Clothkits are making a comeback!
Posted by Joelle
February 3, 2008
Permalink
I share these two old photographs, not for nostalgia for my childhood hairdo, nor to express a wish to once again be small enough to be carried on people’s shoulders (though both these things are true). Rather they are to illustrate Clothkits, an English company around in the late seventies and early eighties, whose colourful cut-and-sew kits clothed both me (check out the cute dungarees), and my mum (lovely print skirt). These were clothing patterns pre-printed onto fabric, and came in a kit with all the thread, buttons and trimmings, and detailed instructions, to be cut out and sewn at home. I love the folksy designs, and neat details like hemlines that could be let down as a child grew, to reveal another band of elephants or flowers.
For a while I have been wishing they were still around, and I even got so far as researching and writing a tentative business plan with the idea of trying to set up something similar, though didn’t take it anywhere. But now I discover that later this month Clothkits are relaunching! Part of me says “dang! that was my great idea!”, but a larger part of me is just dead excited to see what designs they have, and itching to get my hands on some.
The relaunch is planned for the bound-to-be-excellent Kids.Modern show, run by London’s Show Home. I will be there at Dulwich College on 24 Feb to check out all the lovely things and I promise to report straight back with exactly what Clothkits has in store.
Clothkits has a website, ready to go, but only a tantalising holding page right now.
14 comments Categories: adventure, craft, shopping
February 4th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I bet your research was picked up by someone who was involved back in the 1970s and lo and behold…
February 4th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Hehe, it’s nice to think so. I do hope they stick with the 70s like patterns. And I hope they have some grown ups stuff too, despite launching at a kids desgin show.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I was just wondering how your business venture was going…
I hope they do adult designs, too!
February 4th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
No way! I will have to tell my Mum right now- she used to work in Clothkits when I was younger!! She left because they were trying to turn it into Next and failing miserably as all the “Clothkits” people turned and ran in droves. I will have to have a look at the website.
Anna
February 4th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Yes, it was such a shame when the clothes got all boring. The reason for their demise I’m sure.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Wow, how cool. My hippie mama just made everything from scratch but this would have been so cool – really glad they’re making a comeback.
And surely there’s room enough for more than one approach to this market?
How cute are you? And how gorgeous is your mum, btw?
February 5th, 2008 at 12:17 am
Hi Posey! Yes, is it weird to be taking style tips from my mum and myself c.12 years ago??
February 5th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
More like 22 years ago, honey! I’m so glad someone thinks I was gorgeous once.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
D’oh! Yes. Maths eh.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hey Joelle I remember you passed on the clothkits pink and green giraffees garment to Kate – who will be 21 this year. She used to love getting your stuff!!
February 11th, 2008 at 5:28 am
You (and your mom) were adorable!
February 11th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Thanks futuregirl!
If only I was so sweet now.. bet I could get away with allsorts!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
[...] design fair organised by Show Home, to check out for you, dear readers, the relaunch of Clothkits. I’d recommend it to any sprog bound readers in London, as it is bound to be [...]
February 24th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
[...] They seem to pull off the tricky feat of harking back to the most loved old designs (like my old animal print dungarees), but with a modern look to them as well with zingy colours and simple shapes. For anyone not [...]