John baby clothes in UK next year
Inspector Weirenbach of the Yard
Lennon's art for his son is the latest in babywear
By Oliver Poole
The Art of John Lennon
PICTURES drawn by John Lennon for his son Sean will decorate a range of
children's clothes and other items to be sold in Britain next year.
The range, which may be stocked by Mothercare, includes romper suits, bibs and
pyjamas as well as baby chairs and toys, will be emblazoned with elephants,
monkeys and smiley faces drawn by the late Beatle. They also feature a logo
incorporating Lennon's signature and a self-portrait with long hair and his
trademark round spectacles which he drew at the height of his flower-power
campaigning.
William Carter, an American company manufacturing children's clothing, first
launched the pastel-shaded babywear in the United States last year after
signing a £10 million deal with Bag One Arts, the guardians of Lennon's estate.
The items are now on sale at 2,000 stores across America.
Bridget Beaudoin, a William Carter official, said Lennon drew the pictures to
help teach drawing and reading to Sean, who is now 25 and pursuing his own
music career, following in the footsteps of his father and elder brother
Julian. John, an art college student before he founded The Beatles, was shot
dead by a stalker outside his New York home in 1980. In the years after Sean
was born in 1975, John adopted a house-husband role, taking on the main
responsibility for bringing up the boy.
The drawings were created as he played with his son and undertook the first
stages of Sean's education. They include a blue monkey sitting in the branch of
a tree and talking on a telephone, winking fish, a pink elephant in a double
bed, and an owl driving an antique car.
Ms Beaudoin said that Lennon would draw the pictures and then ask his son to
suggest titles for them, which Lennon would write on the bottom. They included
names such as A Bird Dreaming for a see-through bird, A Duck Ducking under a
picture of a duck with its head under water, and A Turtle winning by a Hare for
a picture of the race between the tortoise and the hare.
Ms Beaudoin said: "They are beautiful pictures which show the feelings John had
for his son." She thought that the clothing would appeal to many parents,
especially those who grew up in the Sixties and Seventies.
The range is called Real Love, after a lost Lennon song which was later
included on The Beatles Anthology collection. The publicity for it will be
illustrated with numerous photographs of John playing with Sean. The clothes
are designed for youngsters up to the age of six, although a second range for
older children may be launched later.
Final details for the launch on the British market are currently being worked
out. Negotiations are under way with retailers including Mothercare, Toys R Us
and Marks and Spencer. The range is being licensed in this country by a
London-based company, The Partnership.
Mothercare, which is understood to have been considering stocking the items for
some time, met company officials on Friday. A Mothercare spokesman said: "We
are interested." Ms Beaudoin said: "The pictures are not only on the clothing
but also lots of lifestyle products so that people can have their whole room
decorated."
These include soft toys, photograph holders, wallpaper and a "snowstorm"
ornament. Ms Beaudoin: "People send me pictures of their babies' nurseries and
it's all Lennon It's amazing."
- - - - - -
The Few, The Proud, The Short.
The Stumpettes.
Lennon Snowstorm Ornament
:)
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