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Spring/Summer 2011: Established Designers Try Playtime New York On For Size Among the 63 exhibitors at Playtime New York (July 31, 2010 - August 2, 2010) were established children's apparel and products manufacturers giving the new venue a try. Their sophisticated, modern collections made a good fit in the loft-like exhibit space at 82 Mercer Street in SoHo.
SPORTSWEAR:
KICOKIDS Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Tia Cibani Sizes: 2 to 12 years; Wholesale prices: $15-$90 Cibani has a way of giving current themes a fresh twist. She's big on the nautical look this season, yet instead of working the same navy, red and white combinations, she employs pale gray instead of white, and swaps the navy for a greener blue, and the usual banana for a sharper, green-tinged yellow. In her boys' collection, she reduces the stripes on a nautical flag down to a simple color block. It's the way the best modernists interpret design.
Outstanding pieces: The simplest way to get to the seashore. Tel: 212 675-5426 E-mail: info@kicokids.com
LUCKY WANG Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Emily Wang Sizes: 6 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $18-$29 The 1950s was a great era - for prints. Wang was inspired by the tropical patterns of that time employing the funky designs on her signature kimonos, smocks and new bubbles and one-pieces.
Outstanding piece: One piece that delivers a knockout punch of pattern. Tel: 212 229-2900 E-mail: Wholesale@luckywang.com
SWEATERS/HANDKNITS:
FOURNIER Homebase: Cochabamba, Bolivia DESIGNER: Anabel Fournier Sizes: NB to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $8-$425 Fournier tweaks the usual nautical themes and adds charming necklaces to great effect.
Outstanding piece: Switching khaki for white and adding a playful crocheted "beach ball" necklace transforms this outfit from the usual nautical to something personal and unique. Tel: 305 677-9993 E-mail: Afournier@petitsfournier.com
TANE ORGANICS Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Sheree Lee Sizes: NB to 3 years; Wholesale prices: $14-$59 Lee uses organic cotton to fashion a collection of subtly colored, simply shaped basics, and, for Spring 2011, clean-lined little dresses with textural detail.
Outstanding piece: Delicate patterned knitting and a whisper soft tone of dusty lilac make the Aggie Pointelle Dress a "go-to" piece all season long. Tel: 646 573-8764 E-mail: Info@tangeorganics.com
DRESSES:
SARA NOELLE Homebase: Short Hills, NJ DESIGNER: Lina Vaticano Sicoli Sizes: 6 months to 10 years; Wholesale prices: $27-$89 You won't find fussy embellishments, tiers of ruffles or a bright color anywhere in Sicoli's collection. What you will discover are subtle pastels, delicate embroidery and sumptuous textiles.
Outstanding piece: Sicoli creates a playful cape-like bodice for the Olivia Dress. Touches such as hot pink ties at the shoulders and a bias cut skirt add further interest. Tel: 973 232-6373 E-mail: Info@saranoelle.com
ACCESSORIES:
LORALIN Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: Lynne Buchman Sizes: one size fits most children; Wholesale prices: $60-$175
Outstanding piece: Buchman's gift collection now includes the jewelry designer Annie Fensterstock's hammered sterling discs on beaded chains. The discs can be ordered with a child's initial. Tel: 917 664-0148 E-mail: Lynne@loralindesign.com
DIAPER BAGS:
OIOI SOPHISTICATED BABY BAGS Homebase: Australia (Infant Imports LLC - Distributor, Bowling Green, KY) DESIGNER: The OiOi design team Size: 11" x 17" x 5.5"; Wholesale price: approximately $80 OiOi produces diaper bags that double for chic totes. They have everything you want in a diaper bag: nylon lining, a changing mat, insulated bottle holder, many pockets, detachable shoulder straps and metal feet so the bottom doesn't get soiled and the bag won't tip.
Outstanding piece: Bright, sharp yellow is a popular accent for spring. Why not work it into a woman's wardrobe with the Yellow Weathered Tote? With the great color, casual shape and nailhead detailing, she'll want to use it long after the baby is born. Tel: 877 905-3800 E-mail: Info@oioibabybags.com
DOLLS AND NOVELTIES:
JESS BROWN Homebase: Petaluma, CA DESIGNER: Jess Brown Wholesale prices: Dolls $56-$140, doll clothes $8-$24 The faces on Jess Brown's hand-sewn dolls are little more than star-stitched eyes and a felt diamond mouth yet each has a distinct personality. They're elegant, nostalgic and offer a strong narrative - as if they stepped from the pages of a finely drawn children's book. They're well dressed, too. Brown collaborated with the designers at Wovenplay for the dolls' clothing and Atsuyo et Akiko for the jewelry and all three share a sophisticated, lyrical sense of style.
Outstanding piece: Any child would be lucky to own a Jess Brown doll. And who can resist the clothing? Tel: 415 602-1238 E-mail: Jess@jessbrowndesign.com
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