October Spring 2004 ENK Show: Am I Dreaming?
- I
have a shopping fantasy. I
enter Barney's with $100 in my wallet. I know that the
money will buy me a lipstick at the makeup counter and a
cup of coffee downstairs. Because I can't resist, I head
to the sportswear department and run my hands over an
Armani suit - price tag, $25. I grab the suit and trot to
the shoe area where Joan & David boots are on sale
for $5. I buy La Perla lingerie for $1; a Gucci bag for
$10, and the woman behind the jewelry counter waves me
over and says, "Take this pearl choker, darling. You'll
look lovely." On my way home, I give Loehmann's a haughty
sniff.
I was reminded of that fantasy as I strolled through the ENK show, held in New York's Javits Center from October 19-21. While finding one or two great new lines at each show is a given, discovering wonderful new collections in every aisle, as I did this time, was a gift.
Below are a few collections you'll be seeing a lot of.
SPORTSWEAR
DAGMAR DALEY
DESIGNER: Dagmar Daley
Take a look at Dagmar Daley's first collection and you'll wonder how 10 pieces can create such an impact. Daley's namesake line features narrow tees and button-down shirts that tuck into loose, high-waisted pants, a silhouette not seen in other collections. The colors are deep neutrals with clean white and a pop of bright red. One perfect dress rounds out the collection.
Sizes: 18 months-4. Wholesale prices: $10.50-$29.50.
Outstanding Pieces: There are several standouts but I'll limit myself to three. The high-waisted grandpa pants with suspenders, worn with a soft, chambray shirt; and the red polka dot dress in cotton voile. The dress's silhouette is narrow but the skirt's pleats make twirling a dream come true.
- 108 Fair Oaks
- San Francisco, CA 94110
- Tel: (415) 641-1286
- E-mail: dagmardaley@mindspring.com
DANICA AND DYLAN
DESIGNER: The Danica and Dylan design team
The Danica and Dylan collection is colored in cream, dusty aqua, deep red, cocoa, and black so a few pieces mixed and matched can add up to a wardrobe.
Sizes: toddler-6X. Wholesale prices: See manufacturer for details
Outstanding Piece: The black coat with white stitching worn with black, boot-cut pants printed with white Indian motifs. Chic and fun.
- 247 Grand Street, 3rd Floor
- New York, NY 10003
- Tel: (212) 219-0679
- E-mail: margaretflynn@danicaanddylan.com
ELIZA GRAN
DESIGNER: Eliza Gran
SIZES: 3 months-6. Wholesale prices: $18-$24
Eliza Gran's small, well-honed collection reflects her penchant for calicos and seventies-style patterns. Gran's sophisticated take on nostalgia has landed her simply shaped A-lines, halter tops and Capri pants on the pages of trade and consumer magazines.
- Outstanding Piece: The orange printed wrap dress with the side-tie bow. Just right for the urban cowgirl.
- 345 Hudson Street, 16th Floor
- New York, NY 10014
- Tel: (212) 226-2106
- E-mail: elizagran@earthlink.net
- www.elizagran.com
EVELYN BONNIE
DESIGNER: Shelly Young
If you're looking for sportswear and baby accessories with unique textiles then consider Evelyn Bonnie. Designer Shelly Young creates her own prints influenced by vintage florals. Once her goods have blown out of the store they can be reordered. Try that with a real vintage line.
Sizes: NB-6. Wholesale prices: $2.50-$26
Outstanding Piece: The sundress with polka dot bows, a berry-strewn bodice and red skirt with a peek-a-boo, polka dot pleat. Ideal for a picnic in the park.
- 2653 Orange Avenue, Suite B
- Costa Mesa, CA 92627
- Tel: (714) 345-4699
- E-mail: shelly@evelynbonnie.com
- www.evelynbonnie.com
FLIPPIT
DESIGNER: Liz Bourne
"There's no inside, there's no outside, there's no wrong side, there's no right side," according to Liz Bourne who designs the new Flippit collection. Made of handkerchief linen each loose fitting piece is reversible, so if ketchup spills on the top just "flippit" and it's good to go.
Sizes: 4-14. Wholesale prices: $9.50-$48.
Outstanding Pieces: the casual tank and pants. Get tired of the lilac and coral combination, "flippit" over and wear the apple and aqua. Talk about multitasking!
- 4616 Mahonia Road NW
- Albuquerque, NM 87120
- Tel: 505-899-6611
- E-mail: flippit74@hotmail.com
FROLIC
DESIGNER: Andalynn Richie
Richie's first collection incorporates a wonderful fabric - chiffon plisse from France. It's soft to the touch, deeply crinkled, machine washable and dryable, and needs no additional attention. Mom can put the bad old days of ringing and twisting behind her.
Sizes: Contact manufacturer. Wholesale prices: $11-$34.
Outstanding Pieces: The two-tiered A-line dress and coat in chiffon plisse. The set can go from the classroom to dinner and look appropriate in either setting.
- 701 Eighth Avenue
- San Diego, CA 92101
- Tel: (619) 232-5275
- E-mail:
andalynn@poutychild.com
HEIR
DESIGNER: Zna Houston
Sizes: 4-16 Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer
Founder Zna Houston coined the term HEIRNYM to describe t-shirts with sayings like "Something is in the Heir"; " I have my Heir bag, do you?"; "To err is natural, to be an Heir wear it."
Outstanding Piece: The pink t-shirt with white clouds embellished with the phrase, "Something is in the Heir." You don't have to be an Heir head to wear one.
- 6651 Garth Avenue
- Los Angeles, CA 90056
- Tel: (310) 702-7175
- E-mail: info@heirapparel.com
- www.jamesgirone.com/heir
KIWI INDUSTRIES
DESIGNER: Becky Grebosky
Sizes: 3 months-4. Wholesale prices: $5.75-$24
This organic linen collection is a winner. The colors are muted sage, butter and light blue; the shapes are loose and comfortable. Grebosky uses 19th century etching plates to print a single animal motif in black on each garment. Contemporary engraving techniques can't compete with the beauty and detail of the images.
Outstanding Piece: The butter yellow baby dress with matching panties. The rooster, near the dress's hem, is so life like you'll expect it to crow.
- 192 Big Horn Ridge Drive, NE
- Albuquerque, NM 87122
- Tel: (505) 710-6455
- E-mail: becky@kiwiindustries.com
- www.kiwiindustries.com
STELLA INDUSTRIES
DESIGNER: Ary Park
Ary Park isn't afraid to mix things up. She fearlessly pairs stripes with shiny oriental silks and simply embroidered t-shirts. Worn in multi-patterns, the feeling is psychedelic; mix a print with one of the gathered or lightly embellished tee's and the look is quieter but still edgy.
Sizes: 3 months-6. Wholesale prices: $12-$35
Outstanding Pieces: You don't have to pair the red striped t-shirt with the blue striped, ruffled skirt, or top that with an oriental bomber jacket, but why not if it looks so cute.
- 3836 Sunbeam Drive
- Los Angeles, CA 90065
- Tel: (323) 401-1529 or (323)
982-0963
DRESSES
CLOSE TO THE EARTH
DESIGNER: Mae Siffin
Mae Siffin designs two dress styles that will appeal to old-fashioned mothers: A below the knee, loose fitting dress with short, cuffed sleeves; and an ankle-length style with fluttery, cap sleeves. The dresses are made of dotted Swiss and have upmarket touches like deep hems and batiste lining.
Sizes: 3-7. Wholesale prices: $83 for knee length; $135 for long dress
Outstanding Piece: The long white dress with black dots. It's sweet and traditional without being stiff. What mother wouldn't want a dress like that in their child's closet?
- P.O. Box 17451
- Urbana, IL 61801
- Tel: (217) 328-3801 or (800) 653-2883
- www.closetotheearth.com
- E-mail: msiffin@closetotheearth.com
TWEENS & JUNIORS
MO BEE'S
DESIGNER: Maria Groezinger and Bee Tancharoen
Designers Maria Groezinger and Bee Tancharoen hit the Tween scene with style. Their soft, jersey knit sportswear pieces are meant to be worn in layers. Once on, the pieces are body conscience without looking like an MTV audition outfit.
Sizes: 7-14. Wholesale Prices: $16.50-$42.
Outstanding Pieces: The layered tank tops over the A-symmetrical skirt. The "I just threw this on" nonchalance of the set, and its bright orange and green, will make any kid look confident.
- 1319 23rd Street, #A
- Santa Monica, CA 90404
- Tel: (323) 578-6468
- E-mail: mobeegirls@hotmail.com
KNITWEAR
ABUNDANCIA
Designer: Helen Curtis
These charming cotton knits with the 1950's-style animals make perfect summer wear. Add a t-shirt and they're ready for fall.
Sizes: Hats - infant, garments - infant-3. Wholesale prices: $7-$30.
Outstanding Pieces: The baby jumper in sage with the tiny coral elephant and the soft mauve jumper with the cream-colored horse. They're right out of "The Little Rascals." What a gift!
- P.O. Box 423
- Woodstock, VT 05091
- Tel: (802) 457-2595
- E-mail: vtabundancia@yahoo.com
TRUST FUND BABY
DESIGNER: Monica Nguyen
Sizes: 3 months-18. Wholesale prices: $30-$74.
Trust Fund Baby's loose fitting cashmere, silk and silk/cotton blend sweaters in deep colors and classic patterns will keep baby warm on chilly evenings. You have to touch the sweaters to believe their silkiness.
Outstanding Pieces: The zip-front bombers. Look closely and you'll see ladybugs.
- 444 West 35th Street, Suite 17A
- New York, NY 10001
- Tel: (646) 623-2257
- E-mail: trustfundbaby2003@yahoo.com
T-SHIRTS
APPAMAN
DESIGNER: Harald Husum
Sizes: NB-4. Wholesale prices: $9-$10.50; $20 gift set.
This is the funkiest t-shirt collection out there. Husum swaps saccharine sayings like "I'm grandma's little angel," for images of Chez Guevara, hand-painted male and female symbols, bright stars and peace signs. You won't find pink and blue here. Try black, orange, purple, cocoa and olive for a change.
Outstanding Pieces: Every design screams, "Buy me!"
- 38 Wyckoff Street, Suite 1L
- Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Tel: (718) 403-9402
- E-mail: info@appaman.com
- www.appaman.com
J.K. TEES
DESIGNER: Jill Garcia
Jill Garcia mixes two of the seasons hippest trends - initials and baseball styling - for her girls' t-shirts. The look is feminine, sporty and fun.
Sizes: 6 months-6. Wholesale prices: $12-$16.
Outstanding Piece: The pink t-shirt with black sleeves and lowercase initial. The colors, stylized letter and borrowed-from-boyfriend styling has 1950's appeal.
- 609 12th Street
- Santa Monica, CA 90402
- Tel: (310) 393-5377
- E-mail: Jktees03@aol.com
ACCESSORIES
BUMBLE BAGS
DESIGNER: Jennie Lynn Johanson
Sizes: Comes in three sizes. Contact manufacturer for details. Wholesale prices: Small, $49; Large, $53; Tote, $53.
Jennie Lynn Johanson's messenger bags have everything a mother needs for toting baby stuff plus one more: Once the baby is a toddler, mom can leave the bottles and diapers home and use the bag as a stylish tote. The prints have enough variety to satisfy all tastes and the scattering of rhinestones on some of the bags is fun, not flashy.
Outstanding Piece: All the bags are great.
- 16015 Old Valley Boulevard
- City of Industry, CA 91744
- Tel: (626) 934-8600
- E-mail: info@bumblebags.com
- www.bumblebags.com
LOOM
DESIGNER: Johanna Leestma LaFleur
Sizes: Watermelon Clutch 8"W X 5"T; Marsupial 18"W X 11"T. Wholesale prices: Clutch $10; Marsupial Diaper Bag $65.
Do you remember Johanna Leestma LaFleur from the bag company Fleurville? She's on her own developing urban, modern prints for her simple, ballistic-nylon bags. The bags' flaps close with magnets for easy access and the side pockets have open tops - no more struggling with buckles or buttons.
Outstanding Piece: The light blue and red print bag. The colors and pattern are neutral enough to mix with anything.
- 439 Molino Avenue
- Mill Valley, CA 94941
- Tel: (415) 381-2820
- E-mail: johanna@loomlife.com
- www.loomlife.com
BLANKETS
LARUCCI
DESIGNERS: Gina Larucci Turner and Cathy Portilla
Sizes: 16" X 16" and 30" X 40" Wholesale prices: $22 and $55.
It may be early in the season for a heavyweight blanket, but never mind. One side of a Larucci blanket is bone colored brushed material that feels like a cashmere/suede hybrid. The other side - in matching bone, dusty pink or pale blue - has an even richer hand. They're utterly, decadently luxurious. You'll want to sew two together and throw it over your own bed.
Outstanding Pieces: Any of the three blankets.
- 150 Columbus Avenue, Suite 5A
- New York, NY 10023
- Tel: (212) 799-2474
- E-mail: cathy@larucci.com or Gina@larucci.com
- www.larucci.com
POUT
DESIGNER: The Pout Design Team
Sizes: Contact manufacturer. Wholesale prices: $32-$56.
The designers at Pout offer "opulence for baby" and they're not kidding. Their blankets sport shiny, ultra-soft faux-fur on one side in taupe, cocoa and cream, and not-found-in-nature tones such as pale blue, light pink and garnet. The other side of the blanket is a glistening oriental silk in combinations like coffee embroidered with pale blue, or soft lemon with silvery blue and pink. A little warm for spring, but oh so perfect for fall evenings.
Outstanding Pieces: Pick any blanket.
- 701 8th Avenue
- San Diego, CA 92101
- Tel: (619) 232-5275
- E-mail: pout-pout.com
- www.pout-pout.com
- E-mail: design@pout-pout.com
BIBS AND BURP CLOTHS
LILYPAD BABY
DESIGNER: Kathie Papera
Wholesale prices: $5-$29.
Lilypad Baby offers bibs, burp cloths and blankets singly or as sets in pretty, ribbon-tied tulle gift bags. The prints Papera chooses are old-fashioned cotton florals or conversationals. The burp cloths are lined with cotton interlock. All the pieces are machine washable and dryable.
Outstanding Pieces: The bibs are well-priced, large enough to cover up baby, and the prints are pretty enough for dress-up.
- P.O. Box 1121
- Manhattan Beach, CA 90267
- Tel: (310) 796-0888
- E-mail: info@lilypadbaby.com
- www.lilypadbaby.com
BABY PRODUCTS
BABY BLOSSOMS
CREATOR: Baby Blossoms design team
Wholesale prices: $54-$59.40 for case of six.
Baby Blossoms unveiled its first line of natural baby care products. The body wash, baby oil, lotion and aroma mist have the soothing scent of lavender, chamomile and red mandarin. All Baby Blossoms' products are manufactured in small batches to ensure freshness and do not contain artificial ingredients. Stacked in amber colored bottles, the arrangement would make an elegant store display.
- P.O. Box 210326
- San Francisco, CA 94121
- Tel: (415) 722-3168
- E-mail: info@babyblossoms.com
- www.babyblossoms.com
Tina Barry
has been involved in many facets of the fashion world. She
has traveled domestically and to Europe to research color
and design trends. For many years she styled textiles for
the apparel and home furnishing industries. After designing
her own line of children's wear she now freelances as a
children's wear buyer and private label designer. Tina also
teaches a marketing course at The Fashion Institute of
Technology in New York City.