Maison Kitsuné and French children’s label Bonpoint have teamed on a preppy capsule collection for babies and children, marking the latest step in creative director Abigail Smiley-Smith’s efforts to sharpen and elevate the fashion positioning of the Kitsuné brand.

The collaboration, titled “Cherry Planning,” blends Bonpoint’s heritage in luxury childrenswear with Maison Kitsuné’s graphic and cultural references, offering a wardrobe of striped shirts, shirtdresses, workwear jackets, gabardine shorts and skirts alongside playful accessories.

“This collaboration brings together two French houses with distinct but complementary design codes. Bonpoint has a deep expertise in children’s construction and fabrics, and we approached the project by integrating Maison Kitsuné’s graphic language and tailoring references into that framework,” Smiley-Smith told WWD.

Smiley-Smith, who joined the French-Japanese house Maison Kitsuné last September after more than two decades at brands including Calvin Klein, Chloé and Stella McCartney, has been tasked with bringing greater cohesion and refinement to the brand while reinforcing its broader lifestyle universe, which spans fashion, cafés, music and a club in Bali.

“What interested me was the cultural dialogue. Bonpoint has an extraordinary legacy, and we approached it with respect bringing a contemporary lens without disrupting its elegance. It’s about evolution, not reinvention,” Smiley-Smith said.

Inspired by cherry blossom season and the symbolic ties between Paris and Tokyo — a longstanding theme for Maison Kitsuné — the collection features allover cherry and fox motifs, embroidered patches and striped poplin pieces, along with accessories including caps, belt bags and a plush Cherry Fox toy.

“Rather than designing ‘children’s fashion,’ we approached this as a real wardrobe. Structured shirting, workwear jackets, striped poplin…all reinterpreted with lightness and wit. It’s preppy, but with a twist,” she added.

For Bonpoint — and its famous cherry logo — the collaboration reflects an ongoing strategy of refreshing its heritage codes while appealing to new generations of customers.

“At Bonpoint, we are always looking for ways to reinterpret our heritage while remaining true to the spirit of childhood. Collaborating with Maison Kitsuné allowed us to explore that balance, creating a collection that feels both refined and full of the vitality and freedom that define children today,” said Bonpoint chief marketing and digital officer Gala Sarmini Kressmann.

The capsule marks one of the first collaborations under Smiley-Smith’s creative direction as she works to position Maison Kitsuné as a more refined and cohesive fashion house within its wider cultural ecosystem. Speaking to WWD, Smiley-Smith said she wants to continue the house’s successful collaboration strategy, while expanding into new categories.

The collection, priced between 45 and 245 euros, will launch March 31 in Bonpoint and Maison Kitsuné boutiques and online, and features pieces in size ranges for newborns, babies and children.

Maison Kitsuné returned to the official Paris Fashion Week calendar after a seven-year absence with a well-received presentation in January.