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Designers Keep It Clean at the New York International Gift Fair I attended a lecture conducted by Cinzia Black of The MIX-Global Color Research Ltd. at the New York International Gift Fair (August 12-17). Black spoke of metallic, burnished surfaces, opulent colors and hues that "enchanted with a candlelit twilight atmosphere." Items were jewel encrusted or "linear, graphic, x-rayed and pixelated." Every new inspiration - and you can infer from what I've written that trends ranged from the highly decorative to the nearly sterile - was represented in the hundreds of furniture, apparel, jewelry - you name it - collections - except children's. In kids' wear lines and furniture, clean, modern looks prevailed. Even vintage inspired designers referenced earlier eras without edging into cutesy items.
APPAREL ELEGANT BABY DESIGNER: The Elegant Baby design team Sizes: 6-12 months; Wholesale prices: $9-$15 The Elegant Baby collection contains the kind of beautifully crafted, timeless gifts that always receive a warm reception.
Outstanding pieces: Deep cocoa teams with kiwi, sky blue or melon in the "Chocolate" group for one delicious look. Tel: 800-334-5321 Tel: 212-239-4660 www.jamesgirone.com/janismillsteinsales
EMPRESS ARTS LTD. DESIGNER: Sharon Kuo Sizes: 12 months to 4T; Wholesale price: $48 Think of a swank ladies' shop sparkling with crystal chandeliers, heaped with baubles and hung with charming, vintage inspired apparel, and you've got Empress Arts' style.
Outstanding pieces: These little cashmere coats are as light as a down-filled pillow. Their easy-to-love cut and soft pastel colors are right out of the Thirties. Tel: 323-780-8181 E-mail: sales@empressarts.com
KIDORABLE DESIGNER: The Kidorable design team Sizes: 2T-6X; Wholesale prices: Approximately $14-$15 Kids can make the most of a rainy day wearing Kidorable's stylized raingear and carrying a coordinating umbrella.
Outstanding pieces: What's a few rain drops when a kid's got this happy, lady bug loving coat, boots and tote on. Tel: 800-422-9516 E-mail: info@kidorable.com
LITTLE E.D.A. DESIGNER: Eda Topur Sizes: Infant to toddler: Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Topur's cozy, fur-lined suede booties are the gift de jour among the fashion elite.
Outstanding pieces: Any color, any style. Little E.D.A.'s footwear is a must have at the baby shower. Tel: 206-860-3100 E-mail: info@littleeda.com
LITTLE MISSMATCHED DESIGNER: Little Missmatched design team Sizes: one sizes fits 4 to 14; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Nothing matches at Little Missmatched and that's just the beginning of the fun.
Outstanding pieces: One side is polka dot; the other is striped. Both sides of the reversible "Heidi" hat have something in common: a thick, fluffy textile called "Marshmallow" that is as downy soft as it sounds. Tel: 914-777-3217 E-mail: info@littlemissmatched.com
WRY BABY DESIGNERS: Kelly and David Sopp Sizes: NB-6 months; Wholesale prices: $6 I foresee many orders in Wry Baby's future.
Outstanding pieces: The "Mysterio Predicts" T-shirt. The goofballs at Wry Baby have created a display that looks like something you'd find in a general store circa 1920. The "wood grained" cardboard box opens to reveal cloth bags printed with the words "Mysterio predicts your child's future." Mysterio, who was in attendance at the Gift Fair resplendent in a jeweled turban and black silk cape, has printed 12 different occupations for an infant's future on each little tee. The bags are sewn shut, so there's no peeking until its drawstring cord is pulled. And, no, Mysterio doesn't see a generation of doctors or lawyers, those careers are too mundane for him. He envisions "dog show judge," "mafia accountant" and "flamenco dancer" for little Emma and Milo. Tel: 704-660-6955 E-mail: information@wrybaby.com
YO MY BOOTIES DESIGNER: Kris Pettit Sizes: Infant to toddler; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Yo, baby. These booties are so soft and so hip they beg for a dress and hat to match. Wish granted.
Outstanding pieces: Every good bootie deserves a worthy partner. Here are two: A knit A-line in a rich mossy green edged with the silky fluff and a matching beret. Tres chic! Tel: 310-717-4912 E-mail: info@yomybooties.com
ZOOKIES DESIGNER: Lora Jakobsen Sizes: Toddler; Wholesale prices: $5-$20 Jakobsen offers kids tees, bibs and playtime mats in all sorts of fun patterns.
Outstanding pieces: You'd think that children's manufacturers would supply retailers with lots of cute aprons, but nooo….Zookies does. The items have loads of pockets to hold crayons and pencils. There's even a chalkboard surface on some of them so kids can draw right on the pieces. Great idea! Tel: 310-801-4534 E-mail: whats_up@getzooked.com
ZUTANO DESIGNER: Uli Belenky Sizes: 12 months-6 years; Wholesale prices: $9-$24 Uli Belenky has always trusted her impeccable color sense and unique take on kids' fashion styling - for good reason: her talent has never failed her.
Outstanding piece: The simple stripe in the clean aqua and white coloring complements the Thirties-style shape of this little dress. Tel: 800-287-5139/802-563-2961 E-mail: zutano@zutano.com
DIAPER BAGS DIAPER DUDE DESIGNER: Chris Pegula Wholesale prices: $27-$52 More hip gear for the baby-toting, diaper-changing, bath-giving, snack-making dads we love.
Outstanding piece: The Diaper Dude Deluxe. It's got all the bells and whistles you expect from a well-equipped tote and, as you can see, it looks just right on dad. Tel: 213-622-6734 / 877-334-2734 E-mail: info@diaperdude.com
ROOM DÉCOR MELANGE DESIGNER: Suzanne Edmonds Wholesale prices: $28 This gorgeous collection of home accessories, made in Armenia, features a group of lusciously colored knit pillows
Outstanding pieces: The friendly fish and his animal pals lend texture and bright color to a child's bed. Tel: 877-459-2736 E-mail: jean@melangecollection.com
VISUAL TREATS DESIGNER: Joni Lewis Wholesale prices: $39-$59 Lewis photo-transfers vintage doll dresses onto hand painted canvases then trims each piece with rickrack and buttons for adorable, affordable wall décor.
Outstanding pieces: Lewis's Dress Ups by Pinky and Betty bring the little frocks to life and offer good advice as well: "Be a good girl," "hold hands when crossing," and "say please and thank you" are a few of her helpful hints. Tel: 540-372-7537 E-mail: DVisualTreats@aol.com
BEDDING/BLANKETS ARTWALK DESIGNERS: Shelley and Rob Hunt Sizes: sweaters: 6-12 months; Wholesale prices: sweater $29; hat $9; blanket $49 Artwalk's sweaters and blankets possess the qualities retailers expect from the Hunts: Soft yarns and enduring construction, wearable colors and motifs with a sense of whimsy.
Outstanding pieces: The fashion forward mix of cool tones, the sweater's asymmetrical stripes and the great plane motif all say "boy" without being too clichéd. Tel: 212-967-2918 E-mail: mbsskivvy@aol.com
BABYBOO DESIGNER: Tamara Kappauf Wholesale prices: $19.00 The Cradle Me blanket won Fit Pregnancy Magazine's "Best Product of the Year" for good reason.
Outstanding piece: Doctors agree that wrapping a baby snugly in a soft blanket mimics their months in the womb and soothes them. This micro fiber blanket does that with specially designed arms and sides that easily fold to swaddle the infant. But it's the item's headrest that makes the wrap so unique. A foam insert at the top of the blanket molds to the baby's shape and supports its delicate head and neck. Tel: 651-455-0989 / (800) 419.3310 E-mail: Richard@babyboo.com
NEW ARRIVALS, INC. DESIGNER: Tori Swaim Wholesale prices: 3-piece set: $235; 4-piece set $300 Swaim's collection focuses on room décor and bedding with a vintage flair.
Outstanding pieces: The Gypsy Baby crib set features an elegant beige and pale blue Jacobean print that is neutral enough to complement a modern nursery or one that shares Swaim's love for nostalgia. Tel: 904-246-0687/ 888-326-9065 E-mail: sales@newarrivalsinc.com
SERENA & LILY DESIGNERS: Serena Dugan and Shannon Flood Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Serena & Lily's new bedding and luxurious tufted headboards lend a child's room glamour.
Outstanding pieces: The pale, sky blue and coral combination is trend forward but will look fresh forever. The embroidery is pure luxury. Tel: 415-331-4364 E-mail: sales@serenaandlily.com
TABLETOP BABYGAGS DESIGNER: Shelley Foster Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Foster has added irreverent dish sets to her cheeky collection. Is nothing safe?
Outstanding pieces: The 5-piece dish set includes a plate, a mug, a small bowl and a spoon and fork. The plate is divided into three portions so the peas won't touch the mashed potatoes. The pieces have her usual slogans "milk junkie," "rock star" and "hot babe." Lunch will never be the same. Tel: 866-991-GAGS / 415-615-0397 E-mail: info@babygags.com
BARN DANDYS DESIGNER: Polly Wilson Wholesale prices: Utensils $3.50 for three pieces; glass, plate and bowl $19.50; tray table $23 If we lived in a perfect world, every meal would be home cooked and shared around a big kitchen table. Now for real life.
Outstanding pieces: When mom and dad are working late, these vintage printed TV tables and matching dish sets make dinner and The Simpsons special. Tel: 918-396-2800 E-mail: barndandys@sbcglobal.net
SKIP HOP DESIGNERS: Ellen Diamant and Scott Henderson Wholesale prices: Splash $14; Chow $12 The Diamants added modern kitchen art to their collection of contemporary diaper bags.
Outstanding pieces: Bottles and baby food jars eat up a lot of shelf space - not a good thing in closet-sized city kitchens. The team's "Splash," bottle stand and "Chow," a unit to hold jars of baby food, turn cumbersome infant necessities into op art for the kitchen counter. Tel: 212-868-9850 / 877-4-SKIPHOP E-mail: info@skiphop.com
FURNITURE KENSHOMA DESIGNER: Francesca Keck Wholesale prices: $68-$695 This company specializes in furniture and home accessories with "elegance, simplicity and harmony."
Outstanding pieces: I had to ask a sales person if the pieces I was looking at - and loved - were tiny floor models of adult furniture or incredibly sophisticated kids' pieces. The Pi.ca collection of wicker furniture for children has a California-in-the-Fifties sort of glamour. Order any of the pieces for a child's room and they'll grow up with a desire for good design. Tel: 800-581-0059 / (310) 733-4141 E-mail: keith@kenshoma.com
OEUF DESIGNERS: Sophie Demenge and Michael Ryan Wholesale prices: $80-$4000 Contemporary pieces with soft edges define Oeuf's collection of kids' furniture.
Outstanding pieces: The new line of cashmere sweaters and dresses share a similar luxurious modernism with the curved lines of the bed. Tel: 800-691-8810 E-mail: sophie@oeufnyc.com
BOOKS EEBOO DESIGNER: EeBoo design team Wholesale prices: $6 With all the mind numbing video games on the market, you have to applaud a company that specializes in old-fashioned items like coloring books, sketchpads and diaries - without a cord or earpiece in sight. Yay!
Outstanding pieces: The illustrations that grace the covers of these classic diaries are based on the art of Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland." They're perfect for the musings of the next Mary Karr or James Frey (oops, that's fiction). Tel: 888-800-1442 / 212.222.0823 E-mail: eeboo@nyc.rr.com
KIDS COOK 1-2-3 AUTHOR: Rozanne Gold ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Pinto Retail price: $17.95
Many of you know Rozanne Gold from her 1-2-3 three-ingredient cookbooks. Now Gold has turned her attention to helping children get started in the kitchen with over 125 easy-to-follow, fun-to-prepare recipes for kids age eight and up. Recipes such as "Petit Pains au Chocolate" (chocolate filled croissants made with frozen puff pastry), "Very Good Meatballs," (scallions and teriyaki sauce give the meat some zing) and "Sweet Cherries with Chocolate Fondue" (chocolate and cream of coconut create a luscious dipping sauce for the fruit) have just enough sophistication for a child to exclaim, "Wow. I cooked that!" Sara Pinto's drawings are charming. (Publishing date: October 2006, Bloomsbury Publishing) Tel: 888-330-8477 / (646) 307-5439 E-mail: Bloomsbury.publicity@bloomsburyusa.com
TOYS CRISPINA DESIGNER: Crispina Ffrench Wholesale prices: $27 When you purchase an item from Crispina, you do something good for your home and the environment.
Outstanding pieces: Sales of these colorful little "Ragamuffins" enabled Ffrench to pay for four years of study at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Since her school days, her company has grown to include blankets, pillows and household items. Now she's reissuing the pets. Their "fur," made from recycled sweaters, and their amiable expressions bring good karma. Tel: 800-824-1143 E-mail: crispinaaff@crispina.com
PARTY GEAR PARTY PARTNERS DESIGNER: Party Partners design team Wholesale prices: Trim, flowers and ribbons .75-$1.75; bags $3.75 The party's in the bag when you fill the felt totes with toys, makeup, and candy - whatever turns on the under-17 crowd.
Outstanding pieces: These richly colored bags with their fun graphics and touch of bling scream, "Helloooo…fashionista." Tel: 206-323-8703 E-mail: info@partypartnersdesign.com
MISCELLANEOUS BERGINO DESIGNER: Jay Goldberg Wholesale prices: $10-$12.50 A Bergino baseball is no run-of-the-mill item. Each hand sewn ball sports either a map of New York, Chicago or Boston, or comes in a number of rich, antiqued colors. The items can be customized.
Outstanding pieces: You wouldn't want to hit these babies with a bat, but singly or grouped, they make a great keepsake for a child's room. Tel: 800-556-9420 E-mail: bergino@aol.com
OSCAR + DEHN LIMITED DESIGNER: Oscar + Dehn design team Wholesale prices: $10 each Oscar + Dehn specialize in hand warmers, soothing eye masks and gel slippers: Whatever a child or adult needs to combat the elements.
Outstanding pieces: The Little Miss and Mr. Men instant hand warmers. Give the tummy of the gel filled, plastic cartoon figures a squeeze and they'll warm right up. They stay heated for 40 minutes, long enough to take the chill off little hands. To reuse, just boil in water and they're ready to go. Tel: 970-879-5242 E-mail: Jacquie@oscardehn.com
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