ArtWalk - baby blankets, sweaters, hats and booties

The Tina Barry Interview

ArtWalk: From Stroller to Gallery

People complain about the paucity of hip boys' wear, but compared to 1990, when Shelley and Rob Hunt were looking for cool clothing for their son Sam, today's selection is expansive. Says Rob, "We found either navy polyester pincord with 'Slugger' embroidered across the front, or overly cute things we called 'Little Lord Fauntleroy.'"

Shelley and Rob were 16-year veterans of the fashion industry - she as a design director for a private label house; Rob worked in merchandising and buying for The Arrow Shirt Company, Ralph Lauren and others. Noticing the hole in the boys' market, the couple started My Boy Sam in 1990. "Our first line consisted of three items - a wool Melton motorcycle jacket, black jeans and a zip-necked ribbed Poorboy for sizes 12-24 months," says Rob. The line was, literally, an instant success. "Two hours after we showed the pieces to a sales rep, we had orders from Neiman Marcus, Saks, and the buyer from Nordstrom was driving in to see it."

Fourteen years later, My Boy Sam is known for its unusually colored boys' and girls' sweaters, knit with whimsical motifs, as well as sportswear, children's pajamas and a new collection of women's loungewear. ArtWalk, the line they introduced two years ago, features coordinating baby blankets, sweaters, hats and booties. "We look to the adult clothing and home furnishing market for inspiration, then Shelley and designer Gloria Sotelo scale down what we see for the children's market," says Rob.

ArtWalk is named for Thursday evenings in Scottsdale, Arizona when the galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way open their doors for a night of art browsing. Of the collection, Rob says, "It's become the 'ooh and ahh' shower gift." Each set features an Intarsia cotton stroller blanket (28" X 32") backed with Pima cotton, sweater, hat and booties (sweaters and hats come in sizes 6 months and 12 months). The booties are one size only and, says Rob, "They really stay on those cute, kicking feet." Boys' blankets sport imaginative dogs and cats; animals riding a train; dalmatians and fire trucks, among others. Girls are treated to farm animals colored in sweet pink and apple green; twirling ballerinas; fairies; and teapots. French poodles, chic Parisian clothing and the Eiffel Tower take center stage on the "Le Petit Bebe" blanket and coordinates. The collection comes out annually, but is available for first-time buyers, or reorders, throughout the year.

In January 2005, the Hunts will release the fall sweater collection for boys and girls under the And Then There Was Jake and Sam's Friend labels (12 months to 6X). In March, they'll unveil Skivvydoodles, their collection of 100 percent cotton flame-resistant sleepwear (sized from 12 months to 16 years). "We were probably the first to bring street fashions into the bedroom," says Rob of the fashion forward pajama line.

Look for the company's labels in better boutiques, gift shops and better department stores.

Retailers can find all of the lines in the following showrooms:

Dallas, The Closet, 214-634-2402

Atlanta and Charlotte, Berry and Denise Sams, 803-435-3466

Mid-Atlantic, Anne and Ed Gerson, 856-346-2218

Skivvydoodles only:

NY State, Northern New Jersey and Western PA, Bill Mancini,

315-372-6441

New England, Sandie and Bill Ellsworth, 781-326-6999

For more information contact:

www.jamesgirone.com/artwalk

Email: Artwalk@MyBoySam.com


The Tina Barry Interview
	ArtWalk: From Stroller to Gallery People complain about the paucity of hip boys' wear, but compared to 1990, when Shelley and Rob Hunt were looking for cool clothing for their son Sam, today's selection is expansive. Says Rob, "We found either navy polyester pincord with 'Slugger' embroidered across the front, or overly cute things we called 'Little Lord Fauntleroy.'" Shelley and Rob were 16-year veterans of the fashion industry - she as a design director for a private label house; Rob worked in merchandising and buying for The Arrow Shirt Company, Ralph Lauren and others. Noticing the hole in the boys' market, the couple started My Boy Sam in 1990. "Our first line consisted of three items - a wool Melton motorcycle jacket, black jeans and a zip-necked ribbed Poorboy for sizes 12-24 months," says Rob. The line was, literally, an instant success. "Two hours after we showed the pieces to a sales rep, we had orders from Neiman Marcus, Saks, and the buyer from Nordstrom was driving in to see it." Fourteen years later, My Boy Sam is known for its unusually colored boys' and girls' sweaters, knit with whimsical motifs, as well as sportswear, children's pajamas and a new collection of women's loungewear. ArtWalk, the line they introduced two years ago, features coordinating baby blankets, sweaters, hats and booties. "We look to the adult clothing and home furnishing market for inspiration, then Shelley and designer Gloria Sotelo scale down what we see for the children's market," says Rob. ArtWalk is named for Thursday evenings in Scottsdale, Arizona when the galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way open their doors for a night of art browsing. Of the collection, Rob says, "It's become the 'ooh and ahh' shower gift." Each set features an Intarsia cotton stroller blanket (28" X 32") backed with Pima cotton, sweater, hat and booties (sweaters and hats come in sizes 6 months and 12 months). The booties are one size only and, says Rob, "They really stay on those cute, kicking feet." Boys' blankets sport imaginative dogs and cats; animals riding a train; dalmatians and fire trucks, among others. Girls are treated to farm animals colored in sweet pink and apple green; twirling ballerinas; fairies; and teapots. French poodles, chic Parisian clothing and the Eiffel Tower take center stage on the "Le Petit Bebe" blanket and coordinates. The collection comes out annually, but is available for first-time buyers, or reorders, throughout the year. In January 2005, the Hunts will release the fall sweater collection for boys and girls under the And Then There Was Jake and Sam's Friend labels (12 months to 6X). In March, they'll unveil Skivvydoodles, their collection of 100 percent cotton flame-resistant sleepwear (sized from 12 months to 16 years). "We were probably the first to bring street fashions into the bedroom," says Rob of the fashion forward pajama line. Look for the company's labels in better boutiques, gift shops and better department stores. *Retailers can find all of the lines in the following showrooms:* Dallas, The Closet, 214-634-2402 Atlanta and Charlotte, Berry and Denise Sams, 803-435-3466 Mid-Atlantic, Anne and Ed Gerson, 856-346-2218 *Skivvydoodles only:* NY State, Northern New Jersey and Western PA, Bill Mancini, 315-372-6441 New England, Sandie and Bill Ellsworth, 781-326-6999 For more information contact: www.jamesgirone.com/artwalk Email: Artwalk@MyBoySam.com