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Welcome Indie Designers to Children's Club Spring/Summer 2008; We'll Be Seeing More of You What do I admire about this crop of Children's Club (July 29-31, 2007) newcomers to the kidswear market? There's their enthusiasm for their collections, which, to me, is like a shot of adrenaline. The preparation they devoted to the launch of their lines is evident in their professionalism - everything from postcards to line sheets to booth designs was cohesive; and they're individuals. There's no doubt that these manufacturers know what's hot right this second, yet they produced collections with a strong, personal vision. Several, as you'll see below, exhibited unabashedly feminine pieces with no edgy attitude at all. That's refreshing.
INFANTS/TODDLERS MAKRISTA BABY Homebase: Delray Beach, FL DESIGNERS: Kirsty B. Golden Sizes: NB to 4T; Wholesale prices: Approximately $5.50-$16 Theme: Art for infants Golden is an artist who works in a palette of rich, vegetal tones such as wine, leaf green and pumpkin. Each of her cotton knit pieces is garment dyed and embellished with a patch that sports an animal drawing she designed. Turn the garment over and you'll find a saying that coordinates with the front. The piece below with lounging feline says, "Cat nap."
Favorites: The plush knit pieces, the original cat appliqué with its deconstructed edges and that lush color add up to one unique gift. Tel: 561-740-7035 E-mail: info@makristababy.com
SPORTSWEAR COOL CHANGE Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Rhonda Schole Sizes: 12 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $29-$42 Theme: Indonesian beach Schole designed the Calypso women's collection for nine years before launching her kid's line. Like the well-known store, Cool Change reflects a candy colored, tropical world with a touch of exotica.
Favorites: The loose, floaty shapes, soft coloring simple Indian motifs add up to elegant yet informal beach dressing. Tel: 212-929-0369 E-mail: sophia@cool-change.com
GRUB Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Aimee Grubel Sizes: 2 to 6; Wholesale prices: $27-$63 Theme: Sophisticated urban tones meet their match with funky, reversible separates New York-based designer Aimee Grubel has a successful women's collection Aimee G. Now she's launched Grub, her first collection for girls. The shapes are unique and what's best, they're reversible: two dresses in one.
Favorites: Dark, rich, decidedly urban hues get happy with this free spirited dress, or dresses. That's the same piece reversed. Tel: 212-465-0858 E-mail: info@aimeeg.net
PINQE Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Beetlejuice design team Sizes: 2 to 8; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Theme: Good clean fun The embellished, wildly colored Beetlejuice collection can be ideal for some retailers and too much of a good thing for others. The company's new line answers the need of buyers looking for a similar look with fewer frills.
Favorites: A gorgeous Art Nouveau print, puckers along the bodice, a ruffled hem and lovely, upraised floral embroidery. One more detail would be overkill. Tel: 212-944-0055 E-mail: info@beetlejuice.co.uk
SPECIALTY DRESSES BLUSH BY US ANGELS Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Miriam Jacob Sizes: 4 to 14; Wholesale prices: $43-$64 Theme: Ethereal chiffon dresses for a tween's special day
Favorites: A few sequins scattered on the bodice of this understated pale blue silk chiffon dress sparkle like tiny stars. The layers of fabric float gracefully around the body. It's a charming piece in a winner of a collection. Tel: 213-624-4477 E-mail: info@usangels.com
ENCHANTED ENFANT COUTURE Homebase: Fallsington, PA DESIGNER: Michele Brule Sizes: 2T-6; Wholesale prices: $26-$124 Theme: Modern fairytale In their words: Enchanted Enfant is "inspired by the idyllic beauty of Southern France - its perched hilltop villages, magical castles, empirical past and a most beautiful little French girl named Estelle." Brule bursts onto the kidswear scene with this enchanting collection of romantic dresses and separates in a pallete of "sandstone, cloud and sea." It's dreamy all right, right down to its couture linings, removeable aprons and corsets fit for a princess.
Favorites: Who says romance is over-rated? No one who takes a peek at these two detailed yet modern dresses. The sundress is pale dove and walks the line between special occasion and casual with the addition of deconstructed edges and a back that's as arresting as the front. Tel: 800-738-7418 E-mail: michelebrule@enchantedenfant.com
SPECIALTY DRESSES: TWEEN AND UP THE COLLECTION BY SARASARA Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Amy Chang Sizes: 7-16; Wholesale prices: $45-$76 Theme: Dresses made for dancing Think of the gay chiffon dresses of the Twenties, the gala balls of the Thirties and the debutante dances of the Fifties when women dressed to show off their beauty and nothing was too feminine. That's the mood that Chang's dreamy, floating dresses project.
Favorites: What girl wouldn't look lovely in the ethereal toile chiffon? Or the slinky black lace over the pale slip? Or that buttery silk with the jet beading? Tel: 213-624-7311 E-mail: wayne@sarasara.com
SINGLE GIRLS Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: The Single Girls design team Sizes: 7 to 16; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Theme: Special dresses for the modern teen. When girls want a dress for a special occasion, they have just that: special occasion wear that is lovely, but sometimes too glitzy. Single Girls' dresses reflect a hipper, modern vision.
Favorites: Limit the details and pop the prints for unforgettable night-on-the-town wear. Tel: 213-239-9933 E-mail: Michael@singledress.com
Originally published August 19, 2007
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