There's nothing more fun than dressing your kids in cute clothes. We've long been fans of Printebebe (pronounced print baby), a range of children's clothing designed by Sydney-based fashion editor Fiona Kowalski. Her charming printed pieces mix and match and can be worn from head to toe...
Today Kowalski has launched her new Liberty of London Art Series range, in collaboration with Liberty of London. There’s three beautiful styles in five classic prints, all of which are finished with pretty embroidery – it’s all utterly exquisite and you’ll want every piece in your little girl’s wardrobe. We caught up with the stylish Bondi mother to find out more about the new range and her daily routine… Photography: Carlotta Moye
When I wake up...
I get straight up into my bathers and head over the road for a run and a swim. I meet a friend which is a good motivation to get up and out, all year round, we meet, dark, wet, windy but prefer it sunny! There is a group of ladies that we swim with after our run. I don’t know everyone’s age, but I am the youngest and it ranges up to women in their 70’s. They are an amazing bunch of women and it’s an incredible way to start the day.
Before I got to bed...
I set my alarm for 5.50am.
My approach to wellbeing is...
Always changing. I’m running and eating good food one minute and then enjoying wine and chocolate the next. I do firmly believe in being positive and getting outdoors as much as possible.
I treat myself by...
Spending an hour by the beach with a great book and no-one putting sand on my towel.
The biggest misconception about me...
Is that I am great surfer. I surfed for 10 years before I had my daughter, I don’t so much anymore…but in reality, I was never that good. I had passion but not ability. Although if you add giggle like a five year old factor, I was way up there!
My role model is...
My mum, she was incredibly kind, giving and so open minded about people and situations. She loved us four girls completely and unconditionally and it was a wonderful way to be raised. I miss her all the time.
The definition of success is...
Something to do, people to love and people that love you, a happy balance and a happy family… with lots of holidays.
If I wasn't doing what I'm doing today...
I would like to be permanently chasing the sun.
My mother taught me...
You catch more flies with honey than vinegar and how to make a great cupcake (you have to hand beat with love).
Happiness is...
My family.
My career has...
Always revolved around fashion. From designing originally, I then worked as a magazine stylist for 20 years, it has now come full cycle that I am designing again. Although I would say kids fashion is much more about function that anything else – the spin factor of a garment being a number one priority.
I'd describe printebebe as...
Easy going, simple styles in pretty prints that children can wear without fuss. I make sure the clothes are easy to wear, get on and off, can be played in, slept in and have no fiddly bits that make it difficult for parents when dressing their child. Also coming from Australia with our harsh sun, most of our pieces have a sun coverage or at the least minimal need for suncream.
A great print is...
One that disguises a day’s fun.
I like to dress my daughter in...
Easy clothes that she can move and play in, things she doesn’t need to think about. Our prints are so easy to wear and she pretty much just wears printebebe. I love her in Pom d’Api or Saltwater sandals in summer, we’ve just got the new sun san surf sandals from saltwater and I love them. For winter, I layer her dresses over Marquise skinny tees, MP tights or chunky socks and Pom d’Api boots. I am starting to loose influence over what she wears – we will see how things go from here.
My biggest career highlight was...
Shooting with Christy Turlington who I have/had idolized forever, meeting her in the flesh and seeing her in front of the camera was amazing. She came in just a mum (not long after her daughter Grace was born) friendly, pretty, caring and chatty. Then in front of the camera…all of a sudden there was Christy. It was lovely to meet someone you’ve idolized for their beauty and realise they are way more awesome in real life.
2016 is going to be the year that I...
Live day-to-day, I don’t have any big goals more than enjoying it as we go along.
My new Liberty collection is...
Easy to wear and beautifully embroidered with the most amazing smocking detail, it’s just beautiful. We have created three classic styles and collaborated with Liberty of London and their art series prints, I love them all. We have worked with our talented makers to get the right fit so it’s practical as well as beautiful. Their smocking ability is just exquisite, our Madelaine smocks tie at the back with an opening deep enough to get over the head but not too deep that if it unties it will fall off. Our Beatrice bloomers have the finest ric rac at the frill, and our Clementine dress has delicate smocking detail at the neck but with printebebe classic easy elastic finish. We have five amazing prints in all, the cottons are so very fine and SO beautiful to the touch. I have loved working with this historic fabric company.
The process behind each piece...
Has the same printebebe philosophy of easy to wear, easy to play, easy to sleep. I am so thrilled with the end result, they have a modern, easy energy with a traditional luxury finish.
Social Media is...
Incredible, when you think that printebebe has a worldwide audience and customers through Instagram, that’s something that couldn’t have happened five years ago, and actually something I didn’t even know about until I started printebebe. Sometimes I find it a little freaky that you know so much about someone’s life, without actually knowing them, but I think for most people it’s a genuine interest in people’s lives.
I'd describe the printebebe child as...
A bundle of beauty and fun. She likes to play, get dirty, have fun with a little bit of pretty. I love seeing our cute customers, we’re super lucky!
My time management secrets are...
Getting a re-think at the moment, school hours and school mum is completely throwing me right now, and I have one child so hats off to all those multi-kids mamas!
Having my own business is...
Incredibly rewarding and super, super hard work. It has been an amazing learning curve and really cemented the fact that if you have an idea and you want to work for it, you can make it happen. Even though most of the time my head is spinning, the fact I can get my daughter to and from school and have complete flexibility to work around things is amazing and exactly what I wanted.
Today I'm wearing...
A Lee Matthews tunic dress. I have been rotating three Lee Matthews and two Mamapapa dresses for a while now and LOVE them all.
The last meal I ate was...
Soup and salad with a glass of wine… balance!
My style essentials are...
I am pretty minimal, I love a chocolate and tan sandals, and a great bag, at the moment my khaki State of Escape is so perfect and functional, I love it! I pretty much just wear black and white with a few neutrals and I really like to have a minimal wardrobe. My favourite jewellery piece ever is my Tiffany’s super fine wedding band, apart from that I don’t wear much else, unless you count cut up plastic straws on some string… I am pretty fond of that when bestowed on me too.
I relax by...
A swim in the ocean or just having a walk along the sea, or even a good deep breath of sea air.
I get stressed when...
I have too many things on, which as my business is growing is something I am now trying to manage and balance. In the words of Peg and Cat, if I am ‘totally freaking out’ I count backwards from five.
My next travel destination is...
Perth to see family for the school holidays, we’re heading to Jurien Bay as one of my sisters has a holiday house…the husbands stay home and it’s just the sisters and the kids. We spend our mornings at the beach, afternoons by the pool, take evening walks to the jetty and drink way too much wine (the sisters that is, not the kids!).
After I finish writing this I'm going to...
Bed.