What's
New: The March Children's Club Show
The
fall/winter 2004 ENK show at the Javits Center (March
7-9) was notable for several reasons. The exhibition
featured more start up collections than any show in three
years. Some of the collections were impressive for their
originality and craftsmanship; others featured a few
pieces that revealed the designer's potential. And
several exhibitors were former students of the children's
wear class that James and I teach at F.I.T. - they wowed
us with their carefully conceived lines, great booths and
all around professionalism.
SPORTSWEAR
NICKNACKPATTYWACK
DESIGNER: Karen Oronte
Sizes: 12 months to 10; Wholesale
prices: Contact manufacturer
Karen Oronte, NickNackPattyWack's
designer, produced a first collection for boys and girls
that's as playful as its name. Great knits in vibrant
colors coordinate with up-market printed separates. Look
for the company's freewheeling pieces in the March issue
of Children's Business magazine - not a bad way to
start!
Outstanding Pieces: "Patty," NNPW's
girls' group, features a soft gold tunic and baby soft
cords perfect for a day of blowing bubbles. The company's
"CJ Jackson" collection for boys offers an elegant cotton
vest and matching polo shirt in a sophisticated orange,
lime and blue knit.
Lynn Meyer Showroom
34 West 33rd Street, Suite
322
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212-947-5522
E-mail: lmeyerinc@aol.com
www.jamesgirone.com/lynnmeyer
Outside New York
contact: gay_hart@bellsouth.net
BABY TALAVERA
DESIGNER: Clarissa
Lupton
Sizes: 6 months to 6X; Wholesale
prices: $10-$25
The simple jumpers and great shirts
make this tiny collection a breeze to
merchandise.
Outstanding Pieces: The slim fit,
pink, beige and cocoa color combinations, and the great
mix of vintage and modern prints add up to a winning
design.
Jack's Rack (Jack
Harlan)
2000 Hamilton Street, Suite
41
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Tel: 215-656-3174
E-mail: jacksrack@comcast.net
tel:
512-291-8972
email:
info@babytalavera.com
www.babytalavera.com
CARAMEL BABY &
CHILD
DESIGNER: Amy Walton
Sizes: 3 months to 10 years;
Wholesale prices: $30-$111
Amy Walton's gorgeous collection
isn't cheap, but each garment in the line is a treasure.
Her Fair Isle-style sweaters are cropped short. Her coats
are as elegant as anything you'll find in adult couture
collections, and the fabrics she uses are
drool-worthy.
Outstanding Pieces: The
double-breasted coat in pale pink and deep coral tweed
worn over a Liberty print dress in a light gray, cocoa
and blue stylized floral pattern. If that outfit doesn't
announce a parent's good taste than nothing will.
49 Tregunter Road
London, SW10 9LG England
Tel: 44-20-737-010-02
Tel: 44 (0) 20 7589 7001
COLOUR
DESIGNERS: The Colour design
team
Sizes: 2 to Junior 1; Wholesale
prices: $9-$21
John and Shelly Blye of JSB Sales
have added Colour, a funky, casual, tween and junior line
to their collections.
Outstanding Pieces: The lipstick
red striped t-shirt over the bright blue striped tee and
the red mini. The look straddles sport-inspired pieces
and retro sixties style with a touch of sex appeal. What
tween wouldn't love that?
JSB Sales
34 West 33rd Street, Suite
318
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212-695-4112
E-mail: jsbsalesinc@aol.com
www.jamesgirone.com/jsbsales
DAGMAR DALEY
DESIGNER: Dagmar Daley
Sizes: 18 months to 6; Wholesale
prices: $11-$80
Just a few months after the debut
of Dagmar Daley's first collection, two of her outfits
made the cover of Child magazine. Daley is influenced by
vintage styles, but her pieces are frou-frou free. Just
the essence of a 1950's dress - a drop-waisted,
multi-gored skirt on a silhouette with no other detail -
is a signature of her understated look.
Outstanding Piece: The three-button
swing coat in rich blue tweed. It will remind you of your
grandma's outerwear but softer, lighter - better.
108 Fair Oaks
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: 415-641-1286
E-mail: dagmardaley@mindspring.com
GIGGLEKIDZ
DESIGNERS: Maryellen Donadio and
Michelle McCartan
Sizes: 18 months to 6; Wholesale
prices: $6.50-$38
Donadio and McCartan give polar
fleece a fresh take with their new collection of
poncho-shaped, hooded capes.
Outstanding Piece: Dr. Zhivago
meets The Mod Squad in the gray, shawl hooded cape with a
generous, face framing hood trimmed with soft white faux
fur.
4699 Redeux Court
Doylestown, PA 18901
Tel: 215-260-3800
E-mail: giggleadvisors@gigglekidz.com
www.gigglekidz.com
THE PUUR COLLECTION:
Importer Jinny Boer exhibited a collection of bold infant
and toddler collections of sportswear, hats and toys from
the Netherlands.
KIDCASE
DESIGNER: Jacqueline van
Nieuwkerk
Sizes: Newborn to 3; Wholesale
prices: Contact Jinny Boer
Sporty separates in bright, funky
color combinations are the key to this boys' and girls'
collection.
Outstanding Piece: The zip-front
velour and wool baseball jacket with a single faux patch
on one sleeve. The combinations of blues and red, blues
and brown, and cocoa, forest green and gold are unusual.
KID-KID
DESIGNER: Ineke
Grovenstein
Sizes: fits babies through toddler;
Wholesale prices: Contact Jinny Boer
The hats are knit in rich reds,
cocoa and deep blues. The shapes fit snuggly to the head;
a few styles have flaps to cover little ears. The look
will remind you of flying aces and hippies.
Outstanding Piece: The grandma's
crocheted afghan cap with earflaps. You won't find a
hipper looking hat in any collection.
Puur, Inc.
350 7th Avenue, Suite
1603
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212-239-1805
E-mail: jinny@puurinc.com
LAPSAKY
DESIGNER: Laurie Rasch
Sizes: Newborn to 6 Wholesale
prices: $4.50-$25
Look for Laurie Rasch's organic
cotton collection when buying for kids is about comfort,
practicality, and understated good looks.
Outstanding Piece: Rasch's
garment-dyed, deep red cotton dress can go to school, a
casual birthday party or any not-too-dressy occasion. The
light blue stitching along the sleeves and puckered front
bodice give the dress a little panache.
1355 South Mesa Court
Superior, Colorado 80027
Tel: 303-543-5766
E-mail: laurie@supstitches.com
www.lapsaky.com
MANOMIA
DESIGNER: Bernadette
Villard
Sizes: Newborn to 8; Wholesale
prices: $21-$63
Cashmere, raw silk and embroidered
wool are a few of the fine textiles found in Bernadette
Villard's first collection.
Outstanding Piece: The red,
silk-lined coat with the modern, Asian-inspired shape and
details. Like any great work of art, the design looks
effortless.
22 Rue Beaujon
Paris, 75008 France
Tel: 33-60-8742-454
MILA SCHON
DESIGNERS: The Mila Schon design
team
Sizes: 5-14; Wholesale prices:
$40-$130
The fabrics. The craftsmanship.
Utterly chic.
Outstanding Dress: Photos don't do
this stunning dress justice. The charcoal wool body of
the dress is soft to the touch and its full lining has
that "swoosh" sound when the dress moves. The insets in
the dress's skirt and the rich off-white floral
embroidery add playfulness. Hands down the greatest dress
at the show.
C & C Childrenswear
131 West 33rd Street, Suite
911
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212-564-3031
Email: sales@cc-childrenwear.com
MORFS
DESIGNER: Julie Barger
Sizes: 3 months to 16; Wholesale
prices: $33-$38
Layer it on! Julie Barger's
one-of-a-kind denims sport a treasure trove of flea
market patches and funky trims.
Outstanding Pieces: The jackets
with their lovely hand-embroidered pieces make great
gifts.
1015 New Hampshire
Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24502
Tel: 434-846-0471
www.morfsbrand.com
Email:
info@morfsbrand.com
MR. TINY
DESIGNER: Lauren Gropp
Sizes: 3 months to 4; Wholesale
prices: $12-$35
There's nothing tiny about designer
Lauren Gropp's talent. Her first collection for infant
boys gives stylish mothers everything they're looking for
- a mix-and-match group of coordinates in unusual colors
and simple shapes. Solids in deep teal, pumpkin, cocoa
and gray, pair with richly striped t-shirts, fleecy tops
and velours. This line's a winner.
Outstanding Pieces: The Kimono
jacket in deep cocoa lined with teal blue fleece and the
lap-shouldered t-shirt in soft, horizontal stripes. Both
pieces are cuddly and the colors make an impact.
8-10 West 19th Street, 10th
Floor
New York, NY 10011
Tel: 917-922-9327
E-mail: lauren@tinyrhino.com
www.mrtiny.com
STYLEASE
DESIGNER: Jennifer
Hughes
Sizes: 3 to 24 months; Wholesale
prices: $13-$15
"You gotta have a gimmick,"
according to the great Broadway show "Gypsy." Hughes' is
creating adorable one-pieces that mimic layered garments.
Hidden snaps under shirt collars allow easy entry, and
each piece opens with snaps at the crotch for a quick
diaper change.
Outstanding Piece: A mother will be
complimented for the time and care spent selecting the
beige sweatshirt with snap detail and the rust bottoms
with the cozy, quilted knee pads. Only she'll know it
took two minutes to dress her son.
526 West 14th Street, Suite
266
Traverse City, MI 49684
Tel: 888-440-3013
E-mail: JHughes@stylease.com
www.stylease.com
TOGS 2 GO
DESIGNER: Tree Brush
Sizes: 3 months to 4; Wholesale
prices: $13-$25
The little bit of Lycra in Tree
Brush's cotton wrap tops give the pieces body and
endurance.
Outstanding Piece: The "Oonie." The
top has an Asian feeling with its obi-like center panel
and wrapped neckline. The piece comes in solid black and
white or black and white with a cotton print center panel
and trimmed sleeves. Great with jeans.
145 Barrington Road
North
Horseheads, New York
14845
Tel: 607-796-0224
E-mail: tree@togs2go.com
www.togs2go.com
ZEE ZEE GROWING
DESIGNER: Lynn Coffland
Sizes: 6 months to 6; Wholesale
prices: $12-$45
Lynn Coffland showed two groups:
Black and pink pieces with a 1950's feel, and "Tribute to
Kate" an elegant gray and taupe group.
Outstanding Pieces: The no-fuss
pieces in "Tribute to Kate" captured the late actors
throwaway glamour. A dress is given a grown up twist with
a silk ruffle at the neckline and cuffs and a square,
rhinestone belt buckle. Hepburn would've swooned over the
unembellished beige top and cuffed wool pants with a big
silk bow in place of a belt.
P.O. Box 39398
Baltimore, Maryland
21212
Tel: 443-858-8848
E-mail: sales@zeezeegrowing.com
www.zeezeegrowing.com
KNITWEAR
FLEUR DE CHINE
DESIGNER: Bernadette
Chen
Sizes Newborn to 3; Wholesale
prices: $26-$80
When you're paying for cashmere
it's nice to get versatile pieces too. Many of the
garments in Bernadette Chen's silk and cashmere
collection are reversible so a single garment can have
different personalities.
Outstanding Pieces: The pale,
gray-blue cashmere top with deep charcoal blue star
details on the sleeves and matching pants. Turned inside
out the look is as dramatic as the evening sky lit with
silvery stars.
115 West California Boulevard,
Suite 320
Pasadena, CA 91105
Tel: 310-766-7661
E-mail: bernadette@fleur-de-chine.com
www.fleur-de-chine.com
SPECIAL
OCCASION
SOFRA CHILDREN'S
COUTURE
DESIGNER: Cleo Sofra
Sizes: Newborn to 7; Wholesale
prices: Contact manufacturer
They're not kidding when they say
"couture." Each garment in this special occasion
collection, designed and manufactured in Greece, has the
dressmaking details one finds in costume work. Hand
embroidery, hand-stitched bodices and full linings make
each exquisite dress or boy's ensemble an
heirloom.
Outstanding Pieces: The Christening
gown with matching velvet jacket. Days went into the
hand-tucked pleats and pale pink embroidery on this
fantasy dress. The quilted velvet jacket with soft fur
trim keeps baby warm and smartly dressed.
2000 North Florida Mango, Suite
203
West Palm Beach, Florida
33409
Tel: 561-478-5849
E-mail: eva@sofracouture.com
www.sofracouture.com
BACKPACKS
LITTLE PACKRATS
DESIGNER: Cathy
Berse-Hurley
If Berse-Hurley's collection of
backpacks reminds you of the fine crafts pieces seen in
museum gift shops, there's a reason for that. She's been
selling to better boutiques and museums for eight years.
ENK was her first trade
show.
Each of Berse-Hurleys
intricately pieced, faux-leather designs, with their
graphic animal portraits, will delight kids who possess a
strong sense of personal style.
Outstanding Piece: The yellow
rectangular pack with the red giraffe head. The
heart-shaped ears pop up.
315 Lost Lake Drive
Groton, MA 01450
Tel: 978-449-0222
E-mail: info@littlepackrats.com
www.littlepackrats.com
PONCHOS
BOGNAR &
PICCOLINI
DESIGNER: Andrea
Ljustina
Sizes: 3 months to 6; Wholesale
prices: $37-$85
Ljustina added ponchos to Bognar
& Piccolini's second collection of casual dresses and
sweaters.
Outstanding Piece: The light,
alpaca wool and silk poncho in natural oatmeal and soft
russet makes the perfect cover up on cool fall days and
chilly evenings. Add the matching beret and the look is
about as cute as it gets.
2606 Ponce De Leon
Coral Gables, Florida
33134
Tel: 305-444-2278
E-mail: jcannan@bellsouth.net
www.jamesgirone.com/bognarandpiccolini
CHIBELLA
DESIGNER: Doug Cooper
Sizes: 12 months to 13; Wholesale
prices: $7.50-$60
Each booty, cap, poncho, and
sweater is hand-knit of 100 percent Merino wool and hand
dyed by artisans in the Mexican state of Michoacan. The
colors are intense and furry loops of "shag" are
important features.
Outstanding Piece: Think of a
rainbow on acid and you've got this poncho's vibe.
4394 North Talmadge
Drive
San Diego, CA 92116
Tel: 619-795-6868
E-mail: info@chibella.com
www.chibella.com
HEIR
DESIGNER: Zna Houston
Sizes: 4 to 16; Wholesale prices:
contact manufacturer
Zna Houston started her collection
with t-shirts sporting "Heirnyms" or words that sound the
same but have a different meaning or spelling. "Something
is in the heir," was one of them. For fall, Houston adds
sportswear with a hip-hop vibe.
Outstanding Piece: The heavily
fringed, furry poncho in sky and deep blue. What's wrong
with putting on heirs?
6651 Garth Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90056
Tel: 310-702-7175
E-mail: info@heirapparel.com
www.jamesgirone.com/heir
GIFTS
ANNE-CLAIRE PETIT
DESIGNER: Anne-Claire
Petit
Wholesale prices: Contact Jinny
Boer
Anne-Claire Petit crochets a
menagerie of charming animals for babies. They're soft to
the touch and the colors are a little different than
you'll find in American nurseries.
Outstanding Piece: All of the
animals are crib worthy.
Puur, Inc.
350 7th Avenue, Suite
1603
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212-239-1805
E-mail: jinny@puurinc.com
NOT SO TRUE STORIES &
UNREASONABLE RHYMES
By Carin Berger (Chronicle Books,
2004, $15.95)
First time author Carin Berger's
book is marketed to children ages four and up, but
parents will love it for its humorous rhymes and elegant
cut paper illustrations. Berger, a New York-based
designer and illustrator, uses animal characters riding
trains and driving galactic cars to narrate her story.
For more information, call
1-800-722-6657.
