With my American grandiose expectations, I found Bubble London, the new children’s trade show, as I do with many things English, rather quaint. I was all geared up for my London experience and actually did not find all that much inspiration. Aside from meeting a fabulous potential English sales “agent” (I’m getting my lingo down) to represent HOPE in this “lovely” part of the world, and a magical and colorful organic T-shirt line (which I plan to bring to you in the near future!), my day was rather uneventful. Today I visited the Premier Kids show in Birmingham to meet with our new “agent”, and from a shopper’s point of view, I was impressed. I found a fabulous fair trade fairy company and quite a few organic cotton lines to bring your way very soon! I was extremely impressed with the attention that the “green” section of the show received—-The show promoters even laid a green carpet throughout the aisles of the booths where the eco & ethical businesses were vending. I found it quite effective and helpful in my search for new exciting eco-savvy brands to bring you.

Now I know the English aren’t exactly known for their gourmet cuisine, but I do question why at both trade-show venues the majority of the food on offer was cold sandwiches? It is JULY ladies and gentleman, and it is raining, a very chilly, in fact downright COLD rain. I understand when in Rome and all but let’s face it, beans on toast isn’t exactly a pain au chocolat. Okay, okay I guess I should be thankful that it wasn’t mushy peas on offer. Fair point, I’ll end the complaints, just for the time being——because this weather, well, it’s bloody worth complaining about!

The fashion show at Premier Kids was fantastic. These kids must have practiced for hours – their dance moves were extremely polished! They performed three times a day for 3 days——now that’s some good honest work for six-year-olds! They were having a ball!

In particular, I found the trend forecast by Jackie Cook, a brilliant service for buyers, quite interesting. I was happy to learn that the HOPE spring collection 2009, lands itself in the “extraordinary” trend forecast. (There are three categories: extraordinary, transform and connect.) Look for the pursuit of traditional flavor next spring. Tea dresses, and garments resembling a made-at-home appeal will be featured next spring, a shift from over consumption back to homemade apple pies of days gone by. Stitching, knitting, frills, mix-match pockets, ric-a-rac, bows—-all things domestic with 1950’s splendor will be hitting the streets next spring, think June Cleaver with a twist of today. And don’t worry yourself, me being the epitome of June Cleaver in real life (ha ha!), HOPE will provide plenty of traditional (and sassy) numbers for your little darlings – cute enough to warrant the sweetest of Eddie Hascal compliments!!