LEMON MAGAZINE // NEW NOW (part III)
LEMON Magazine is a printed magazine inspired by modern parenthood, kids’ fashion, people, lifestyle, and social and environmental consciousness. Refreshing, aspirational and inclusive. Our readers are brave, strong, and real women, who have opinions, love fashion and want to raise their kids for a better future.
Bárbara Perino is the founder of LEMON magazine. This mother of two is a fashion expert and a travel addict, with a mind, that is constantly bubbling with creative effervescence.
BRANDS:
PLAY
“CRAFTED TO PLAY. ENGINEERED TO MOVE. MANUFACTURED FOR CHANGE.” This is PLAY’s slogan, and it makes super sense when you look at their collection. We all want our kids to play freely in clothes that they take into different stages of their lives. PLAY engineers their clothes in a way that respects and helps kids’ movements using natural organic fabrics. This gender-neutral, timeless activewear is a must in every kid’s closet!
- How did your brand start?
We are a product of the pandemic. Our responses to this crisis allowed us to realize how little most of us think about children. For example, our government opened bars well before playgrounds. What were we thinking? We increasingly keep our little ones stuck on screens for hours. What are we thinking? We want to remind everyone—including ourselves—how important early-stage education and development are. The language of kids is playing. We want to remind everyone to play with their kids as much as possible. It’s so simple but we think we all need to be reminded of that. We don’t have video games in mind. Therefore, we design clothes to play as comfortably as possible in all kinds of weather.
- A fact people might not know about your brand.
The very first product we designed was activewear for newborns. This captures our essence. So many of us think so much about what we wear to exercise, but who exercises more than little babies? We started by saying: Let’s think about them and help them lead active and playful lifestyles from the start!
- What’s next for Play?
We are obsessed with developing awesome clothes for kids to be able to play in all kinds of weather. So that’s what’s next
- How do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Not that different from how we see ourselves today, really. Trying to create a positive impact on society through the little ones and making awesome clothes to help them thrive from the start.
- Your biggest dream for the brand.
Our biggest dream is to help change the focus of society toward the youngest ones. They are, literally, our future, but they have no voice in the present. Our dream is to help those who do to think about the future.
SECOND SEW
It is a must to upcycle! That’s what Second Sew does. They give a second life and make unique garments from old curtains, sheets, and stuff we don’t use anymore. Apart from that, their social responsibility is extensive, and women in occupational integration make the clothes. Can it get better? Yes, you will love the colours and patterns!
- How did the idea to start the brand come up?
Following the birth of my first daughter, I seek a solution to dress her responsibly, without giving up my identity, my tastes, and my universe. I refuse to mortgage my daughter’s future with clothes that damage the environment in which she will grow up and live since the textile industry is one of the most polluting in the world. The Second Sew adventure begins in my living room, on the family sewing machine. My antique dealer spouse becomes my “partner in crime”: together, we hunt for textiles and nurture the project of upcycling old household linens to dress the darlings. A new trend? Not that much: our elders were already doing this to dress toddlers. But the ambition today is to offer this solution to as many people as possible. Second Sew is also another conception of clothing: I want to create models that create an emotional bond. They are preserved and passed on to grandchildren.
- A fact people might not know about your brand.
My first showroom was in an old hospital rehabilitated in Paris and then called “Les Grands Voisins”. A very old building and hospital which had been transformed into a place dedicated to the social and solidarity economy with other brands, a restaurant, a yoga studio… And my showroom was exactly below… the room where I was born when the building was still a hospital 35 years earlier.
- Do you remember your first-ever piece?
Yes, it was a little bloomer that I had to sew in my grand-mother’s curtains. I keep it since then because there is a true significance in this piece because I truly loved my grandmother and she’s a part of me.
- What’s next for Second Sew?
We’ll launch a new collection in partnership with a French brand and their end-of-rolls in addition to our timeless collection made from old house linen. This new collection will be composed of new trousers and a vest. Both are unisex and for babies to 6 years old. We hope also start to sell in Europe and not only in France.
- How do you see yourselves in 5 years?
I hope that upcycling would be a norm and not only an exception and I hope that Second Sew will continue to keep her identity and still offer child clothes but maybe some limited collection for women as well. And maybe, Second Sew will have opened a shop in Nantes, our city.
BOOTANI
This brand comes from a personal love of nature! The founder and mother of two, carefully chosen fabrics and colours align with our mother earth. The patterns are simple but with a twist of trendy and comfort is a crucial word for Bootani.
- The colours of your pieces are always aligned with mother earth, or are there exceptions?
Yes, we always prioritize earthy and neutral tones, to bring the joy our children deserve we use some more colours in special details.
- A fact people might not know about your brand.
Rita has got around 10 years of experience working in Fashion Manufacturing, Development and Supply Chain. That is why huge investments are made in the quality of our products. Our garments are meant to be worn by several generations and keep looking great. That is true environmental sustainability.
- As a mother, what do you think children prioritize in fashion?
Children “just wanna have fun!”. They’ll always prefer funny-looking clothing that makes them feel comfortable and safe. Bootani brings them easy-to-wear and plays garments that will enable the funniest of games. By having some elements, they can relate to such as the little ducks/lakes and the raspberries they are also appealing to moms and little ones.
- What are the brand’s main concerns?
The Brand’s Purpose is to make environmentally sustainable, practical and Durable fashion that the children and their parents will be happy to wear/have.
- What’s next for Botáni?
For the upcoming collection, Bootani’s focus will be to widen the size range and the product offering, by developing not only clothing but also different items.
KOKU
Koku is all about swimwear. They have everything you need in their collection for your kids and teens to be the coolest at the beach or pool. Also, the brand plays a vital role in our planet by using the best organic and recycled fabrics.
- What’s your main concern when making a swimsuit?
We are passionate about the protection of the environment and promoting healthy life choices. One of our priorities is that our swimsuits have the least possible impact on the environment. We look after the whole creative process, from the design of the prints to the selection of materials. All the raw materials we employ are certified: Oeko- Tex Global Recycled Standard, Ocs 100, Ocs Blended.
- A fact people might not know about your brand.
We would like people to know all these characteristics when choosing koku as a swimwear brand.
- What’s next for Koku.
We want to expand our brand so that it is accessible to the whole family, “it be a family concept” … the next thing will be swimsuits for mothers!
- What are your favourite colours?
At Koku we use a wide range of colours… and they vary depending on the theme of each collection.
- Do you remember the first piece ever made by the brand?
Yes, of course, a swimsuit we repeat in each new collection … it is a basic of Koku factory.