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Bubble Spring 2009: Pure Design for Established Collections - Part I While still the new kid on the children's trade show block, Bubble - The Kids Trade Show (held August 3-5, 2008) drew designers from SoHo in New York and as far away as Australia. Retailers and buyers showed up to view the Spring 2009 collections at the show's Chelsea outpost. The mix of styles represented broadens each season. For spring, there were funky, rock 'n roll collections beside clean classics; boys' casual wear next to vintage styled girls' lines; and innovative toys bordered booths with collections of delicate jewelry. Buzz words for girls' and boys' collections: fresh, clean, uncluttered.
INFANT AND UP BLACK RABBIT Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Marguerite de Balincourt Sizes: 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $22-$55 Working in a palette of cream, pale cocoa, gray and royal, de Balincourt fashions a line of sweetly feminine, modern sportswear.
Outstanding offering: The print lends this classic dress a touch of country charm. Tel: 323-314-9210 E-mail: Marguerite@myblackrabbit.com
CC3DESIGN Homebase: Oakland, CA DESIGNER: Cathleen Chua Schulte Sizes: NB to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$47 Architect Schulte's well-edited collection is based on arresting shape and jolts of color.
Outstanding offering: Sea anemones, coral reefs, beach grasses blowing in the breeze inspire this dress that changes shape as the child moves. The trick is turning the ruffled cloth upside down. Tel: 510-658-0296 E-mail: Cathleen@cc3design.com
FOURNIER Homebase: Miami, FL DESIGNER: Anabel Fournier Sizes: NB to 8 years; Wholesale prices: $30-$32 Classic knits made from silk, Pima cotton and baby Alpaca are this designer's forte. She employs women working in a coop in Peru to handcraft each item.
Outstanding offering: This smart navy and cream linen dress and Alpaca knit sweater looks smart for any casual celebration. Tel: 305-677-9993 E-mail: cservice@petitsfournier.com
FERD Homebase: Princeton Junction, NJ DESIGNER: Jennifer Connaughton Sizes: Girls and Boys 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $22-$47 Connaughton works her girls' and boys' lines in two color palettes: deep, dusty blue and white; and taupe, yellow/green and light cocoa. She chooses simple Liberty paisleys, fine knit stripes and denim for the blouson shaped girls' pieces and the classic Western styled pieces for boys. Both lines are a dream to merchandise.
Outstanding offering: In both groups, the designer mixes sporty shapes with delicate prints. The contrast, as you can see, adds up to a unique look. Tel: 609-799-8448 E-mail: Jennifer@ferdkids.com
FLORA AND HENRI Homebase: Seattle, WA DESIGNERS: Flora and Henri design team Sizes: Girls and Boys NB to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $11-$47 Flora & Henri celebrates its tenth year offering beautifully manufactured, elegant kids clothing.
Outstanding offering: This is the look that Flora & Henri do best: Classic shapes with an understated print and touches like the delicate smocking for charm. Tel: 206-749-0004 E-mail: Darren@florahenri.com
CHASE 'N SKY Homebase: Lake Oswego, OR DESIGNER: Lindsey O'Neill-Myers Sizes: 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $14-$45 Liberty prints, a flutter of a ruffled sleeve, a deep rouched hem here and a blousy bloomer there. O'Neill-Myers' girlish line of dusty pastel tones is just right for hot summer days on the beach.
Outstanding offering: Every girl who dons the sweet Millie Dress is guaranteed to feel pretty. Tel: 808-557-4099 E-mail: Chasenskybaby@chasensky.com
HARTFORD Homebase: Paris, France DESIGNER: Eve Carlton Sizes: Girls and Boys 2 to 14 years; Wholesale prices: approximately $46-$86 Every season I'm impressed with Carlton's unusual prints, the punchy color palettes and fashion forward yet not trendy shapes. Her multi-piece girls' and boys' collections are equally successful.
Outstanding offering: The print on this feather light smocked dress is powerful without being overwhelming. It's ideal for a girl with a strong sense of style.
Carlton takes a wild 60's print and tames it: the cloth is sewn wrong side out so the colors are muted. ESP Showroom Tel: 212-997-0075 E-mail: Randi@espshowroom.com
KIT + LILI Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Teresa Ok Sizes: 3 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $17-$34 Pop-Art prints and billboard hues make this one big pinwheel of a collection.
Outstanding offering: This happy mod daisy print and easy tunic shape is classic Kit + Lili.
This season, they've added printed sweaters and tiered-gingham skirts for a quieter take on the Kit + Lili style. Tel: 646-415-8635 E-mail: Teresa@kitlili.com
Originally published September 14, 2008
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