New
Kids in Town: Spring 2005 ENK Children's Club
Show
How
many newcomers does it take to fill the Spring 2005 show?
I lost count after 30. Aisles were filled with debuting
collections with fresh, sophisticated lines. The hottest
looks - lingerie styling worn as sportswear; preppy but
hip seersucker suits for boys and seersucker separates
for girls; boys' collections that will have mothers awed;
and styles that literally let it all hang out with
unfinished hems, exposed seams and serged trim on the
outside.
Below you'll find 28 finalists for
the "Best New Collection" award.
INFANTS
ELEGANT BABY
DESIGNER: Elegant baby design
team
Sizes: infant; Wholesale prices:
Contact manufacturer
It's no surprise that this first
time exhibitor's booth was packed. The manufacturer
offers buyers one-stop shopping for all of baby's needs.
There are picture frames, blankets, keepsake books and
layette wear. Each item is modern yet cozy (think Martha
Stewart).
Outstanding Piece: The light blue,
cable-stitched boy's cardigan with the coordinating hat.
No big deal? Maybe. But when the set is paired with
another Elegant Baby item - like a blanket - you've got
quite a gift.
Janis Millstein Sales
112 West 34th Street
NY, NY 10120
Tel: 212-239-4660
E-mail: janisales@aol.com
www.jamesgirone.com/janismillsteinsales
www.elegantbaby.com
FRUMPY RUMPS
DESIGNER: Donna Prescott
Sizes: 3-24 months; Wholesale
prices: $5-$15
There's nothing frumpy about a baby
wearing Frumpy Rumps. Ruffles are the reason.
Outstanding Pieces: The colors are
fruity, the top is cut simply and exposes a bit of a
baby's beautiful back, and the bloomers (shown backwards)
are covered with flirty white ruffles. You can't get
cuter than that. (Also available in pastels.)
10559 West Altedena Ct.
Casa Grande, AZ 85222
Tel: 520-421-9222
E-mail: rd@frumpyrumps.com
www.frumpyrumps.com
NANO
DESIGNER: Patricja
Pienkowska
Sizes: NB-9 months; Wholesale
prices: $5-$24
Little touches like exposed serged
seams and fun animal graphics define Pienkowska's first
collection of hip, mid-priced, infant wear.
Outstanding Pieces: Stripes are hot
this season. Pienkowska covers a windbreaker and
loose-fit pants in a rosy toned stripe or a lovely blue
and green combination. If the jacket and slacks are too
much of good thing, pair the top with jeans and the
bottoms with a Nano cotton T-shirt.
111 Hamburg Turnpike
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
Tel:
866-733-6266/973-616-1515
E-mail: info@nano-baby.com
www.nano-baby.com
LOUNGEWEAR AND
UNDERWEAR
BB KIDS (Beija
Brazil)
DESIGNER: Guy Blewz
Sizes: 2-14 Wholesale prices:
Contact Balu
Lingerie looks to mix with romantic
skirts is a hot trend. BB Kids' feminine pieces are lined
making them versatile wardrobe extenders.
Outstanding Piece: Girls will want
to wear the polka dot camisole edged in contrasting ecru
lace with jeans or a skirt.
Balu/Propaganda Trading,
Inc.
15400 Milldale Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Tel: 310-472-0442
E-mail: helobalu@aol.com
www.beijabrazil.com/kids
CLAESEN'S USA
DESIGNER: Claesen's Design
Team
SIZES: Infant-preteen; Wholesale
prices: Contact manufacturer
Kids sleep in style this season
with better cotton pajamas and loungewear from Claesen's
USA.
Outstanding Pieces: The cotton
pajamas for boys and girls. The silhouettes are
identically boxy; the stripes are one part trend-driven,
one part retro and entirely charming.
2000 Fearrington Village
Center
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Tel: 919-545-5130
E-mail: info@claesensusa.com
www.claesensusa.com
JUST LIKE DADS
DESIGNER: Evan Brannon
Sizes: 2T - 7; Wholesale prices:
$21-$54 per dozen
Just Like Dads underwear for boys
is, well, just like dads.
Outstanding Piece: The mini-me
gingham boxers are so retro.
P.O. Box 4702
Sevierville, TN 37864
Tel: 866-876-3236
E-mail: evan@justlikedads.com
www.justlikedads.com
SPORTSWEAR
CATERINA
DESIGNER: Caterina
Heil-Stewart
Sizes: NB-12; Wholesale prices:
$19-$24
Heil-Stewart's sweet collection of
better girls' wear mixed a touch of Western with a hint
of glamour.
Outstanding Piece: The cotton used
for this simple peasant top is cool to the touch and as
smooth as silk. The deep blue rhinestones - scattered
across the top's front - twinkle like tiny stars.
38-44 Warren Street, #4B
New York, NY 10007
Tel: 212-608-1955
E-mail: caterinababy@nyc.rr.com
DEVI
DESIGNER: The Devi design
team
Sizes: 6 months-6T; Wholesale
prices $12-$21
This new company exhibited a
well-honed collection of luxurious tops in this season's
hottest silhouette - the Indian tunic. Coordinating
drawstring pants in cross-woven cotton add a two-toned
sheen to the pairing.
Outstanding Piece: The silk tunic
in pale pink. Light as a handkerchief, this of-the-minute
top with tone-on-tone stitching would make Aladdin happy.
Add a handful of glittering beads and Jasmine's ready for
the Casbah.
825 Superba Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
Tel: 310-600-0426
email: devibaby@devibaby.com
www.devibaby.com
FRUTA da FRUTA
DESIGNER: Euromax design
team
Sizes: 8-16; Wholesale prices:
$13-$35
Pretty is the buzzword for this new
collection based on fine lingerie. Crinkled satin in
dusty peach, blush pink and eggshell is shaped into
flapper-style dresses, faux half-slips and delicate
camisoles - very Daisy Miller.
Outstanding Piece: The peach satin
dress with drop waist and touches of lace. Give her a
long strand of pearls and she's ready to dance the
Charleston.
Euromax
45 West 60th Street, Suite
32F
NY, NY 10023
Tel: 212-489-0504
HAVEN GIRL
DESIGNER: Briana Hersh
Sizes: 2-14 Wholesale prices:
$10-$30
Briana Hersh has an eye for color
and a knack for detail. Her separates offer girls soft
tops and skirts they'll flip for.
Outstanding Pieces: The skirt is
the "it" piece in every girl's wardrobe this season and
Hersh's minis are the funkiest. Adding gorgeous
embroidery like the pretty rose and bird design to the
piece makes it special. Her soft, sheer shirts top each
skirt with grace.
Surya Inc. (Corporate
Office)
6205 El Camino Real
Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Tel: 760-804-8500, Ext.
316
E-mail: briana@surya.com
www.surya.com
PUUR INC.
Jinny Boer imports collections from
the Netherlands for her Puur Showroom. Each of the
collections sport modern shapes, rich, bright colors and
a playful aesthetic.
KID KID
DESIGNER: Ineke
Grovenstein
Sizes: NB-8; Wholesale
prices:$9-$35
Terrycloth sportswear in jewel
tones and the funkiest hats at the show make this
collection a winner.
Outstanding Pieces: The hat that
resembles grandma's potholder worn with the bright green
Terry dress. The dress has no detail and doesn't need it.
When the hat is added, the set has unbeatable chemistry.
KIDSCASE
DESIGNER: Jacqueline van
Nieuwkerk
Sizes: NB-9; Wholesale
prices:$9-$37
Sporty yet elegant knits in bright
solids or two-color combinations are the foundation of
this Amsterdam-based collection.
Outstanding Pieces: The simplicity
of this striped halter dress makes it a must-have garment
for mothers of all style persuasions.
Puur Inc.
350 Seventh Ave., Suite
1603
NY, NY 10001
Tel: 212-239-1805
E-mail: info@puurinc.com
www.puurinc.com
LION & FINN
DESIGNER: Martina Becker
Sizes: 2-8; Wholesale prices:
$15-$33
Martina Becker's Lion & Finn
collection of up-market, girls' and boys' sportswear will
appeal to buyers looking for edgy styling with European
craftsmanship.
Outstanding Pieces: The layers of
this olive green print dress are as sheer as chiffon. The
pattern and frayed edges keep the dress lighthearted. Add
the coat with the magnificent tomato-over-beige design,
and a girl has a memorable ensemble.
Desguinlei 90/15m
Antwerp
2018 Belgium
Tel: 32.3.248.16.51
E-mail: info@lion-and-finn.com
www.lion-and-finn.com
MA MUSE
DESIGNER: Dirk Goossens
Sizes: Preemie to 4; Wholesale
prices: Contact manufacturer
There's a little irreverence in
Belgium designer Dirk Goosens' three casual sportswear
collections - Ma Muse, infant boys and girls; Garcon,
toddler to tween boys; and Zorra, toddler to tween girls.
His references are global, the workmanship
European.
Outstanding Piece: A cat in a tutu
should be too cute to bear, but this T-shirt has an East
Village vibe.
Liz to Dirk
Sint Gummarusstraat, Suite
4
Lier B-2500/Belgium
Tel: 32.3.480.55.28
E-mail: liz.to.dirk@pandora.be
www.mamusebelgium.com
TROPS
DESIGNER: Gustavo
Szulansky
Sizes: 2-12; Wholesale prices:
$5-$19.50
Trops introduces The Manga
Collection based on Manga, the Japanese comic
books. Each tone-on-tone
T-shirt is printed with either a sports motif - such as a
soccer ball - or a sports figure throwing a
ball.
Outstanding Piece: The one-piece
T-shirt that mimics a V-neck over a crewneck T-shirt. The
blue and green combination vibrates.
145 West 88th Street, Ground
Floor
NY, NY 10024
Tel: 212-877-7171
E-mail: info@trops.com
www.trops.com
BOYS'
COLLECTIONS
BRYCEWEAR
DESIGNER: Pamela Watson
Sizes: 12 months-7; Wholesale
prices: $24-$112
Pamela Watson's first collection of
beautifully tailored boys' jackets and separates should
put an end to the "Girls get all the cute stuff" whine.
Outstanding Pieces: Watson's butter
yellow baby cord jacket has everything you'd ask for and
some - like the carefully folded silk square in the
breast pocket, and a two-button tab inside the jacket to
give it shape - that you never knew you needed. Worn with
cargos the color of chocolate milk, this outfit, like
everything in Watson's first collection, raises the bar
for boys' wear.
421 Degraw Street, Suite
1N
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel: 917-299-1828
E-mail: pamela.watson@mindspring.com
www.brycewear.com
WONDERBOY
DESIGNER: CHRISTINE
JOHNSTON
Sizes: 6 months-5T; Wholesale
prices: $23-$29
Hip girls' collections still
outnumber groovy guys' duds. With Christine Johnston's
Wonderboy shirts in cool, retro prints, boys' lines are
getting closer.
Outstanding Piece: The blue and
white swirl printed shirt and the bright red top with
black and white lozenges are stylin' without trying too
hard.
251 Queen Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Tel: 215-462-1177
E-mail: info@wonderboyclothing.com
www.wonderboyclothing.com
KNITS
SAM LITTLE
DESIGNER: Sandra
Constantine
Sizes: NB-6 years; Wholesale
prices: $62.50-$112.50
Each of Sandra Constantine's
gorgeous knits take a minimum of 50 hours of
hand-knitting to complete. The workmanship is evident in
the beautifully finished seams and the shaping of each
garment.
Outstanding Piece: The poncho in
dusty pink. Baby stays warm from neck to tush. Little
hands peek through the armholes. The pompoms, and
crocheted hem that resembles fine antique lace work, are
just for fun. What a gift!
355 East 72nd Street
NY, NY 10021
Tel: 212-737-0141
E-mail: samelittle@aol.com
www.jamesgirone.com/samlittle
DRESSES
BOGNAR &
PICCOLINI
DESIGNER: Andrea Bognar
Ljustina
Ljustina continues to offer
contemporary dresses in better cotton and
silk.
Outstanding Pieces: Sheer layers
render this earthy, pumpkin colored top and skirt
ethereal.
2606 Ponce De Leon Blvd.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
tel: 305-469-7127
email: jcannan@bellsouth.net
www.jamesgirone.com/bognarandpiccolini
LAURLETTES
DESIGNER: Laurel
Matthews
Sizes: 4-14; Wholesale prices:
$40-$110
With Madonna and her collection of
rock-vibe sportswear in one end of the hall, there had to
be an old-fashioned girl, Laurel Matthews, and her
luxurious velvet and taffeta special occasion dresses in
the house to achieve the proper yin and yang.
Outstanding Piece: The color of
this silk velvet dress is as rich as a chocolate truffle
and the workmanship is a tour de force. Don't forget
Matthews' Laurlettes collection when you're filling in
for holiday.
P.O. Box 761
Bronx, NY 10462
Tel: 718-824-1541
E-mail: laureletts@aol.com
MEGAN PARK
DESIGNER: Megan Park
Sizes: 12 months-6; Wholesale
prices: $25-$115
Megan Parks' collection of dresses
has ruffles, flowers, embroidery and bows. All that
detail should add up to a lot of fuss, instead Park's
line seems understated.
Outstanding Piece: The gathers on
this dress sit on the hip for a 1920's feeling. The print
is sweet, but its pinky cocoa ground keeps the feeling
up-market. One big playful flower hangs from the ribbon
belt. What a charmer!
Seedhouse
487 West 22nd Street
NY, NY 10011
Tel: 646-336-7333
E-mail: seed@seedinc.net
www.meganpark.co.uk
T-SHIRTS
RED COLLAR
CREATIVES
DESIGNER: Jane Hamper
Sizes: 3-14; Wholesale prices:
$13-$18
You have to laugh when you see Jane
Hamper's collection of sixties-style day-glo T-shirts
printed with dogs of all pedigrees. She's fond of cats
and horses too.
Outstanding Pieces: You'll want to
adopt all her pets.
Natalie & Friends
131 West 33rd Street, Suite
210
NY, NY 10001
Tel: 212-947-2995
E-mail: natnfrnds@aol.com
TEEOLOGY
DESIGNER: Erica Zohar
Sizes: Toddler-Preteen; Wholesale
prices: $13-$17
There's a lot going on this season
- with all the mixed patterns, handkerchief hems and
deconstructed edges. Erica Zohar's solid jersey or velour
T-shirts make the best mixers.
Outstanding Piece: The slight
blouson shape of her Tie Tee and its velour hip band that
ties into a perky side bow, looks great over print-happy
skirts or simple jeans. The apple green color suits red
heads, brunettes, everyone.
1642 Westwood Blvd, Suite
#200
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: 310-447-0466
E-mail: info@teeology.com
www.teeology.com
SWIMWEAR
INCA GIRL
DESIGNER: Stephanie
Hirsch
Sizes: 4-16; Wholesale prices:
$20-$30
Sexy but not too revealing; sweet
yet elegant, Hirsch's collection is for the kid that
summers in the Hamptons.
Outstanding Pieces: Jackie O would
have worn the sea green tunic detailed with silver and
turquoise beads over the sky blue one-piece with the
Grecian "key" motif aboard Ari's yacht.
ARB Associates, Inc.
112 West 34th Street, Suite
1606
NY, NY 10120
Tel: 212-695-2512
E-mail: arbassociates@aol.com
RYGY
DESIGNER: Rygy design
team
Sizes: 2-16; Wholesale prices:
$18.50-$22
Uncomplicated shapes in rich colors
and fun details give this swimwear collection an
up-market edge.
Outstanding Piece: The one-piece in
the rich cocoa, aqua and pale pink combination. The
tomato red sequined flowers blooming on the halter-top
make it irresistible.
ARB Associates. See Inca Girl
above.
ACCESSORIES
BLUE J
DESIGNER: Jodi Edley
Wholesale prices: $5-$25
The pin is in! Jodi Edley's
sparklers dress up coats, jackets and dresses - wherever
a girl (or her mom) needs a little sparkle.
Outstanding Pieces: All the pins.
Bring on the bling, baby!
Nancy Markert &
Assoc.
50 O'Shaughnessy Lane
Closter, NJ 07624
Tel: 201-768-8334
E-mail: nanimar@aol.com
www.bluejnyc.com
E-mail:
bluejnyc@aol.com
DIDI'S CHILDREN'S
BOUTIQUE
DESIGNER: Diana Rudman
Retail prices: Girls' bags $65-$95;
Mom's bags $165-$245 (filled with baby gear)
Little girls want to look like
mommy (until they're about 10 and then, well…).
Diana Rudman gives them the opportunity with her chic
mommy-and-me-styled bags.
Outstanding Pieces: The girl's
purse is roomy enough for a doll; Mom's bag fits all the
kid's gear and the doll's clothes, too. (Also available
in beige and brown.)
1196 Madison Avenue
NY, NY 10128
Tel: 212-860-4001
E-mail: drudman@didis.com
www.didis.com
NURSERY & BATH
DECOR
KONTEX HOME
DESIGNER: Kontex design
team
Wholesale prices:
$3.20-$23.90
Pink towels with bunnies? Keep
reading. Kontex, a Japanese-based company, offers
luxurious cotton towels, blankets and robes for infants.
The bunnies are outlined with machine stitching - like a
pencil drawing. The clean packaging is definitely
boutique worthy.
Outstanding Pieces: The box of pink
and rose, and cream and beige towels. Mothers, even those
with zero tolerance for the sweet side of things, will
adore this gift set.
Mira Design Corp.
231 West 39th Street, Suite
1012
NY, NY 10018
Tel: 212-921-5890
E-mail: miradesign@optonline.net
