Spring 2004: New at the Children's Club August Show
- Spring 2004 brought new energy and
optimism to the ENK Children's Club show. More upstarts
exhibited promising lines, and, while the attendance was
down, buyers placed orders.
Last spring's hippie peasant looks have undergone a transformation. Ruffles are still the rage but they're subtle and used with discretion. In 12 months Vintage Boho became downtown Soho.
- HOT ITEM
COLORS OF LOVE
DESIGNER: Romona Mennillo
Romona Mennillo's Colors of Love collection of bracelets for children was the hottest new accessory at the show. Each light blue, pink, red, white, yellow or black band can be accessorized with a child's name. The letters are studded with pink or clear rhinestones, simple silver letters, 50's inspired white letters on red or blue ovals, or silver rectangles with the letter cut out.
Sizes: Bracelets fit infants through teens. Wholesale price: $194 buys a clear Lucite display case, 18 bracelets in assorted colors and 78 letters.
- Outstanding Pieces: The light blue band with large, clear rhinestone letters. My tweenage daughter hasn't taken hers off.
- 240 S.W. 12th Avenue
- Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
- Tel: (800) 422-3323/(954) 422-9959
- E-mail: lullterri1@aol.com
SPORTSWEAR
BABY YA YA
DESIGNER: Michele Keeler
In the 1970's fashionable hostesses served hors d'oeuvres in outfits like the lovely, gauzy embroidered pieces in Michele Keeler's Baby Ya Ya collection. The halter-tops are scattered with hand-worked roses and the skirts are long and drapey.
Sizes: Newborn to 14. Wholesale prices: $13-$30.
- Outstanding Piece: The pink embroidered dress layered over the long skirt. Feminine yet not fussy. Bianca Jagger would approve.
- 6279 Ivarene Avenue
- Los Angeles, CA 90068
- Tel: 323-461-2205
- E-mail: wholesale@babyyaya.com
- www.babyyaya.com
EMANUELLA
DESIGNER: Susana Monaco
This carefully edited collection of butter-soft knits and cashmere with its simple solids and clean-lined designs make dressing baby a snap. The knits are made of Supplex a nylon that feels like fine cotton but won't shrink in the washer or dryer.
Sizes: 3-24 months. Wholesale prices: $15-$70.
- Outstanding Pieces: She'll have mom wrapped around her finger in this tiny wrap dress. Worn with matching boot cut leggings - it's a heart stopper.
- 263 West 38th Street
- New York, NY 10018
- Tel: 212-398-4243 X17
- E-mail: sandrac@susanamonaco.com
- www.susanamonaco.com
GOVANGO
DESIGNERS: LILY AND BARRY VAN GERBIG
Classic cottons in bright pink, lime green or lemon yellow are not for the feint of heart. This is the line for kids who swing a racquet before they take their first steps.
Sizes: 2T-14. Wholesale prices: $10-$32.
- Outstanding Pieces: The sun dresses and camp shirts are as bracing as a good martini.
- 325 West 38th Street, Suite 802
- New York, NY 10018
- Tel: 212-279-8964
- E-mail: amyb1224@aol.com
JOTTUM
Tina Rodrigues of Children@Play, Jottum's U.S. importer, exhibited one of the hippest collections at the show. Jottum's Belgium-based designers had every trend working - layers, ruffles, vertical gathers - but each outfit looked understated. The color palette - beige, cream, a mauvy cocoa and a clean, light blue - makes mixing and matching child's play.
Sizes: 6 months-12 years. Wholesale prices: $17.50-$123.
- Outstanding Piece: The mauvy cocoa knit, ruffle trimmed shrug over a vertically gathered skirt striped in beige, dusty blue and cocoa. The colors keep the details from being overpowering.
- Children@Play
- 51 Shelley Avenue
- Hartsdale, NY 10530
- Tel: 914-686-7544
- E-mail: info@childrenatplay.com
- www.childrenatplay.com
LOURDES
DESIGNER: Lourdes Paterna
This new collection from Spain features cotton dresses with a touch of whimsy.
Sizes: infant through toddler Wholesale prices: $15-$45.
- Outstanding Piece: The pale pink cotton shift with a hand-screen floral pattern. The bit of detail adds punch to the design.
- Kids Eurofashion
- 56 Flora Street
- Milford, CT 06460
- Tel: 203-874-5766
- email: info@kidseurofashion.com
- www.kidseurofashion.com
LUI & LEI
Brenda Weinberger of Bella Rose Imports, exhibited Lui & Lei a collection of simple linen pieces manufactured in Italy. Fine tailoring and discreet details give the collection a stylish edge.
Sizes:12 months-16 years. Wholesale prices: $18-$65 for a two-piece outfit.
- Outstanding Piece: The blue linen dress with white detail on the bodice. The color is vibrant yet not harsh and the white piping adds just the right feminine sparkle.
- 206 Rutledge Street
- Brooklyn, NY 11211
- Tel: (718) 302-3810
- E-mail: bellaroseimports@aol.com
PAMMIE B.
DESIGNER: Lily Aldana
Tessutio Kids by Tessuto has a reputation for exhibiting junior dresses and separates with just the right flirty charm. This season they've added Pammie B. by Lily Aldana, a collection of dresses, tops and gorgeous skirts. The skirts are slim through the hips with generous skirts for a flattering fit. Touches such as a sheer ruffle peeking from under the hem and rickrack around the skirt's yoke add to this group's appeal.
Sizes: 7-16. Wholesale prices: $15-$55.
- Outstanding Piece: The black linen halter-top with ribbon detail paired with a silky, white skirt printed with vivid polka dots. The look has a lot of spunk.
- 110 East Ninth Street, Suite A677
- Los Angeles, CA 90079
- Tel: 213-612-4485
- E-mail: tessutio@aol.com
RUFIO KIDS
DESIGNER: Rufio design team
August marked the debut of this collection of better-coordinated sportswear. The shapes are unconstructed with baggy cuffed pants, loose tunics over wide leg pants and crinkled, multilayered linens. Colors like dusty blue, beige, cream and deep red are lightened by tiny floral prints.
Sizes: Wholesale prices: $8.50-$84.75.
- Outstanding Pieces: The wrap sweater over a denim skirt with a ruffled bustle. Back interest at its best.
- 1 Westland Square
- Pearse Street
- Dublin 2
- Ireland
- Tel: +353 1 881 4015
- E-mail: info@rufiokids.com
- www.rufiokids.com
-
- KNITS
- EYESPY BABY
- DESIGNER: Rowan Mestecky
- You can't walk past sales rep Janice Fidler's candy shop of a booth without smiling. Her collections are bright, playful and make irresistible gifts. Mestecky's new collection for Fidler features knits in simple shapes that flash rich, happy colors in off beat combinations. One glance at a child in an Eyespy sweater paired with Tamara Henriques polka dots boots and you can skip Prozac forever (or at least a week).
- Sizes: NB-4 . Wholesale prices: $20-$48.
- Outstanding Pieces: The sweater with horizontal stripes in cool blues and lime with a burnt orange collar. Only a confident colorist would add the warm accent.
- 1 Green Place
- Newport, RI 02840
- Tel: 617-838-5279
- E-mail: info@eyespystyle.com
- www.jamesgirone.com/eyespykids
T-SHIRTS
CHRIS CARTER
DESIGNER: Chris Carter
Chris Carter made her debut with simple t-shirts sporting phrases like: Sleeping through the night; Eating solid food; and Crying is for babies. Wishful thinking, Chris.
Sizes: infant-6 months to 24 months; toddler-2T-6. Wholesale prices: $10-$12.
- Outstanding Pieces: The his and her T-shirts that say Miss. Congeniality or Mr. Congeniality. You can't go wrong with this gift unless the kid's a real whiner.
- 11852 Gorham Ave., Ste. 3
- Los Angeles, CA 90049
- (310)780-3673
- Email: info@chriscarterla.com
- www.chriscarterla.com
ROBES
KASHWERE
DESIGNER: Kashwere design team
Chenille robes are deliciously soft but they can be heavy. Kashwere - a new collection of robes, blankets, hats and jackets - uses a new microfiber called Kashwere. The fiber is lighter than standard chenille and won't pill, shrink or wrinkle. After a stint in the clothes dryer a Kashwere garment becomes softer and more luxurious.
Sizes: 3-12 months. Wholesale prices: $6-$27.
- Outstanding pieces: The pretty pastels robes and jackets. They're light, warm, and soft enough to sleep in.
- 2908 Oregon Court I-5
- Torrance, CA 90503
- Tel: 310-328-8818
- E-mail: allyn@kashwere.com
- www.kashwere.com
SHOES AND ACCESSORIES
KISS MY FEET
DESIGNER: Nancy Bunting
Here's a two-for-one deal: Kiss My Feet sandals give a child's legs a work out and delight their eyes. Designers in the Kiss My Feet studio hand-paint brightly colored strawberries, stripes, sailboats and other happy motifs on the wooden bases of Dr. Scholl's sandals. Kids will love them.
Sizes: 12-4. Wholesale prices: $40.
- Outstanding Piece: The sandals with cherries are delicious.
- Cynthia O'Connor and Co.
- 141 West 36th, Suite 12A
- New York, NY 10018
- Tel: 212-594-4999
- www.cocandco.com
- www.kissmyfeet.com
LITTLE E.D.A.
DESIGNER: Eda Topur
Topur has added another winning look to her collection: velvet embroidered slippers. Pointy toed and flat heeled the slip-ons are lined and soled with soft leather. Each design is made from one-of-a-kind embroidered velvet cut from old textiles. Very I Dream of Jeannie.
Sizes: children 12-4, adults 6-10. Wholesale prices: children $32; adults $52.
- Outstanding Pieces: The slippers.
- 121 Lakeside Avenue, Suite 201
- Seattle, WA 98122
- Tel: 206-860-3100
- E-mail: littleeda@attbi.com
- www.littleeda.com
MATERNITY
RAISING A RACQUET
DESIGNERS: Rebecca L. Cutler and Jennifer Krane
Where were Cutler and Krane when I was pregnant? The shapes of their cotton knits are simple, stretchable and suitable for life outside the tennis court. Did I mention they're chic and bit sexy too? But well designed clothing may not be an issue here. The packaging - hat boxes covered in lime, fuchsia and orange 50's-style graphics - could sell the outfits sight unseen.
Sizes: Small to Extra large. Wholesale prices: $54-$78 for two- and three-piece sets sold in the box.
- Outstanding Pieces: The 3-piece yoga trio of black boot cut pants, camisole with a built in bra and hooded jacket sold in that great box. The "It" gift for pregnant moms to be.
- 60 Long Neck Point Road
- Darien, CT 06820
- Tel: 203-655-0210
- E-mail: wholesale@raisingaracquet.com
- www.raisingaracquet.com
-
SKIN CARE
YOUNG SKIN
Creators: Janet Longo and Kathy Mcilhinney
The skin care industry is a billion dollar business, but there's little out there to care for a child's delicate skin. Longo and Mcilhinney, founders of Young Skin, worked with Dr. Peter T. Pugliese, a skin care scientist to develop three products just for children:
Happy Cheeks is a gentle facial wash with nourishing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and aloe; Love Me Dew is a moisturizer with oat protein, jojoba oil and Vitamins B and E; Fun in the Sun is a facial sun block for children with an SPF 15 that can be layered for more protection. The sun block is PABA free. Each product has a delicate, citrusy scent.
Happy Cheeks, 8 oz. $8.49; Love Me Dew, 4 oz. $6.99; Fun in the Sun 2 oz. $5.99; Box Set $21. (wholesale prices)
- 1 Frontier Lane
- Jackson, NJ 08527
- Tel: Janet Longo (732) 730-9499, Kathy Mcilhinney (732) 928-1312
- Email: Mystclrs@aol.com
Tina Barry
has been involved in many facets of the fashion world. She
has traveled domestically and to Europe to research color
and design trends. For many years she styled textiles for
the apparel and home furnishing industries. After designing
her own line of children's wear she now freelances as a
children's wear buyer and private label designer. Tina also
teaches a marketing course at The Fashion Institute of
Technology in New York City.