This season, CWB visited the FIMI trade fair in Valencia, Spain. Here are our highlights.

 

The summer edition of FIMI is always smaller than the January show, where it joins with the babycare show, Babykid Spain. July is all about the beach, communion and occasion, alongside casual clothing and footwear. Like last season, live runway shows profiled a wide selection of clothing and footwear, with several South American buyers making the long trip to visit key Spanish brands. We took the opportunity to focus on Spanish and Portuguese labels during our visit, catching up with established names as well as discovering some new additions to the show.

Revolution – by PAZ Rodríguez

Launched last season for older boys and girls, this line (pictured above) was a strong follow-up s/s 25 collection from PAZ Rodríguez. A fresh contemporary style with easy silhouettes, using both technical and natural fabrics and a vibrant colour palette. The Balloon Collection takes inspiration from the artist Jeff Koons, featuring balloon-shaped dog embroidery on denim and cotton. Oversize jackets, safari shorts and shirtdresses worn with a variety of tops and sweatshirts. Neon is a collection influenced by artist Bruce Nauman, with a colour explosion that reminds us of his texts in neon lights. For its new swimwear range, Revolution combines acidic colours and floral prints that pay homage to the iconic Andy Warhol. From bikinis to T-shirt and boxer sets, there is an explosion of colour and print.
Contact: clientes@pazrodriguez.com / @revolutionbypazrodriguez

 

 

PAZ Rodríguez

In contrast, PAZ Rodríguez’s main line celebrates simplicity and charm, with classic silhouettes for babies, toddlers and younger children. Eternal Summer, the new s/s 25 collection, takes inspiration from ‘summers at our Grandparents’ village’. Natural materials – linen and cotton – feature alongside more special materials like tulle, embroidered cottons and organzas in a range of colours, designs, prints, checks, stripes and flowers. We also find subtle embroideries and fine fabrics accompanied by openwork knit garments. There is a sophisticated ceremony line for the most special occasions, with embroidered fabrics and coordinated looks for boys and girls of all ages. This is complemented by bonnets, flower tiaras and knit garments, such as the new cape with a tulle bow. Swimwear also has the essence of the collection, using harmonising colours and prints. Amid the range of stroller accessories, there are knit sacks combined with fabric or layette sets for the little ones. All collections also have a wide selection of matching bags in different sizes.
Contact: clientes@pazrodriguez.com / @pazrodriguezcom

 

 

Boboli

A key commercial Spanish kidswear brand since 1981, Boboli produces several ranges covering ages 0-16 years. Its ethos remains practicality, comfort, fashion and heritage, adapting to modern children’s lifestyles. Sustainability is important to the brand, with certifications such as BCI, Oeko-Tex and AMFORI key in its collections. Optimism and diversity for a colourful summer is the ethos for the s/s 25 collections. Nature is the inspiration for hiking, picnics and bike rides with comfy fabrics like denim and fine knitted shorts, jeans and jackets, with fruit, floral and animal prints. Cargo trousers with big pockets, resort shirts, oversized garments with letter graphics and geometric prints. Colourful hats and caps complete casual summer looks. For celebrations, there are sequinned knit twinsets, metallic pleated skirts, tulle dresses in lurex yarn, pleated tulles in gradations with sequins, waistcoats and palazzo trouser sets in pinstripes, as well as striped knitwear and linen shorts. The swim collection is full of fun; fluorescent colours, lively patterns and partly recycled fabrics. Zip-up swimsuits in unisex towelling and long-sleeved spandex tops with a surf vibe are key pieces.
Contact: boboli@boboli.es /@boboli_fashion

 

 

Snug

A sustainable Portuguese brand for babies and toddlers aged 0-4 years, Snug’s aim is for a less disposable future alongside inspiring children’s creativity and imagination through its clothing. The new s/s 25 collection, Be Creative, is an ode to the naïve, free expression of young children. The essence of childhood is reflected through a fresh and vibrant colour palette, with irregular stripes, floral motifs and statement T-shirts. ‘Let’s be creative’ appears in artisanal embroidery on a sweatshirt, emphasising the importance of creativity from childhood. ‘The bee, the butterfly, and the snail’, an innocent representation of the friendship between three miniature beings, is reflected in prints on T-shirts. Using carefully selected raw materials, the collection incorporates a growing percentage of recycled cotton as well as linen, a strong fibre that grows with few resources. There is also a wide range of ‘garment dye’ pieces dyed with GOTS pigments. We love the watercolour brushstroke stripe on lightweight woven separates, coordinating all the collection colours.
Contact: snug@hall-ca.pt /@snugbyportugesehands

 

 

Foque

With a great heritage in the childrenswear sector starting as knit specialists in 1962, Foque has become a significant presence in Spanish children’s clothing. The brand is currently a member of The FIMI Council and is also part of the ASEPRI organisation. From its headquarters located in the Galicia area of Spain, Foque designs, manufactures and distributes to more than 1,200 stores, as well as managing its own online shop. Exporting widely, and with a strong Latin American presence, it is keen to continue growing in international markets through retailers and franchises. It has also been exporting to the UK for several years and has a UK sales agent. The cute range of summer dresses in linen and cotton in eclectic combinations of colourful prints, broderie and cotton lace trims caught our eye.
Contact: export@foque.es / sarah.littleacorns@gmail.com / @foquemodainfantil

 

 

Fina Ejerique

In 1993 Fina Ejerique founded her children’s clothing brand with a clear vision: to launch a collection of comfortable children’s clothing crafted with care and the highest quality on the market. Since then the company has grown and it now has a large team of designers, technicians and textile specialists. The original philosophy remains alongside the commitment to its customers and the product – “Collections that reach the souls of our clients is our hallmark, always supporting the textile sector in Spain, where all our garments are still manufactured.” The s/s 25 collection, Summer Memories in the Village, is a tribute to summers spent with grandparents full of adventures and laughter, with garments that capture the essence of childhood. Using sustainable fabrics and carefully crafted details, each piece reflects a commitment to quality and the environment. Designed to coordinate for boys, girls and babies aged 0-16 years, there are soft colours and exclusive prints for everyday and special occasions. We love the eye-catching navy and white colour story featured in the brand’s press materials and on its stand at the FIMI show.
Contact: export@globotex.es / @finaejeriquemoda

 

 

RIA Menorca

RIA Menorca has been making traditional Menorcan Avarca sandals for 70 years, with every single pair handcrafted and meticulously finished using top-quality materials. Its manufacturing process is supported by the prestigious Menorcan Avarca seal of guarantee. With a mix of dedication, respect for tradition, plus a passion for that extra tweak to turn the styles into a fashion accessory, RIA has become a symbol of Menorca all over the world. In 1998, Carlos Truyol took over the management of RIA Menorca. The combination of his father’s experience in artisan shoe-making and his own growing passion for innovative design has resulted in the creation of collections that pay tribute to traditional footwear while adapting to ever-changing trends in fashion. We love all the variations in materials and colours, especially the multicoloured raffia and the knotted suede in vibrant orange and pink, making the range large while all based on the same heritage style.
Contact: orders@ria.es / @ria_menorca

 

 

Beatriz Montero

Quintessentially Spanish, Beatriz Montero is a 100% artisanal brand that has been on the market for 24 years. With a flagship store in Seville where the company originates, and where you can see the totality of Beatriz Montero’s vision, its Andalusian-style designs clearly reflect the brand’s identity, uniting classic styling with modern touches and creative embroidery. The current collection at FIMI presented a beautiful palette of mint, blue, pink and natural tones with embroidered tulle, natural cotton lace and pompom trims. Completing the look are coordinated bags and butterfly, flower and feather headdresses.
Contact: info@beatrizmontero.es / @beatrizmonterocabana

 

 

Play Up

Play Up is a clothing brand for babies and children from 0-14 years with entirely Portuguese design and manufacture. Not only does the brand use as many recycled, naturally sourced raw materials as possible, but it also uses a natural, anti-allergenic dye process on much of its range. From 2019 it started the Embracing Slow Making series. This season it continues to celebrate and inform consumers on its processes that ‘put people and the Planet Earth first.’ Chapter 3 of its embracing circularity programme – Clay Therapy x Madalena Telo, a Portuguese ceramicist and botanical artist – introduces delicate fruit and nature prints on soft waffle and garment-dyed cottons, linens and trademark stripes. We love the palette of naturals with pops of sage green, ochre, magenta and fresh blues, as well as the chunky knits, which are new for this season.
Contact: info@playupstore.com / @_playup_

 

 

Big Toes

With experience working as a distributor for other brands, Big Toes was launched in 2022 with a range of products designed to help parents in the first years. This includes Big Toes Chameleon – barefoot shoes for baby’s first steps, which were exhibited at FIMI. The toe is shaped like a clown shoe for greater stability and comfort when walking, with the added feature of changing colour with sunlight for greater stimulation. A seasonless collection of colours and designs is available from size 20 to 22.5, as well as a range of coordinated baby socks to crawl and walk freely around the house. The sole of the sock is designed with a non-slip system to provide safety and traction. The company also offers a range of hard goods such as car seats, stroller platforms and baby tricycles to explore, all with safety and development at the heart of the design.
Contact: info@bigtoesonline.com / @bigtoes_es

 

The next edition of Babykid Spain + FIMI takes place in Valencia on 22-24 January 2025, for further details please click here. You can also visit Fiona Coleman’s Instagram here.