Image from Planet Awesome Kid
Image from Planet Awesome Kid
Image from Planet Awesome Kid
Planet Awesome Kid creator Julia Samersova and family I adore the blog Planet Awesome Kid , an exuberant celebration of children's style, and draw inspiration from it daily. So do a lot of others. The blog has received a ton of well-deserved press and praise for good reason. This interview with the HIP creator Julia Samersova feels cool and connected, a sense of community even though we've never met face to face! A big timin' casting director for the fashion industry, Julia is using her keen scouting powers to shine attention on all the awesome kids worldwide. Together Team Awesome (including Julia's husband, Andrew, responsible for a lot of the photography) is on a mission documenting children's style and character and simultaneously working to support local and global children-based charities.
Hw/Ks: You're a busy lady - Casting Director extraordinaire and you and your husband are new parents to a lovely Ms Violet! When did Planet Awesome Kid come into the mix and what was the inspiration?
Julia: Violet is the light and joy of our lives. She is also our constant inspiration! I was walking her through the park in Brooklyn one fall afternoon, in October, and BOOM, it just hit me. There were so many amazingly cool kids all around us, and we had to document it! My husband is a photographer, so we just went out on the streets of NYC and looked (and found) the most awesome kids!
Hw/Ks: Global Action for Children, an amazing organization, is the newest partner for Planet Awesome Kid. How do you 'find' partners, or how do they find you?
Julia: A lot of the events occurring around Planet Awesome Kid have been incredibly serendipitous. Global Action for Children actually found us and contacted us! My partner Christiana Tran and I were looking for the right charity to link up with and just as we were doing the research GAC contacted us! One of the young ladies who works at GAC is a street-style hound, and found us on the internet and thought we would be a great match! They came to NYC from D.C. to meet us, and it just CLICKED. We are very excited about the benefit we are throwing for GAC in March in NYC. It will be awesome and 100% of the proceeds we raise will go directly to GAC!
Hw/Ks: Planet Awesome Kid has been described at the Sartorialist of children's fashion, this is très cool but I feel like you have a such unique ingredient, spirit! How do you spot your subjects, what makes them stand out?
Julia: Being an "Awesome Kid" can literally mean anything. A child who just shines in a crowd, a child with a unique look, or a cool hobby. Its not only about fashion to me. It is about the SPIRIT and ENERGY of a child. A smile, a cool skateboard, a way a child thrown together a rad outfit, a talent. It could be anything. It goes without saying that I feel ALL CHILDREN are awesome.
Hw/Ks: What’s your take on top designers doing collaborations and/or in-house lines for kids wear? (Stella, Comme, Marc...)
Julia: GIVE US MORE, but please, can it be a bit more affordable? I think it speaks to the strength of the children's market. In the midst of a great recession, the children's market remained extremely strong. I think this is a very smart move for a designer to incorporate a kid's line. I know that for me, personally, even though we had a bit of a rough year financially, I still could not resist buying my daughter items that truly stole my heart.
HwKs: Can you reccomend.....
A neighborhood - Windsor Terrace is a gem. Its on the Southwest side of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, and we love it!
A restaurant or cafe - Miriam's in Park Slope for brunch! HEAVEN!
Music you might not listen to around kids- Biggie Smalls, Tupac, and Lady Gaga
A favorite shop- Zakka in Dumbo
A website - Stroller Traffic, Mamaista, Weelicious, Cool Mom Picks, and everything that is blog rolled on Planet Awesome Kid.
A book - Happiest Toddler on The Block......GENIUS!
A recreational activity (w/or w/o kids) - We live in NYC, so museums, zoos, parks, restaurants, beach, trips! We go everywhere with Violet! I believe strongly in exposing your children to EVERYTHING.
A publication - Vogue Paris is my style bible. I worship Carine Roitfeld.
A toy - We love books. For the 1st year we could not live without the Whoozit.
Something that every parent should own - Baby Bjorn Soft Plastic Bib and Beaba BabyCook
JULIA THANK YOU!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 
The Landscape
Black or White 
Hidden World 
Shield of Wings 
