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Clean Living: New York International Gift Fair - Wearables Part I For several seasons, manufacturers of children's giftware favored a style that fused retro modern prints and the strong colors of the 1950's to the 1970's with clean, uncluttered shapes. Stationery blended hand-crafted elements - hand printing for instance - with graphics of that same time period, and furniture referenced the Mid-Century with elegant, understated shapes, veneers and natural woods. While designers are still enthralled with Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, a sweeter take on vintage was apparent in some children's collections at the New York International Gift Fair (August 16-21, 2008). The look is still clean yet there is a naïve charm in the form of a few more ruffles, a touch of glitter on cards, and a return to the kinds of games and puzzles that were popular before anyone heard the words high tech.
APPAREL BABY STAR Homebase: Portland, OR DESIGNER: Dana Johnson Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale prices: $12-$24 Johnson, a purveyor of fine bibs, burp cloths and blankets, has dipped into apparel with the Little Dipper, a line of pattern driven layette wear. The simple cotton pieces, in a range of happy, modern prints, coordinate to the accessories, giving retailers plenty of merchandising opportunities.
Tel: 503-221-7827 E-mail: Sales@babystar.com
DIAPER DUDE Homebase: Santa Monica, CA DESIGNER: Chris Pegula Sizes: 3 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$13 Chris "the dude" Pegula now offers onesies and T-shirts with the same hipster vibe as his much-loved diaper bags. The tops, perfect for little dudes and dudettes, are colored in his signature dusty shades and printed with lucky fish and delicate cherry blossom branches.
Tel: 877-334-2737 / 213-622-6734 E-mail: Info@diaperdude.com
LAZY BONES Homebase: Byron Bay, Australia DESIGNER: Tracey Hocking Sizes: 12 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $18-$25 Hocking is a favorite among celebrities like Toni Colette and Natalie Portman who hoard her vintage inspired sports and sleepwear pieces. Now kids can get the star treatment with her collection of retro and retro-revived dresses and pajamas.
Class Showroom (Jacqueline Lee Rose) Tel: 213-365-8955 / 213.622.7078 E-mail: Jlr@classshowroom.com
LUCKY WANG Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Emily Wang Sizes: NB to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $14-$30 A sense of humor, a strong color sense and a penchant for clean lines make Lucky Wang giftware a must have for boutique retailers. The Kiku Wawa Playsuit provides baby with an extra layer of warmth thanks to its cozy fleece lining.
Tel: 212-229-2900 E-mail: wholesale@luckywang.com
SAM'S FRIEND, AND THEN THERE WAS JAKE (MY BOY SAM) Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Shelley Hunt Sizes: 12 months to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $14-$34 Happy animal motifs, cotton yarns and eye-catching colors are just a few reasons retailers are enamored with the Sam's Friend collection.
Tel: 212-967-2918 E-mail: Mbsskivvy@aol.com www.jamesgirone.com/samsfriend www.jamesgirone.com/andthentherewasjake
ZEBI Homebase: Windsor, CA DESIGNER: Stacy Phillips Sizes: 3 to 18 months; Wholesale price: $14 Phillips selects funky patterns for her bibs, burpies, tees and drawstring pants. Her Bum Covers are available in 11 modern prints with a large back pocket that closes with a western style snap. A hip gift for a hip baby.
Tel: 800-269-3512 E-mail: Stacy@zebibaby.com
BABY JAR Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Rachel Shapiro Sizes: 2 to 24 months; Wholesale prices: $12.50-$52 Baby JaR's collection of apparel and baby blankets is a little edgy and a little sweet. In other words, no matter how hip or traditional the parent is, a Baby JaR gift will be appropriate. Details such as thermal sleeves, faded tattoo-style motif, sophisticated chocolate and light blue combination as well as serged-edging give this layered tee great dimension.
Tel: 888-422-4527 E-mail: Info@babyjar.com
T-SHIRTS AND GIFT SETS: WRY BABY Homebase: Mooresville, NC DESIGNERS: Kelly and David Sopp Sizes: NB to 12 months; Wholesale prices: Approximately $19 The folks who gave you such highbrow gifts as "Extra Nipples" and the "Wry Baby Hairdo Maker" now offer a collection of organic apparel and organic bath products from Bath by Bettijo. The long-sleeve tee printed with several organically inspired graphics and coordinating leggings are 100 percent SKAL certified and are colored with water-based inks. Don't worry. The Sopp's haven't lost their sense of humor. Slogans include "Ask Me About my Compost Pile," and "Thanks For All The Global Warming."
Tel: 704-660-6955 E-mail: Wholesale@wrybaby.com
THE BABY BUNCH Homebase: New York DESIGNER: Bryony Boxer Sizes: NB to 6 months; Wholesale prices: $10 for two "cupcakes"; $17 for four "cupcakes" Here's a delicious gift from the designers of the Baby Bunch, a "bouquet" of cotton tees, leggings and hats. The "cupcakes" are rolled into a paper wrapper and served in a charming polka dot bakery box. Each tee is appliquéd with a fruit, vegetable or flower and are "iced" in pink, yellow, pale blue and white.
Tel: 877-456-2229 E-mail: Sales@thebabybunch.com
Originally published October 10, 2008
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