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The ABC Kids Expo: Still Green - Part III (Diaper Bags, Diaper Cases, Kids' Totes) Never have so many aisles of a trade show (ABC, September 7-10, 2007) held so many vendors showing such diverse diaper bags. With so much variety out there, the only difficulty for retailers is narrowing down their choices. Until recently though, kids got the short end of the category with a limited selection of backpacks and small bags that, while cute, didn't exactly cut it in the hip department. That's changed. Savvy designers saw a hole in the market and filled it with cool bags kids will be proud to carry.
DIAPER BAGS OIOI BABY BAGS Homebase: Australia DESIGNER: Lisa Bennetts Wholesale prices: $50-$80 Theme: "The OiOi bag keeps up with your urban lifestyle." Everything about OiOi bags: the shapes, clean, unembellished exteriors and ultra sophisticated patterns make them one of the chicest choicest on the market.
Favorites: If OiOi Bags were available when Jackie O was a young mother, she'd have carried the "Giraffe." OiOi Baby Bags USA Tel: 877-905-3800 E-mail: info@oioibabybags.com
BABY KAED Homebase: Oceanside, CA DESIGNER: Lavinia Lobo Wholesale prices: $48-$168 Theme: "Amazingly functional diaper bags for the stylish parent!" Baby Kaed bags are so chic. I'd carry any of the B-Kaed pebble grained leathers and my "baby" is 17.
Favorites: The "Jaipur." If you have to ask why, you're doomed. Tel: 888-488-8018 E-mail: info@babykaed.com
BABY SHERPA Homebase: Winfield, IL DESIGNER: Heather Campbell-Dewar Wholesale price: $50 Theme: "Outpacks the Competition." Your idea of a great day is driving to some gorgeous spot and spending hours backpacking with your family. It's not so easy to accomplish though, with a child and the gear they need, as well as your own food and necessities. Baby Sherpa has made a day outdoors easier. Their lightweight pack has all the necessities one finds in a better diaper bag and a few others specific to the sport: A heavy duty lug handle, padded pocket for a video camera or breast pump, reflective safety tape decoration and a waist/sternum strap for a comfortable, ergonomic fit. Who carries a Baby Sherpa? Brad and Angelina, Katie and Tom, Heidi and Seal….
Favorites: The classic baby sherpa. The Onyx Group International, Inc. Tel: 630-890-7610 E-mail: vjswanson@babysherpa.com
DADGEAR Homebase: Sheridan, CO DESIGNER: The Dadgear design team Wholesale price for the M-2: $34.50 Theme: Rugged bags for dads and now, moms. This company is known for innovative bags made of recycled materials. They've recently added "Daisy Gear," a collection of women's bags.
Favorites: The unisex M-2 is lightweight with a sporty urban look. It opens at the top so there's no fussing with buckles or flaps. Tel: 888-258-5610 E-mail: contact@dadgear.com
JU-JU-BE Homebase: San Clemente, CA DESIGNERS: Kristin and Joe Croft Wholesale prices: $39-$89 Theme: "Smart bags for smart moms and dads!" With 25 years experience in design, development and sourcing, the Crofts turned their expertise to the children's market and realized, yes, designing the perfect diaper bag is rocket science! Here's what makes the Ju-Ju-Be different: AgION anti-microbial treatment that kills bacteria on the bag's surface; little holes at the bottom of the back pockets that function as "crumb drains"; Teflon fabric protector; quiet magnets so you never have to hear the rip of Velcro again; light colored linings so you can see what's inside, and more.
Favorites: The "purple paisley" bag. If you're going to carry a print, it might as well be mod. Tel: 877-258-5823 E-mail: info@ju-ju-be.com
LOOM Homebase: Mill Valley, CA DESIGNER: Johanna LaFleur Wholesale prices: $50-$60 Theme: "Smart and colorful gear for growing families." Loom's practical, handsome, easy-to-clean bags are ideal for any casual excursion when you need a roomy tote.
Favorites: The new "Go Tote." The bag's got all the bells and whistles, it looks sleek and it's got one feature I love: rubber feet at the bottom so it doesn't tip. (Comes in canvas.) Tel: 415-383-5307 E-mail: info@loomlife.com
DIAPER CASES AND SMALL TOTES DIAPEES & WIPEES Homebase: Flower Mound, TX DESIGNER: Christie Rein Wholesale prices: $7.50 and $20 Theme: "Doing diaper duty in style." Diapees & Wipees work when you want something to hold two to four diapers, a pack of wipes and that's it! The envelopes are available in prints from retro sweet to classic chic.
Favorites: The "Dandy Damask" appeals to the modernist in me, but I like the toile, the dots and the camo just as much. Tel: 817-506-5136 E-mail: Christie@diapeesandwipees.com
LILLABOO Homebase: Longwood, FL DESIGNER: Vanessa Kee Wholesale prices: $7-$17 Theme: "Accessories for the modern mom." Kee's Cherished by LillaBoo collection includes the "Pouchette" - a little cloth bag that holds a couple of diapers. The item, available in a number of cute prints, can do double duty as chic little tote sans diapers.
Favorites: The "Pouchette," when you want something for diapers - or not. Tel: 407-461-2772 E-mail: info@lillaboo.com
REESE LI Homebase: Alexandria, VA DESIGNER: Reese Li Wholesale price for the Fairfax changing clutch: $30 Theme: Stylish totes for parents on the go Li's bags are coveted for their unique shapes, easy-to-use straps and distinctive decoration. Her new "Fairfax" tote has all the details in a scaled down size.
Favorites: The "Fairfax" changing clutch holds a couple of diapers, a wipes case and a changing pad for those quick trips when a day's worth of gear is too much. Flip the bag open and there's a "brag flap" with a plastic cover to show off the baby's picture. The bag converts three ways: clutch, wristlet and purse. Tel: 703-313-8898 E-mail: orders@reeseli.com
KIDS' BAGS AND TOTES FOUR PEAS Homebase: Hinsdale, IL DESIGNER: Casey Baca Wholesale prices: $9-$17 Theme: "Cool stuff for hip kids." A parent could carry a different diaper bag every day of the year with the myriad of companies offering great totes. It's surprising then, that the variety of hip backpacks and totes for kids is fairly limited. FourPeas' lunch boxes, backpacks and messenger bags use cool, rock 'n roll graphics so children can be as stylish as their parents.
Favorites: The "Rocker" messenger bag is nirvana for every rocker wannabe. Tel: 435-893-0177 E-mail: caseybaca@fourpeasonline.com
GOOD STUFF BY JESSE WALKER Homebase: Boulder, CO DESIGNER: Dale Pollak Schlauch Wholesale prices: $17.50 Theme: Lunch bags that are cool for school When I was in first grade, my mother packed my sandwich in an "Alvin and the Chipmunks" lunch box. The cool first grade girls carried "Barbie" boxes. That was one lousy year. So take it from me, kids need a hip lunch bag. The ginghams and dots that cover Schlauch's insulated, plastic-covered lunch sacks, will attract only positive attention. Monogramming is included.
Favorites: The gingham bag for an angst free lunch. Tel: 303-494-7571 E-mail: dale@jessewalkerknitgoods.com
Originally published October 10, 2007
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