Twig outfits little sprouts in style

Brand new in Greenwood is an exclusive boutique with a modern outlook, a social conscience and a designer denim wall. Sorry, grown-ups, this one is just for kids.

Twig eschews the Babies 'R Us look in favor of a well-considered selection of apparel for the under-5 set. Owner Angela Johnson has stocked the store with local and international baby and children's clothing lines that are as forward-thinking as they are fashion-forward.

Organic, locally sourced and made, and philanthropic fashions get star billing here. Toms, makers of comfy, chic canvas slip-ons ($24), donates a pair of shoes to a child in South America or South Africa every time a pair is purchased. Imps & Elfs, a Dutch line available locally only at Twig, has clean lines and simple neutral colors, as well as fair-trade, child labor-free production processes. Baby Bean's girly tops and dresses ($60) are crafted from vintage fabrics; red carpet-worthy silk dresses by Ses Petits Mains ($112) add sweatshop-free flair.

Denim gets the designer treatment, too, with rockabilly-esque looks by Knuckleheads, Hollywood style from L.A.-based Kasil and more. Denim ranges from $40 for Little Travelers jeans to $100 for Kasil. Steep as that may sound, Johnson says it's worth it.

"Kasil denim is all about the details," she says. "The jeans are hand-distressed and have custom rivets, extra pockets with a bird stitched into the label and a little bit of Lycra for comfort and fit. They have an adjustable waistband and come long so they can be cuffed. As the child grows, so do the jeans."

The intimate space on Greenwood Avenue is painted a calming shade of robin's-egg blue. An uncluttered, sleek aesthetic prevails, with recycled plywood flooring squares and custom-forged metal racks. While there are a fair number of higher-priced items, clothes run a fairly reasonable $25 to $35 for tops and $40 to $70 for pants -- about what you'd expect to outfit the most fashionable baby on the block.

Twig is at 8317 Greenwood Ave. N.; 206-706-0810. Visit the store online at www.twigseattle.com.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company