With their signature pig logo, Trotters has become a go-to place for parents to buy high-quality clothes for their children as well as gifts for family and friends. Known for their Smocked Dress, cashmere-mix Sebastian jumper (which has sold 14,000 times since 2018) and the ‘Duck’ dress, the brand is synonymous with classic clothes with a modern twist.
Founded by Sophie Mirman and her husband Richard Ross in 1990, many of Trotter’s designs come from Sophie’s own childhood memories and upbringing. Across each collection, you’ll spot some quintessentially British icons, including the red London bus, Union Jack and King’s guardsmen. These designs reflect Sophie’s background as the daughter of milliner Simon Mirman, who made hats for the late Queen Elizabeth II. Ducks are also seen throughout knitwear and dresses, a nod to one of Sophie’s childhood memories of feeding Hyde Park’s ducks. The clothes are all designed in their London studio and manufactured by small family-run factories in Spain and Portugal.
The brand has also been collaborating with the famous store Liberty for over 20 years to create hand-crafted garments in their beautiful fabrics. In an interview, Sophie tells The Childrenswear Edit that Liberty has been stocking Trotters clothes in their famous Regent Street department store since 2022.
But upmarket clothing is not where it ends. Trotters has also become what Sophie describes as a “one-stop shop” for families, thanks to the other services they offer such as hairdressing, shoe fitting and gifts. A visit to one of Trotter’s five stores is an enjoyable experience for the whole family. Children will be entranced by the colourful fish tanks or sit on trains or in ships while they have their hair cut. In fact, these fun attractions, and distractions, mean that a Trotters shop is often the place parents choose to take their young child for that all-important first haircut. And of course, they return again and again.
Although much loved, the brand has evolved a lot over the decades and faced its fair share of challenges, says Sophie. These include Brexit, rent increases and rising staff costs. But the company continues to move with the times. They’ve jumped onto the trend for ‘mini me’ fashion whether that’s for customers who want to match at home or on holiday. Their Daddy & Me range includes swimwear and other items which will look great on the beach or in the swimming pool.
The stores also stock well-known toy brands such as Jellycat, Maileg and Le Toy Van, making it the perfect destination for gifts. And we know personalisation is increasingly popular for newborn gifts or for older children’s birthdays, and Trotters offers this service on its toys, blankets and clothes.
You’ll find Trotters stores on the King’s Road, Kensington High St, Northcote Road (Clapham), Turnham Green Terrace and Westfield. There are also concessions in Harrods, Liberty (as mentioned above) and Selfridges in London and Manchester’s Trafford Centre.
In 1983 Sophie and Richard set up Sock Shop, which opened its first kiosk in Knightsbridge underground station. And now, over 40 years later, they will be back among commuters and tourists again as Sophie told us that a new store is due to open in St Pancras station soon. “It’s our first shop in a transport hub so we’re really excited,” she says.
It’s great to hear about a brand that’s going from strength-to-strength at a tough time for retail. We’ll be watching closely to see what Sophie and Trotters do next!
To find out more about Trotters childrenswear, visit trotters.co.uk