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Vintage Wains, Modern Gains; Contemporary Looks Have the Edge at the Spring New York Gift Fair It was a kids' world - and a sophisticated, design conscience kid at that - represented at the New York International Gift Show (January 29-February 1). Many apparel, furniture and bath product collections, not to mention knits, jewelry, and book vendors are showing at this enormous exhibition. Manufacturers say their foray into children's products is market driven; buyers of gift shops, as well as boutiques and department stores, are adding and expanding their kids' selections, and they're looking for innovative products to fill the shelves. Judging from the number of products with clean-lined designs, it appears that vintage looks - that is country-style, Mary Engelbreit-like items, not vintage as in Sixties retro - are less in demand.
CLOTHING DECAF PLUSH DESIGNER: Kimberly Murray Sizes: 3 months to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $15 to $17 All the felt appliqués on Murray's collection of hip room accessories and kids' T-shirts have a modern Sixties' feeling. The layered, brightly colored pieces make the items pleasantly tactile, too.
Outstanding Pieces: I can't choose one, so I'll take the entire menagerie. Tel: 213-427-9281 E-mail: info@designcafeteria.com
EYESPY BABY DESIGNER: Rowan Mestecky Sizes: 3 months to 4 years, a few styles available up to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $34-$79 Rowan Mestecky's collection of knits is always full of playful surprises. For fall, she takes a luxurious detour into cashmere and silk.
Outstanding Pieces: The cashmere and silk hoodie and matching cashmere leggings. There's a lot going on with this set: The top is ribbed and edged in contrasting stripes; each pant leg sports a different patterned band. The outfit engages the eye without tiring it. A balancing act that works! Tel: 917-533-7697 E-mail: info@eyespybaby.com
GUSTAV MAXWELL & CO. DESIGNER: Mari Jansdotter Sizes: 18 months to 3 years; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Gus & Max, the children's division of Gustav & Maxwell, features coordinated bedding in modern prints for kids, and lusciously soft reversible plush robes.
Outstanding Pieces: The robe. It's light and as soft as a kitten. Cool colors, too. (The robe is available in women's sizes medium and large) Tel: 415-345-8486 E-mail: marij@gustavmaxwell.com
ICKY BABY DESIGNER: Kate Somerset Sizes: 6 months to 6X; Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer A few great prints, comfortably cut shapes and simple coordinating tops make this sportswear collection a snap to merchandise.
Outstanding Piece: Sometimes one little touch - like the bubble hem of the Pretty Party Dress' underskirt - can turn a simple sundress into something special. Tel: 877-426-ICKY / 714-424-9940 E-mail: contactus@ickyproducts.com
LITTLE MISSMATCHED DESIGNER: Little Missmatched design team Sizes: 6 to 11; Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer When I first encountered Little Missmatched a year ago, I thought their concept was questionable. Who, I wondered, would want three mismatched socks? Everyone it turns out.
Outstanding Piece: The flip-flops have the same exuberant patterns - and they're still mismatched. Tel: 914-777-3217 E-mail: info@littlemissmatched.com
MAURA DANIEL DESIGNER: Maura Daniel Sizes: 3 months to 6X; Wholesale prices: $14-$32 Woodstock meets Calypso in this new collection of yarn dyed separates with just enough detail to be eye-catching.
Outstanding Piece: Every day's a party in Daniel's multi-tiered "cake" dress. Curly Girls Tel: 888-35-CURLY / 212-967-6457 E-mail: curlygirls@aol.com www.jamesgirone.com/curlygirls
TRUMPETTE DESIGNER: Trumpette design team Sizes: One size fits NB to 12 months; Wholesale prices: $11 Trumpette specializes in socks that pull on and look like little shoes.
Outstanding Pieces: How can infants become ballerinas, cloud walkers and hoopsters? Just slip on "Baby Ballerina," "Made in Heaven" and "Johnnies". Tel: 916-851-0000 E-mail: info@trumpette.com
BIBS, BAGS AND ACCESSORIES FLEURVILLE DESIGNERS: Steve and Catherine Granville Wholesale prices: $12-$125 Spring brings a slew of contemporary prints and practical shapes to the Fleurville collection.
Outstanding Pieces: The group with the modern botanical print in soft blues and greens. Is there a fresher, prettier pattern in the market this season? Tel: 415-482-8510 / 866.510.8967 E-mail: info@fleurville.com
LOOM DESIGNER: Gina Nistico Wholesale prices: $14-$65 Nistico's designs have all the bells and whistles one associates with a fully-loaded diaper bag, but they're lightweight and visually uncluttered - nice when you're lugging around half your baby's nursery - and the baby!
Outstanding Pieces: The Bandicoot Backpack shown with the detachable Joey clutch. Leave the backpack and the baby with your partner; take the clutch and go. Tel: 415-381-2834 E-mail: johanna@loomlife.com; gina@loomlife.com
MOMAGENDA DESIGNER: Nina Restieri Wholesale prices: $18.50 to $50. What mother doesn't say, "I wish I could get organized!"? Restieri's momAgenda, with refillable pages, makes storing and carrying a date and address book, plus all your kids' important information, doable.
Outstanding Piece: The stain resistant shantung covered momAgenda. Inside there's a full-month's calendar followed by two weeks - say January 30-February 5 - spread out over two full pages. Plenty of space is available to fill in which child goes where and when. Pages for kids' medical information and places to make lists are included. Tel: 203-637-4463 E-mail: nina@momagenda.com
MURGE DESIGNS DESIGNER: Robyn Murgio Wholesale prices: $6-$19 Murgio designs graphic, brightly colored textiles for her exclusive line of bedding. This season, she adds a collection of bibs and burp cloths in the same simple patterns.
Outstanding Pieces: The dotted bib sets are as uplifting as a glass of bubbly. Tel: 310-842-8862 E-mail: robyn@murgedesigns.com
NSPIRE DESIGNER: Karen Roche Wholesale prices: $4.50-$13.50 Roche isn't afraid of exposing her inner child when she creates whimsical photo albums and brag books.
Outstanding Pieces. Any of the ticking stripe and gingham photo albums make ideal shower gifts. Tel: 888-255-2572 / tel: 212.579.4939 E-mail: karen@nspirestyles.com
BEDDING/BLANKETS KINDER-CASHMERE DESIGNER: Danielle Holmes Sizes: carriage and baby blankets; Wholesale prices: $100-$160 Holmes is a modernist who chooses cashmere as her canvas.
Outstanding Pieces: Babies will snooze happily wrapped in a cloud of cashmere; parents will love the blankets for their elegance. Tel: 207-939-6702 E-mail: danielle@kinder-cashmere.com
MODERN BASICS DESIGNER: Page Ikeda Sizes: 24" X 24" to 30" X 40"; Wholesale prices: $14-$18 Ikeda's motifs are simple - just the outline of bubbles, insects, a frog and a smiling hippo. After all, how much detail does an infant need?
Outstanding Piece: Any parent would be happy to receive one of the polyester fleece blankets. They make great gifts folded neatly into a plastic envelope adorned with the company's label. Tel: 404-881-6001 E-mail: info@modernbasics.com
ROOM DÉCOR BLUEDOGZ DESIGN DESIGNER: Nadine Lerner Wholesale prices: $3-$28.50 Lerner's collection of handpainted room accessories will brighten any kid's setting.
Outstanding Pieces: The mini ribbon nesting boxes in cheerful designs make great holders for a gift, or give a few boxes to display as a stackable room accessory. Tel: 1-866-806-BLUE / 514-457-9086 E-mail: dogzdesign@yahoo.com
ZID ZID KIDS DESIGNERS: Julie Klear and Moulay Essakalli Wholesale prices: $9.50-$164 Every item in the Zid Zid collection is made of natural, recycled materials in a workshop staffed by Moroccan artisans.
Outstanding Pieces: The cheerfully colored animal pillows in the line have a Sixties', storybook feeling. Tel: 617-233-3135 E-mail: moulay@zidzid.com
FURNITURE ARGINGTON DESIGNER: Jenny Argie Wholesale prices: $32-$620 Argie is the reigning queen of simple, heirloom quality modern children's furniture.
Outstanding Piece: There isn't a superfluous detail to any of Argie's designs. Her new "Ayres Twin Bed" is no exception. There are two optional deep drawers beneath the bed so a kid can store all the important things: diaries, dirty laundry and old gum to name a few. Tel: 718-218-8508 E-mail: info@argington.com
JENNIFER DELONGE DESIGNER: Jennifer DeLonge Wholesale prices: $30-$165 DeLonge designs furniture for the next generation of modernists.
Outstanding Pieces: The only difference between DeLonge's "Ava" chairs and those you covet for your living room is size. And, no, you won't fit into any of them, even if you lose the baby weight. Tel: 858-759-4416 E-mail: info@jenniferdelonge.com
OFFI DESIGNER: Offi Design Team Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer Offi designers specialize in modern, multi-functional furniture for the nursery and kids' rooms.
Outstanding Piece: These lit-from-within animals make the world's coolest night-lights. Tel: 800-958-6334 E-mail: info@offi.com
DWELL BABY DESIGNER: Jennifer Chused Wholesale price: Garden crib set approximately $160; (4-piece set includes fitted sheet, bumper, skirt and play comforter)
Chused's softly colored bedding captures the company's style: meant for a child; sophsiticated enough for the most design conscience adult. Tel: 212-219-9343, Ext. 19 E-mail: awilliams@designspace.net
SOFT GOODS DESIGNER: Jennifer Gibbs Wholesale prices: $18-$105 Gibbs uses vintage draperies to construct pillows for modern interiors.
Outstanding Pieces: Juxtaposed to the felt bird motif, the simple toile pattern looks ornate. The down filled pillows work as well in a child's room as they would in a grown-up's living space. Tel: 215-438-4210 E-mail: sales@softgoodsdesign.com
TOYS MIYIM DESIGNER: MiYim design team Wholesale price: $15.99 with a 12-piece minimum The animal toys and puppets are incredibly soft thanks to the velvety plush material. Everything employed in the toy construction is organic, so there's nothing to cause allergies or irritate delicate skin.
Outstanding Pieces: Children will love the animals' gentle expressions and delicate neutral colorations. Tel: 718-389-8233 E-mail: info@hosungny.com
MISCELLANEOUS BLOOMERS BABY DIAPER CAKES DESIGNER: Michelle Caruso Wholesale prices: $34 for small "cakes"; $56 for large "cakes" Hungry for something new? How about a diaper cake?
Outstanding Pieces: No, you can't eat them, but these "Diaper Cakes," made of two or three tiers of rolled diapers festooned with lovely silk flowers and enclosed in fluffy tulle, are pretty enough to be displayed in a fine bakery. Tel: 949-951-2063 E-mail: info@bloomersdiapercakes.com
LUCY & MICHAEL DESIGNERS: Andria Frankfort and Brooke Halverson Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer When I was a kid, tents were small green affairs pitched in the backyard and abandoned once the mosquitoes started biting. Lucy & Michael's tents are an entirely different animal.
Outstanding Pieces: The tents are tall and roomy, covered in a hip print or chic stripe. Compared to my first apartment in New York, they're downright palatial. Tel: 713-668-6015 E-mail: afrankfort@lucyandmichael.com
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