älva for kids (San Andrés, 17)
Yes. We know. You cannot escape the world of the hipster, plastic-framed glasses and posing. In fashion, street markets, in all the shops, all the places to go, and just about everywhere. But, let’s face it, if you belong to the generation in its thirties, still go to festivals, used to go out in Malasaña when you were a kid and have now added to your family, this central district cannot be ignored, especially if you want to share your indie spirit with your kids. That is why we suggest a route for a stroll with your children in the neighbourhood during the day to look out for the coolest kids’ fashion . We’re not talking about rompers, jumpsuits, knit cotton, crochet and the like.
The route starts, as it should, in Malasaña’s epicentre: Plaza de Dos de Mayo square. A few metres from here, at number 17 San Andrés street, you’ll find älva for kids, a paradise of colours -and some black, why not?- and modern designs for children aged 0 to 10. Comfortable, fun clothes for day to day wear, with designs that more than a few adults would like to see on shelves in shops for them. But it doesn’t stop there; as well as ultra modern collections from the likes of Boys and Girls, Rockafella, Molo and Mini Rodini – here you should allow yourself to be helped by Eva, a real institution in trendy kids’ fashion -, the shop has dummies, bibs, caps and baby carriers that won’t clash with your style nor with that of your children. And, as shopping with kids can be a little stressful, they have their own games space in älva – well, OK, dragging them away to try something on may be another story.
älva for kids (San Andrés, 17)
A few steps away, at 12 Velarde street, another shop not to be missed is Glück, niños con suerte. There’s not much to be added to the subtitle of ‘niños con suerte’, meaning ‘lucky kids’, in the name of this shop, which is designed by and for kids. A paradise for kids with toys, a large blackboard on which to unleash their artistic talents and even a cardboard house to play in. The variety of clothing to be found in this store goes from animal prints to bodysuits with beautiful illustrations by Aníbal Hernández de La Camorra, t-shirts from Denmark’s Soft Gallery and Australia’s Munster Kids, delightful vintage toys from Marbushka, shiny dancing shoes, swimsuits from the Little Creative Factory and handmade headwear perfect for the summer. If you still need excuses to visit Glück, you’ll find them in its program of family entertainment. Storytelling and great concerts in petit comité by groups like The Imperial Surfers, Gabriel y Vencerás and Sexys. There’s something on every month.
Glück
At 21 Corredera Baja de San Pablo street you’ll find Chopper Monster, a shop for adults and children with the best in rocker clothes, with some mod touches for the little ones. Hawaiian shirts, Ramones t-shirts and bodysuits with tattoo-style prints, and even booties with skulls. For a more vintage and naive look you have Copperpot, a small shop in Calle de San Andrés street, right next to Plaza de Juan Pujol square. This place is a delicate universe that you could transfer exactly as it is to your children’s bedroom. Clothing, retro toys and fabrics, decorative objects, bilingual books and picture books so kids start to get familiar with English, all lovingly and personally chosen by Begoña and Vanessa, Copperpot’s owners.
Copperpot (Espíritu Santo, 28)
The last place is a little further away – with a stop on the way to refuel at the Happy Day Bakery: cupcakes and shakes with the kids – at 28 Calle de San Mateo street. Lobo feliz is every child’s dream. That playroom full of modern toys with a retro aesthetic, where it’s hard to know where to begin playing. You’ll want to take everything away with you. And you know what the kids will think of it. Educational toys to stimulate their imagination and creativity. We love the old-style wooden cars, the little shadow theatres, the building games and music games, but it’s very hard to choose because the variety and novelty of the toys in Lobo Feliz (Happy Wolf) is immense. Its slogan says it all: “We are what we play”, and in this shop you play a lot, differently and well.
Angel Luis Esteban