Olive Loves Alfie is the kind of shop I dreamt of when my children were little, in fact it’s the kind of shop I would like to own, if I’d ever got my act together. Opened in 2006 by former director of Red or Dead, Ashlyn Gibson, it stocks a hand picked selection of inspiring and imaginative children’s clothing, home ware, toys and games, from some of the best European independent kids brands.
Recently shortlisted for the Telegraph best small shop award, Olive Loves Alfie is going from strength to strength and recently launched a new paint range at the kidswear trade show Bubble London. Produced in the Uk in collaboration with The Nursery Paint Company, the range is 100% free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and comes in a lovely range of colours, which are perfect for Spring/Summer.
The paint will be available in the shop soon and you can buy it online. It’s designed for kids rooms – if only my teens were of the age when they let me choose the colours of their rooms – but anyone who loves colour will be inspired to use it all over the house. I am planning to use Circus in my kitchen.
Olive Loves Alfie also stock a small range of womenswear, my favourites being Marimekko and the Saltwater sandals – and yes they are the same ones available from Toast, but they are £4 cheaper. Remember we told you about Jesus sandals back in 2010, well thank the Lord they are still “on trend” and we can stomp around looking like a (fashionable) geography teacher for another Summer!
84 Stoke Newington Church Street
London N16 0AP
A reference to the wonderful Alfie books by Shirley Hughes? This US mum loves those books.