Well, some exciting news… Olga Valentine just attended the Playtime New York tradeshow! Playtime has established itself as the major event for kids’ fashion in the United States and this year we were just one of over 300 brands in attendance
The Metropolitan Pavilion in New York was filled wall to wall with well decorated booths hoping to attract potential buyers. From large, well-established brands to small, independent designers, it was a display of the creativity and passion in the children’s fashion industry.
And what did we bring to the table? Olga Valentine brought our newest collection of beautiful kids fashion and swimwear, a passion for sustainability, and an Aussie accent that native New Yorkers adored.
The Playtime Tradeshow was a great opportunity for Olga Valentine to meet lots of potential buyers but it was made even more exciting by the fact that pandemic restrictions haven’t allowed us to attend an international tradeshow since 2019. And although our excellent agent, LC Collections, represented us at shows in New York over the last few years, the Australian team were itching to get back in the action.
So, Olga Valentine creator Natasha and her daughter Francesca jetted off to New York for some hard work – and a little bit of sight-seeing. Hooray international travel!
The Playtime Tradeshow ran from the 31st of July to the 2nd of August – and those three days were a whirlwind of working, eating, and soaking up as much of New York as possible.
The days were long – with the show starting at nine in the morning and ending at six at night, Natasha and Francesca were working almost ten hours a day. They arrived early, coffees in hand, to set up and left late each day to make sure everything was in place for the following morning.
But you can’t travel to the city that never sleeps for all work and no play. The girls arrived a day early, getting to New York at seven in the morning, to ensure they didn’t miss out on the wonders that the city has to offer. After a day of excitement and hours and hours of walking, they had ticked off many of New York’s most iconic attractions; from bustling Times Square to the iconic Rockefeller centre, and of course the Empire State Building – Natasha and Francesca made sure they didn’t miss out on the New York experience.
And if you’ve ever dreamed of feeling like the main character in a movie, Natasha and Francesca’s buggy ride through Central Park showcased past locations where some of our favourite actors have filmed iconic movie scenes. Including When Harry Met Sally, Enchanted, Ghostbusters and more, Central Park has seen it all.
Of course, the girls managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping the day after the Playtime Tradeshow ended. And who could expect anyone with their love of fashion to visit New York and not indulge in a bit of retail therapy? It’s only fair after working those long days.
So, thank you New York, and thank you Playtime for hosting Olga Valentine. Hopefully we’ll see you again soon!
With love, sand, and sunshine,
Olga Valentine XOXO
