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April 2006 Reporter's Notebook is a regular feature to keep retailers and buyers 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.
Lisa Monfried, the owner and designer of the LEMON collection of T-shirts, has a new licensing deal with Kellogg's. Monfried has printed Kellogg's "Froot Loops" cereal boxes on tees, thermal shirts and tunic dresses and added her trademark rhinestone trims. The collection made its debut at the March ENK Children's Club show. "Customers really liked the new items," Monfried says. The Kellogg's collection is sized to fit infants through 16 and wholesales for $19.50-$24.50. For more information, call 201-767-1160 or visit www.jamesgirone.com/lemon.
There's one thing Canada has that we don't - or didn't until March: the COLI KIDS collection. Originated in 1997 by designer Hennie Dariani the line features mid-priced girls' sportswear and accessories. Dariani's popular Canadian collection, as well as her first unisex layette group, made their debut at the March ENK Children's Club show. The infant collection consists of five cotton-knit pieces including a short and long-sleeved onesie, a tank top, leggings and a diaper cover each dyed soft beige and embellished with a pale blue teddy bear. For information, contact Dariani at (905) 773-2759, or visit www.colikids.com.
Fern Tanakomsirichot, the designer of TOMMY AND FERN, a collection of special occasion dresses, is invited to exhibit her line at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City during the "Design Mavens" exhibition. The event will be held on April 28th and 29th in the school's Great Hall. For more information about the collection, contact Tanakomsirichot at 917-804-7109, or visit www.tommyandfern.com.
It's a zoo over at LITTLE PACKRATS. Designer Cathy Burse-Hurley keeps adding more creatures to her collection of animal inspired bags and backpacks. This season dachshund and dalmatian totes join the gang in the Year of the Dog category; a cuddly panda backpack arrived in the popular Go Wild group; and a duck meets new friends in the Pet Shop line. Items from Burse-Hurley's spring collection have been featured in Nick Jr. Magazine, Urbanbaby.com and Tottrendsweekly.com. To view the collection, log on to www.littlepackratscom. To contact the designer, call 978-449-0222.
You can't get more faux than the shaggy, shiny, not-found-in-nature yarns designer Buket Erdogan employs for HONEYBEE & ME'S collection of outerwear. Now Erdogan has taken the natural path with a collection of leather and suede boys' and girls' jackets trimmed in sheep's wool. The coats may be the real thing, but the colors are still out of this world. To see the collection, log on to www.honeybeeandme.com or call Erdogan at (718) 832-7720.
Girls will love accessorizing their bohemian spring ensembles with JELLI JEWELS' (www.jellijewels.com) playful resin jewelry. The company's founder, Olga Suarez, is launching a new catalog so retailers can peruse her entire, freshly colored collection. For more information about the catalogue, contact Suarez at 888-995-3554. Jelli Jewels' latest sales representative is What's New in Gifts, a Minnesota-based showroom. Contact Linda Fenske, Minneapolis Gift Mart-B126, 10301 Bren Road West, Minnetonka, MN. (952) 932-7127.
Log on to TAYLOR'S BABY LOVE (www.taylorsbabylove.com), a new company that offers a roundup of charming baby gifts and room décor items. Founder Jacqueline Oddo donated 10 percent of all sales during MS Awareness Week (March 11-17th) to the MS Society.
Keith and Holly Kauffman of the well-regarded boys' collection K.KAUFF-MEN, launched their new girls' collection at the March ENK Children's Club show. Like its predecessor, the group includes leather and suede, as well as novelty textiles such as corduroy woven with swirls of mohair and scattered with sequins. To see the collection, contact the Kauffmans at 310-323-5888, or visit www.kkauff-men.com.
In April, Rosetta Thuresson, the founder of MAMA ROSE'S NATURALS (www.mamarosesnaturals.com), inaugurated the "Herbal Maternity Shop" on her website. The "shop" features natural baby skin and diaper care products; prenatal supplements; organic teas and herbal remedies; herbs, oils and aromatherapy; adult skin care and spa items; and baby shower gifts. Every skin and bath product sold on the website is developed by Thuresson using preservative free ingredients and is doctor approved. Call 541-998-5782.
Lynne Becker has a clever idea. She understands that second, third and counting babies don't always get the attention that first babies receive, especially when it comes to photo albums. So she's devised "ME TOO MOMMY! THE GRAB-N-GO BABY BOOK FOR TODAY'S BUSY MOMS." The book has pockets to hold all the essentials of the newborn's first year - photos, a calendar, doctor's notes - and pages to record milestones. And it's easy to tote in a bag, so mothers can find the book whenever they have a spare moment. To order the book and view Becker's full line of baby blankets, stuffed animals and gift items, log on to Me Too Mommy! (www.metoomommy.com), or call her at 843-817-2530. Becker has added the Choices for Children showroom to her sales representatives roster. 2050 North-Stemmons Freeway, Suite 8404, Dallas, TX 75207. The contact person is Nancy Gale-Schilling who can be reached at 214-651-7700.
BABY STAR (www.babystar.com) is introducing the "SMOOTHIE." No, not the drink made with fresh fruit, although the colors of the new buttery blankets are certainly greenmarket fresh. This Smoothie has a poodle yarn center and is edged in satin for all-over softness. The new item comes in the three sizes: Mini, 15" W X 18" L, $30; Blanket, 36" W X 28" L, $60; and the Throw, 54" W X 60" L, $140. To order, visit their website or contact Deb at (503) 493-3500.
In a season where kids appear to be dressing for a long Russian winter or gathering in an after-hours club for a rave, hanging a classic dress in the store might be just the touch you need to freshen your stock. SOPHIE DESS, the manufacturer of traditional smocked dresses, knits and accessories for girls, and classic sportswear for their brothers, has launched a website, www.sophiedessusa.com, for buyers. Now retailers can view the entire collection and find the appropriate showroom. To inquire about a Sophie Dess item, call 1-800-926-6272.
Stacy McCallum, the founder of PIXIE DUST, has sprinkled a little magic over her latest collection of room accessories. The line, recently exhibited at the March ENK Children's Club show, features pillows, nap sets, blankets, apron sets, wall art and the new Pixie Pail gift sets. McCallum, who is a fan of children's nursery books, vintage French textiles and 60's collectibles, designs the exclusive prints used in her collection. For more information, contact McCallum at (949) 874-1324, or visit www.pixiedustdecor.com.
Abbe Murray-Cote, the founder of INNIES & OUTIES, has exciting news. Garments from her spring collection are featured in the April issue of Child magazine and will appear in American Baby this May. Her latest creation is Griffin Alexander Cote, born March 8th. Griffin joins his three-year-old brother Graeme. Congratulations!
ROSE SPICE KIDS launched their first collection of sophisticated sportswear for girls and boys (size 2-6) at the ENK Children's Club show. The separates have clean, modern lines with a touch of vintage appeal. For more information contact the designer, Rose Spice, at 281-351-8396 or visit www.rosespicekids.com.
The designing ladies at MALLEY & CO. have added Bonny and Diane, a showroom in the Chicago Apparel Center, to their long list of well-regarded sales representatives. Bonny and Diane, 685 The Apparel Center, #677, Chicago, IL 60654. (312) 329-0667.
BOGNAR & PICOLLINI, the dress and knit company, has taken on Donna Rowlandson as its Canadian distributor. Rowlandson, 6740 Davand Drive, Mississauga, ON, L5T2K9. 905-795-1900. To contact Andrea Ljustina at www.bognarpicollini.com, call 305-444-2278 or visit .
Jenny Chism, the owner of MONKEY-TOES, a company which offers playful sneakers, socks and T-shirts, is expecting an exciting summer. Her latest product is "Monkey-Toes to Go!" a frosted Chinese food take-out box that holds gift sets of socks in playful animal and insect patterns. To her sock and shoe designs, Chism is adding three new designs: "Monkeys, spiders and cows," "silly monkeys, spunky spiders" and "wowie cowie." To contact Chism, call 720-231-8726 or visit www.monkey-toes.com.
Celebrities have their eyes on BRYCEWEAR, the collection of up-market boys' clothing. The collection caught the attention of actor Holly Robinson Peete at the pre-Golden Globes "Boom Boom Room," an event that introduces stars to new children's collections. Peete asked Pamela Watson, the owner and designer of the line, to create three signature shirts for her sons to wear on the red carpet at a Nickelodeon event in Los Angeles. To see the collection, log on to www.brycewear.com. or call Watson at 917-299-1828.
Janis Millstein of New York-based Janis Millstein Sales is now representing CHIQUITA, a line of trendy girls' separates. The collection's designer is Sylvia Dominguez who exhibited easy-to-mix pieces in rich dusty tones and hip prints at the ENK Children's Club show. This is one collection juniors will love - all at great price points. Reach Millstein at 212-239-4660, or visit www.jamesgirone.com/janismillsteinsales.
Celeste Cramer, a sales representative for Moby Wrap, reports that the company has hired a new sales rep, Monica Soderstrom. Also, the newest addition to the line of adjustable cloth baby carriers is Moby DS (Deluxe). The group features the same easy-to-wear design as the original Moby Wrap and is available in luxurious silk, fleece and all natural woven textiles. The collection can be seen on www.mobysales.com or Cramer can be reached at 530-343-5533.
News to share? Contact tina@jamesgirone.com.
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