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New Collections Are Born at Bubble: One Launch at a Time - Part I Bubble - The Kids Trade Show has relocated. The exhibition's founders Florence Rolando and Vanessa Boz moved the show from an airy loft space in Chelsea, to the ground floor of an industrial building (Terminal Stores) in the same New York neighborhood. Vendors were pleased with the placement of booths along the corridor that contained the show. Like the space that housed the collections, Bubble's indie designers offered upscale, modern lines with a strong personal aesthetic. Below are new collections to keep your eye on.
INFANT AND UP LAYETTE NURTURED BY NATURE Homebase: Auckland, New Zealand DESIGNER: Nurtured by Nature design team Sizes: Girls and boys Preemie to 12 months; Wholesale prices: $14-$50 Is wool for babies an oxymoron? Not when the wool is silky, cool to the touch, non-irritating Merino. The designers fashion the wool or all cotton yarns into classic pieces in a not overly sweet range of blue, pink, lilac, celery and neutrals.
Outstanding piece: The dress and boy's outfit are perfectly classic yet the slightly offbeat coloring lends a fresh edge. Tel: +64 9 4799 835 E-mail: claudiaz@nurturedbynature.co.nz
SPORTSWEAR AMELIA Homebase: Milan, Italy DESIGNER: Katrin Arens Sizes: Girls and boys NB to 8 years; Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer It takes a modernist like Arens who was known for recycled wood furniture designs before turning to kidswear, to appreciate the single, well-placed detail.
Outstanding piece: Arens' baby collection is a "search for poetic expression." With this little jumper, I think she's found it. Tel: +39 289 01 37 28 E-mail: info@ameliamilano.it
BABY BEAN VINTAGE DAYWEAR Homebase: Dallas, TX DESIGNER: Christine Visneau Sizes: Girls 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $30-$38 Visneau understands the single tenant of vintage designs: you don't distract from great prints by adding lots of detail.
Outstanding pieces: You don't need more than that hit of print at the neckline for impact. Well, the contrasting print diaper covers don't hurt. Tel: 214-498-2326 E-mail: Christine@babybeanwear.com
CHICKPEA KID Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Emily Spray Sizes: Girls and boys NB to 4T; Wholesale prices: $18-$49 Entering Spray's booth was like leaving a Richard Meir building and opening a gate onto an English garden in full bloom. I could feel the rich red, pumpkin, turquoise and fuchsia tones lifting my spirits. Her narrow shoes and boots are available in bright or classic tones too.
Outstanding piece: Richly colored A-lines are ideal for a day at MOMA. Tel: 917-573-2504 E-mail: espray@verizon.net
FERD Homebase: Princeton Junction, NJ DESIGNER: Jennifer Connaughton Sizes: Girls and boys 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $18-$78 Connaughton offered a diminutive collection of casual pieces in charcoal, black and taupey brown and sparked the line with bright pimento. She employs prints but keeps their scale small so the piece - like a modern dot and dash pattern - mixes easily with menswear wovens and mini stripes. A lot of thought went into making the items easy to merchandise.
Outstanding pieces: That top looks layered but it's one easy to pop on piece. The elegant mix of stripes look great over the simple, well-cut Jersey pants or any of the pinstripe pieces in the line.
The boy's shirt is patterned, the pants are pinstripes and the vest adds still more pattern. All together, the look is understated. The black corduroy jacket in the chic racing shape will work with anything in a boy's closet. Tel: 609-799-8448 E-mail: sales@ferdkids.com
Originally published April 4, 2008
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