Kalulu Debuts With A Bold Children's Wear Line Constructed From East African Fabrics

Kalulu bursts onto the market with a vibrant children’s wear collection inspired by the colors and traditions of East Africa. The line is made entirely out of kikoy cloth, a bold cotton fabric traditionally worn by men in the region as sarongs. Kikoys mix and match complementary and contrasting hues, creating plaid and striped patterns. Kalulu employs this fabric on easy-to-wear silhouettes that are both age-appropriate and eye-catching for girls and boys sizes 2T to 10. The Kalulu line is made in the United States.

“Kalulu is about expressing the joy and fun of childhood, and the kikoy fabric, with its endless color combinations, captures that spirit. It also allows children to stand out and express their individuality,” says Founder Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham. “The ancient looming process makes it a highly durable material that gets softer with each wash so kids can live in it and pass it down without wearing it out.”

Kalulu, which means “hare” in East African languages, takes its name from the clever yet mischievous creature that often starred in the folklore Kiggundu-Bentham remembers from her childhood in Kenya. For her, these stories and the kikoy are interwoven since she was often listening to one while wrapped in the other. Now, the mother of three sons shares both traditions with children everywhere.

The Spring /Summer’13 Kalulu collection is comprised of tunic dresses and tops, hooded tanks, ruffled tanks, slim-fit jeans, shorts and skorts for girls. Boys’ wear includes tunic tops, button-down shirts, hooded tops, capri shorts and safari shorts. The collection is largely made up of solids with the signature kikoy patterns accenting the hem, collars and pockets. The palette of turquoise, orange, red, pink, green and white combines Kiggundu-Bentham’s memories of the earthy desert and savannah tones found on safari and the hues created by sunrises and sunsets on the East African coast.

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