|
|
Bubble: In With the New for Spring 2009 Bubble - The Kids Trade Show's founders Florence Rolando and Venessa Boz welcomed a number of newcomers to their Spring 2009 exhibition (August 3-5, 2008) in Chelsea, New York. The Indie designers who debuted their collections showed lines that were cohesive and precise. You'll also see in the photos below, that all categories of design stayed true to a modern aesthetic while tapping into a child's sense of whimsy.
INFANT AND UP HUMMINGBABY Homebase: Albany, NY DESIGNER: Suna Ruhren Sizes: NB to 24 months; Wholesale price: $18 - $63 "Named after the hummingbird, who virtually stops time to savor the sweetest things life has to offer…." Ruhren spent her childhood in the intense sun of Chiba on the Japanese peninsula where the designer's fair skin burned easily in the sun. Light, soothing gauze dresses became her salvation. Hummingbaby recreates the delicate frocks of her youth with two-layers of fine gauze, pastel colors and nostalgic motifs.
Outstanding offering: Like the piece below, all the dresses possess a subtle charm. Tel: 518-632-4512 E-mail: Hello@hummingbaby.com
KICE KICE Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Karen and Lesley Kice Sizes: 3 months to 8 years; Wholesale price: $13-$44, (coat, $132.50) When the Kice twins (Karen is a ceramic artist and architect, Lesley is a textile stylist) decided to pool their talents, Kice, their collection of organic separates with distinctly modern, Asian quality was born. Their palette is neutral with a touch of dusty navy and pink. Shapes are simple as are the repeating geometric patterns and striking appliqués Lesley creates.
Outstanding offering: Kice's modern pieces are effortlessly elegant and make great layering pieces as well. Tel: 213-379-0065 E-mail: Karen@kicekice.com
MONAMICI Homebase: Stockholm, Sweden DESIGNER: Helene Edsta Sizes: 3 to 12 years; Wholesale price: $12-$95 This Swedish collection is true red, white and blue with a little light periwinkle and cocoa thrown in for good measure. Mostly organic cotton, the line includes easy-to-wear smocks, loose and fitted jeans and A-line shifts and skirts. One pattern, a charming Liberty design that resembles a Scandinavian woodprint, adds warmth to the pieces.
Outstanding offering: The stitching on the vest gives it handmade appeal and that print skirt is a winner. Tel: +46 8 518 008 50 E-mail: Karolin@monamici.se
VELVET & TWEED Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER: Tina Schreiber Sizes: 3 months to 5 years; Wholesale prices: $21-$49 Newcomer Velvet & Tweed's collection for girls and boys skews toward classic good looks but feels fresh and current.
Outstanding offering: The Garden Party dress has the sashed bodice and buoyant skirt one associates with special occasion wear. The feeling of the airy Swiss dot cloth, the fluttery collar and twirl-worthy skirt though, removes any starchiness.
For little brother, Schreiber offers this comfy pinstripe linen suit. Pair it with one of her dress shirts or a funky tee for a dressed down dressed up look. Tel: 415-637-2090 E-mail: Info@velvetandtweed.com
TODDLER AND UP GOLDEN Homebase: Brooklyn, NY DESIGNER: Chardean Chum Sizes: 2T to 6 years; Wholesale price: $20-$34 Chum is a minimalist. She works in a limited palette of soft banana, dusty rose, silvery gray and indigo with nary a print in the line. Her shapes are simple and mostly unadorned. The line works thanks to crinkled Japanese crepe and the endless outfits that can be created by mixing the pieces.
Outstanding offering: The Float Dress is all about beautifully draped, bias-cut cotton and a double layer of creamy color. Tel: 917-770-1126 E-mail: Chardean@goldennewyork.com
WHITTEN GREY Homebase: Spring, TX DESIGNERS: Brittney Davenport and Candice Jenkins Sizes: 2 to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $39-$65 I'm all for well-edited collections; Whitten Grey's line is so tight it squeaks! Using just white, pale grey and a touch of lime, the designers offer six simple organic cotton dresses in modern shapes and lightly detailed. In addition to producing attractive clothing, they've launched "Project Little Grey Dress." Buy one piece from the collection, and the designers will donate a dress to a girl in need.
Outstanding offering: Here's the collection (minus one piece). Any of the dresses will make a girl feel crisp, put together and not at all fussy. Tel: 251-463-0408 E-mail: Info@whittengrey.com
JEWELRY ATSUYO ET AKIKO Homebase: Brooklyn, NY DESIGNERS: Atsuyo Yang and Akiko Mukae Sizes: Children to adult; Wholesale price: $25-$320 Yang is a fashion designer; Mukae is a painter and printmaker. Together they've created a jewelry collection that draws the viewer into a world of childlike dreams and symbols.
Outstanding offering: From the delicate brass chain hangs Mother of Pearl and glass beads, as well as a charm that reads joy, dream or love. Tel: 917-208-5840 E-mail: Info@atsuyoetakiko.com
ROOM DÉCOR INKE Homebase: Netherlands DESIGNER: Inke Heiland Wholesale price: Contact manufacturer Kids will love Inke's wall décor. Working with small batches of vintage wallpaper, the designers at the Inke studio, hand-cut stencils in the shapes of lions, birds, elephants - a whole menagerie. The shapes come with wallpaper paste that's easy to mix and apply.
Outstanding pieces: Pick your pet. ROMP (North American distributor) Tel: 845-338-2008 E-mail: Jenn@rompstore.com
PETIT COLLAGE Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER: Lorena Siminovich Sizes: wood collages 10 x 10 x 3/4"; mobiles, approximately 20" long; Wholesale prices: collages $70, Mobiles $38 Buenos Aires born Siminovich, a graphic designer and art director, has crafted a collection of wooden collages, posters and mobiles with a strong, mid-century bent.
Outstanding offerings: Each collage is offered in a limited edition of 50 that is signed and numbered by the artist. The pieces sport elegant animals and flowers, fruits and vegetables, and are layered with 60's style patterns, musical scores and any number of graphic elements for a richly textured yet clean wall design.
The Bird Trio Mobile features three laser-cut bamboo birds that "fly" playfully above a child's head. Tel: 415-342-9494 E-mail: Lorena@petitcollage.com
WHITE RABBIT ENGLAND Homebase: Cheshire, England DESIGNER: Charlotte Thompson Size: 10" high; Wholesale price: $35 Imagine a forest at night, the sky dark and strewn with stars, an owl hooting high above. How does a child find their way home? Leaving a trail of breadcrumbs is just so old school. How about a mushroom, a beautifully painted mushroom lit from within?
Outstanding offering: White Rabbit's classic ceramic nightlights are illustrated with charming fairy tales; the "cap" is perforated so light shines through. They're enchanting. Tel: +44 162 541 9622 E-mail: Charlottethompson@mac.com
TOYS FIDOODLE Homebase: Toronto, Canada DESIGNER: Jen Bulthuis Wholesale price: $22 for mini blocks, $50 & $80 for puzzle sets Kids love being drawn into a toy that allows creative interpretation. Bulthuis' collection of wildly illustrated mobiles, canvases, pillows and block sets offer plenty of "let's pretend" options.
Outstanding offering: It starts as an attractive wooden puzzle, then The Jigsaw pulls apart to form puppets (sticks to create the puppets are included). The heads are interchangeable and come with a story that kids can use as a point of departure. Once puppet time is complete, the pieces fit back into the puzzle board and then into an organic carrying bag. Tel: 416-805-5632 E-mail: Info@fidoodle.com
GEEMO Homebase: Brooklyn, NY DESIGNER: Cas Holman Wholesale price: $17.50 for box of five pieces Geemo is absolutely, totally cool. Each jiggly shape resembles a headless Gumby. Made from nontoxic, washable polystyrene and neodymium magnets, the forms grab and repel each other into endless creepy yet beautiful combinations. During the exhibit a little girl was playing with the pieces, her eyes wide with amazement. An hour later, she was still there, still rapt.
Outstanding offering: A Geemo "web."
Our friend prefers a sparer "Daliesque" arrangement. Tel: 646-701-1227 E-mail: Cas@heroeswillrise.com
BATH AND PERFUME BLOSSOM Homebase: Pickerington, OH CREATOR: Brandi Wallace Wholesale prices: $10.50-$16.50 What's better than freshly scented facial cleansers and moisturizers, body washes and hair care products? How about items made of all natural ingredients as well as SPF 15-30? The pretty green and blue boxes and white bottles make a lovely store display.
Outstanding offering: Any of the products will leave a girl feeling pampered. Tel: 614-920-9254 E-mail: Brandi.wallace@brand5llc.com
Originally published September 3, 2008
|
|
