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What a Difference a Year Makes: Spring 2010 at the ENK Children's Club - Part I What a difference a year makes. Last August, I held one designer's hand while she confessed that she would have to close. She had made few sales and with the economic climate in turmoil she couldn't foresee an uptick in her business. She wasn't the only one. I went home, poured a glass of wine, and got into bed. This year, there were retailers walking the aisles again, and when I asked one designer how the show was going, she said, "Good! They're writing." Another answered, "I've had a great morning, with appointments all afternoon." While there were exceptions, manufacturers found their sales and the general mood of the event encouraging. Yay! And by the way, the lines were carefully edited and price conscience without losing one iota of originality. That's the way to do it people!
LAYETTE: BABY BY MARGERY ELLEN Homebase: West Hempstead, NY DESIGNER: Margery Frank Sizes: NB-12 months; Wholesale prices: $4.50-$15 Margery Frank's customers asked for a layette line that only looked expensive. She complied with Baby by Margery Ellen, a collection of Pima cotton basics. Each piece, available in either embroidered solids or eight sweet prints, has the heft of an expensive garment without the hefty price tag.
Outstanding pieces: The frogs on this whimsical unisex, footed one-piece are working hard for their kiss. Tel: 516-505-1818 E-mail: Orders@margeryellen.com
B AMICI Homebase: Lake Forest, IL DESIGNER: b amici design team Sizes NB to 24 months; Wholesale prices: $11-$16 This collection of cotton knit and cotton poplin styles for infants is every bit as well designed and constructed as more expensive collections and that bird print is charming.
Outstanding pieces: The bird print complements the peasant styling of the top perfectly and the legging has a delicate ruffle just below the waistband in the back. That's a lot of good looks for a little money. Don't we all want that? Lynn Meyer Showroom (Lynn Meyer) Tel: 212-947-5522 E-mail: Lmeyerinc@aol.com tel: 847-235-2677
SPORTSWEAR: INFANT AND UP FERD Homebase: Princeton Junction, NJ DESIGNER: Jennifer Connaughton Sizes: Girls and boys 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $28-$55 Connaughton has a knack for mixing textures and an eye for color that results in elegant, up-market palettes. This season she's enamored with dusty plum and lilac tones for girls, as well as gray-blues and navy for both sexes.
Outstanding pieces: There is effortless pattern mixing and bridging of classic and trendy elements in both the girl's and boy's garments. Tel: 609-799-8448 E-mail: Sales@ferdkids.com
LUCKY WANG Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Emily Wang Sizes: NB to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $13-$30 The designer adds Western twang with the addition of denim and snap closures. Call it the John Wang look.
Outstanding pieces: A boy can pile on the pieces when the textures blend effortlessly and the lines never look busy. Tel: 212-229-2900 E-mail: wholesale@luckywang.com
MILK AND HONEY BABY Homebase: Huntington Beach, CA DESIGNER: Nichole Horiuchi Sizes: Girls infant to 6X, boys infant to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$22 Horiuchi is bubble crazy this season. She's got bubbles and rompers and bathing suits with decidedly round shapes - adorable on infants. Her boys' pieces are a little edgier with lots of plaids, seersucker embroidered with an all-over skull-and-crossbones, and T-shirts with funky surfing themes.
Outstanding pieces: You won't find a cuter bubble than this retro printed, Sixties-styled charmer. Tel: 714-847-6844 E-mail: Nicmilknhoney@hotmail.com
NEIGE Homebase: Santa Ana, CA DESIGNER: Adrienne Catrina Sizes: Girls infant to 14 years, boys infant to size 20; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Navy, white and…you said red, right? Or yellow? Nope. How about chartreuse? Yes, chartreuse, from Catrina, a lover of dark neutral palettes. There are also ruffles this season, and not just narrow ones edging a hemline. There are deep, flouncy ruffles around a collar, along the hem. Hmm…
Outstanding piece: Strong color meets a sweet silhouette in the flattering Willa Dress. Tel: 714-558-7751 E-mail: Info@neigeclothing.com
NANO BABY Homebase: Riverdale, NJ DESIGNER: Patricia Pienkowski Sizes: Girls infant to 6X, boys infant to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $12-$21 Hip graphics, cool colors and easy shapes define Nano Baby's boyswear for spring.
Outstanding piece: Modal is at its softest here, striated, collared and printed with a truck motif. The jeans are washed for softness and cut for ease of movement. Tel: 973-616-1515 E-mail: Hbalch@nano-baby.com
PAPER WINGS Homebase: Mullumbimby, Australia DESIGNER: Michelle Fallon and Jason Gibaud Sizes: 2 to 12 years; Wholesale prices for underwear: $19.95-$29.50, apparel: $25-$72 Somewhere between the theatre and the boutique is Paper Wings, a mostly organic collection rich in ruffles, layers, and appealing attitude. The backbone of the Paper Wing's palette is always red and blue to which they've added gray, sky blue and rose. New to the collection is a line of organic lounge and underwear, and they've extended the size range from 2 to 10 years to 2 to 12 years.
Outstanding pieces: The gray and red combinations have fairy tale elements yet they never veer toward "let's play dress up" wear.
The border design on the beige dress is beautifully etched and the colors have that old fashioned, hand-tinted quality. It's a special piece. Tel: 61.26.68.43.39.0 E-mail: Michelle@paperwings.com.au
Originally published August 31, 2009
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