Towards the end of January I visited Showcase, the Crafts Council of Ireland's major trade show that connects Irish craftspeople, designers and giftware producers with local and international retailers. There was a lot of really great stuff on show (and then there was Guinness merch, but I suppose that's what some retailers are after, isn't it?), but one of the best stands had to be that of Si+Lu, a new children's clothing company specialising in contemporary designs handmade using traditional techniques and fabrics. Thanks to Conor for telling me about them before I headed to the show - with such a large number of stands to get around, I might have missed them...
When preparing to become parents, Dublin-based couple Simon and Lucy went looking for handmade children's clothes, but could find none made in Ireland. Looking to fill the gap in the market, they've developed a range of designs that are now made by a network of experienced knitters, weavers and seamstresses across the country. The result is a collection of adorable - and really stylish - clothes for little ones that all the while keeps craftspeople in work and traditional means of textile production alive. Not only are the clothes beautifully designed, they're also made to last; made to be passed on from one child to another, unlike so many high street alternatives that last only a few washes. Si+Lu clothes are available to buy online, with their warm and wooly autumn/winter range currently available. Personal favourites of mine are the stripy jumpers (like the one above) and the stunning Donegal tweed coats at the top. I can't wait to see what spring brings, and have a feeling some of the smallies in my life will be wearing Si+Lu before too long...
Images via Si+Lu
When preparing to become parents, Dublin-based couple Simon and Lucy went looking for handmade children's clothes, but could find none made in Ireland. Looking to fill the gap in the market, they've developed a range of designs that are now made by a network of experienced knitters, weavers and seamstresses across the country. The result is a collection of adorable - and really stylish - clothes for little ones that all the while keeps craftspeople in work and traditional means of textile production alive. Not only are the clothes beautifully designed, they're also made to last; made to be passed on from one child to another, unlike so many high street alternatives that last only a few washes. Si+Lu clothes are available to buy online, with their warm and wooly autumn/winter range currently available. Personal favourites of mine are the stripy jumpers (like the one above) and the stunning Donegal tweed coats at the top. I can't wait to see what spring brings, and have a feeling some of the smallies in my life will be wearing Si+Lu before too long...
Images via Si+Lu
