The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

As a new addition to the plethora of shops in Cairo, Australian brand, Pumpkin Patch, has always prided itself on fashionable, functional children’s wear since 1990. Now boasting over 190 stores worldwide, Pumpkin Patch has penetrated the Egyptian market, opening its first store in Heliopolis’ Sun City Mall.

Split into four clear sections, this shop stocks clothes for boys and girls aged six months to 11 years, and where the racks are neat and tidy, the shop has a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The clothes are largely bright and colourful, with gendered colours such as blue and pink appearing repeatedly. We found some pieces to be less playful and more chic than others, though, and many similar items were available in both the older and younger age ranges.

Polo shirts for boys (119LE) were available in stripey blue or grey, whilst novelty t-shirts featured slogans such as ‘surfer’ or ‘rock band’ (119LE). Cool, short sleeved, blue-striped button-up shirts were priced at 249LE, while trendy denim shirts were 239LE. Combat trousers as well as denim (169LE), skinny (239LE) and regular fit (199LE) jeans were available in numerous colours and featured elasticised waists for the younger boys. A smart sleeveless jumper, meanwhile, was available at 199LE and pin-striped shorts were 169LE.

For little girls, there was also plenty of choice; from day dresses and skirts to leggings and coloured skinny jeans. Soft cardigans were available in a range of colours and designs, including white and multi-coloured knit (239LE). T-shirts with frilly sleeves cost 139LE and white leggings with diamante detail at the ankle were 119LE, while similar pink ones were reduced from 119LE to 60LE as part of the Spring Sale. A pale pink skirt and pink combat trousers were also in the sale at 135LE, down from 269LE. Lemon yellow and blue floral girly day dresses were priced at 319LE, while a coral shift dress was 269LE and a bright red dress, adorned with white bird silhouettes and lace around the hem, was reduced from 369LE to 295LE.

Little lace up sneakers cost 239LE, slip-on plimsolls were 199LE and soft-soled floral shoes with grip were retailing at just 69LE. We also spotted a pair of gaudy baby socks for 59LE, a bright orange sun cap (199LE), headbands (69LE) as well as cute baby grows and a pair of pink dungarees (239LE), which would fit children under six months.

Pumpkin Patch succeeds in providing hard-wearing casual children’s clothes, which are fun, functional and reasonably priced. We’d class some pieces as more fashionable than others, but the majority of pieces are both bright and jolly.