We recently caught up with Francesca Philson, founder of Playtime Prints, to discuss the inspiration behind her unisex childrenswear brand, the challenges of bringing a clothing collection to market, and how Bridge & Stitch helped turn an idea into a reality.
Playtime Prints is a unisex childrenswear brand made for playful personalities. Every garment is made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and is designed to celebrate children’s interests and individuality, rather than relying on traditional gender stereotypes.
The brand creates colourful, contemporary clothing that gives children the freedom to choose styles based on what they love, rather than what they are expected to wear.
The inspiration for Playtime Prints came directly from Francesca’s son.
When her daughter was born, Francesca noticed that her son became increasingly aware of the differences between their clothing. He loved many of the colourful prints and motifs available in the girls’ department, particularly strawberries, flowers and fruit prints, but couldn’t find similar options designed for him.
“It started with strawberries. He wanted the same fun prints his sister had, but without the frills or details designed for girls.”
After researching the childrenswear market, Francesca found that clothing remained heavily divided by gender, with clear distinctions in colours, graphics and themes. This inspired her to create a brand that focused on children’s interests and individuality rather than traditional gender expectations.
“There should be room for children to choose clothing based on what they like, not what society tells them is appropriate.”
Before launching Playtime Prints, Francesca spent more than a decade working in advertising. This meant branding, storytelling and creative direction came naturally. The challenge was manufacturing.
“I knew exactly what I wanted the brand to stand for, but I didn’t know the first thing about making clothes.”
Navigating suppliers, production processes, costing and certifications presented a steep learning curve. Like many first-time founders, Francesca quickly realised that online research could only take her so far.
Production ultimately proved to be the most challenging part of building the brand, requiring patience, adaptability and resilience throughout the development journey.
For Francesca, Bridge & Stitch provided the expertise, structure and reassurance needed to navigate an unfamiliar industry.
“I needed somebody to share their experience, guide me through the process and tell me what was normal and what wasn’t.”
From sourcing and production support through to development guidance and critical sign-off stages, Bridge & Stitch helped Francesca understand each step of the manufacturing process and avoid costly mistakes.
The support extended beyond technical expertise. As a solo founder, Francesca found it invaluable to have experienced professionals available to discuss ideas, review decisions and provide an objective perspective throughout the project.
“Building a brand can be quite isolating, so having people to bounce ideas off and sense-check decisions was incredibly valuable.”
With future collections already in development, Francesca is focused on growing the brand through new product launches and expanding sales channels.
While online sales and Instagram have been key drivers of growth so far, future plans include increasing wholesale partnerships and exploring more in-person retail opportunities.
Longer term, Playtime Prints aims to expand beyond its existing presence in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, while continuing to build a brand that champions individuality, inclusivity and sustainable production.
Francesca’s biggest lesson is to start smaller than you think you need to.
Looking back, she believes she approached the business like an established brand from day one, taking on too much too quickly.
“I tried to do a lot very fast. If I could do it again, I’d start with fewer products, get them right and build gradually from there.”
She believes a more focused approach allows founders to learn the process, refine their systems and build confidence before expanding their range.
For anyone starting a clothing brand, her advice is simple: focus on creating great products first and allow your business to grow sustainably over time.
Supportive. Informative. Valuable.
July 2026 – The Snazz Top 30 Independent Businesses of 2026
June 2026 – The Organic & Sustainable Baby Awards 2026
April 2026 – Coventry & Warwickshire Business & Community Awards 2026
January 2026 – The Mum Marketplace Awards
October 2025 – SBS Winner
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