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Fall 2009: Cheery Shades for a Sluggish Economy - Part II
INFANT AND UP: ZUTANO Homebase: Cabot, VT DESIGNER: Uli Belenky Sizes: Preemie-4T; Wholesale prices: $2-$25 One reason Zutano remains a favorite manufacturer in the kids' clothing arena is the owners' awareness of market needs. To that end, they've scaled some of their toddler styles down to infant size, so baby and little sibling can have matching looks, and they've folded specialty "Collection" pieces into the basic lines so every group is sparked with something exceptional. For Fall 2009, Belenky worked animal and country-themed prints around a palette of deep tobacco, rich azure, leaf, and bright orange. The result is a sophisticated yet accessible look with luxurious touches.
Outstanding pieces: Toddlers have it good in a mix of soft cotton and plush. The prints are as appealing as a hayride.
A funky polyester shag adds a rich hippie note to the outfit.
These reversible soft fleece jackets edged in contrasting trim are great with any of the pieces in the line and will look adorable with a pair of jeans. 28. Tel: 800-287-5139 E-mail: Zutano@zutano.com
PINC PREMIUM Homebase: New York, NY DESIGNER: The Pinc Premium design team Sizes: 4 to 16 years; Wholesale price for blouses: $11 Pinc Premium has the lock on great fitting jeans. Their Spring 2009 collection completes the package with flattering, draped Jersey blouses.
Outstanding piece: The butterfly sleeves and bodice detail make a feminine statement, while the electric blue tone and sexy back add a touch of tween pizzazz. Tel: 212 391-2535 E-mail: Info@pincpremium.com
SAGE CREEK ORGANICS Homebase: Tarzana, CA DESIGNER: Sage Creek design team Sizes: Girls and boys 2 to 6 years; Wholesale prices: $10-$22 Due to customer demand, the Sage Creek Spring 2009 collection of pure organic goods has expanded the size range up to 6 years. Motifs straight from the sea, animals, and colors with punch define this season's line.
Outstanding piece: Join the Earth Patrol in this punchy orange and sky tee with a great graphic and smart serged stitching. Tel: 817-513-2183 E-mail: info@sagecreekorganics.com
TEA Homebase: San Francisco, CA DESIGNER: Emily Meyer Sizes: Girls layette to 6X, boys layette to 7 years; Wholesale prices: contact manufacturer Red and purple are important colors for fall 2009. Meyer's has taken the two and tamed them up for my favorite color combination of the season - and always. The duo is fabulous, paired with gray and used for a sophisticated Asian-themed group. Meyer's designs are wonderful as always.
Outstanding pieces: Designers know that when you're working with bold colors and patterns, you keep the shapes clean and go easy on the detail. Look how well that rule works for the pieces above. Tel: 415-621-9400 E-mail: Info@teacollection.com
3 POMMES Homebase: Lyon, France DESIGNER: 3 Pommes design team Sizes: NB to 14 years; Wholesale prices: $8-$32 I think of 3 Pommes as a smart retailer's collection. It's got everything: European shapes and endless mix-and-matchability, fabulous color palettes, lovely fabrications and workmanship, all at a price that makes sense.
Outstanding pieces: Every piece in this collection is outstanding, so here's an abridged look: A charcoal plush lined jacket in the palest twilight blue, gets gussied up with charcoal embroidery and novel button detail. It's adorable with the gray wool pants.
A sophisticated tunic-length mohair vest in a delectable raspberry tone meets its match with a guitar motif tee and leggings printed with tiny stars. Groupe Zannier Tel: 212 279-7672 jamesgirone.com/groupezannierusa
TUTTO PICCOLO Homebase: Alcoy, Spain DESIGNER: Tutto Piccolo design team Sizes: Girls NB to 14 years, boys NB to 7 years; Wholesale prices: $18-$45 This collection straddles tradition with trend. For fall, the designers take classic shapes and update them with arresting detail. Great color combinations such as taupe and red, and, of course, lush fabrications abound.
Outstanding pieces: At a glance this boy's outfit is simple and tasteful. But planning has gone into the layering of textures and the mix of fabrics. Love that taupe and deep red color combo.
A red velvet coat gives a girl's wardrobe a jolt of interest. This coat in particular, with its ingenious pleated faux ruffle at the cuff and skirt, is especially arresting. That hat is ideal for framing a pert little face. Tel: 877-426-7240 E-mail: Coraimports@gc.aibn.com
TWELFTH STREET Homebase: Los Angeles, CA DESIGNER: Cynthia Vincent Sizes: NB to 14 years; Wholesale prices: $19-$58 Vincent keeps the one-of-a-kind, boutique collection alive with vintage materials, as well as lovely new silk designs, and fresh cottons hand-screened with innocent images.
This all season, flutter sleeved smock is made from a vintage silk scarf. It's terrific as is or paired with jeans. Tel: 213-225-2699 E-mail: Lesley@bycv.com
Originally published February 6, 2009
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