The January 2023 edition of INDX Kids saw the continued expansion of the show’s footwear category, with the line-up including everything from children’s fashion styles to babies’ first-walkers and Back to School ranges to outdoor footwear. Here are some of the highlights.
Clarks
Clarks (pictured above) has spent almost 200 years perfecting a First Shoes collection that nurtures every stage of a child’s foot development, from their first crawl or shuffle to those unforgettable wobbly strides. Today the brand works closely with experts at the University of Salford to study children’s biomechanics and how footwear impacts walking to ensure its shoes are always one step ahead. From the softest materials and minimal, flexible constructions to the lightest soles, Clarks’ shoes give only the necessary support that growing feet need to move healthily and freely at every stage. Ideal for curious pre-walkers, sandal Zora Rex and sneaker Tiny Sky combine comfort crafted for little ones with summer-ready designs. Breathable leathers, prints and shimmery finishes all feature, completed with easy-on rip tape straps and flexi rubber soles that give toddlers extra stability and grip as they’re finding their feet. For toddlers’ first steps, City Dance’s rubber toe caps offer protection alongside flexible soles and lilac canvas uppers. The shoes are also machine washable.
Wholesale enquiries: jonathan.kenyon@clarks.com
Borboleta™
Borboleta was brought to the UK market in 2011 with the idea of offering a range of high-quality baby and toddler shoes. The concept was simple; utilise the best materials allied to elegantly designed shoes. The production of the shoes was, and still remains today, predominantly handmade at the brand’s factory in Portugal. The leather Borboleta uses is from a Leather Working Group (LWG) certified supplier, which means regular audits are carried out to assess its overall environmental impact as well as to provide feedback on sustainability with the objective of reducing carbon footprint. Borboleta is now recognised as one of the most reputable children’s shoe brands in the UK, with its success attributed to the flexible and comfortable construction style. The shoes are also made to a wide (G/H) fitting, suitable for children with broad feet or a high in-step. The core collection has always focused on traditional continental styles. However, over the last couple of years, the brand’s casual range has grown in popularity, with key styles including Santiago and Tatiana (pictured). A wide variety of colourways is available, although Borboleta’s mainstay colours have always been white, pink and blue, with the introduction of more neutral tones for the casual range. Sizes are EU 15-29 / UK 00-11.
Wholesale enquiries: paul@goodwearshoes.co.uk
TT Kids
Making its debut appearance at INDX Kids in January, TT Kids offers a collection of both fashion and school footwear. The family-run brand was developed by Y J Sahni, who began her journey supplying expert fitting to children across Sheffield. With this heavy integration and full dedication to her business, she was committed to looking after children’s feet and ensuring healthy foot development. Her medical background specialising in pharmaceuticals also saw her develop knowledge of foot anatomy from babies through to adults. Based on this experience, TT Kids provides high-quality children’s footwear that has been tested to provide the perfect fit to support growing feet. To support the longevity of wear, most of the brand’s styles come with a technology that sees the shoes provide two to three different fitting options. TT Kids also offers a feature that allows children with feet of all shapes and sizes to be able to wear the shoes they love. The brand focuses on bright colours, with most styles suitable for retailers to personalise. Stockists can choose different colours for different parts of the shoes to create bespoke styles for their store. Other key features of TT Kids branded shoes are full leather uppers and inner linings, as well as a completely vegan range with sustainable materials for both the upper and inner lining. TT Kids is only available via reputable UK independent retailers, with the brand supporting all its stockists with fast repeat orders and various POS materials with each forward order.
Wholesale enquiries: aidansahni@gmail.com
Fofito™
The Fofito brand has been well-established within the children’s footwear industry for over 30 years, with the inspiration behind the collection centred on traditional children’s shoe construction with continental chic. Fofito shoes are made using high-quality leather with a cushioned inner sole for comfort, a metal shank to provide arch support, and a non-slip insert for additional grip. The collection is driven by slow fashion, with the aim of continuing to provide trendless designs and premium, long-lasting quality. A variety of colourways is available with a focus on patent leather. Sizes are EU 16-26 / UK 0-8.5.
Wholesale enquiries: paul@goodwearshoes.co.uk
Hatley
Best known for its hand-illustrated prints and skilfully crafted apparel, Hatley’s footwear offer is available via seasonal collections alongside the Classic Collection, which is always in stock. Amongst the styles are handmade vulcanized rubber rainboots. These waterproof PVC-free boots include a shiny finish, slip-resistant soles and a removable insole, with sizes ranging from UK3 (Toddler) to UK3 (Kids). For a/w 23, Hatley also has waterproof PVC-free Sherpa lined boots. The handmade vulcanized rubber boots are Sherpa fleece lined for added comfort and warmth and include a matt finish, slip-resistant soles and a removable insole. Again, sizes are UK3 (Toddler) to UK3 (Kids). From a/w 23, all Hatley boots will come with a free pair of matching socks. For warmer weather, the brand also offers children’s sliders.
Wholesale enquiries: emilyd@hatley.com
Ipanema
Ipanema offers an array of fun and stylish footwear styles for babies and children, including flip-flops and sandals. All styles are vegan-certified and sustainable.
Wholesale enquiries: Chris@snowmann.co.uk
Start-Rite Shoes
A British family business for eight generations, Start-Rite Shoes has helped children explore in comfort and confidence for over 230 years. Proudly specialist in little feet, every Start-Rite shoe is anchored in a deep understanding of the ways children live and move today. With constant innovation at its core, the brand works with biomechanics experts to create shoes that not only support a child’s developmental needs but also their lifestyle needs. Popping brights and pastel colourways feature in the latest standout collection from Start-Rite for s/s 23. Highlights include canvas pumps and soft leather shoes in laid-back styles. The new leather Playground style for pre-schoolers offers a modern take on the classic T-bar, with padded collars for comfort and support in yellow and pink, as well as traditional navy, black and white. Elsewhere, there is also the trainer-style Enigma collection available in seven colourways, and the updated lightweight canvas collection featuring new designs, many of which are hand drawn by Start-Rite’s in-house design team.
Wholesale enquiries: sarah.northage@startriteshoes.com
Marena
Marena is a new brand brought to market for 2023 by Goodwear Shoes. The first of what will be a wider range of styles is the Monaco jelly sandal, which combines a practical summer sandal with contemporary fashion. Colour options include clear with baby pink, clear with baby blue, clear with white, matt light grey, matt baby pink and matt baby blue, with plans to expand the colourways further in 2024. Sizes are EU 22-32 / UK 5.5-13.
Wholesale enquiries: paul@goodwearshoes.co.uk
Cartago
Cartago offers fun sandals perfect for every little boy. The collection comprises practical styles with Velco strapping, all of which are vegan-certified and sustainable.
Wholesale enquiries: Chris@snowmann.co.uk
Slipfree®
Slipfree − non-slip shoes for beach, pool and home − is adding its first licensed collection in partnership with Warner Bros with the launch of Batman and Superman designs in children’s shoes and matching UPF50+ swimwear, including hooded towelling ponchos. Also new for 2023 is a Scandi-inspired shoe range featuring cool and fresh patterns and plain designs in playful tones. Furthermore, following the success of Slipfree’s premium foil print mermaid design, Ivy, it is expanding the range with new exclusive colourways.
Wholesale enquiries: info@slipfree.co.uk
Mini Melissa
Mini Melissa’s a/w 23 collection of children’s footwear includes a collaboration with Disney to celebrate the Disney 100th year anniversary, with styles from films such as Frozen, Moana, Peter Pan and the all-time favourite, Mickey and Mini Mouse. There is also a selection of welly boots and boots, which are perfect for rainy days, and the brand’s popular ballerinas in both baby and children’s sizes. The ballerinas are available in a selection of designs and colours including black for Back to School. All Mini Melissa styles are both vegan-certified and sustainable.
Wholesale enquiries: Chris@snowmann.co.uk
Early Days
Baby and toddler shoe specialist Early Days has a new catalogue available, which buyers can view online under the wholesale section of the Early Days website. The catalogue presents the full Baypod and Early Days collection, including a host of new colours and a new first walker boot available in a choice of navy, grey, camel, white matt, black patent, red patent, pink matt, sky and biscuit. Early Days celebrated over 70 years of manufacturing in the UK in 2022, with many of the British heritage brand’s workforce being with the company for over 40 years. Furthermore, as part of efforts to reduce its impact on the planet, all Early Days’ packaging is now made from 60% recycled bottles and is suitable to be recycled where facilities exist.
Wholesale enquiries: sales@earlydays.ltd.uk
Fairground
Launched at INDX Kids in January, Fairground is a new premium children’s footwear brand. Everything Fairground does is about capturing the weightless and carefree feeling of children playing in a fairground. When designing products and choosing materials, it is focused on making shoes that are durable and fun to wear: made to play, run, dance and splash through puddles in. At Fairground, using the highest quality sustainable materials has been the clear choice from day one. It uses the finest cow leathers, natural rubber and pure, organic wools to deliver a product that is wholly without compromise. Working with small, family-run artisans and bottegas in Portugal and Italy to make its shoes, each pair is finished and stitched by hand before being carefully inspected and delivered. The only reason a pair of Fairground shoes will stop being worn is because they haven’t been passed on to another child yet. Fairground is an independent family-run business that started out handmaking shoes in 1974 and selling them in London’s Covent Garden Market. With three successive generations still working within the business, Fairground remains faithful to its artisanal model and socially responsible values.
Wholesale enquiries: marvy@fairgroundshoes.com
Zaxy
Zaxy’s fun collection of footwear for girls includes a number of different styles for both babies and children. Key colours include baby pink and fuschia, as well as black for Back to School. All Zaxy footwear styles are vegan certified and sustainable.
Wholesale enquiries: Chris@snowmann.co.uk
The next edition of INDX Kids takes place on 2-3 July 2023. For visitor registration, please click here.
