What is it about Scandinavian design that is so appealing, effortlessly cool and fun?
Some of our best-loved kids’ brands, from Marimekko to Polarn O Pyret hail from northern Europe and we’ve recently been introduced to a new favourite.
Meet the cast of Tulipop, an Icelandic play world created by mother-of-two Signy Kolbeinsdottir. I’m a sucker for beautiful and unique stationery so I was drawn instantly to the quirky personalities at the heart of this brand.
These are characters to fall in love with:
Miss Maddy, the prima donna circus star
Gloomy, the cheeky mushroom girl
Bubble, the shy and dreamy mushroom boy
Mr Tree, the wise and good-hearted gemstone collector
And Fred, the strong silent type (and the one I like most).
Each has its own back story, inspired by nature, elements of which are brought to life in the Tulipop catalogue that features homeware, tableware, stationery and accessories.
The stunning team behind Tulipop is also made up of marketing maestro Helga Arnadottir (the brunette) who has known Signy since childhood. Helga says one of her earliest memories of her friend is watching her doodling all over her notebooks at school.
Those doodles have taken them far — Tulipop is an award-winning company that has been embraced by Icelandic parents and kids alike and looks set to enchant the UK market.
At the London launch event at the Icelandic Embassy earlier this month, we got to meet the lovely ladies, check out the range and feast on amazing Tulipop cakes. The cakes were so cute I almost didn’t want to gobble them up. Almost (well, it was my birthday after all)!
Several guests commented that the curious and loveable Tulipop world is reminiscent of the Moomins and might easily develop cult status.
It also reminds me a little of children’s app The Land of Me, and indeed there’s talk of developing a storybook and an app in the near future.
Inspired by their own kids (they have five between them), Signy and Helga have created products that are inspirational for parents too. That definitely gets the Babes seal of approval!
Enter the world of Tulipop at www.tulipop.com
