Balu Hand painted children's wear began as a cottage industry in the early 90's, the Designer and Creator, Balu Searll Nivison painted sarongs, which she sold on the beach and children's wear for her friends. Eventually she had a small group of workers in her home, drying her artworks on the grass. Slowly she graduated to small premises in a factory in Salt River, Cape Town and then in 1995 as a small division in a large children's wear manufacturer.
Also in 1995 a hand painting center was established for the training of numerous unemployed, unskilled artists to hand paint every meter of fabric, including the base colors. Lynda Lyons, a graphic artist, headed up this new venture, managing the factory and together with Balu, training the staff to became "artists". All fabric is completely hand painted on p.f.d fabrics, there are no printing processes in her designs. This center now employs up to 30 artists to fulfill orders in excess of 1000 meters per day.
In l997, the Balu Design Center was created as a freestanding Division of Seardel Trading. Towards the end of 1996, Balu teamed up with two ex- South Africans who she met at the Birmingham Kids Exhibition and they were appointed as Distributors for the UK and Europe. Shortly thereafter, a school friend of Balu, a resident in Los Angeles, was appointed Distributor for the U.S.A. The Export business built since '97 now accounts for 80% of Balu's turnover.
Overseas retailers include John Lewis, Littlewoods, Fenwicks, Harrods and most recently the first order was taken from Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly. In the U.S.A. the Balu product is stocked in 12 Nordstoms stores, altogether between the U.K. and U.S.A. Balu has some 800 specialty stores stockists.
Agents have been appointed in Holland, Spain, Italy and Japan.

• Girl dress
• Girl sportswear