About Us

Founded by Sophie Mirman and husband Richard Ross, the first Trotters store opened its doors in October 1990 at 34 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4UD. 

Trotters was the first store dedicated solely to children. Catering from top to toe, and offering a fantastic range of clothes, shoes, books and toys, the store also boasts a magnificent hairdressing department with a giant fish tank. It truly is a one-stop shop and there is always a buzzing atmosphere. Shoes are always professionally fitted aboard the famous in-store Trotters Plane or Train.

We are still the same family-owned and run business as a quarter of a century ago, committed to providing excellent customer service and a fun shopping experience for both parents and children, though we've expanded to six stores in and around London as well as launching our online store.

Originally concentrating on the 0-8 age group, customer demand has led Trotters to increase this to 0-12 years. New ranges are introduced all the time as Trotters sources the best from all over the world. All of our clothing is exclusive to Trotters and you won’t find it anywhere else.

Our second store opened in April 1992 at 127 Kensington High Street, London, W8 and subsequently, stores have opened in Northcote Road, Turnham Green and outside of London in Guildford. In the Autumn of 2010 we opened our doors globally with the launch of our new website and in October 2012 we opened a brand new store in Westfield London. To see all our store locations, please click here.

As a team, Sophie and Richard were involved in the establishment of the Tie Rack in England and went on to create Sock Shop and thereafter Trotters. Sophie has won many awards including the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year, Marketing Woman of the Year and Motivator of the Year.

Since the beginning, our ethos has not changed: to provide superb quality and an excellent shopping experience for both parents and their children.

 

Our Promise

Our promise has not changed since we opened our first store in October 1990, remaining true to this day...

• We promise that our products are of the highest quality and value for money.
• We promise that our staff are specially trained where necessary to advise you in all areas in which we operate.
• Qualified hairdressers, trained shoe fitters and highly experienced sales staff will always be on hand to advise you and ensure that your shopping is enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
• We promise never to take you for granted and work as hard as we can to encourage your return visit.

 

The Trotters Family

Trotters Childrenswear is at its heart, a family-owned business with a mission to ‘make childhood memories for all’.

Since 1990 when our founders, partners Richard and Sophie, opened the doors of our first corner shop on the Kings Road our vision has been:

• To be committed, as the Trotters Family, to building trust and loyalty with our customers by offering the highest quality merchandise and delivering a genuine and unique experience.

Within our values we prioritise:

• Respecting each other: positively and professionally working together across the business and always setting a good example.
• Investing in our people: being committed to developing people and inspiring them to grow within the Trotters Family.

Today, as a family-owned business, our values and our people remain at the core of everything we do.

By remaining focused on building and developing partnerships with small artisan producers in Europe, we have a clear view of our supply chain and maintaining those values has been key to Trotters’ success. 

The majority of these producers have been working alongside us for over 15 years, with some partnerships established since the very beginning in 1990.  

Modern slavery, the deprivation of an individual’s liberty with the intention of exploitation, goes completely against our beliefs as a business which aims to put people before profit. We are fully committed to respecting and supporting the workers and their importance to our local and supply chain communities.

We are working collectively with our teams and suppliers to help manage and mitigate the risk of modern slavery from emerging within our supply chains and our own organisation. At Trotters, our approach to tackling modern slavery has been embedded and prioritised within the workings of our Sustainability Committee.

We remain committed to helping ensure everyone who is part of the wider Trotters family, in our UK locations or in our supply chain is respected, protected and is able to access support should they need it.

 

Sustainability

Building a sustainable business has been at the core of Trotters values since it first opened its doors in 1990.

By remaining focused on building and developing partnerships with small artisan producers in Europe, we have a clear view of our supply chain and maintaining those values has been key to Trotters’ success.

Quality is of paramount importance as we strive to produce garments that wash well, last longer and subsequently encourage a ‘hand-me-down’ culture, if the customer so wishes.

We are anything but fast, throwaway fashion.

All of our footwear and clothing is designed in the UK and made in Europe to our exacting standards. Each piece is manufactured in a safe and ethical environment and is delivered back to the UK by road, not air.

Our Hampton Canvas™ shoes have garnered admirers from all over the world, not only for their exceptional comfort but because they are Green Trade World Certified and made using 100% organic cotton and natural rubber.

Where possible, we are sourcing materials from the BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) which is the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. Their goals include reducing the environmental impact of cotton production via the use of less water and chemicals while improving the livelihoods and economic development in cotton producing areas.

We have been actively reducing and where possible, removing entirely the usage of plastics throughout our supply chain. This includes but is not limited to deliveries into our warehouse, distribution to our stores and partners as well as instore packaging and bags.

Our new paper bags are on track for delivery in Autumn ’21 and there are currently plans in place to upgrade our fleet to electric vans. We embrace new technology such as the recent launch of the Töastie Waterproof Raincoats which are made using around 14 recycled certified P.E.T plastic bottles.

We partner and donate product to the charity Baby Basics who are a volunteer-led project aiming to support new mothers and families who are struggling to meet the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby.

At its heart, our Sustainability Agenda is driven by a Steering Committee made up of passionate individuals committed to making sure that the Trotters business is sustainable and fit for future generations.