Fashion / childrenswear
From high end fashion designer to an adorable childrenswear brand
“I want children to be children!”, says Julie Ahn, designer and founder of her adorable, self-titled, childrenswear brand. “I like lots of colour, not smaller sizes of grown up clothes”.
“Whilst I was pregnant, I started to knit my babies clothes and made some small dresses. Lots of people liked them so I made a few different sizes and the brand started from there”.
“I’m originally from South Korea, I went to the Studio Bercot fashion school in Paris and worked as a pret-a- porter women’s fashion designer at Martine Sitbon”.
is needed now More than ever
Organic Stretch Jersey Applique Dresses with ribbon ties (left) and the Liberty Margaret Annie Dress (right) both £25 by Julieahn
With an impressive background working for an iconic nineties fashion designer to commercial high street fashion brands in Paris, the move into childrenswear was a natural progression that fitted into Julie’s new lifestyle, as a mother.
The delicious Julieahn girlswear range features the sweetest handmade dresses, cardigans, tops and shorts in delicately printed floral fabrics, made from beautiful Liberty Tana Lawn cottons and organic jerseys.
The current girlwear range by Julieahn made from beautiful organic jerseys and cottons.
Now based in Horfield, Julie and her Bristolian husband moved to Bristol three years ago, after uprooting from Paris, via South Korea, following the birth of their daughter.
“I love Bristol! Great restaurants, lots happening, there is lots of diversity too and I feel very comfortable living here. Even when we lived in Paris and Korea, we visited a lot and Christmas was always spent in Bristol!” adds Julie.
Moving to a shared studio space at The Island, three months ago, Julie sells her designs from her online shop and at the We Make Bristol shop in Westbury- on-Trym.
With sizes starting from one to seven years, the Julieahn fashion brand is organically growing as Julie’s daughter grows.
“My daughter is seven and is wearing the biggest sizes I make for the brand, so I’ve been thinking about making an older range, up to teenage”, explains Julie.
“The styles will need to change a bit, to make them appeal to older girls, still using the Liberty style fabrics but in designs that don’t look too young”.
Designer Julie Ahn at her shared studio at The Island
Continuing to make her own clothes, Julie is wearing a handmade top that she has embellished by embroidering flowered shapes onto a neoprene fabric base, giving a textured effect that looks almost embossed, its impressive!
Using these skills gained as a Parisian fashion designer, Julie has perfected embroidery and applique techniques to add intricate work to her children’s fashion range.
“I love doing embroideries and appliques, cutting all the different fabrics by hand and putting it together”, says Julie.
“It’s much more fun making childrenswear! Grown-ups have so many different sizes and cuts to consider but with children’s clothing, the sizing is easier to fit and the garments just look lovely on all children!
Appliqued dress samples ready to be sewn
“I’m really inspired by French childrenswear brands like Bonpoint, but it’s very high end and too expensive. I want to make children’s clothes using beautiful fabrics at an affordable price. I think it’s a shame if a child is wearing very expensive clothes, that a parent is worried about getting messy or ruined!”
The Julieahn brand offers high quality design and durable, comfortable cotton fabrics for kids, with prices ranging from £16 – £35 for dresses to £3 for the sustainable hairclips, upcycled from leftover fabric cuttings, so they match the outfits too!
Handmade hairclips by Julieahn upcycled from left-over dress fabrics
With fresh ideas to expand the range for older girls, Julie will also be introducing boyswear to the brand, due to popular demand!
“Lots of mum’s have asked for a boys clothes range. I’m looking to make a few boys shirts from the Liberty fabrics, there has to be something unique and special about them, as lots of designers are already making shirts out of Liberty fabrics.
“Being a mother to a girl means I have to research into what boys need! It’s easier with girls, dresses last longer and as the child gets bigger the dress can become a tunic worn with leggings”.
Super cute floral applique dress modelled by Julie Ahn’s daughter (left) and the Liberty Susanna dress both £25 by Julieahn
Creating only four different sizes of each design in her studio, Julie works to a made to order basis, keeping waste to a minimum.
“The smaller sizes from 12 months are my best sellers”, says Julie. “I try to work three to four months in advance to make my samples and then I think about the next ranges, whilst marketing that collection.
“This season I have designed four samples and I’ll add a couple more pieces, with another collection for high summer”.
The adorable Liberty Anise Dress and matching gilet from the AW18 collection by Julieahn
“I need to have my autumn/winter collection ready before I go to Korea this summer. I want to take some to Korea with me, it would be great to sell the range there too. I’m also looking to find some more shops in Bristol to sell my designs”.
“In Bristol, people are not scared to buy from independent designers, they are happy to spend money on handmade”, adds Julie.
“All the independent Bristol designers share information they have, to help you, even when they are in similar areas to you, it has never been competitive, which is really nice”.
Find out more about Julieahn
Read our fashion editor Emma’s blog No Debutante
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