Have you ever wondered what makes Spanish children exude charm and elegance even during their daily playground games? During my travels in Spain, I have noticed that the parents of their children have an extraordinary ability to dress their children with class and taste. What is more, they seem to have no worries at all that their beloved child will spill all the juice on themselves, smear themselves with cream cake or tear their dress doing somersaults on the carousel. Although it may sound high-flown, this discovery made me think more deeply about the approach to raising children.
It is worth noting right from the start that the way Spanish families dress their children has its own characteristic term in culture – “Spanish, traditional style of dressing children”. Although you may have expected a more sophisticated name, such as “sombrero”, there is a lot of symbolism behind this simple phrase. It says a lot not only about clothing, but also about the approach to raising children.
The term "traditional costume" is often associated with folk costumes. So where does this term for the way children are dressed in the 21st century come from? Don't we associate Spain more with colorful flamenco costumes? And finally, why does the way the Spanish dress their children deserve its own unique term?
The answers to these questions lie in several reasons. First, for centuries, the Spanish have paid attention to how they dress their children, and their style is not only timeless but also draws on deeply rooted traditions. For them, dressing a child is more than just choosing clothes – it is a way of expressing respect for others and building self-confidence. For the Spanish, teaching self-care is a bit like teaching good table manners. It is also about passing on a piece of history and culture, and instilling a certain aesthetic. According to these principles, clothing is not just a matter of appearance, but also conveys values that are important to us.
Secondly, the term "traditional children's costumes" in Spain comes from their festive aesthetic, although these clothes are not only intended for ceremonial occasions, but are worn every day. Girls wear delicate dresses decorated with lace, embroidery and hand-made ruffles, emphasizing their natural beauty. Boys look classy in shorts, polo shirts and sweaters. What is impressive is the subtlety of the accessories - collars and ruffles give the clothes a childlike charm that does not overshadow their beauty.
Thirdly, in Spain there is a centuries-old tradition of sewing children's clothes. Even today, in the era of mass production and in a country where the landscape is dominated by large Zara factories, there are still small workshops where craftsmen hand-cut, sew and pass on to their children the skills of old techniques such as gathering or embroidery. Once these techniques served practical purposes - for example, adjusting clothes to the figure, when elastic did not yet exist, today they are a continuation of a tradition whose existence is not so much due to function, but above all to beauty.
I believe that by teaching our children this art, we teach them not only how to dress, but also how to respect their roots, traditions and the beauty of simplicity. Maybe this is where the real beauty of the Spanish approach lies – in the ability to convey values that are timeless, and the inspiration that allows us to feel special even on a seemingly ordinary day. And this is the motto for our brand, more about which in the next post :)