|
|
New York International Gift Fair: Collections for a Better Planet - Part III
HATS AND ACCESSORIES: CHILDISH CLOTHING Homebase: Culver City, CA DESIGNER/ORIGINATOR: Skye Hoppus Sizes: 6 months to 7 years; Wholesale prices: hat $16, scarf $25 A local fair trade factory in Peru knits up 100 percent cotton scarves and hats with Hoppus' signature edgy color combinations and subversive skull motifs, as well as crowns, deer, and bolts of lightening.
Outstanding pieces: Hats and scarves don't have to be sweet or sporty. A little funk is welcome too. tel: 877.524.4534 email: info@childishclothing.com
DIAPER BAGS AND TOTES: LITTLE PACKRATS (CBHSTUDIO) Homebase: Groton, MA DESIGNER/ORIGINATOR: Cathy Berse-Hurley Wholesale prices: $7.50-$40 Berse-Hurley's totes with 3-D animal motifs are beloved by children. She's continued to portray the animal kingdom in a group of new backpacks.
Outstanding piece: The bag is missing the 3-D effect yet the sharp graphic and bold coloration is just as appealing. Tel: 978-449-0222 E-mail: Info@littlepackrats.com
THE PIGGY STORY Homebase: Van Nuys, CA DESIGNER/ORIGINATOR: Peiling Hwang Wholesale price for Lil' Diva Valise and Ramblin' Kid Suitcase: $18 solo, $28 with three items Hwang looks for creative solutions that encourage a child's imagination. For spring, the designer has thrown a bit of glamour into the mix.
Outstanding pieces: Packing for a sleepover party can be stressful if a child's gear is strewn all over the place. You won't have to look far with The Lil' Diva Valise, in a look-at-me shade of fuchsia. The suitcase holds a pillow, blanket and even an eye mask covered in Hwang's original prints for the diva's beauty sleep. Boys can opt for the same items in the Ramblin' Kid Suitcase. Both pieces are practical and make wonderful gifts. Tel: 818-908-8838 E-mail: Customerservice@thepiggystory.com
TOWELS AND TRAVEL MATS: AMERICAN TERRY CO. Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER/ORGINATOR: The American Terry Co. design team Sizes for hooded towel: 30" x 30," booties fit NB to 6 months; Wholesale price for four-piece Organic baby box: $27 plus $6 for name or initials Known for better terrycloth cotton robes and towels for adults and children, the company has added organic cotton items to the collection.
Outstanding pieces: The new Organic Baby Box holds one hooded towel made from the softest organic terry velour with coordinating burp and wash cloths and adorable booties. The items, in either pale sky blue or petal pink, are trimmed with cotton knit binding in fresh sprig green. The towels can be personalized, and the box, bound with a pretty print and elegant label, needs no further embellishment. Tel: 212-226-8040 E-mail: Info@americanterry.com
FUNKIE BABY Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER/ORIGINATOR: Cheryl Shonnard Size of travel mat: 40" x 60"; Wholesale price: $32 Customers love Funkie Baby bibs and travel mats for their practicality; they're oversized which means more gets covered, and they're lined with a soak-proof center so baby stays dry. They're attractive, too. Shonnard sources the cutest cotton prints and backs them with brushed cotton for softness.
Outstanding pieces: These light weight, super soft mats look as good as they feel. email: info@funkiebaby.com 510-568-6867
TOYS/DOLLS: LORALIN DESIGN Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Lynne Buchman Wholesale prices for dolls: $14 & $16 A great sense of color and a modern aesthetic defines Buchman's simple cotton apparel and giftware collection.
Outstanding pieces: These new hand-knit dolls with their sweet expressions and rich colors touch the heart without hammering the wallet. Tel: 917-664-0148 E-mail: Lynne@loralindesign.com
BLABLA Homebase: Atlanta, GA DESIGNER/ORIGINATOR: Florence Wetterwald Mini (12") and Large (18"-22") dolls: $17 and $22; Clothing sets fit large-sized dolls: $36, accessories: $9 There's a distinct look to the blabla collection. It's nostalgic: you'll feel an immediate kinship with the dolls and graphics, yet the pieces are clean, modern, and subtly colored.
Outstanding pieces: Soft sweaters, chic smocks, tunics, and rompers - all for dolls! I don't know what's cuter - the innocent hand knit dolls or their carefully coordinated wardrobes. This is the kind of gift that could make a kid put down her (or his) iPod. Karen Alweil Studio Tel: 213 746-5363
Originally published September 15, 2009
|
|
