Retro strollers: stylish options for newborns
Many people now consider childhood to be the best period of their lives, when life flowed smoothly and measuredly, and the world around was full of discoveries and new impressions. Nostalgia for those carefree days often influences taste preferences when shopping, especially when the long-awaited firstborn appears in the family. It is not surprising that retro carriages for newborns that remind young parents of their own childhood are now becoming increasingly popular.
What is retro style?
Usually, the retro style includes any items, the design of which imitates the fashion trends of the past, especially from the end of the XIX - mid XX centuries. Most often, in terms of practicality, such things are inferior to modern counterparts, but they look much more beautiful.
Clothing, cars, music and retro-style furniture are now becoming more and more popular, as they distinguish their owner among the crowd in this age of “soulless plastic”, when the entire design is subordinated to practicality, and the fashionable flagships of smartphones from different companies look exactly the same.
The reasons for the popularity of strollers for newborns in retro style
Most modern young parents grew up in the 80–90s of the last century and managed to live in the USSR or catch the things of those times in everyday life. In times of shortage, it was considered “to get” something imported that was particularly chic, so most young families then tried to get the strollers of the Zekiwa company produced in the GDR by hook or by crook. In addition to prestige, those strollers were trite easier and more convenient than the Soviet counterparts. When the children who rolled in the “zekivs” grew up and became parents themselves, they bought wheelchairs for their newborns that reminded them as much as possible about their own childhood.
And demand, as Adam Smith proved in the 18th century, certainly creates supply. Not surprisingly, the number of retro wheelchairs on the market is growing steadily. Carriages for newborns are especially often used in retrostyle, because strollers with a sitting seat appeared much later than cradles and already bear an imprint of mass production in their design.
Interestingly, from the industry of children's transport, vintage fashion has spread to children's toys. For example, there is a toy carriage for dolls Wakart Monica, made in retro style.
The advantages of retro strollers
Carriages in the “retro” style are almost always more beautiful than their competitors in the “modern” style, so young parents may not be afraid that the ugly pram will spoil their image while walking, and the child will be accustomed to beauty from the earliest years. But not only the aesthetic qualities of vintage children's transport led to its success.
Most often, such strollers belong to the medium-high price segment, which means that the materials and technologies used in them make it possible to provide the child with comfort and safety, which is especially important in the first year of life. Often these strollers are manufactured by firms that have been operating in the market for over a hundred years.
Along with modern materials, retro products often use classic ones like wood and natural fabric, which will please eco-design connoisseurs. Another important advantage of vintage strollers is the classic shape of the chassis and large, robust wheels.that provides good cushioning, stability and safety of children's transport in this style.
Retro style strollers
The concept of budget is poorly applicable to design things, but, as in any assortment of goods, there are models whose cost is much lower than that of counterparts. Prices for baby retro strollers of the conditionally budget segment start at $ 400, and are produced by manufacturers from China and Poland.
Among the variety of such models, it is worth noting the Polish Lonex Classic Retro with a cradle of grapevine trimmed with natural linen. This model is not much more expensive than conventional strollers for newborns, its main two drawbacks - a weight of 18 kg and poor insulation.
Another Polish stroller, DorJan Retro Irys, also looks stylish, the model with 17-inch wheels is especially good.
Very interesting line of strollers Reindeer Retro, designed in Germany and assembled in Poland. Such strollers, despite the environmental and vintage style, are already quite warm and adapted to the harsh Russian winters. A 3 in 1 format combines high modern technology with classic reliability.
Chinese competitors are not far behind the Slavs - the Geoby Katarina model is a typical 2 in 1 variant with a stylish fabric carrycot and comfortable walking unit.
Retro - modern
Among all the vintage models of children's transport, the production of Bebecar, a Portuguese company, made of grapevine and textiles, stands alone.
The "chip" of the retromodels of this manufacturer is the ability to independently choose the color of any of its details and even use its own pattern for it.
With the proper taste of the customer, this option allows you to create eclectic combinations of retrodesign and modern color solutions. The cost of such a truly designer stroller is in the range from 500 to 1000 dollars.
Elite retro strollers for newborns
Most popular now retro wheelchairs belong to the high price segment and combine fashionable design and the highest quality workmanship. A large part of such children's transport is still being assembled by hand. Such strollers are manufactured by the company of the old Europe - Great Britain, Germany and Italy.
The main manufacturer of retro-wheelchairs can, without any doubt, be called the English company Silver Cross, which has been on the market for over 130 years. The Silver Cross Balmoral stroller is a real royal carriage for children with huge 50 cm wheels weighing a solid 37 kg. In such a wheelchair, you can go straight to the ball. It is such a masterpiece from $ 3000.
Significantly more modest prices for models of German and Italian manufacturers. So, the price of a classic vintage cradle from the Italian manufacturer Inglesina Classica will be from 700 to 1000 dollars, depending on the configuration. The Italian model flaunts cotton trim, a large hood, adjustable backrest height, the possibility of installing a walking module and impeccable design.
Made in Germany
German products for the most part are distinguished by a less elaborate design, slightly better reliability and a large selection of finishing materials. So, Eichhorn Senator can be supplied with textile, natural leather or leatherette trim. The famous German quality in this model is complemented by shock absorbers on the belts. Depending on the configuration, the cost of the "senator" will be up to $ 1,000.
Another German retro stroller Teutonia Elegance is distinguished by a bottom made of eco-fans, which improves ventilation.
Finally, Hesba Kinderwagen boasts a hand-assembled and a huge number of accessories included in the kit. It would not be an exaggeration to say that German wheelchairs are analogous to German cars in the children's transport market.
Stroller from childhood
Apart from all the manufacturers of vintage wheelchairs, there is one German company - the very Zekiwa, whose products are associated with so many fond memories of modern parents.Over the past more than 50 years, the company has only strengthened its position in the global market and now also offers the retro stroller Zekiwa Senator.
Its features are a twisted body of willow vine, a light weight of 17 kg relative to competitors and a budget price of $ 500. Therefore, modern kids can ride in an improved version of the same stroller, in which their parents once drove.
Nevertheless, choosing a children's transport, you do not need to focus only on the brand. It is necessary to carefully read the reviews on each of the models and make a choice, based on their own needs and opportunities.
On the pros of the stroller under the "old" can be viewed in the next video.