Reviews by Lauren Downie-Campbell, Stuart Dutton, Alice Ellerby, Jess Hazel, Rosalind Kingston-Jones, Rachel, Laura Roberts
Original Dungaree
I bought my Lucy & Yak dungarees on sale around a year ago and love wearing them. They’re now part of my go-to comfort outfit! I’ve got a huge amount of wear out of them already and they still look quite new. They are made with soft, lightweight denim and are so comfortable, and I like that they have decent sized pockets! They have adjustable straps with plenty of extra length to fit varying body types (I have had trouble with others not being quite long enough in the body). I wear them over T-shirts with the legs rolled up in summer, and over jumpers and tucked into boots during winter. I like that they’re made with organic cotton, and that clean, pre-loved Yaks can be exchanged in store for money off a new pair. Worn pairs are then either sold on or recycled. A couple of others here in the JUNO office have the corduroy styles, and we now celebrate with dungaree Fridays! JH
Lion Dress in Red and Yellow
The bold print of this dress makes a real statement. It is inspired by the traditional African Nsubra (‘water well’) Ankara print, which has been playfully reimagined for children. The founder of Tilly & Tojo wanted clothes for her children that celebrated their Nigerian culture, but she found that Ankara fabrics can be quite stiff because of the wax printing process. This prompted her to make her own range of African-inspired soft and stretchy children’s clothing and the Lion Dress is perfect for young, active children. It is made of 100% cotton that is thick, comfortable and durable. There are buttons to make it easy to pull on and off over the head and it offers easy movement once on. My daughter loves the fun and vibrant lion design.
The Original Lace-back Dress
I came across Earth Rise a few years ago. I thought the clothes looked beautiful, but I was hesitant to buy anything because experience has taught me that handmade clothing isn’t for those of us who are plus-sized. Anu saw me looking, and insisted I try something on. I politely declined and told her she wouldn’t have anything to fit me – but she did! At first I thought, ‘This is going to be embarrassing – me trying to squeeze into something too small,’ but I’m glad I did. In fact, I all but burst into tears when the dress fitted. While there, we talked about how hard it is to find sustainable clothing for curvy people. You can’t just increase the size when making clothing for plus-sized people; you have to reconsider the shape of the cut too. I know Anu is continually working on more offerings for different body types, and for once I can be included in the sustainable clothing community! LDC
Baby Fawn Bodysuit
This was such a beautiful piece of clothing to receive! The bodysuit arrived carefully packaged in a luxurious white gift box with an embossed logo, making it perfect for an extra special newborn gift. The material is a super soft blend of 50% organic combed cotton and 50% Lenzing MicroModal fabric, which can be washed at 30˚C, and the softness of the fabric is enhanced with each wear. The suit fastens easily with poppers, making it quick to slip on and off for changes. The signature baby fawn logo looks gorgeous with the soft blue picot stitched edge, and this range has been designed to complement the timeless lace knitted baby shawls that G.H. Hurt has become so well known for. Made responsibly in the UK, this is a high-quality piece of clothing that makes a truly special gift. RKJ
£37
ghhurt.co.uk
Gold Cord Dungarees
I love these gorgeous bright dungarees! They are a lovely bold, happy colour and look great paired with either a plain or patterned vest or bodysuit. This makes them perfect for layering and adapting an outfit depending on the temperature. My baby is 4 weeks old, and the 0–3 months is currently a little roomy! But the organic cotton cord is soft, and the legs roll up easily, so he is wearing them already. With the rollable cuffs and adjustable shoulder straps, the dungarees will easily grow with him. The elasticated sides make for easy dressing, and there are no fiddly leg poppers; you simply pull them on over a bodysuit. They are designed to fit easily over both single-use and reusable nappies. A super comfy design and material. RKJ
Kaleidoscopic Dragons Kids Leggings
The kaleidoscopic pattern of these leggings is beautifully bright, different and eye-catching, with vibrant colours. They’ve received lots of admiring looks, and people ask whether they’re available in adult sizes! My son loves wearing them and says they are really comfy. Although leggings, they’re loose-cut rather than skintight, which is great for movement. We went bigger on sizing, allowing for some shrinkage during washing. Our daughter is really looking forward to receiving these next as hand-me-downs! They are made to order but arrived very quickly. We’re so pleased to have discovered this range. LR
From £20
pickbu.com
Twinkle Twinkle Long Sleeve Spinny Dress
We love Little Green Radicals! The fabric of this dress is gorgeously soft as well as durable – it has survived bumps, falls, rainfalls, and mudbaths! LGR clearly have quality in mind when making their clothing; the material seems made to last the trials and tribulations of an active toddler. What attracted us to Little Green Radicals was that it’s environmentally conscious. LGR is transparent about its supply chain. It is a Fairtrade-certified company and uses 100% organic cotton. This dress has been great for everyday play as well as for special occasions. It still looks outstanding after several washes. The sizing is generous and fits well. I can see us using this dress for a long period of time. It has been worn as an oversized dress and I expect it to work well even as a shorter dress. SD
Organic Elastic Jumpsuit Dotty Salmon
These dungarees are practical and versatile. They can be worn with a long-sleeved top in cold weather, or on their own in warmer weather. They are handmade from 100% organic cotton, and are incredibly soft and breathable. My daughter’s pair have been worn and washed many times already, and still look as good as new. The unique style is different from any other children’s clothes I’ve found on the market. I also love that they (like all of Moonlight Harp’s designs) are gender neutral. The designer and founder of the brand, Phoebe (also a mother herself), found childrenswear on the market to be very much gender specific. She is passionate about giving children body confidence from a young age by creating clothing that focuses on comfort and freedom rather than the way it looks. R
From £46
moonlightharp.co.uk
Organic Cotton Kids Yellow Zip-up Hoodie
This hoody is really well made. My daughter was bowled over by the softness of the organic cotton, which is ideal for sensitive skin. The yellow is a gorgeously bright and warm tone, free from gender associations. We loved the stripey yellow lining of the hood, and the turquoise trim of the pockets and zip tag (which makes zipping up easier) works really well to complement the yellow. My daughter loves this hoodie: we took it camping and it is perfect on summer evenings when the temperature drops but children still want to run around. Ducky Zebra clothing has a power button on the chest as a reminder to splash kindness and confidence, even when times are hard – a great message.
Allie Cardigan
This is the most beautiful and versatile cardigan. I love the design: the neutral colour means it goes with everything and it is perfect on my 2-year-old either worn over a dress or with leggings. It’s ideal as an extra layer in the summer and will fit well under a coat when the weather turns. It has pretty, wood-effect buttons, and the bright and colourful stripes add a lovely detail. The certified organic cotton is exceptionally soft. As I have come to expect from Frugi clothing, this is a quality item that has been made to last. It is sure to be well loved.
From £32
welovefrugi.com
Double Velcro Sneakers – Metallic
These sneakers look great, and the shiny, metallic material really appeals to my 5-year-old. She also loves how squidgy the padded sole is, and the double Velcro straps make them easy for her to put on. I was surprised by how lightweight and flexible the shoes are. This, and the 100% cotton inners, mean feet don’t become hot and sweaty. Pip & Henry’s commitment to sustainability is impressive. The sneakers’ uppers are made from leather off-cuts, which would otherwise have been sent to landfill as waste, and when it comes to the shoes being replaced, the company offers a recycling service. The sneakers arrived in a colourful and durable shoebox made from recycled materials that transforms into a board game: a great touch, which my children loved. AE
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First published in issue 85 of JUNO. Accurate at the time this issue went to print.
