Valencia's FIMI and SEE ME fashion fairs - a fashionable twist of the contemporary and traditional

Valencia isn’t exactly a fashion metropolis – and it isn’t a kid’s wear hot spot either. On the one hand, this may come down to the fact that Spanish parents are still very traditional and tend to dress their little ‘niños’ in clothes that already looked cute when grandma wore them as a toddler. New versions of course.

Yet, there are traces of a trend spreading its sphere of influence ever so slightly amongst young parents wishing to steer clear of the old traditions – the seeds of a mini revolution. The kid’s wear fashion fairs FIMI and SEE ME provide a good reflection of this growing trend.

What will kids be wearing in the upcoming autumn/winter 2011/2012? Valencia offers partially traditional solutions, small coats and dresses for the girls and pleated grey woolly shorts for the boys. Custo Growing and Desigual are a more modern incarnation of the Spanish Zeitgeist.

Things also take on a more international flair at SEE ME, frequented by Molo Kids, Kik-Kid, Limobasics, Koeka, Shampoodle, Tumble ‘n Dry or Petit Mayaud.

It is a pity that the fairs take place at the same time as the Pitti Bimbo in Florence, which is considered to be one of the most important kids trade fairs. Once again, summer will see Valencia clash its schedule with the Playtime fair in Paris.

Maybe Valencia just needs another wake-up call? Barcelona managed to kick off all things fashion quite impressively after all. We are convinced that there is a bunch of very motivated people out there who are planning big things and have already realised great projects. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and may their horizon shine a new light on traditions.