b'Kids Stationery:Meet the MakersJULIA FAIERS talks to three brands helping to stimulate the booming childrens stationery market. Set of four dinosaur erasers by Rex LondonCandy Smith, head buyer,Tell us how your in-house designIn an incredibly tough retail climate, Rex London team develops stationery for kids.kids stationery is a growing sector. Whos involved from idea through toWhy do you think this market is so Originally trading asfinished product? resistant?dotcomgiftshop, and rebranding Our ideas always start as a hand-drawnDespite this being very much the age in 2018, Rex London is an onlinesketch. For our designers, pen and paperof digital learning and pursuits, we are gift shop selling stationery, gifts is the quickest way to get ideas downof the opinion that parents will always and homeware. quickly. The drawings will then bewant there to be in a childs learning rendered on computer and presented toan element of analogue pleasure our development team for consideration.and discovery. Simple pleasures, just What got you started in childrensIf theres a consensus (from an artisticpen and papergetting away from stationery and gifts? and commercial point of view) that wethe screen and helping to create an Our company was launched in the earlyhave a design that ticks all the boxes, weatmosphere of calmness and creativity.80s by two hippies whod done thedecide on a range of products to put the whole hippy trail of India, the Far Eastdesign on, which might be notebooks,If you were still a kid, which Rex and South America. On their travelscolouring pencils or even washi tape. London stationery item would you theyd come across beautiful, artisanalspend your pocket money on? items which theyd then have shippedWhat makes Rex London kidsIt would have to be our new range of over to the UK. Amongst these wouldstationery special?cute animal rulerstheyre gorgeous.be treasures such as hand-printedThe beautiful, attractive designs that Indian notebooks and jewelled pens convey fun and positivity. www.rexlondon.comyears before they were commonplace on the high streetand which seemed so wonderfully exotic at the time. How big a part in your business does childrens stationery and gift play?At the moment, the childrens market is huge for us, and our latest collection reflects this. Stationery is a big part of that offering, along with toys, games, kids dinner and drinkware. What proportion of your kids offer is designed in-house?It is all designed and developed in-house. Our small, London-based product development team comprises illustrators, textile and graphic designers, who work with our buying team and CEO.SPRING//SUMMER 2019 25'