THE BUDAPEST TIMES 009910 FEBRUARY 16 FEBRUARY 2012

LLEEIISSUURREE

INES GRUBER

Special fashion for pregnant women

and children, soft shoes for babies

and children, and wooden decora-

tions for childrens rooms, lovingly

made by hand. All of these can be

purchased from designers in Budapest, for

whom quality, individuality and child-friendli-

ness take priority.

zagabo mamma

Clothing for children really begins during

pregnancy because expectant mothers need

different clothes to accommodate their bump.

This was the starting point for designer Gabi

Szab, who set up her second label, zagabo

mamma, following her first label, zagabo,

while she was expecting.

The unimaginative clothes available for

pregnant women, often made from synthetic

fibres, prompted her to design her own. She

jokes that her son was a great help by

providing her with a test surface. She takes

care to use natural fibres and creates clothes

that are comfortable, smart or casual and can

be worn before or after the pregnancy thanks

to zips.

Bubka

Bubka makes large, brightly coloured

dragonflies, butterflies, beetles and planes

that are attached to the ceiling and soar

through the room, as well as colourful mobiles

for cots. Behind the label are Rka Csajghy

and Andrs Kopcsy, who make the decora-

tions for children using wood with environ-

mentally friendly varnish and other natural

materials such as felt and cotton. The indi-

vidual pieces are inspired by fairytales and the

ideas and wishes of their children and friends.

Estrella

Once children have had their fill of gazing

at the colourful mobiles they can run about

the room wearing the soft shoes designed by

Eszter Soponyai. She has been designing

shoes for babies, children and adults under

the label Estrella for four years.

Her designs are made of leather and cover

sizes 16 to 41 in all colours, featuring animal

motifs such as elephants, zebras and penguins,

as well as spots and flowers.

The advantage of the sock-like shoes is that

they are non-slip. One customer says enthusias-

tically: Its the fourth pair that Im buying for

my daughter. They are just so cute and prac-

tical. In addition to the different decorations,

customers can choose between shoes and

sandals in several styles.

lyncucc & manuela

Stars and glitter on a pink background or

racing cars and Spiderman are typical motifs on

childrens clothing available on the high street.

The designers Karolina Fbics from the label

lyncucc and Manula Marczy with her label

manuela cater to those seeking something

simpler, hipper, more fashionable or individual.

Both set up their businesses relatively

recently and set out to design comfortable,

wearable, affordable clothes that can be mixed

and matched for children aged one to six.

Their creations are a world away from the

standard baby blue and pink.

Fbicss designs are in more muted colours,

such as white, beige, black and dark blue,

pepped up with brighter colours such as red

and blue, stripes and patterns. The cuts are

almost classic but all have that certain some-

thing. In addition to dresses, skirts, T-shirts

and trousers she designs hats, coats and

scarves.

Marczys designs are a little funkier with

batik prints, several colours, funny slogans

and patterns, some designed by Marczy

herself. The inspiration came from her

daughters, who contributed ideas and are her

greatest critics. As Marczy laughingly

suggests: The sizes and age ranges of my

designs will probably grow together with my

children.

Blues, pinks are old hat as mums, tots get hipNatural toys, shoes and clothes for children

Estrella Shoe Salon District XIII, Holln Ern utca 9

Open Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday

10am to 1pm

Tel.: (+36-1) 33-4002

Bubka Wooden ToysTel.: (+36) 20 384-4444

www.buboka.hu

lyncucc

Tel.: (+36) 30 681-8706

www.lyn.hu

manuela

Tel.: (+36) 20 992-3654

www.manuela.hu

All the designers can regularly be found at the WAMP designer market (Millenris, B hall, behind Mammut shopping centre) and take orders online or by telephone. The nextWAMP market will be on Sunday 12 February. More info: www.wamp.hu (in English).

zagabo Showroom

District VIII, Szzados t 3-13

Open by appointment

Tel.: (+36) 70 510-0308

www.zagabo.com