Hippie-dippy mail-order clothes company who sold you kits for making smocks, dresses and even dolls. They were always patterned and had the sewing instructions printed on the back of the fabric. The Clothkits doll was called Kitty.
FASHION
Clothkits
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Do You Remember Clothkits?
Do You Remember Clothkits?
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Meg H.
on
I adored Clothkits. Our first family wore so many of their clothes whichI loved making. I remember going through "Fenwicks" in Newcastle with a beautiful quilted jacket worn by and made for my younger daughter and many of the sales assistants came from behind their tills to compliment me and ask where I got it. I was so proud. Our second family were too late for new kits, but wore some of the 'hand me downs'. So glad it has started again!
Meg. 26 May 2008
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pamarthur
on
My husband told me about the article in yesterday's Observer. I was so pleased to hear that Clothkits is back. I used to enjoy the day trips to the Shop in Oxford to see all the beautiful clothes/kits on offer. Some I bougth at the shop others I put on my list to but mailorder later. My daughter (now 25) was alomost entirely dressed in Clothkits designs when she was little. We always received such postive comments on the clothes that she wore and were amazed so few people had heard of Clothkits. Her wardrobe was unique in the area where we live. I still have Kitty and many of the children's clothes that I made all those years ago. They were so easy to make and so hardwearing.
Pam
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juliadarwen
on
An article in today's 'Observer' prompted me to google Clothkits. I was a devotee in the 70s and 80s. I remember having a blue 3 piece outfit - a pinafore over matching blouse & full length skirt. My daughter now still wears this. I never came across anyone else who'd heard of Clothkits so the outfits seemed unique. The baby changing bag was a design classic & much admired.
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Nicola Kelly
on
I've still got my Clothkits 'Kitty' with one of her outfits on - I was thoroughly 'clothkitted' as a child, the last was when I was 16 and I had to go with my parents to a NATO function (my father was in the Navy) and my mother produced this puff sleeved Clothkits dress with pale blue/green dove print on it - I died with shame and refused to wear anymore after that!! But all our family photos are full of the wear, which i guess went with our homegrown haircuts, courtesy of my dad!
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Mel
on
I am very aware of the huge psychological damage that I did to my children by making them wear these awful clothes. My only comfort is that it was their Grandmother and not me that bought the kits and cobbled them up.They had revolting matching skinny rib jumpers and tights as well.
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Dee
on
They were lovely clothes, very much Cath Kidson type but far better and cheaper.I just googled out of curiosity but didn't know the business was gone.Oh for shame!I'm still a hippy and would have bought for my grandchildren!
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Joellybaby
on
Guess what - Clothkits is back! Under a new owner, who seems to be doing a good job and remembering why we all loved it so much.
I went to their launch today and blogged some pictures here: http://www.fourgoodcorners.com/make-time-meet-clothkits/
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Marcia Thompson
on
My three children were brought up in Clothkits and at one stage we went down to Lewes to visit the original shop. It was a real pilgrimage. In 1973 I went to an OU summer school in York. I was totally decked out in Purple and Pink clothkits complete with matching bag. In the queue, signing in, was someone identically clad, but hers were orange and yellow. I still have the fur jerkins.
Marcia Thompson
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Rosey
on
We had loads of Clothkits clothes when I was younger. Some of them my mum made but others were the ready-made ones. In fact, my parents had the stripey t-shirts as well. I remember I had several of the striped dresses which came with matching pants! I also had the pyjamas where each leg was a different colour! One thing I used to love was the names they gave to the colour ranges. I always remember referring to my pastel striped t-shirt as my "ice-cream" one, because that's what it was called in the catalogue. I used to love poring over the catalogues when they came and I remember the twin girls who modelled in it.
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mary
on
I too made one of those lovely padded jackets with the animal print in blue and red for my daughter in the 1980s. I kept it for years but it went out in a big clearout for years ago. I have still got on of the cotton jersey animal print dresses. Everyone always admired those clothes. I used to love the arrival of the catalogue.
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