Sylvanian Families unveils world's smallest fashion show

EPOCH making toys – the company behind collectible toy brand Sylvanian Families – is launching its new Town range by creating the world’s smallest fashion show, unveiled today at Hamleys Regent Street. A UK-wide experiential roadshow tour with intu shopping centres will follow in April.

The fashion stunt, devised by Bath-based agency Highlight PR, comprises two miniature automated catwalks on which Sylvanian Families figures (just 9.5cm tall) will model 40 ‘petite’ haute couture outfits. Handmade by EPOCH’s R&D designers in Japan specifically for the launch, these eye-wateringly small outfits feature couture quality details and will be presented as ‘the debut Spring Summer Collection’ of the Town’s main character, Stella the fashion designer.  

Handmade by EPOCH’s R&D designers in Japan specifically for the launch, these eye-wateringly small outfits feature couture quality details and will be presented as ‘the debut Spring Summer Collection’ of the Town’s main character, Stella the fashion designer.  

Over 30 London fashion press and guests are attending today’s launch, together with child look-alikes of Anna Wintour, The Queen and Karl Lagerfeld on the FROW.

Whilst one catwalk is part of a double window display at Hamleys Regent Street until 2 May, the second catwalk will tour the UK as a key attraction within EPOCH’s experiential roadshow – a national partnership with intu shopping centres to launch the Town across the UK.

Devised by Bournemouth-based brand communications agency, Mad River, the Sylvanian Families Town roadshow kicks off at intu Trafford Centre on 31 March (Easter Saturday). It will comprise a branded area with purpose-built life-size replicas of the Town buildings’ facades and street lamps. Once inside, Sylvanian fans and intu customers can see and play with the new products, watch the new Town characters perform on stage and admire the miniature fashion show. To drive consumer engagement, there will be a themed selfie corner and craft activities, with a competition to become ‘Stella’s intern’ by designing a dress for her next collection.

The roadshow will also visit intu Metrocentre, intu Merryhill and intu Lakeside during April.

Yuki Otsuka, Marketing Manager at EPOCH making toys, comments:

“This is the largest product launch in the history of Sylvanian Families, so we wanted to create maximum awareness not just amongst our core customer base but also within a broader target audience to attract the next generation of fans. We’ve therefore designed an integrated campaign across multiple channels, and we hope our unique miniature catwalk will be an exciting element, from a PR, experiential and consumer engagement perspective. As a fashion-lover myself, I’m amazed by the details of the tiny, couture outfits within Stella’s collection - I’m sure everyone is going to love them too!”

To support the above and drives sales within this initial launch period, EPOCH has secured over 700 TVRs for its TV campaign which runs from now until 8 April. These adverts will promote the Town’s hero products comprising the Grand Department Store, Designer Studio (run by Stella Chocolate) and Ride Along Tram.

A digital marketing campaign will run alongside, targeting websites and YouTube. Finally, new Town-themed in-store gondolas are being fitted into retailers nationwide over the next three months.

ENDS

Image caption: Rufus Rumford, aged 8, Connie Davies, aged 10, and Chloe Sweeting, aged 9, dressed as Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour and The Queen sit front row at the opening of the world’s smallest fashion show, celebrating the launch of the new Sylvanian Families Town at Hamleys Regent Street in London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday March 22, 2018. Photo credit should read: Matt Alexander/PA Wire.