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Babiekins Magazine

A Trendsetting Magazine & Online Community For The Trendsetting Child + Parent

Fashionkins // An Interview with Ashleigh Dempster of AKID

By Leslie Schor, Senior Fashion Editor Leave a Comment

The AKID booth at Playtime New York stopped me in my tracks. The repetitive black and white graphics of the AKID logo, mirrored pedestals and vast collection of children’s footwear made quite the impression on me. The AKID brand offers low tops, high tops, loafers, moccasins (with an athletic sole!) and all in the most incredible patterns and materials. The lovely Ashleigh Dempster tells us what motivated her and her husband, Matt George, to launch the brand. She lets us in on what inspires the designs found in their collections and tells us which designs our little babiekins need to have.

Babiekins Magazine|AKID

 

Tell us how your son, Jasper, was the catalyst for starting AKID.

It wasn’t until Jasper started walking that we noticed the gap in the marketplace for functional yet stylish children’s footwear. I was always on the hunt for shoes that were sparkle free and surprisingly the selection was limited. With Matt’s experience in the footwear industry and my love for shoes, it was just a matter of time before we collaborated on a collection together.

You and Matt are so knowledgeable of and connected to the adult fashion industry; how is the children’s market similar or different?

My background is in corporate sponsorship/events. I have worked with fashion brands on the marketing side but I am totally new to the design game.  That being said, I love good style and design when I see it! Matt, on the other hand, has a decade of experience in the men’s fashion and footwear industry. His knowledge is invaluable in the early stages of the business.

Kids look amazing in everything, so I feel like you can be much more playful in the textures, colors and styles that you produce.

What is your design process like? AKID uses so many different patterns and textures. How do you edit your ideas and create such cohesive collections that successfully feature these patterns and textures?

The design process is ongoing. We’re constantly pulling ideas for collections, sampling new styles, etc.  Because AKID is so young, it’s important for us to try out different colors, patterns and textures to see what our customers respond to. I love being in LA because I am constantly surrounded by creative people that impress and inspire me on a daily basis. For example, I went to a tarot card reading this week with a woman who does her readings out of a teepee in Lauren Canyon. I wish I had a photo of her space to share with you as it was so zen and beautiful.  The most unexpected place will often spark an idea for our next photo shoot, collection or collaboration.

How has parenthood affected your personal styles?

Not much has changed for Matt.  For me, I wear flats a little more than I used to (CONVERSE has become my best friend). I’m not sure if that is directly connected to becoming a mother or moving to LA. Both happened at the same time. Other than that, I’m still rocking the same old stuff I usually would!

Babiekins Magazine//AKID

Tell us about AKID’s  F/W 2014 collection. Which are your favorite styles and why do our little babiekins need them?

All the adorable babiekins definitely need a pair of AKID!  I tend to gravitate to the funkier styles.  The leopard ATTICUS in red pony hair and the white JASPER’s black stars are two of my favorites from this season’s collection.

Babiekins Magazine|AKID

Babiekins Magazine|AKID

Babiekins Magazine|AKID

Babiekins Magazine|AKID

AKID// Website|Instagram|Facebook

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: AKID, Ashleigh Dempster, children's footwear, design, Fashion, kids' shoes, leslie schor, playtime new york, shoes Posted By: Leslie Schor, Senior Fashion Editor

About Leslie Schor, Senior Fashion Editor

The daughter of Cuban exiles, Leslie Schor is a first-generation American with degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Miami. Leslie has an innate interest in learning about what motivates and inspires creativity, and how it affects our reality and society. Leaving a career in academic research, she is now exploring the creative world which surrounds her. Through film classes at the University of Miami, Leslie discovered a passion for storytelling and imagery. She is inspired by her colorful upbringing in Miami, Florida. Leslie works as a freelance Creative Director and Fashion Stylist creating campaigns for large corporate brands and small independent brands. Her creative work has been published in domestic and international publications, and she currently serves as Senior Fashion Editor at Babiekins Magazine. With a keen eye and discerning taste, Leslie has a natural ability to source unique and talented artists and designers. You can find her on Instagram @leslieschor, or at leslieschorcreative.com.

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Copyright © 2023 · Babiekins Magazine | A Trendsetting Kids' Fashion Magazine and Online Community for Parents and Children Alike · Since the Southern California birth of Babiekins in 2010, the magazine has grown from into an internationally-recognized print publication with a global circulation and now a thriving online community. We are more than a kids’ fashion magazine. We search everywhere for inspiration, and go beyond trends to bring you fashion, style, decor, design, books, DIY, parties, and playthings. Our readers look to us to keep up with the best and most up-to-date concepts in the children’s market worldwide. We have an eye for quirk. We’re high-fashion, but we value whimsy over tradition. Playful childhood is more important to us than making kids into copycat adults. We believe life is beautiful, life is valuable, and life changes when you see it through the eyes of a child. We seek to transcend skin color, language and zip codes and bring out the real, wild, magical creativity inherent in every child. And behind Babiekins is an optimistic team of mothers-turned-editors, working from home, often with our own little babiekins climbing on, under and around the desks. We want to encourage you, and challenge you to see something different — something special — in yourself and in this world we all share. Welcome to Babiekins!

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