“When are we going back to Allkinds?” This was my eight-year-old daughter’s question the day after we visited the new Allkinds store in Sydney's Bondi. Walking around the store, and watching her face light up with delight at all the exciting things on offer, I felt a little disappointed there wasn’t a store like this when I was a kid – it was so much fun for her (and honestly, for me too). Allkinds is, simply, a self care brand for allkinds of awesome kids. They offer bath, body, haircare, skincare and fun stuff made just for kids (and with zero gross stuff – they're super transparent about every single ingredient that goes into their well formulated products)...
Allkinds wants to solve the many questions parents have when it comes to the products their kids use. What is an appropriate skincare routine for a tween? How do we support them to love those curls? (Answer – try their Happy Curls range) Mostly, how do I help them feel good in their own skin?
Walk around the store and you’ll find yourself in what they call different ‘worlds’. There are six worlds in total such as ‘Hey Vacay’, ‘Sweet Talk’ and ‘Lazy Days’ – all filled with colourful, fun things for kids (and all of them smell delicious). There’s a Whipped Shower Foam that comes in a whipped cream dispenser. A waffle-shaped sponge. A Maple Shower Syrup (which looks and smells like maple syrup). Wobbly Jelly Wash. And so much more.
Allkinds aims to help everyone with growing up. At the back of the store, there’s the slogan ‘Allkinds of options. All kinds of confident. All kinds of you.’ In a world where you’re judged if you don’t fit into the mould, it’s just the kind of messaging our kids need right now. None of the products are gender-specific and the language used is designed to instil positivity and confidence in your kids.
Allkinds believes that kids today “face a lot of emotion in a fast-paced, social media-driven, always-on world that demands they try on all sorts of selves. Everything is happening on display, all the time – from the awesome to the unknown (like body hair, needing deodorant, and figuring out what the heck skincare even is). So where do they find a safe, fun, real-life place to explore what works?” The answer was Allkinds.
There’s something for everyone: from self-expression to an entire range of suitable options for sensitive skin. And everything is done with a lot of thought. Aside from the heavenly smelling bath, hair, and skin products, there’s also cute hair and nail accessories, along with an edited selection of clothing.
Allkinds also run an in-store recycling program, which aims to teach kids that recycling can be both fun and rewarding. After you’ve finished your product, take it back into store and drop it in a recycling collection boxes – Allkinds have partnered with Terracycle who will then turn used plastic into Allkinds of useful things, so it doesn’t go to waste. The company uses water soluble packaging, fabric made from recycled PET bottles and refillables.
The company uses compostable packaging, fabric made from reused plastic, biodegradable glitter and refillables.
In their own words “We made a space that lets kids have boundless fun. It’s a space for imagination, self-care skills and finding their favourite things.” It’s one of the most fun shops I’ve ever been with my daughter. I’ve never said this about a kids’ shop before but, I can’t wait to go back.
Go to.allkinds.com. In partnership with Allkinds
