Add a little Zen with Boz and Love tees, dresses and totes

It's the last day before the school holidays here in NSW and like most families, we have a house of tired people! I'm looking forward to more leisurely mornings over the next two weeks and a slower pace (although I have a big birthday party to organise for next weekend, so maybe not!).

What I really need for next term long is a cute t-shirt, dress or tote from Boz + Love to add a little Zen to the every day. With messages like Love, Hope and Faith emblazoned across the front, it's a great daily reminder about the bigger picture. Here are some of my favourites from the current collection in the Boz + Love online store:

Boz + Love is designed and printed right here in Sydney by Bozana Vukovic who came along to our latest abcd meet-up at the LifeInstyle trade show. Boz + Love tees are made from silky smooth tencel (100% sustainably-farmed eucalyptus fibre) and the dresses are made from super-comfy modal and cotton, printed with environmentally-friendly printing processes and inks.

I'd love to sail through the day wearing the quote on the Loving Kindness tee: “With a boundless heart, should one cherish all living beings, radiating kindness over the entire world.” - Buddha’s Discourse on Loving Kindness. Or how about just "Hear The Silence". Anyone?

You can find Boz + Love in the online store as well as at various markets (keep an eye on the blog for details). Another great Mother's Day gift idea!

Images: Boz + Love

Stylish Kids: Miinot

I love discovering a good kids fashion label. It's nice to receive email introductions and press releases, but it's even nicer to discover a label that a little one is wearing while out and about, or from a good friend, and especially via Twitter. I'm always curious to find out more about my new followers, and when I click through to their website and feel the connection, it's like striking gold.

That's how I felt tonight when I came upon Gary and Emma from Miinot, and their cool line of t-shirts for kids. They aim to create "considered" clothing for little ones, and I'm all for it when there these fun unisex designs up for grabs.

The Miinot t-shirts are designed and made in Melbourne (yay!), printed by hand and embellished with embroidery details - no mass production here. I'm crazy for the Leetle Bit Crazee tee and those disco dogs.

You can find Miinot in the online store as well as stockists in Victoria.

Check out more Australian-designed kids clothes here on Bondville.

Images: Miinot

Sunday Morning Designs bed linen, clothes, art and kids products

It was exciting to see my friend Renee Treml's artwork at the new Koskela showroom on the weekend, and work by Feed The Dog (read my article from way back in 2008 here). There were also some simple but super-effective wood block houses, dipped in pink fluoro paint that I would love, love, love for our new place.

Another product that caught my eye (thanks to the great packaging) were the tshirt-soft cotton jersey pillow cases and doona covers printed with line illustrations by Dylan Martorell, by Sunday Morning Designs. My friend Mary has a pillow on her bed, and they would also work beautifully in a young person's room. I had to know more...

Sunday Morning Designs is a collaboration between Melbourne-based Lichen Kemp and Jitske Wiersma, featuring the illustrations of Lichen's partner Dylan Martorell. There are story-reading rabbits, lounging elephants and inquisitive owls amongst Dylan's delightful artwork. The current Sunday Morning Designs collection includes bed linen (pillow cases, doona covers), wall art (prints, wall hangings), clothing, accessories and jewellery (for adults and kids), stationery (greeting cards), and kids products (cardboard masks, colouring books, pencil cases, plates).

Sunday Morning Designs also uses top-line sustainable production methods including using local materials, small independent Melbourne based manufacturers, eco-friendly inks, recycled papers, vintage fabrics, green energy and pedal power. So much to love about this local design studio.

You can find Sunday Morning Designs products in the online store as well as stockists around Australia, NZ and France. (Oh and the jewellery is currently all half-price. Get it while it's hot!)

Images: Sunday Morning Designs (top image of bed from House and Garden magazine, Oct 2011)

Well Spotted T-shirts for Dads

Now Dads can get their hands on everyone's favourite clever caption tees for kids. Sydney-based Well Spotted now has loose surf-style fit tshirts, with trademark label at the bag of the neck and captions-to-get-a-giggle, just for the men.

 

You can find Well Spotted t-shirts in the online store as well as at stockists around Australia and online. Get matching tops for the kids for extra cute factor. (read more about Well Spotted here on Bondville).

Images: Well Spotted

Stylish Kids: Chari-Tees by Eeni Meeni Miini Moh

In association with Variery (the Children's Charity, QLD), a group of nine Australian fashion designers has created a limited edition range of Chari-Tee t-shirts to raise money for disadvantaged children.

2009 is the first year that children's t-shirts are on offer, and I particularly love these two designs from award-winning children's wear label Eeni Meeni Miini Moh. See the whole catalogue here on the Variety Website.

To order your Chari-tee before stocks run out, phone (07) 3367 6999 or email your name and phone number to info@varietyqld.org.au along with the style and size you wish to order.

Oh, and while you are at it, take a sneak peak at the incredible new Eeni Meeni Miini Moh summer range on the website. The new Pirouette skirt and dress and butterfly wings are just lovely!

Image: Eeni Meeni Miini Moh and Variety

Stylish Kids: Moobear Designs eco-friendly t-shirts

Moobear Designs is a brand new Australian children's clothing brand on the block, with a passion for the arts and crafts, sustainable living and the environment. And the designs are super-hip to boot!

The lovely Stephanie and Carlos from Moobear Designs have created a cool line of t-shirts based on images drawn by their daughter Moo (that's the clever Moo pictured above in the fantastic green earth tee with cute-as-a-button Bear). Each item is handmade and unique, using recycled fabrics appliqued onto ethically-made and environmentally-friendly t-shirts. There are six original designs available with more to come soon.

You can buy Moobear Designs clothing from the online store, and join the fun on the Moobear Designs blog where you'll learn all about the origins of the different designs. I dare you not to be caught up in Stephanie and Carlos' infectious enthusiasm and zest for life!

For more Australian children's clothes check out Bondville Kids: Australian Designer Baby Clothes. And shop online for kids fashion from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Images: Moobear Designs

Drool-worthy Design: Laughing Bird textiles

Next time you need a gift for a loved one overseas, DON'T sigh and relegate yourself to a souvenir store. Simply click over to the very talented print designers at Laughing Bird and snap up a gorgeous contemporary Australiana tea towel, apron, lavendar bag or t-shirt and gift card.

I particularly love the linen tea towels that I think are stand-alone art pieces, featuring native Australian flora and fauna (no doubt inspired by the studio's beautiful location in the Blue Mountains, NSW). Have a close look at the kangaroo and joey - made entirely out of wildflowers. And a lot more stylish than a stuffed koala!

You can find Laughing Bird products in the online store and at stockists online and around Australia.

Images: Laughing Bird

Hip Products: Non-Fiction

Busy graphic designers Carolyn and Martin of Delphinus Creative not only have a very cool blog about independent design in Australia (indie art & design), but also a hip range of clothing, totes and gift cards that I love. Their label is called Non-Fiction and all products are designed and made in Australia from high quality fabric.

This wind turbine t-shirt is irresistible. Granted, I am very into alternative energy sources (please support the development of Australia's first community-owned wind farm in Victoria here), but the art deco styling, and the strength of the image stands out from your everyday t-shirt graphic. Non-Fiction also features fun animal family portrait prints (because they are indeed a part of the family) and illustrations of uniquely Australian fauna that are worth checking out.

You can find Non-Fiction at stockists online and across Australia and please check out indie art & design for more cool Australian talent.

Image: Non-Fiction

Stylish Kids: Well Spotted

Tony Clayton used to draw farting dogs for a living for the iconic Aussie surf and lifestyle brand Mambo. He's now taken his fashion experience and wicked sense of humour to create the fun Well Spotted t-shirts. The shirts are beautifully soft with cool slogans that are guaranteed to get a giggle from other parents.

Tony aims to make your kid funnier, and how could you not smile at "Will Not Perform On Demand", "So Much Time, So Little To Do" or the oh-so-clever "Thomas & James & Percy & Gordon". (even more clever if you are into the Experimental Jetset meme).

Well spotted t's are also great quality with a special touch (I love the red criss-cross stitching on the label of our Brussels Sprout T). All t-shirts are made in Sydney, Australia, by a family business that maintains high standards and engages in no sweatshop practices.

You can buy Well Spotted t-shirts directly through Tony on the Well Spotted Website as well as at stockists across Australia and online.

For more Aussie children's fashion, check out Australian Designer Baby Clothes. And shop online for kids fashion from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Image: Joana Varela Da Veiga via Your Kids In My T-shirts! Facebook Group

Welcome New Sponsor Ruffian Industries

A huge welcome to our newest sponsor, Ruffian Industries - maker of hip t-shirt designs for boys.

Creative Director Amanda Haines is an avid collector of urban comic-style artwork and toys, and it's this design sense that is infused into her cool line of t-shirts. I particularly love this R.O.B.O.T. design - my videogame making friends would kill for this one!

You can buy Ruffian Industries t-shirts from the online store (international shipping available and all orders are packed in a funky cotton drawstring bag, and delivered with your a limited edition Ruffian Industries colouring book).

Image: Ruffian Industries

P.S. Check out the competition to win one of four Mighty Muggs Superheroes!

Stylish Kids: Tees 2 Knees

Sheryilyn Palmer and her Mum Joan of kids' label Tees 2 Knees are kept busy handmaking gorgeous appliqued t-shirts for little ones. There are a bunch of cool designs to choose from on white long and short-sleeved t-shirts. You can also personalise your shirt with a letter/initial at no extra cost.

Tees 2 Knees manufactures their own tee shirts from Australian-made fabric and embellishes them with fabrics from all walks of life.

You can buy Tees 2 Knees t-shirts on the Tees 2 Knees Website. And check out Tees 2 Knees at the upcoming Mathilda's Markets in Brisbane on 19th July, 2009.

Note: Tees 2 Knees is currently on hold as Sherilyn and her family travel.

You can find more independent Aussie children's labels at Australian Designer Baby Clothes. And shop online for kids fashion from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Image: Tees 2 Knees