BON TOT is a children’s clothing and toy shop focusing on great design; modern, minimal styles; small batch production and unisex themes. Launched online in 2014, Bon Tot has recently opened its first bricks and mortar store, right in the heart of Stockbridge, at 28 St Stephen Street. You’ll find great wardrobe staples, organic fabrics wherever possible and creative, original, design led products.
Quality over quantity is the mantra. Owners Kristina and Graham only sell things that they really love and the focus is firmly on the designers and makers, so you know where your products come from and who crafted them.
Recently featured in Stylist Magazine’s “Shopping Small Guide 2015” they picked Stockbridge after years of using local small businesses there – Just Dogs is one of their French Bulldog, Frisco’s, favourite haunts, Steampunk and Wild Rover Food are long term acquaintances at the Stockbridge Market, Farrow & Ball was the obvious place to source paint for their daughter’s bedroom and many admiring glances have been thrown the way of Ronde’s amazing bike collections! There was also an idea that, alongside Treehouse Childrenswear and Reloved, Bon Tot could help build up Stockbridge as a destination for people looking for independent and ethical children’s products.
St Stephen Street in particular has an amazing collection of independent and individual boutiques. Those Were the Days is one Kristina’s favourite vintage shops in the city. Golden Hare books and Kestin Hare are just next door, along with two of Graham’s favourite pubs in The Bailie and The Antiquary. Kristina and Graham really felt the strong sense of pride that local residents have in ‘their’ local community businesses, which meant that Stockbridge was the ideal place to put down roots.
Since opening almost 2 months ago, this theory has been further strengthened by the recent arrival of the wonderful Smith & Gertrude
Sustainability and local, artisan production is key to the Bon Tot ethos, which is one of ‘slow fashion’. Simple, comfortable, thoughtfully designed and carefully detailed items are what they strive to source; working with brands that use the best quality fabrics and responsible manufacturing processes to produce long lasting garments that represent good value for money and that won’t cost the earth, from the perspective of your wallet or the planet!
A key aim is to avoid obvious gender stereotyping, instead focussing on modern, sophisticated palettes, patterns and cuts, so that items can be worn by girl or boy, or handed down from sister to brother.
Looking good shouldn’t compromise playtime though and all of the products (clothing and toys) aim to encourage imagination, creativity and play, as well as being original and stylish.
To demonstrate their belief that good design doesn’t have to cost the earth, the interior of the shop was fitted out in cardboard, designed and built in-house, for under £100.
You’ll find amazing, independent kids’ brands like Mingo Kids, Gray Label, Tiny Cottons, Kid & Kind, Lennon + Wolfe, Shapes Kids, Marmalade Sky, Repose Ams, Huzi Design, Velvet Parsnips, Billie Blooms and many more – for many of which, Bon Tot are the sole Scottish, and often UK, stockist. All tested and approved by their own daughter, and chief product tester, Clemence, under the watchful eye of Frisco, who you’ll no doubt meet on the streets of Stockbridge!
Simply Good Design for kids age 0-6 is what you get at Bon Tot. Dress your tot to suit your style, without cramping theirs!
