Sifting through Liberty print separates in beautiful bright colors in organic cotton, one can’t help but muse if the Poupette à la Plage children’s brand is our region’s answer to kids’ high-end ready to wear. Lebanese founder and creative director and mother of two, Katia Najjar, explained to Style.com/Arabia that she was keen to create clothes that children could feel free in—and be able to pull on and off independent of their parents’ help.
Skirts and shorts in fantastical zoo prints are thus free of clumsy buttons and zippers, while kerchief hats feature built-in elastics for a secure fixing. Najjar, who has just launched her flagship in Jumeirah, Dubai, explained that she is now featuring four collections a year and is increasingly designing clothes for boys. “It all started when my son Liam saw all the girls’ clothes and asked me to make something for him, too,” she explained. And while her brand is enjoying its current expansion, she also made a point of highlighting that she is enthusiastic about aligning it with a local charity. “We’re looking for the right fit, and in the meantime, we’ve purchased 30 Dumyé dolls and outfitted them in Poupette Liberty prints that match our in-store collection.” The dolls are for sale at the new flagship; and with each doll purchased, one is gifted to an orphan.
The brand’s name translates to “Doll at the Beach,” and it offers a variety of separates for children (from six months to 12 years-old) that are meant to be mixed and matched—from ponchos, to summer hats, bathing suits, shorts, and towel shirts.