Mini Spotlight: Le Petit Bonbons
In Conversation With Sonia Gindi of Le Petit Bonbons
Le Petit Bonbons is a thoughtfully curated children’s shop rooted in nostalgia, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Founded by Sonia Gindi, the collection blends vintage finds and handmade pieces inspired by generations past and designed for modern childhood. We sat down with Sonia to talk about sourcing, sentiment, and the eras that continue to shape her vision:
You began Le Petit Bonbons with a very personal backstory. What is the most unexpected treasure you have discovered while sourcing vintage?
I began sourcing vintage when my first daughter was almost two, right when she started wearing clothing my mother had saved from my own childhood. That was the moment it clicked for me. Pieces from that era were simply made differently. The fabrics, stitching, and attention to detail felt intentional and lasting.
Some of my most exciting finds have been designer pieces like vintage Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, but I am equally drawn to classic Levi’s. They may feel like opposites, but they are connected by the same eras, mainly the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. What makes them treasures is the craftsmanship you can see and feel, and the idea of children wearing something once loved by another generation.
If Le Petit Bonbons had a signature mood, what would it be?
Le Petit Bonbons feels like spring. Whimsical, playful, and full of possibility. I imagine sun-warmed fabrics, delicate florals, and eyelet lace moving in the breeze. It is children running through gardens, long afternoons outside, picnics and tea parties. The pieces are romantic but not precious. Lace feels lived-in, frills are meant to move, and everything is designed for children to truly live in, not just pose. That sense of joy and childhood magic is at the heart of the shop.
You started with pieces from your own childhood wardrobe. Is there anything you kept purely for sentimental reasons?
Those original pieces were never meant to be sold. They live with us as keepsakes and serve as inspiration for everything I do. The same goes for the vintage fabrics passed down from my grandmother. Those are family pieces, and I keep them for my four daughters. Instead of using those, I source fabrics with a similar history and spirit to create handmade pieces for Le Petit Bonbons. The family pieces remain a story to pass down, not to sell.
What details are you always drawn to when sourcing or designing children’s pieces?
I notice details first. Ditzy florals, delicate lace, eyelet, scalloped edges, and flowing dresses. Fabric is everything to me. I am drawn to textiles that feel substantial and timeless. Soft palettes keep reappearing too. Pinks, ivories, whites, pastels. I love layering textures, pairing lace with eyelet, ruffles with something simple. Over time, those elements have naturally become the signature of Le Petit Bonbons.
If you could time travel with the shop, which era would you bring into the current collection?
I would not choose just one. I am most inspired by the late ’70s through the ’90s, when children’s clothing felt romantic, thoughtful, and built to last. Those decades often referenced even earlier eras, which gives the pieces a true heirloom quality.That blend of femininity, craftsmanship, and wearability continues to shape both the vintage pieces I source and the handmade designs I create today.
Explore Sonia Gindi’s carefully collected world of childhood treasures at
Photo courtesy of Le Petit Bonbons
Photo courtesy of Le Petit Bonbons
Photo courtesy of Le Petit Bonbons
Photo courtesy of Le Petit Bonbons
