Kind + Jugend 2008

Signpost for the sector with the latest trends and innovations

Just a few months before Kind + Jugend 2008, the largest international fair for children's furniture, safety seats, textiles, prams, hygiene articles, toys and fashion for babies and toddlers, which will be held from 11th to 14th September at Koelnmesse, new trends are already emerging for the coming season.

In the children's car safety seats sector, the ISO fix systems are now standard. Now that children's seats with approval numbers ECE 44/01 and 44/02 are no longer permitted by legislation, the manufacturers are responding to the new norms accordingly. In the process, they are not restricting themselves to simply revising and upgrading existing models, but are announcing completely new concepts and collections for Kind + Jugend 2008. These are based on the tried-and-tested Traveller System and the use of a child's seat or pram body/carrycot as a car seat. More than ever before the focus is on functionality and seating comfort. Fabrics and colours are adapted to the respective application. For example skin-contact surfaces are in warm, pleasant materials, while the child's back-contact areas consist of sweat-absorbing fabrics. In contrast, areas which come into contact with shoes or dirty fingers, are easy-care and dirtresistant. The colour variations are also based on this principle: bright, friendly tones in the child's field of vision, darker colours in areas of heavier wear and tear. Very bold, bright colours play more of a background role. The trend is towards elegant colour combinations such as black/yellow, black/blue, grey/blue or grey/red.

The characteristics and colours used in children's car seats are also a feature of the prams. Here the trend is clearly towards new, in particular even smaller and more functional frames. The old tried-and-tested pram-pushchair will also make a comeback. Several manufacturers are already consciously dispensing with superfluous elements. Their concepts are more heavily orientated towards the needs of the customers, who are using the product for its specific purpose, and who, in their view, do not wish to acquire any unimportant or unnecessary extras.

Children's furniture remains bright

The trend towards white or bright children's furniture, which is already evident this season, is continuing. In addition to solid natural wood in oiled, limed or bright stained variations, bamboo is really making its mark. In the area of MDF furniture too the manufacturers are gearing themselves to the new colour highlights from the fashion sector. Bright surfaces with darker contrasts are the trend decors here. In general, children's furniture is less childlike with the advantage that in addition to the children's room it can also be integrated in the whole living area. When it comes to purchasing children's furniture, the decision is increasingly in favour of exceptional, unusual forms and designs.

Technologies from the outdoor sector

In the area of textiles and children's outfittings, technologies from the outdoor sector are finding application. The fabrics used are anti-bacterial, dirt repellent and also offer comprehensive UV protection. Functional UV protection is also a theme for easy-care natural products in cotton or bamboo yarn. The colours are very harmoniously coordinated: tones in natural and ethno look. In addition, shades in mint, orange, yellow as well as the basic colours marine, white and blue are currently popular in the textile sector.

Individuality is trumps

Baby and toddler's clothing is characterized by individuality. Personalized products are preferred to standardized clothing. Parents and kids prefer stylish, unusual, off-beat T-shirts with striking motifs, letters, numbers, names and words. The time for cute motifs from the animal world is over for children at the latest from their second year. The increasingly popular features however are once again motifs of custom characters, which today's parents can easily remember from their own childhood.

Toys for the youngest

For parents the early childhood development support for their child is increasingly becoming the focal point. The toy manufacturers are responding to this wish with educationally refined and sophisticated products, and at Kind + Jugend 2008 will present a large number of new toys. Depending on the age group they promote the sense of touch and motor functions for the youngest ones, logical thinking, language or dexterity for older children. In this area the exhibitors are announcing interesting new products and innovations.

Innovations are also expected in the hygiene sector. These include products which make life easier for parents when it comes to caring for their child, preparing the baby food, monitoring its sleep or the room temperature.

You can find further information and services connected with Kind + Jugend at www.kindundjugend.com.

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on BabyShopMagazine.com