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ON THE INSIDE WITH MARILYN KIRSCHNER

 

August 2010 Children's Club: A Show for all Seasons in the Accessories, Gifts and Footwear Markets - Part I

So here we are. It's Sunday, it's the first of August. It's also the first day of the ENK Children's Club (August 1-3, 2010), the unofficial start of the Dog Days of Summer, AND the continuation of what has officially been the hottest summer on record. For those who did not believe in Global Warming and did not take Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" warnings seriously…I suppose you have rethought by now.

Undeniably, the big news and all we seem to be talking about this summer has been the weather…more specifically…the stifling heat and high temps all over. But inside the Pier 94 venue for the most recent Children's Club, it was cool (positively freezing cold in some areas). And because all seasons were on display for newborns, infants, toddler, tweens, and beyond (in every category - ready to wear, accessories, jewelry, eyewear, home décor, layette, toys, games, gift items, etc.), it was often hard to remember just exactly what season we were actually in (until you ventured outside, that is).

While the August show has traditionally been considered to be an 'early spring' show, this has undeniably changed through the years, as exhibitors in every area across the board were literally showing 'a little bit of this, and a little bit of that'. Quite frankly, it seems that the very notion of seasons is becoming passé and there are a number of reasons for this. First of all, there are many categories and items where the idea of seasons is not in the least bit relevant and does not apply. Don't we all wear our jeans and T's year round? Isn't fur (faux and real) being used year round, in addition to denim, cotton, wool, velvet, and leather? Aren't we seeing all ages wearing their boots 12 months a year? Also, when it's winter someplace in the world, it's summer somewhere else, and thanks to climate controlled environments, we routinely go from one extreme of temperature into another. As a result, there seems to be a welcome and growing trend for designers and companies to ignore seasons altogether and concentrate on items that are seasonless (not to mention classic and timeless.) This was especially obvious to me as I covered the August Children's Club and it makes perfect sense. This is not only highly relevant, practical and cost efficient, but is the height of 'modern'.

And speaking of trends…another welcome 'trend' that never goes out of style, is the notion of good design, and there was plenty of that to be found at the most recent ENK Children's Club. Wonderfully designed, 'smart' products, that fill a void, address a need, fuse form and function, and serve multi purposes, were on display in booths of established companies as well as those of newer lines, some of whom were so new, they made their 'debut' at the West Side Pier 94 venue. And with their 'forever', classic appeal (and that does not mean they can't be 'funky' or eccentric), many of these product lines are destined to be awarded 'icon' status (if they are not already in that category now).

These are some of the newer lines that stood out this season:

 

Baby Bloch

A line of luxurious pre walkers based on the iconic Bloch ballerina

Wholesale: $17 - $42

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

Standouts: The insanely chic cap toe patent leather ballerinas ('tres' Coco Chanel in black and white or black and nude); the mini taps; the booties; the lace up 'jazz' saddle shoes.

FYI: While this Australian-based iconic company, (widely known as specialists in "traditionally crafted dance footwear"), has been on the map since 1932, their truly inspired baby division, is just about two years old. It is undeniably 'like mother, like daughter' as the baby styles are a mirror image of ballerinas and other perennial classic favorites worn by chic grownups (including celebrities like Madonna, Katie Holmes, and Naomi Watts). Quite frankly, they should rename the line, 'A Chip off the Old Bloch'.

E-mail: scott.cain@bloch.net

www.blochworld.com

Tel: 516 658 5654

E-mail: nancy@nancymarkert.com, amyroho@aol.com

www.nancymarkert.com

 

 

Danzo Diaper Bags

Uniquely designed diaper bags

Designer: Alyssa Apple; Gary Apple

Wholesale: $95 - $140

Standouts: The bags with patent pending clear interior pockets; the unisex messengers; the large retro satchel; the lower priced holiday line backpacks and totes (recolored in new brighter colors).

FYI: The designers are a married couple who have two young daughters named Dani and Zoe (hence the name Danzo); they saw a void in the market and have set out to fill that void with their products which mix form and function. This is their first year in business and second Children's Club.

Tel: 917 287 8292

E-mail: info@danzobaby.com

www.danzobaby.com

 

 

Hank & Jojo

Gift packaged socks in a tin lunchbox

Designer: Andriana Caradimitropoulo Spence

Wholesale: $15 - $16

Ages: 3 -18 months

Standouts: The colorful retro tube socks packaged in a selection of colorful tin lunchboxes; the "Green is the new Black" one-piece; the "Make Warm Not War" organic t shirt.

 FYI: Ms. Spencer is a new mom who was inspired to create this "funky, enthusiastic product". There are three designs and three colors currently available and she has plans to extend the collection to go up to 8 years.

Tel: 646 645 9775

www.tinyginger.com

email: andriana@hankandjojo.com

www.hankandjojo.com

 

 

Baby Deedee

Baby duvet sleep sacks

Designer: Dominique de Bourgknecht

Wholesale: $18 - $19.50

Sizes: Infant, Layette, Toddler

Standout: The cocoon shaped,100% cotton army fatigue green sleep sack with the lime green zipper (the zipper glows in the dark).

FYI: The designer, who wanted to create the "ultimate sleep nest", gave birth to her second child the night before the first day of the Children's Club (and no, she was not at the show). Adrian, her firstborn child, is nicknamed baby deedee, hence the name of the company.

Tel: 347 850 2313

E-mail: info@babydeedee.com

www.babydeedee.com

 

 

La Lovie

Beautifully designed durable products for young children

Designers: Chao-Liang Wei; Anthony Benoli

Wholesale: $18 - $135

Ages: Infant, Toddler

Standouts: The art inspired receiving blankets in cashmere, cashmere/silk, with names like "Moon over Manhattan", "Lovie Clouds", "Dreams of Matisse"; "Lovie-Go-Round"; the cashmere sweaters; the whimsical hand made security dolls.

FYI: The husband and wife team (she is a fashion designer and he is an artist) were inspired to create this line after the birth of their second child (it is obviously a true 'labor of love'). The company is one year old.

Tel: 646 337 1775

E-mail: Anthony@lalovie.com

www.lalovie.com

 

 

Native Shoes

Relaxed, flexible, active footwear for "everybody, anywhere, any time"

Founder: Damian Van Zyll De Jong

Wholesale: $13 - $26.50

Sizes: Infant - Adult

Standouts: The Miller, the 'ultimate' versatile street shoe; The Jefferson, 'bold and edgy'; The Corrado, a timeless and iconic 'intelligent choice' offering a 'universal look' (all of these styles are offered in a range of crayola box primaries, in addition to black and navy).

FYI: This Vancouver, Canada-based brand just launched in 2009 and can best be described as a 'cool' Croc. They pride themselves on their unisex, ageless, timeless "footwear for the future", (involving 'zero waste'): a true marvel of new technology. The three styles in addition to a boot that will be introduced shortly, are made from weightless, foam injection molded-EVA, which molds to the foot (it is antimicrobial and odor resistant); they are as well suited for use on land as in water. They are undoubtedly destined to become instant classics. The company's mission statement is: "Life is heavy. Keep it Lite".

Tel: 212 575 2373

E-mail: Ashley@thefndtn.com; carrie@thefndtn.com

www.nativeshoes.com

www.thefndtn.com

 

Originally published August 30, 2010

 

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