ON THE INSIDE WITH TINA BARRY

What's New: The January ENK Children's Club Show
Temperatures of 10 degrees didn't deter buyers from visiting the ENK Children's Club Show held at the Javits Center in New York in January. For the early Fall 2004 season, a surprising number of new designers made debuts, several with unique boys' collections. It's about time!

 

SPORTSWEAR

BIWALI

DESIGNER: Biwali design team

Sizes: 3 months-10. Wholesale prices: $11-$25.

Details, details, details is the mantra of this up market collection. Interesting overskirts with asymmetrical openings, appliqués and topstitching set Biwali apart from the crowd.

Outstanding Pieces: The exaggerated A-line jumper with stitched detail and appliqués over the mauve brown t-shirt. The warm color palette and arty details leave no doubt that this collection is a winner.

Madeleine Wolcott Imports

P.O. Box 1280

Plumsteadville, PA 18949

Tel: 215-766-7723

Tel: 212-563-3695 (NY Showroom)

E-mail: sales@mwimports.com

 

 

BOGNAR & PICCOLINI

DESIGNER: Andrea Ljustina

Sizes: NB-12. Wholesale prices: $30-$45.

Bognar & Piccolini's debut collection of sportswear featured butter soft knits and some of the cutest dresses at the show.

 

Outstanding Piece: Knitted into the top of this soft dress is the word "snow"; the dress's sleeve says, "flake." Two tiers of super soft, brushed cotton that resemble denim make a bell-shaped skirt. As unique as the snowflake that inspired it.

2606 Ponce De Leon

Coral Gables, FL 33134

Tel: 305-444-2278

E-mail: jcannan@bellsouth.net

 

 

ELIANE ET LENA

DESIGNER: Eliane et Lena design team

Sizes: 3 months-7. Wholesale prices: $8-$45.

Just three seasons old, this collection is already a destination stop for better boutique buyers. For fall-winter Elaine et Lena offers coordinated groups in every trend-forward fabrication - baby cords, washable silks, stretch velvets, dirty denims and taffeta.

Outstanding Piece: The dusty purple taffeta dress with a silky hand that laces up corset-style in front. Lovely on its own, the dress is even cuter worn over a Lycra Jersey t-shirt and leggings with braid detail.

100 West 33rd Street, Suite 813

New York, NY 10001

Tel: 212-279-3211

E-mail: absorba@tawil.com

 

 

LION & FINN

DESIGNER: Martina Becker

Sizes: 2-8. Wholesale prices: $23-$80.

From Belgium comes Lion & Finn's first show in the US, and their mostly boys' collection is a winner. Tweeds, soft cottons, fleece, deconstructed hems, great knits and a color palate of dark neutrals, dusty blue, an acidy olive and mauve is about as hip as a boys' collection can get.

 

Outstanding Pieces: The off white t-shirt with the wolf's head, brown pant-skirt and plaid bomber jacket. Very cool.

La Nouvelle Vierge

Dellestraat 30

B-3560 Lummen

Belgium

Tel: +32/13.46.00.21

E-mail: info@lanouvellevierge.be

 

 

PAZITOS

DESIGNER: Letty De Paz

Sizes: Infant-7. Wholesale prices: $8.50-$25.

Letty De Paz is working from the bottom up. Last season she exhibited beautifully made leather and suede sandals in a palate of rich, New Mexican earth tones. For spring into fall De Paz heads north with a collection of casual sportswear for boys in the same deep chocolates, warm bricks, rich olives and beiges as her footwear.

Outstanding Pieces: The loose, olive t-shirt with ombre pumpkin shading along the arm and side seams, and the coordinating, linen pumpkin and tobacco striped pants with front cargo pockets. The look was a little different than any other boys' collection at the show.

Tel: 818.710.6582

Email: info@pazitosinc.com

www.pazitosinc.com

 

 

PINK AND BLUE BUMBLEBEES

DESIGNERS: Danielle Luhmann and Meg Faber

Sizes: 6 months-2T. Wholesale prices: $8.50-$22.

Luhmann and Faber colored their first collection of cotton separates in pretty, mid-tone pastels - perfect for late spring fill-ins or early fall in warmer climates. Generous shapes, a great floral print and an elegant paisley give the line panache.

 

Outstanding Pieces: The "Flower Power Day Dress," in a Kenzo inspired print worn over white bloomers. The dress is cut to romp in and those bloomers add vintage charm.

5526 Spicebush Drive

Indianapolis, IN 46254

Tel: 317-506-6529

E-mails: Danielle@pinkandbluebumblebees.com; meg@pinkandbluebumblebees.com

www.pinkandbluebumblebees.com

 

 

SHORTSTAK

DESIGNER: Adila Cokar

Sizes: Boys 4-7. Wholesale prices: $12-$29.

Newcomer Adila Cokar showed a well-edited collection of all cotton sportswear for boys. Her pants have a button and loop closing inside the waistband so they can be gathered around the bellies of extra skinny kids.

Outstanding Piece: The t-shirt in pumpkin or stone blue. The sleeves' seams are raw and exposed, then hand-painted with "shortstak" in contrasting color. Handsome and fun.

7277 148th Street

Surrey, British Columbia

Canada V3S 4S5

Tel: 604-596-9906, 888-390-6557

E-mail: info@shortstak.com

www.shortstak.com

 

 

T-SHIRTS

RED COLLAR CREATIVES

DESIGNER: Jane Hemper

Sizes: 3 months-16. Wholesale price: $20.

Red Collar Creatives by Jane Hemper, Shelley and John Blye's new collection of funky t-shirts, has every trend working for fall.

Outstanding Pieces: The bright, tie-dyed palette and the glowing dogs' heads will make these tee's must haves for boutiques. Moms will want them too.

JSB Sales

34 West 33rd Street, Suite 318

New York, NY 10001

Tel: 212-695-4112

E-mail: jsbsalesinc@aol.com

 

 

ACCESSORIES

YUMMI

Designer: Donna Kraig

Sizes: Tween to Junior. Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer.

Yummy it is. A great first collection of trendy watches geared to please tweens and juniors.

Outstanding Piece: The oval face and plaid band make the watch the perfect accessory for sportswear.

41 Laura Drive

Cedar Grove, NJ 07009

Tel: 973-857-6158

Email: sales@yummiwatch.com

www.yummiwatch.com

 

 

DIAPER BAGS

KENZIE ALEXANDER

DESIGNER: Chia Stewart

Sizes: Assorted. Wholesale prices: $6-$120.

There are hip diaper bags in all-purpose neutrals and funky diaper bags in great prints, but until Kenzie Alexander hit the scene there were few ladylike diaper bags and backpacks in pretty colors with delicate embellishments.

Outstanding Piece: The "Elegante" diaper bag in imported sage colored silk embroidered with beige and brick flowering vines. Attractive enough for a special occasion with baby in tow.

124 West Castellano, Suite 100

El Paso, TX 79912

Tel: 915-833-9883

E-mail: info@kenziealexander.com

www.kenziealexander.com

 

 

L.J. BAMBOO DIAPER BAGS

DESIGNER: Lee J. Brenner

Never mind the baby. Brenner's bags are great for everyday with enough room to haul a weekend's worth of stuff.

 

Outstanding Piece: The "All-In-One" diaper tote in dark, go-with-everything taupe suede. It has all the pockets for baby's bottles and toys, a changing pad, and compartments for keys and a cell phone. It's a great looking carryall with fun details like removable bamboo handles and a mahjong tile in place of a button closing.

1914 Burr Oaks Lane

Highland Park, IL 60035

Tel: 312-285-5534

E-mail: ljb@ljbamboo.com

www.ljbamboo.com

 

 

ROOM DECOR/FURNISHINGS

FROELICH LEATHER

Designer: Froelich Leather design team

Sizes: Assorted. Wholesale prices: $7.75-$57.50.

You can't go wrong with Froelich Leather, Lynn Meyer's new line of elegant leather frames, baby scrapbooks and photo albums. Offered in only three colors-pale blue, pink and light green - makes choosing pieces for a boy or girl a snap.

Outstanding Piece: The Baby Memo books. The simple, stylized carriage outlined in silver is an understated motif for baby's first exciting year. The book holds 300 photos.

34 West 33rd Street, Room 322

New York, NY 10001

Tel: 212-947-5522/800-989-9499

Email: lmeyerinc@aol.com

www.jamesgirone.com/lynnmeyer

 

 

NICOLACCI & ME

DESIGNER: Claudia Krell

Sizes: Contact manufacturer. Wholesale prices: $28-$39.

Krell's Pima cotton knit blankets in playful monochromatic colorways fit into any room décor.

Outstanding Piece: Krell's version of Cinderella with all her accoutrements - glass slippers, mirrors and a crown. The light and deep coral tones reverse on the opposite side.

11885 SW 62nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33156

Tel: 305-661-5221

Email: info@nicolacciandme.com

www.nicolacciandme.com

 

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