|
|
Spring 2009: Children's Club Newcomers Traditionally, the August ENK Children's Club exhibition (August 3-5, 2008) doesn't yield lots of newcomers. This show was different. Not only were there more designers breaking collections than I could meet, the several that I talked to launched impressive startup lines. Keep your eyes on the newcomers below. They bring a fresh sensibility to the children's marketplace.
INFANT AND UP ACOUSTIC Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Ashleigh Snead Sizes: 3 months to 6T; Wholesale price: $14-$34 Acoustic is a new collection from the designer of Punkster. The aesthetic is similar: lots of mixed patterns and textured knits, subdued colors, Liberty prints, skinny jeans. Very European.
Outstanding offering: Snead mixes it up with Liberty prints and an adorable ruffled bloomer. Tel: 206-963-5279 E-mail: Ashleigh@niceshirtbaby.com
BIOME5 ORGANIC Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Becky Nix Sizes: NB to 6T; Wholesale price: $13-$14 The company's 100 percent organic, fine cotton Jersey T-shirts offer a guarantee of Fairtrade practices, a bold shot of color, and personalized letter graphics. Outstanding offering: A is for alligator and so on right up to zebra. Learning the alphabet was never this much fun. Tiny Ginger Showroom Tel: 646-645-9778 E-mail: Tinyginger@gmail.com
MIBEBE Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Anaclaudia Melhado Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale price: $10-$150 This is the kind of fine cotton and linen pieces, hand-worked with exquisite tone-on-tone embroidery, that one discovers tucked away in an attic.
Outstanding offering: The colors and handiwork on this delicate piece make it a gem. Tel: 646-243-9607 E-mail: acmelhado@yahoo.com
OM BEBE/OM BRAVO (organic) Homebase: Sausalito, CA DESIGNER: Devi Denson-Somers Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale price: $6.50-$20 Denson-Somers offers all-organic cotton knit collections of simply shaped pieces for girls and boys. The Om Bebe girls' line features sweet floral prints and the boys' Om Bravo selection of tees includes vintage style graphics and comfortable coordinating shorts and pants in sophisticated neutrals.
Outstanding offering: Great colors and details like the stripe edging on the cargo short give casual wear a little oomph. Tel: 415-332-3248 E-mail: devi@ombebe.com
TWELFTH STREET Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Lesley Masin Sizes: NB to 14 years; Wholesale price: $31-$97 Elegant and rock 'n roll, vividly colored and subdued, Masin covers all the bases in the multi-piece collection rife with wonderful patterns and textures to layer.
Outstanding offering: The bright kerchief print is a perennial favorite that looks just right sewn into this breezy sundress.
Who can resist this fine knit in the "notice me" shade of orchid? Tel: 213 225-2699 E-mail: Lesley@bycv.com
TODDLER AND UP HAZEL Homebase: Vernon, CA DESIGNER: Janet Cho Sizes: 2T to 6X; Wholesale price: $13-$38 Cho designs a women's collection of hip casual wear. The girls' line is her first for kids. Cho works in a palette of warm cocoa, cream and tan that lends an earthy richness to the delicate, vintage inspired pieces.
Outstanding offering: The cocoa knit top with lovely lace inserts, and the pretty flutter-sleeve peasant top paired with the fun tiered skirt epitomize chic, casual California dressing. Tel: 323-588-8857 E-mail: Robert.c@hazelclothes.com
REDFISH KIDS CLOTHING Homebase: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada DESIGNER: Lorraine Kitsos Sizes: NB to 8 years; Wholesale price: $14.50-$30 This mostly dress collection offers retailers clean, classic shapes in vivid prints with a strong Asian aesthetic. Boys' looks include great jeans, shorts and interesting tees.
Outstanding offering: The butterfly tunic can be worn solo or paired with the beautifully designed Fisherman Jeans. The pants close with a simple D-ring and have an interesting fold-over front. Tel: 604-733-8781 email: info@redfishkidsclothing.com
7 AND UP LOOP GIRLS Homebase: Villanova, PA DESIGNER: Kathy McGee Sizes: 7 to 16 years; Wholesale price: $12-$33 McGee offers older girls a look that's chic without the overtly sexy, sequins galore styles that often define Tweens into Juniors collections. The looks are beachy with a few fresh prints and clean, not heavily embellished shapes.
Outstanding offering: This playful patchwork halter dress is one of those easy pieces that you can throw on and go anywhere. It's all cotton lined too, so it's cool and comfortable. Tel: 610-525-2459 E-mail: Kathy.mcgee@comcast.net
DRESSES DE PLUME Homebase: Montclair, NJ DESIGNER: Natalya Logunova Sizes: 2 to 10 years; Wholesale price: $50-$100 When I walked into the De Plume booth my heart started pounding like a fifth-grader with a major crush. First the colors: all the creamy, dusty pastels, the shimmering silks, the touch of sequins. Everything was so understated, so delightful. And the shapes: easy-to-move-in yet undeniably special occasion wear. In her second season, Logunova, who's worked in the studios of high-profile designers such as Ralph Lauren, has entered the kids' market with a clear, welcome vision.
Outstanding offering: Quiet elegance defines this fine silk charmeus beauty. The bodice and skirt are different colors: the top watery aqua; the bottom dusty sky. The difference between the two shades is subtle so you're drawn in to discern the contrast. A few sequins give sparkle to the neckline and unusual folded pleat details on the shoulders, where the bodice and skirt meet and on the dress's back create a unique "ruffle."
The coat, also available in dusty pink and tan, has trench details but, with its full, pleated skirt and interesting buckles at the waist it's feminine too. Tel: 973-433-7427 E-mail: Sales@deplumecollection.com
RONALDO FRAGA Homebase: Brazil DESIGNER: Ronaldo Fraga Sizes: Wholesale price: $41-$195 Unusual fabrications and appliqués give this well-edited collection a one-of-a-kind look.
Outstanding offering: The puffed detail on the hand-stitched bouquet and bright pimento ground are childishly exuberant. The understated A-line shape keeps the look from going overboard. Menina Cute by Mastherr Corp. Tel: 305-365-8556 E-mail: Mast@meninacute.com
TORRES Homebase: Alicante, Spain DESIGNER: Jesus Amoros Sizes: NB to 14 years; Wholesale price: $45-$75 Amoros presented a collection of crisp cotton dresses that lean toward the traditional but are embued with modern touches. The quality of the fabric and workmanship is exceptional.
Outstanding offering: This dress sports a lot of detail: the deconstructed ruffle trim, the white collar and big bow, yet the shirt-waist front and the tailored red and white pinstriped cloth keep the look from getting fussy. A great success! Tel: 34 965 28 58 83 E-mail: Elisaan@teleline.es
BOYS MOONFLY Homebase: Las Vegas, NV DESIGNER: Kimberly Owen Sizes: 2T to 7 years; Wholesale price: $25-$85 The collection is based on "Moonfly: The Aerial adventures of Owen & his Captive Moon Balloon" written by Owen and beautifully illustrated by Steve Krall. It's a charming book with great graphics that appear in some of the line's items. Even without the book tie-in, Moonfly succeeds for its richly textured neutral separates and easy-to-move-in shapes.
Outstanding offering: the splatter printed tee and the deeply colored pants give casual dressing a bump up. Add the loose seersucker jacket and a boy's ready for a dinner date or birthday party. Tel: 702-806-9350 E-mail: Kim@summitsportswear.org
SWIMWEAR FLOATIMINI Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNERS: Sehee Kim and Eric Chang Sizes: 6 months to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $25-$30 In their first season, Kim and Chang have jumped into the game with a collection of swimwear that's unique to the market. Each suit possesses a vintage sensibility with plenty of flirty details. A winner!
Outstanding pieces: The 70s style, patriotic plaid, the jaunty ruffles on the generously skirted bottom, those rosettes at the top, are so much fun, so utterly "little girl" - without edging into cloyingly cute territory.
Something about the fluff of ruffles at the top, the skirt and that floral detail makes me want to laugh - then buy the suit! Tel: 212-302 -0111 E-mail: Floatimini@gmail.com
Originally published September 3, 2008
|
|
