learnt along the way.

What movie have you recently seen and loved, what book have you recently read and enjoyed and what food can you not get enough of right now?
The Secret Life of Bees was a great movie. I have been reading ‘Craft Inc’ by Meg Mateo Ilasco. Anna’s been focused on baby books since having her son this year. In terms of food, mum’s traditional cooking is always a winner.

You’ve been patiently waiting… now it's time to meet our panel of Baby’s Got Style reviewers! We handpicked 12 super fashion conscious and well versed in all things baby and kids customers (and their children!) from the masses of entries (thank you so much to all who entered). They’re from every corner of Australia, with different aged children, different writing styles and very different opinions. We’re looking forward to their honest reviews of our products and sharing the results with you here! Meet the first 6 right now and read their winning entry reviews…the other 6 will be added here shortly! Leisa Bromley and children Elliot, 4yrs and Abbey, 2yrs Finding the perfect ‘non-gender specific’ baby shower gift used to induce heavy breathing worthy of the maternity ward. But my hyperventilating days are over thanks to the Alimrose monkey rattle in its dashing red & white stripes. You see, the monkey is baby-lingual; squeaking “cheeky” to boys and “cuddly” to girls. The appeal, however, lies in its delicious candy striped fabric. I have come to think of The Stripe as the saviour of all panicked gift givers. It is at home wherever it goes and The Stripe speaks all manner of styles. This raspberries- and- cream monkey rattle is as at home in a chic Parisian nursery as a rock’n’roll crib! When it comes to shaking things up baby-style…Stripes are stars! Alimrose stripe monkey rattle, $26.95 Cherie Hardingham-Braid and children Angus, 4yrs and Edie, 5 months I love giving (and receiving!) presents that are well-designed, multi-purpose and just a bit different, which is why I adore the Lark and Friends knitted doughnut rattle. Designed in Australia and knitted by women artisans in Bangladesh, this toy stimulates baby’s senses. It’s tactile, the knitted sprinkles are colourful, the rattle is loud and it’s the perfect size for little fingers. My baby girl loves shaking the doughnut to make it rattle (when it’s not in her mouth!) and hitting it when I hang it from her baby gym. Her four year old brother serves it for morning tea, sells it in his “shop” and uses it as a tambourine. So many ways to play! I love that it looks like it was made with love by a favourite relative or friend. Babies will love its softness. Mums will love that it is completely safe, ethically made and can even go in the washing machine and dryer. Lark and friends knitted rattles, $14.95 Amanda Whitley and children Olivia, 2.5yrs and Sophia, 6 months Two-and-a-half year old Olivia has recently become her own stylist (“I do it MYSELF, Mummy!”)…and so every outfit needs to satisfy two criteria: it must be pink and she must be able to dance in it. So when her pink BIG by Fiona Scanlan stripe tutu dress arrived from Baby’s Got Style I nearly had to hose her down, such was her excitement. This absolutely divine dress teams a cute soft cotton striped singlet with a frothy confection of tulle and sequins. Perfect for dancing or dress ups all year round - pop a long sleeved top underneath and team with coordinating BIG tights for a truly transeasonal piece. “Mum, I put on. It’s booyutiful!” she said, peeling off her clothes. So she put it on…and kept it on during a trip to the shops; her midday nap; a playdate with friends; and a run to Bunnings with Daddy. Finally, when it was time for her bath, she was persuaded to take it off…but only if she was allowed to wear it again the next day. Her first words when she woke the next morning? “Mum, I put my tutu on?” BIG by Fiona Scanlan tutu dresses, from $79.95 Millie Trewin and daughter Zooey, 2.5yrs Baby’s Got Style original cat canary flute, $7.95: This product I bought almost on a lark. I never imagined my little 2 year old would prove to conquer the tongue acrobatics required to master all the fancy trills and bird calls. Needless to say, I was right (for now), but oh what a marvelous time we're having just trying! It’s got the loveliest and most quaint simplicity about it - a little cat watching a small bird in it's cage. My daughter was fascinated just watching the bird bob up and down in its cage after each blow on the whistle! The packaging is sweet, minimal and so worth keeping and not recycling! Oh so retro and stylin', with excellent straight forward tips on achieving the sounds you want from your whistle. And it's really a product with more longevity than you'd assume after only paying $7.95 for it! There are lots of different kinds of whistles to make and techniques to try... Being an educator of small children, I wish I could get these into my classroom from time to time...the noise would be terrific and the aforementioned "acrobatics" is instrumental (mind the pun) in getting small children to move their mouths to achieve different sounds - just like talking. Brilliant. Original cat canary flute $7.95 Jackie Beard+children Hannah 4yrs, Matthew(almost 3!), +Charlotte 4wks old When it comes to style – kids certainly know best. Our 4 year old daughter Hannah always wants to wear her beautiful Rock Your Baby ruffle bib dress in bright pink with white trim – whether it be to a birthday party or just to kindy! The dress is 100% cotton and has two poppers at the back and is very easy to put on. Hannah always gets lots of comments about the dress when she wears it and it proves that sometimes simplicity is the key! At only $20 this dress is not only extremely well priced but is versatile, easy to care for and hard wearing. The colours have not run despite extensive washing, all stains have been removed easily and the dress has kept its A-line shape. The dress also comes in black, grey and red and there is a long sleeved version for winter. I think the red version would look great with the white trim as well. It’s just a shame the Rock Your Baby dress size’s stop at 4 (and it is a fairly small 4) because this dress introduces some serious rock attitude into any little girl’s wardrobe with the minimum amount of fuss for the parent. You can’t ask for more than that! Rock Your Baby ruffle bib dress, $20 Jane Pelham and children George, 3.5yrs and Rosie, 13 months old My children are NEVER allowed to eat icecream in our house. I dread and fear the finger marks and drip stains that I would find for days from one end of the house to the other if I dared to let a single cone or icypole stick inside. It is one of those treats that is saved only for special visits to Grandma's house. When it is on the menu there we still have to eat and run as I can't wait to get them both in the bath to clean it from their faces, hair and bodies. Enter the Icecream Dripstik. It is a wonderful invention that catches all the drips whilst allowing children to lick, bite and chew every last bit of the forbidden fruit! Its design is such, that it securely holds either the icecream cone or the icypole stick whilst giving the children a solid handle to grasp as they eat away. No more mess! My children think it's the best invention ever as they now can eat paddlepops and cones with sprinkles....well at least outside on the deck! Dripstik in assorted colours, $7.95

We chat with Nick Joblin (pictured far right) one of the directors and designers of NZ street wear kids label, Minti!


What's the story behind Minti (i.e. history)?
We launched Minti back in 2003, we started it as mini streetwear label for 0-5 year olds, at the time there were really no options for parents to dress their kids in high quality, cool clothing... everyone went crazy over it on the first season so we designed more and more, we have gone from strength to strength from there...

What makes Minti different from other kids fashion labels?
I think the fact that we do all our own designing and artwork makes us different to a lot of other Kid brands out there... doing our own artworks gives us a very hand drawn raw look which we like.... We stay true to our ethos “would we wear that if we were small” during the whole designing process...

What inspires your designs?
All 4 of us directors play a part in designing so it differs... But for me, I get inspired by the people I am surrounded by... I get an idea and just put it to paper and hope it turns out how I envision... I design for some other Streetwear labels as well, so a lot of the prints I do tend to steer away from your run of the mill kids prints like ships, cars, abc’s etc...

Any hints for us as to what we can expect from Minti for Summer 10?
We are super excited for Summer 10 because we are going to cater for the up to 8 year olds... I don’t like to give to much away but it’s definitely the best range yet...

What's been your most exciting/fulfilling/wonderful moment since launching Minti?
The most exciting thing I can recall is receiving a size 6 jumpsuit that was only designed to go up to 18 months, the ones with the snap domes... Anyway, our tiny framed sales rep managed to squeeze in to it... that was definitely a highlight.

Are Minti products available elsewhere in the world?
We stock stores in Japan, the USA and of course NZ...

How would you describe your own personal style?
Pretty much Minti in a guys medium.... I wouldn’t wear the one pieces though.

What can't you live without?
My wife Amy...(pictured in this shot, at centre)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I think I was pretty keen not to grow up.

What movie have you recently seen and loved, what book have you recently read and enjoyed and what food can you not get enough of right now?
I enjoyed Slum Dog Millionaire which I saw recently, the sound track is awesome... lots of M.I.A... I just finished looking through the NYLON:Street book which was cool... does that count? Warrick Thai in Melbourne’s Sydney Rd has the best food ever!

Baby’s Got Style is looking for a new soft toy design to be produced by top Australian nursery brand - Alimrose Designs.



Your design will be manufactured by Alimrose Designs to become a part of their next season collection (to be released to the market in August 2009).

This is an amazing opportunity to see your imagination come to life and become a treasured toy for your own child - and countless others!

Our only criteria is that it must be a totally your own original design, completely unique, stylish and cute as can be!

Submit your entries in whatever way you like - if you’re crafty and can make up your idea then get your needles, sewing machine or glue gun out and get busy! If you’re full of great ideas but not so crafty then you could draw your design for us to consider. We’ll accept all entries by email (so take a photo or scan in your design) to: info@babysgotstyle.com.au

Entries close March 31

The winner will receive:

• The supreme thrill of having your design produced by Alimrose Designs!
• The very first 5 pieces of the toy produced!
• $500 worth of other product from Alimrose Designs!

Terms and conditions:

• The winning design will be chosen by Baby’s Got Style and Alimrose Designs.
• All entries MUST BE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL DESIGNS. If you are found to be in breach of another designers intellectual property we (Baby’s Got Style & Alimrose Designs) will not be held responsible.
• Entries will be accepted via email. If you choose to mail us a sample of your design we’re sorry but we cannot return it to you.
• The design may be amended to meet safety standards and production restrictions. These changes will be made by Alimrose Designs and will retain as much of the original design detail as possible.
• The winning design may be used to inspire a collection of products, eg. handsqueeker, rattle, bib. It may extend beyond the use of the one product initially intended.
• If a design is not found to be suitable for production for safety, production, or any other reason it will not be eligible for the competition.
• The winning design will not be entitled to ongoing royalties or rights over the product/design.
• People who submit designs may be contacted outside of the competition by Alimrose Designs to discuss further projects/collaborations on future designs.
• By submitting your design as part of this competition you agree to all terms and conditions.