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country 16 years ago was always an admirer of English prints. “I now commission young textile design

ers to create my collections and I use tartans made in Scottish mills and the lamb’s wool check fabrics

for my coats and trousers come from British mills, and my knitwear is hand made in Scotland and Latin

America”. The traditional element ends here: this is not a collection of smock dresses and puff sleeves.

“I have taken a personal journey” explains Eva “I take a very simple approach to the clothes and I use

principles as I would with adults and use expensive fabrics but not in a precious way. I go for simplicity

as I think being trendy causes the opposite effect and it is trying too hard. I try to make the clothes

that contemporary parents want and are for everyday wearing not just special occasions.” Although

not all the clothes are handmade they are all meticulously produced and each unfussy but lovely

collection manages to convey a sense of having been crafted with care.

This new movement, although it has a strong aesthetic element, is not just a shallow

fashion trend it also taps into a contemporary consciousness that embraces a greener and

more responsible approach to living. “As we have become more questioning of the

provenance of a £1 T-shirt and have started to value things that are properly and hon

estly made we want this to be reflected in all aspects of our lives including what our

children wear” says writer, Kate Constable. This philosophy is epitomised by

designer Christa Davis whose eponymous women’s wear label and recently

launched children’s wear lines are built on these beliefs. “I am very concerned

that my business has as low an impact on the environment as possible and I

make many of my clothes from recycled fabrics”. She started off with a period home wares

stall in Portobello market from which she graduated to customising vintage clothes which became