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February 2006 Hello retailers and buyers! This is our second "Reporter's Notebook," a regular feature to keep you up to date with our sponsors' news. So if a designer is adding a collection, moved their offices, added a new sales rep or even a new baby, you'll know.
Maria Frallicciardi of ELEPHANTITO introduced two new collections at the January ENK Children's Club Show. Her Special Events line features Christening dresses as well as special occasion dresses suitable for communions and weddings. The garments, says Frallicciardi, "are classic with clean lines. We use Dupioni silk, French organza and other natural fibers. All the trimmings are hand made, and we offer unexpected combinations such as alpaca, Pima cotton and silk." The items are sized to fit newborns up to eight years. Her new Elephantito shoe collection, for boys and girls newborn to approximately six years, is divided into three groups: crib shoes, first steps and children. "We use the best leather and suede in the market and the style is classic with a twist," she says. Elephantito is represented by Brenda Weinberger of Bella Rose Imports. To contact Weinberger call 212-594-7673/718-302-3810 or visit www.jamesgirone.com/bellaroseimports.
The folks at MY BOY SAM have introduced a toggle coat to their AND THEN THERE WAS JAKE and SAM'S FRIEND collections for Fall 2006. The garment is offered in bone, baby pink, Macintosh red and navy, and is available at the same price points as the company's sweaters ($30, 12-24 months; $31, 2-4 years; $32, 4-6X/7). Additionally, according to Clare Posnack, director of corporate sales, last fall's soft corduroy, elastic-waist pants were such a hit, that more colors were added to the 2006 boys' collections, so every sweater now has a pant to coordinate. Call 212-967-2918, or visit samsfriend and andthentherewasjake.
FINE AND DANDY has opened an online store at www.fineanddandykids.com. Mary Hall, a certified "parent coach" is contributing an article each month. The wholesale collection has a new sales rep, The Glitter Box Showroom, 110 East 9th Street, Suite A618, Los Angeles, California. 213-489-7605.
If you're in New York for market appointments, stop by MARIE CHANTAL'S first retail shop in the city. The boutique is the fourth for the company; there are two Marie Chantal stores in Greece and one in London. The new boutique is located at 1192 Madison Avenue (at 87th street). Tel: 212-828-7300; or visit www.mariechantal.com.
As if A-list DNA weren't enough, the offspring of celebrities are born into a world of freebies, too. Four of our sponsors were invited to participate in the January 16th "Pre Golden Globes Boom Boom Room," a merchandise giveaway to the stars. JENERATIONS BABY, an all-natural line of deliciously scented shampoo, hair gel, soap and moisturizer. Call Jennifer Reilly at 877-281-6532, or visit www.jenerationsbaby.com; CRIB ROCK COUTURE, a new line of infant T-shirts that, according to the company's founder, Tracy Bobbitt, "make nursery rhymes hip by transferring legends like Bo Peep, Miss Muffet and Humpty Dumpty into Rock, Pop and Rap stars." Bobbitt's next promotion is "The Starlet Suite," a similar event held before the Academy Awards. (Note: the company has relocated from New York to California. The new address is 22287 Mulholland Way #190, Calabasas, CA 91302. Contact Bobbitt at 818-968-8599 or 818-716-1555. Visit www.cribrockcouture.com); GLAMAJAMA studded T-shirts and onesies for children and matching tees for adults. Also of note: Last December, the company's president, Heather Nolte appeared with Katie Couric on NBC's Today Show. (Call 877-884-9769, or visit www.glamajama.com); and KNUCKLEHEADS, Melissa Nash's boys' collection of Fifties' inspired sportswear, was scooped up by Eve, Angela Basset and Tyler James Williams (Everybody Loves Chris). To contact Nash, call 360-281-7155, or visit www.knuckleheadsclothing.com.
Buyers have nagged Eliza Gran to manufacture her Seventies' inspired sportswear in adult sizes. Now she has. For spring 2006, Gran introduced ELIZA GRAN WOMEN. The three-piece collection features a simple belted dress in Gran's signature mix of tiny florals, a flowered top, and a straight, above-the-knee skirt available in white or navy and white ticking stripes. To find out more about the collection, call Gran at 212-226-2106 or visit www.elizagran.com.
Abbe Murray-Cote and Eleonore Rojas, co-owners of INNIES N OUTIES, the line of reversible clothing for toddlers, report that their line will be featured in upcoming issues of Child and Bundle. Also, Shelley Ermigarat at Paperdoll Style now represents the company in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle territories. To contact the rep showroom, call 213-629-9874, or visit www.paperdollstyle.com; www.inniesnouties.com.
The jewelry and accessory company TOP TRENZ will launch its Camp collection in mid-February - a full line of tie-dyed goods which includes everything from chokers with a dangling "camp" charm, $8-$10; hooded sweatshirts and coordinating sweat pants, $14-$18; even tie-dyed laundry bags for $10. Each purchase comes with a free headband. To order, call Jaime or Corey Glassberg at 631-254-8499, or visit www.toptrenz.com.
Sachin Batra of LE FROMAGE ET L'ORANGE, the colorful sportswear collection, has collaborated with a textile manufacturer to develop a new fabric for his line. The striped cloth has the hand of velvet, with each band a different rich color. What makes it unique is the process: between the stripes the fibers are "burned" or treated with a chemical that removes yarns down to the base weave of the cloth. The resulting garment is light enough to wear year round. Contact Batra at 203-329-0719, or visit www.fromage-lorange.com.
To accommodate a growing demand for new silhouettes and fabrications, Lisa Monfried, the owner and designer at LEMON, is expanding her collection of hip T-shirts. In addition to her classic three-quarter length T-shirt in cotton knit, a long-sleeved tee (sizes 2-16) will be available in two new textiles: a soft, lightweight baby thermal, and silky baby jersey. To contact Monfried, call 201-767-1160, or visit www.jamesgirone.com/lemon.
As if welcoming a preemie home isn't stressful enough, having to dress the infant in oversized clothing that emphasizes its fragility can make matters worse. At the January ENK Children's Club show, ZUTANO co-owner and designer Uli Belenky, introduced Itzy Bitzy, a collection for preemies and newborns up to seven pounds. Each of the five groups, available in mix-and-match print and stripe combinations for girls and boys, has six pieces: a side-snap T-shirt with long sleeves, a side-snap onesie with either short or long sleeves, a long gown with a gathered hem, leggings and a sock hat. To see the new items, call 800-287-5139 or visit www.zutano.com.
Business is booming for GRANDMA NES. Michele Uzbay, who began her successful collection with fine hand knits, has added tees and coordinating jeans, and, she says, "They're extremely popular with buyers." In addition to her East coast rep, Leslie Stevens, and New Horizon Sales which handles the company's Midwest accounts, she has added two new showrooms: Cultivated Kids in Dallas, and the Joyce Nielsen showroom in Atlanta. Uzbay can be reached at 516-921-7778 or visit www.jamesgirone.com/grandmanes.
Life is tutu good for Kim Schneider, the owner and designer at HATHEAD BOUTIQUE. Her ultra puffy Knotted Tutu, made of layers of shimmer tulle ringed with tiny knots, was featured in the premiere issue of Cookie. To see the skirt and other adorable gifts, visit www.hatheadboutique.com.
At the January New York International Gift Fair held at the Jacob Javits Center, FRESH ONEZ debuted its collection of lap-shouldered infant bodysuits, toddler T-shirts and note cards. Says Lisa Stever, the year-old company's cofounder, "We design our products from the baby and toddler's point of view making sure they are recognized as the customer." The 'Center of Attention' bodysuit features the Fresh Onez baby motif ringed with multicolored circles. For more information about the Fresh Onez collection, contact Stever at 802-879-4634, or visit www.freshonez.com.
After dressing toddlers in HEIR APPAREL'S T-shirts and sportswear, owner and designer Zna Houston wondered, "Why shouldn't infants be treated like royalty?" The answer is Heira, her new collection for the 3- to 24-month set. One look at the sweet, 100 percent cotton T-shirts, onesies and hats that sport the company's crown logo, and parents will shout, "They're Heirisistible!" To contact Houston, visit www.heirapparel.com, or call her at 310-702-7175.
LITTLE RAGGIO, Ana Colagrossi's collection of gorgeous leather children's shoes, is now available online at www.littleraggio.com. To contact Colagrossi, call her at 203-625-9698.
The fall/winter 2006 season finds Malley Gaulding and Teresa Helms of MALLEY & CO. in the mood for romance. Their latest collection Ballet Stories includes nine groups with names such as Sugarplum Fairy, Snow Queen and Little Swans. Each collection of gathered T-shirts, lovely lace skirts, some adorned with sequins, and simple, floaty dresses would look as ethereal on Lincoln Center's stage as they will at a child's birthday party. Their nine Malley Sport groups are comprised of embellished jeans, jean skirts and feminine, embroidered T-shirts. For more information visit www.malleyandco.com.
Congratulations to ANDREA'S BEAU. The hair accessories company known for elegant materials and beautiful craftsmanship is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In October, Andrea Chafetz, the company's owner and designer, introduced "Beau Ties," and, says Chafetz, "the product has been selling steadily ever since." The Beau Tie is a single ornament, silk flower or gem appliqué sewn onto multiple velvet, satin or grosgrain ribbons. The versatile hair piece can be worn with the streamers tied beneath a ponytail or bun and can be worn as a dramatic choker. "The beauty of the item lies in its simplicity. Girls can use their imaginations to create new ways of ornamenting themselves," she says. The tie has been so successful that Chafetz has extended the concept to belts, with the item tying at the hip. For more information, contact Chafetz at 202-966-7004, or visit www.andreasbeau.com.
SALES REP AND IMPORTER NEWS/LINE UPDATES Adding to her European collections of classic, beautifully manufactured goods, BELLA ROSE IMPORTS owner Brenda Weinberger, has taken on three vendors manufacturing in Italy: Ninetta Baby Line, a collection of Pima cotton infant wear; Mio Boutique, boys' button-down shirts in silky cotton available in 200 patterns and solids; and Elephantito, fine children's knitwear. Contact Weinberger at 718-302-3810/212-594-7673, or visit www.jamesgirone.com/bellaroseimports.
Lynn Meyer of the LYNN MEYER SHOWROOM is representing three new collections: Fournier, a line of fine knits and wovens designed by Anabel Fournier; MP Socks & Tights, a colorful collection of legwear for children and adults; and the soft cotton and rayon loungewear of Evolution Maternity. For an appointment, call Meyer at 212-947-5522, or visit www.jamesgirone.com/lynnmeyer.
BLOOMERS BABY DIAPER CAKES, a company that specializes in two-to-three-layer "cakes" made of disposable diapers and topped with silk flowers - has added two new sales reps: the Chicago-based showroom DW SPECIALTIES will represent the line in seven Midwestern states (312-755-9770). SUMMERPLACE REPS in Atlanta, handles the company's Texas, New York, New Jersey, New England and Washington DC accounts (770-444-0776). Their long-standing reps are BILL KAHN KIDS' SHOWROOM, which covers L.A. sales (213-622-4643), and the SHONNARD SALES GROUP is responsible for San Francisco clientele (510-568-6867). To reach Michelle Caruso, the company's president, call 949-951-2068, or visit www.bloomersdiapercakes.com.
CLAIREBELLA joins the Southern Fried Chicks Showroom in the Dallas World Trade Center (214-742-6111). Clairebella's president, Kathy Denness, is shipping her latest line "Cocoa Dot." The collection features Moses baskets, burp sets, blankets and bibs in either pink and chocolate or blue and chocolate polka dots. To contact Denness, call 678-622-2563, or visit www.clairebella.com.
MISH-MISH, the fastest growing division of Srigamish, one of Israel's leading textile companies, is celebrating its second season selling to American retailers. The collection of trend-driven sportswear for NB up to age 14 has acquired the following sales representatives: Wendy's Closet in Los Angeles, CA, 213-627-9586; Nancy Markert & Associates in Closter, NJ, 201-768-8334; Amy Hoffman in Jericho, NY, 516-931-6510; Southwestern Kids in Dallas, TX, 214-403-7464; Mimi Weshler in Tamarac, FL, 954-720-0417; JB Vogue LLC, in Bloomfield, MI, 312-923-9880; Ruth Wernick in Westwood, MA, 781-407-9090. For more information visit: www.jamesgirone.com/mishmish
Sponsor news to share? Contact tina@jamesgirone.com.
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