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ON THE INSIDE WITH MARILYN KIRSCHNER

 

ENK Children's Club January 2009: New Exhibitors Debut

As I previously mentioned, though this can hardly be described as an ideal time for businesses, where there's need…there's a customer. As one vendor put it, "people are not going to stop buying and if you are successful during a recession, your business will succeed!" Not only were there many relatively new companies in attendance, there were more than a few who had just launched and were using the Children's Club (January 5-7, 2009) as their 'coming out' party. Talk about forging ahead and being optimistic!

 

 

Bari Lynn

High fashion children's hair accessories

Designer: Bari Erber

Wholesale: $4 - $11.95

Size: Preemie, Layette, Infant, Toddler, Girls 4 - 6X

Standouts: Feather trimmed headbands; the new pinch clips with an all glittered background; the pinch clips decorated with ice cream cones, bumble bees, an octopus

FYI: Ms. Erber is a busy mother who not only teaches nursery school in Manhattan, but has a Doctorate in education.

Tel: 917-662-0779

E-mail: bari@barilynn.com

www.barilynn.com

 

 

Sparkle by Design

Whimsical clothing for children

Designer: Batsheva Markowitz

Wholesale: $15 - $26

Sizes: Layette, Infant, Toddler, Girls 4 -6X, Girls 7 - 14, PreTeen, Boys 4 - 7

Standouts: The embroidered cotton T-shirts (tanks, short sleeved, and long sleeved) decorated with whimsical and often, decidedly girlie designs such as the 'Sweet Ice Cream', 'Etoile', 'Fuchsia Ballet Slippers', 'Bow with lace flowers', and the gold flip flops; the infant sets which are comprised of a T-shirt and black leggings; the little boys' T-shirts adorned with lifelike, three dimensional images of a basketball or baseball.

FYI: Ms. Markowitz's aesthetic is all about "glitz and glamour" and making little girls "feel unique". This marks her second year in business. She just introduced a boys' line, called, appropriately 3D Sports Line

Tel: 718-233-1164

E-Mail: sparklebydesign@gmail.com

www.sparklebydesign.com

 

 

Ed Hardy Belts

A line of children's belts emblazoned with the signature artwork of Ed Hardy

Designer: Don Ed Hardy

Wholesale: $19 - $21

Ages: 4 - 12 (XS - XL)

Standouts: The highly expressive, dramatic, and graphic tiger, bulldog, spider web. and koi fish designs (which meld cultures, techniques, histories, and inspirations)

FYI: California-based Don Ed Hardy is a painter, printmaker and famed tattoo artist, known as the 'Godfather of modern tattoo'; legendary French designer Christian Audigier, always drawn to rock and roll style, was inspired by his artwork and convinced him to design a line of belts for him. The children's belt line launched last August. The belts are made out of printed and embroidered leather and feature an antiqued brass or silver buckle. (Mr. Hardy has also translated his art form into other products including perfume, hats, and T-shirts).

Tel: 323 981 1860

E-mail: marieh@voguetrimmings.net

joni@donedhardybelts.com

www.donedhardybelts.com

 

 

Liv & Co

Functional and fashionable children's and babies' lifestyle products

Designer: Olivia Ma Corwin

Wholesale: $45 - $85

Standouts: The chic and roomy quilted bags (in black patent and tan 'pleather' with double outside pockets and chic chain handles); the small diaper clutch bags; the canvas and pleather diaper bags

FYI: My first impression upon seeing the line, was that if Coco Chanel had babies, this is what her diaper bags would look like. (And indeed, Olivia is an avowed Chanel fan herself). Her first business venture was a line of luxurious dog carriers, which she then translated into ultra chic diaper bags when her friends requested them (and as a new mom, she needed them as well). This is her second Children's Club.

Tel: 212-398-1097

E-mail: Olivia@oliviaandco.com

www.livandco.com

 

 

Organic Cottontail

Pure and natural baby wear

Designer: Susan Mussaffi

Wholesale: $23.50 - $75

Sizes: Layette, Infant

Standouts: The handmade, hand-cut, keepsake 'Welcome' Baby Gift Boxes (ABC building blocks, Peppermint Candy, Spinning Top) which can include a selection of items such as short sleeve onesie, footed pant, hat, booties, mittens, receiving blanket); the Peruvian Organic Pima Cotton Gift Sets (which can include a short sleeve onesie, hat, mittens, booties, or two long sleeve onesies with snap on shoulder); the quilted playmate; the hand embroidered organic cotton T-shirts with French sayings in the back ("J'aime le Ballet" (I love ballet), Ma Petite Fusee (My little spaceship), "L'eau est mon element" (Water is my element)

FYI: Ms Mussaffi is a member of the Organic Trade Association (everything on the line is made from 100% organic cotton) and her creativity and ingenuity knows no bounds. She is working on a line of bamboo hangers printed with the expressive, fairytale like enchanted forest illustrations of celebrated artist Jan Williamson, of Horn & Plenty fame.

Tel: 646-248-1234

E-Mail: info@organiccottontail.com

www.organiccottontail.com

 

 

Mikayla's Creations

Children and adult hand made hair accessories

Designer: Vannie Teifel

Wholesale: $1.80 - $25

Standouts: The flexible headbands with clear rhinestones; large grosgrain ribbon headbands; the feather trimmed headbands; the velvet lined hair clips; the signature pink satin bow displays which sell for $89 retail but which are given to "good clients".

FYI: This is Ms. Teifel's first season in business and her first Children's Club. She is proud to say they "have a little of everything for all ages". The company is named for her 7-year-old daughter, Mikayla, who also serves as her model and inspiration.

Tel: 718 465 4488

E-mail: vannie@mikaylas-creations.com

www.mikaylas-creations.com

 

 

Indo Apparel and Gifts

Imported, unique children's/adult clothing, accessories, gift items

Wholesale: 75 cents - $14

Sizes: Infant to adult

Standouts: The children's tie dye T-shirts (emblazoned with peace signs, guitars, hearts, mountains, banjos, and spiral designs); the unisex children's white short sleeved top with embroidered trim and matching pant sets; the assorted wool knit bags that are made from the traditional, colorful, and graphic Ecuadorian patterns; the cloth woven hammocks; the Indonesian 'Twig Crayon' sets which are hand crafted from renewable soft woods and certified nontoxic coloring; the finger puppets.

FYI: The company offers high quality, hand crafted products (all of which are imported - mainly from Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia) for the whole family; the small family business is the brainchild of Chris and Randi Glover, a couple who love to travel the world over, looking for global inspiration; this is their first Children's Club.

Tel: 828-712-7699

E-mail: cglover39@charter.net

www.indocrafts.com

 

 

Organic Rain

100% organic clothes, toys, and accessories

Designers: Sharon Kim, Kathy Kim, Seen Cha

Wholesale: $4 - $65

Sizes: 0 - 2 Infant

Standouts: The bibs (the 'Sharon' bib, the 'Kelly' bib, the 'Lauren' bib) which, like everything else on the line, combine form and function and also offer 'two-in-one' features that make life easy for the parent (they snap on and off for feeding and drooling, are double layered, and perfect for multi tasking); the multi task 'Taylor' Burp Cloth which is their best selling item: it is adjustable for mom and dads, has two pockets on both sides, no Velcro and no trims which means no irritation and guarantees the edges won't curl; the robe with attached belt (which means the belt will never get lost!; the snail pillow which prevents SIDS because of an indentation in the middle, a feature which guarantees the baby's head will fit perfectly in place. It makes a great gift.

FYI: Sharon and Kathy Kim are both mothers of two young children (their health and well being are the inspiration for the line). Their chemical free collection brings their customers the best quality and most affordable organic and natural clothes, body care, toys, bedding, and accessories and their motto is, "The best things in life are natural." The company is one-year-old and this was their first Children's Club.

Tel: 917 364 8611

E-mail: Kathy@organic-rain.com

www.organic-rain.com

 

 

Hippie & Me

100% cotton hand screened slogan T-shirts for girls

Designer: Mindy Rubanenko

Wholesale: $18

Ages: 2 - 12

Standouts: the 'Peace', 'Love', 'Hippie Chick' T-shirts with a decidedly 70's, retro feeling

FYI: A mother of three boys, Mindy was always creative and always wanted to design (she worked in biotech prior to launching the line). She literally launched the company a few months ago and used this show as her 'coming out' party. All designs are printed "direct to garment" and include hand placed rhinestones.

Tel: 301 706 3509

E-mail: mindymom@mac.com

 

 

Keeping It Positive

Positive affirmation products

Designer: Debbie Oser

Wholesale: $8.25

Standouts: The Pleasant Dreamz pillowcases printed with affirmation sayings (they are available in pink, purple, blue, and green and nicely boxed for a perfect gift).

FYI: The inspiration for the line came from Ms. Oser's two young sons and the premise behind the company is to enable kids to be "assertive". In Ms. Oser's words: "The subconscious mind believes whatever you tell it, so by repeating Positive Affirmations daily, you are conditioning your subconscious mind to believe these positive thoughts".

Tel: (215) 631-1546 or (215) 768-0515

E-mail: Debbie@keepingitpositive.net

www.keepingitpositive.net

 

 

Your Little Stitch

Custom-made baby fleece outfits and accessories

Designer: Diana Weintraub

Sizes: Newborn - 4T

Retail: $30 - $70

Standouts: The long sleeved romper, the zip front hooded jacket, the sleeveless bunting, the long sleeved double zipper romper, and the earflap cap all of which are available in solid fleece or 'sports' fleece (representing the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA). The fleece is high quality, anti-pilling, and machine washable, soft, warm, and cozy.

FYI: Diana Weintraub began sewing when she was 15. She received a B.S degree in Fashion Merchandising and an Associate Degree in Fashion Merchandising from New York's FIT. She and her husband Neil reside in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she became Co-Manager of Eddie Bauer prior to launching her company this past December. For Mrs. Weintraub, it's "All in the family": she uses her family as inspiration, and they are also her 'models'.

Tel: 928-380-5268

E-Mail: dweintraub@yourlittlestitch.com

www.yourlittlestitch.com

 

 

Originally published February 3, 2009

 

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