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Children's Club Spring 2009: Newcomers Blend Technology with Organic Goods for a Fresh Take on Giftware T-shirts, the perennial favorite item of giftware buyers, made a strong showing among Indie collections at Children's Club (October 5-8, 2008) . A theme among some new tee designers: reacting to all that is organic with strong, technologically based motifs. In other categories, the looks varied from clean and modern to nostalgic with the 1950's and 1970's inspiring manufacturers' lines.
APPAREL: T-SHIRTS ACIDO DOMINGO Designers: Omar Alicea Wholesale: $15-$20 Sizes: 2 to 14 years Standouts: A photo doesn't do justice to the tactile quality of the Space Retro Bunny in a special x-ray suit.
FYI: This brand new showroom offers an eclectic collection of international designer giftware. Acido Domingo's designer Omar Alicea, whose company is based in historic San Juan, Puerto Rico, creates fabric using photomontages of his own designs that he silk-screens on T-shirts, sometimes combining the images with appliqués. The result is a boldly colored mix of organic and mechanical themes. BEBE SOL SHOWROOM (Salome Galib) Tel: 718-797-3772 E-mail: Salome@bebesol.com
PLAYGROUND PARTISANS "Playground Partisans - curious characters with peculiar personalities." Designer: Judith Engleman Wholesale: T-shirts $9.50-$11.50, chocolate bars $2.25 Sizes: 6 months to 7 years Standouts: The "Friedrich" one-piece features an endearing woodchuck with the "must-have" apple a day.
FYI: Graphic designer and illustrator Engleman brings her bold, whimsical animal motifs to kids' T-shirts. For dinosaur lovers - and what kid isn't? - she offers five different species with names like "Karl," "Horst," "Wolfgang," and "Dorothea." In addition to tees, her charming pals grace the wrappers of excellent milk and dark chocolate bars that can be swapped for the usual gift card. Sweet! Tel: 718-916-5250 E-mail: Info@playgroundpartisans.com
SOUTHERN BRAND "It's more about where your head's at than where your feet are at. Proud, honest, brave, a lil' crazy and tough as nails. That's southern." Designers: Josh Oberhausen and Chris Romero Wholesale: $18-$20 Sizes: 6 months to 12 years Standouts: Tees that evoke a world of dusty highways, cattle roping and frosty glasses of "sweet tea."
FYI: Lil' Ones, Southern Brand's collection of vintage style tees for kids, is what happens when two friends with down south roots pine for "Small Town America." Tel: 305-573-3400 E-mail: Josh@southernbrand.com
FUNZEES "Expressing baby's funniest thoughts." Designer: Sara Kety-Elias Wholesale: $11 Sizes: NB to 18 months for OneZees, 18 to 24 months T-shirts, and 2 to 4T for T-shirts Standouts: The "Former Wombmates" tee makes an adorable gift for parents of twins and more.
FYI: Kety-Elias owns Le Sabon, a kids' and women's gift shop on Lexington Avenue, in NYC. After witnessing the enthusiasm her customers displayed when she introduced a few funny slogan tees, the retailer launched FunZees (funny onesies). The collection has been as popular with her customers as it's been with major retailers and specialty boutiques. Tel: 866-699-6660 E-mail: Sara@funzees.com
BABY SLINGS: SAKURA BLOOM "The modern art of babywearing." Designer: Lynne Banach Wholesale: $30-$170 Sizes: One size Standouts: The fabrics are so sumptuous and the colors so rich, mothers may be tempted to wear these elegant slings without the baby.
FYI: Sakura's launch collection of baby slings brings functionality and a touch of glamour to "babywearing." Tel: 617-905-3868 E-mail: Sales@sakurabloom.com
SACKS/BLANKETS/BIBS: COZIBUG "Cozibug….where babies go to get snug." Designer: Sonia Larsson Wholesale: $17-$31 Sizes: Infants Standouts: The Cozi CuCoon (for sizes up to 6 months) takes the hassle of swaddling out of a swaddling blanket. Just slip baby in, close the front, and zzzzzzzzzz (them, not you!)
FYI: Larsson, a chic New York mom, gave herself a glance in the mirror on her way out with the little one and was satisfied with her reflection. The babe's mismatched stroller cover, blanket and accessories though, didn't thrill her. Like any mother with a mission, Larsson designed her own coordinating sleep sacks, stroller blankets, swaddles, burp clothes and plush towels. Each piece is entirely "green" right down to the nontoxic vegetable dyes. As far as style goes, the exclusive dot print is hip, the shapes are refined, and each item is lined in plush. Tel: 917-445-9779 E-mail: Sales@cozibug.com
JEWELRY: SARAH CHLOE Mother-child jewelry Designer: Zahava Ryzman Wholesale: Approximately $14-$250 Sizes: Infant to adult Standouts: Her delicate, modern charms made of sterling silver, gold vermeil and 14 kt. gold can be worn solo, or layered on chains, key chains and bag hooks. The items are sized so that the child's charm fits inside the mother's. I've been wearing a sterling charm since I met Ryzman, and have received compliments on a daily basis.
FYI: New York-based Zahava Ryzman designed her first jewelry collection when she was 18. After that, she created items for two of the largest diamond companies in the world. Following the birth of her daughter Sarah Chloe in 2007, she "realized just how much women appreciate and enjoy the personalized, thoughtful gifts that people send in honor of them becoming a new mom. I designed the collection with this thought in mind, as a means to celebrate the new addition and to acknowledge the mother's love for the child." Tel: 646-327-9115 E-mail: Sales@sarahchloe.com
DIAPER BAGS: BABY MEL The good looks of a high-end diaper bag at a competitive price point. Designers: Melanie Marshall and Suzi Bergman Wholesale: Approximately $44 to $49 Standouts: Diaper bags? You could have fooled me. The oversized plush shape and the hip, original prints look like something one finds in Bergdorf's accessory department. Inside, it's business as usual with five elasticized storage pouches, one pocket with a zipper to hold valuables, and the patent-pending strap can be won on the shoulder or attached to the stroller.
FYI: With Baby Mel, the designers of Storksak introduce a line of chic diaper bags at affordable prices. Conception-NY Showroom Tel: 866-201-0150 E-mail: Nyinfo@conceptionshowroom.com
MISCELLANEOUS: MEDBASICS "You can do it. We'll show you how." Creators: Tara Summers Hermann RN, BSN; Luke Hermann, MD Wholesale: Approximately $20 for the Home Pack, $15 for the Travel Pack Ages: Birth to one year Standouts: MEDBASICS Home Pack and Travel Pack
FYI: When the Hermann's 16-month-old son started choking, Tara Hermann, a registered nurse, knew how to clear his airway. Would you? That question prompted the couple to create MEDBASICS, a lightweight case that can hang easily from a doorknob. Inside is a spiral binding with color-coded tabs that, with clear directions, explains how to quickly handle all those hair-raising episodes that we should be prepared for but often are not: choking, fever, bleeding, burns and poison. A checklist to help prepare for emergencies, a page for emergency contacts, and an inside pocket for a child's important health documents are included. Tel: 917-353-1932 E-mail: Info@babymedbasics.com
Originally published November 28, 2008
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