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What's the Big Idea? (Big Ideas for the Small Set) Accessories that not only look good but are smart, well thought-out, and intelligently designed (they are great to look at, brighten up the day, and make kids' and parents' life just a little easier). Here, a recap of exhibitors at the Fall 2006 Children's Club.
BUILT NY BABY A design-focused accessories company specializing in proprietary cases, bags, and totes made from colorful neoprene. Their mission is to "create smarter and better looking consumer products." Designers: Aaron Low, John Roscoe Swartz Sizes: From newborn to adult Wholesale: $2.50 - $10 (Nothing retails over $20) Standouts: The 'comfy bib', the 'tidy bib', the 'strolling tote', the 'thirsty tote', the 'double thirsty tote' (some of which are available in a variety of sizes, and can also double as an adults' carryall).
FYI: In business since August 2005, the designers are dads with extensive design backgrounds; Aaron worked for Kate Spade and John had his own line of custom furniture. It's all about "making a functional item a fashion accessory". Their museum quality products, made from neoprene (which insulates food and drink, hot or cold, accommodates many sizes and shapes of food and drink containers, stores flat or rolls up, and is machine washable) are sold at 'temples of design' like the Museum of Modern Art as well as Napa Valley's Coppola Tasting Room Tel: 212.227.2044 E-Mail: dfrank@builtny.com
BROOKS POND "Elegantly engineered children's accessories" (blankets, quilts, gift items) Designer: Susan Forbes Sizes: Infant, toddler Wholesale: $32.50 - $72.50 Standouts: The faux mink and pony carrier covers; the buggy blanket with removable duvet that fits all strollers.
FYI: The company, which has been in business for two years, was conceived of by Mitra Morgan; the easy to use Buggy Blanket can be used separately as a play mat or blanket, and it's a "fun and fashionable way to protect your child from the elements"; the Carrier Covers fit front carriers, car seats, and strollers; the length can be adjusted; side pockets provide easy access to baby and zip pouch; innovative deign allows you to keep the cover attached while either increasing or decreasing baby's exposure; by snapping the collar together, you can form a protective hood for the baby. Tel: 617.879.2733 E-Mail: info@brookspond.com
SAND CASSEL KIDS Hats with a lot of attitude for the young ones Designer: Derek Peoples Wholesale: $7 - $9 Sizes: Boys, Girls, Toddler - 10 years old Standouts: Straw over dyed cowboy hat; military themed hats like the camouflage patterned 'cadet'.
FYI: This is a division of Goorin, the traditional 110-year-old hat company founded by Cassel Goorin in Pittsburgh, Pa; many of the kid styles are "shrunken down" from the adult line. Tel: 650.652.9196 E-Mail: hats@goorin.com
MIKI HOUSE A high end baby and bath accessories, shoes, hats, gift items, children's apparel company that emphasizes head to toe coordination Designer: Yoshiko Kimura Size: Infant, toddler, girls 4-6X, boys 4-7 Standouts: The rocket themed hand knitted sweater, hat, fringed scarf, and mittens for boys.
FYI: The designer, Yoshiko Kimura, is the wife of the founder; the company was founded in 1971 and is sold in about 400 shops worldwide; they plan to open a boutique on upper Madison Avenue within the year; their motto is "Miki House Collection brings a smile to the universe". Tel: 212.922.9090 E-Mail: info@mikihouse-usa.com
WASAN-BON Unique kids accessories Designer: Tomanari Miwa Wholesale: $10- $19 Standouts: The reversible and adjustable cotton hats; pom pom knit caps; text book bags in cotton canvas and plastic.
FYI: Only the "highest standard" Japanese materials are used; everything is produced in China; this is their sixth year in business but their first Children's Club. Tel: 212.921.5890 E-Mail: info@mirausa.com
SOZO Baby bedding, gift items, infant apparel, and layette Designer: Lynda Allen Size: 0-12 months Wholesale: $5 - $13, bedding: $175: 4- piece set Standouts: The patent pending "Wee Block" which is part of a new category, "Parent protectors", so named because the bibs, burp clothes and unique Weeblock shield are designed to keep babies and parents dry.
FYI: Sozo's motto is "design for life" and the patent pending Wee Block was 'conceived' when Sean Gildea, the company's founder, was changing his newborn baby's diapers, and (well, use your imagination)…the rest is 'his'tory. This item was mentioned by In Style Magazine on a recent Today Show segment, highlighting best kids' gifts (and was something both Matt Lauer and Al Roker had a good deal of fun with). Tel: 860.673.0396 E-Mail: tgildea@sozousa.com
JEN JEN Accessories, baby accessories, diaper bags, gift items Designer: Jennifer Marcellus Sizes: 4- 6X, 7- 12, infant, toddler Wholesale: $6.50- $42 Standouts: The Velcro closing, vinyl covered cloth bibs which are available in different sizes (some with pockets) and offered in a wide variety of colorful, whimsical prints and patterns.
FYI: Jennifer founded Jen Jen in the fall of 1999 after she grew tired of working in a corporate fashion environment and began making hats, bibs, and bags for her friend's children's store. The vinyl covered bibs and bags became instant hits and the rest is history (or rather, 'her' story). Tel: 858.824.1700 E-Mail: info@jenjenkids.com
MONCALIN An exclusive collection of unique toys, accessories, baby accessories, blankets/quilts, and gift items which emphasize softness, safety, and unusual color combinations Designer: Karine Silverton Size: Newborns and up Wholesale: $17.50 - $35.50 Standouts: The new 'Chocolate Collection', which uses chocolate brown in combination with pink, blue, or pistachio (the sweet stuffed animals emblazoned with heart appliqués were surprisingly popular Valentine's Day gifts for the grown up set).
FYI: Moncalin is French for 'my cuddle"; everything is hand made by skilled seamstresses in Los Angeles; and there are no parts or pieces used that can possibly become detached and cause harm to baby. Tel: 213.670.0196 E-Mail: karine@moncalin.com
LA FOLIE Hip, one-of-a-kind, hand-knit accessories and clothing for children Designers: Heather Herve, Gayle Greenberger Wholesale: $18 - $32 Size: Infant, toddler, girls 4-6X, boys 4-7 Standouts: The highly textural thick knit multi colored cap and matching scarf with tie dyed fringe.
FYI: La Folie is French for 'folly, whimsy, crazy-sweet' ("what life should be"); the designers are sisters - and moms - who began the collection when they couldn't find "sophisticated, fashion-forward items for their own children'); it's all about the unexpected, everything has a twist, and lets kids express who they are; this is their first show and their launch year. Tel: 203.454.8744 E-Mail: heather@lafolieknits.com
TUFF COOKIE Colorful and playful hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters made of Malden Mills potlatch fleece Designer: Anastassia Gonye Size: 6M-8Y, layette, infant, toddler Wholesale: $9- $15 Standouts: The warm, protective, and whimsical hoods.
FYI: The designer knows a thing or two about staying warm, having been born in Moscow; she has lived in New England for 10 years and everything is made on Cape Cod; this is her first Children's Club and her official launch of the label in the U.S. Tel: 508-563-6346 E-Mail: anastassia@tuffcookie.net
ZOOKIES Accessories, gift items, toys with an emphasis on "inspiring kids to be creative" Designer: Lora Jakobsen Sizes: Toddler, girls 4 Wholesale: $8 - $20 Standouts: The chalk board lunch boxes and car lap pads.
FYI: The machine washable Chalk Board Lunch Boxes are made of nylon lined with cotton as opposed to vinyl, which can be toxic when mixed with food; the Car Lap Pad was given the 2005 Creative Child Magazine Toy of the Year award. Tel: 310.801.4534 E-Mail: whats_up@getzooked.com
EMPRESS BABY ARTS Accessories, baby accessories, baby bedding, room décor, gifts, layette, sleepwear, special occasion wear Designer: Sharon Kuo Size: Layette, infant, toddler, girls 4-6X Wholesale: $8- $125 Standouts: The decorative chandeliers; the "shades in bed" lampshades with names like 'restful', 'calm', 'peaceful' (which can either be used in the nursery or enjoyed by adults in many other rooms in the home); the group of unbleached organic cotton hand knits for infants.
FYI: The founder/designer is the daughter of internationally acclaimed artist Ming-Chaio Kuo whose work has been represented in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art, The Vatican, and many acclaimed museums around the world; the company was founded in 1978. Tel: 323.780.8066 E-Mail: sales@empressarts.com
CC3 DESIGN Accessories, baby accessories, blankets/quilts, gift items, hats, outerwear ("Great stuff for babies and kids") Designer: Cathleen Schulte Sizes: Infant, toddler, girls 4-6X, boys 4-7 Wholesale: $10 - $70 Standouts: The brand new group of capes for little girls (many of which have matching caps, bucket hats, or bandanas); infant cape sets (capes with matching fleece lined mittens and caps).
FYI: The concept behind the collection is to provide clothes that are practical yet dressy, sophisticated and fun, and clothing that "moves with the child's movements"; Ms. Schulte especially wanted to design capes so that girls could "spread their arms" and have fun. Tel: 510.658.0296 E-Mail: cathleen@cc3design.com
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