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October 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.
LAYETTE: You can call Berit Suba's new line of infant onesies "berry cute." That's one of the phrases that adorn the onesies in her recently launched collection BERIT DESIGNS. Each all cotton item fits sizes NB-18 months and wholesales for $12-$12.50. To contact Suba call (415) 885-8070 or visit beritdesigns.com.
The Detroit proud Karry Brook of WEE WEE WEAR has introduced the 2.0 collection for spring 2007. The line of richly colored, all cotton T-shirts in sizes 3 months to 6T, includes the "Born in Detroit" tee as well as other tops with hip, tone-on-tone graphics. To contact Brook, call 586-202-6534 or visit weeweewear.com.
APPAREL: Ready to go Dutch? CLAESEN'S USA, the fabulous collection of children's underwear, is about to launch its adult line. Now moms and dads can look as good in their skivvies as their kids do. (Women's sizes: XS-SL; men's sizes: S-XXL). For pricing and more information, call Mario Martin at the MRM Showroom in New York City, 212-768-4144, or e-mail mmartinmrm@aol.com. To speak to Kelley Fitch of Claesen's USA, call 207 319-7599, or visit claesensusa.com.
Ellyn Greenspan who owns and designs the COWGIRLS HE HA collection, has introduced BUBBLES LA RUE, a line that is "fun and casual, yet elegant and funky." The collection, sized for girls 12 months to eight years, includes the "Twofer," two items attached for the price of one. The item is offered in two styles: A preppy polo shirt with a bubble skirt bottom, and a casual ribbed tank with a ruffled skirt for spring. To contact a company representative, call Gerald at 914-694-4486. To see the collection, log on to cowgirlsheha.com.
It's Bali Hai over at DANICA & DYLAN. Brian Riley, the company's co-founder, reports that in June, the company opened a factory in Bali to produce its sportswear collection. Their "True Summer" line (sizes 2T-14; $14-$27) has just arrived in the U.S. (ship date 4/1) and Riley says, "It's one of our best." For more information, contact Riley at 908-251-4170 or visit danicaanddylan.com.
Liberty prints, tiny cap sleeves, full skirts - sounds like a precious child's collection. And it is, in a way. ELIZA GRAN has been producing an infant and toddler line for several years. Using the same formula that has made her children's collection a staple in better boutiques, she introduced a tiny line for women last year. For spring/summer 2007, the expanded Eliza Gran Women's Collection includes a selection of playful blouses and dresses with a feminine "Petticoat Junction" meets sexy 50's housewife mood. Look for her new pieces at Steven Alan in New York and Los Angeles. (Wholesale prices: $90-$126). For more information, contact Gran at 212 226-2106, or log on to www.elizagran.com.
Abbe Murray-Cote co-owner of INNIES 'N OUTIES, the collection of reversible sportswear, has introduced three new products: The "Onesie" in layette sizes, a new "blankie" that doubles as a stroller cover to block out the sun, and a line of maternity T-shirts. Murray-Cote designed the Blankie as a 21" square so the item would fit perfectly in an infant car seat and never get caught in the wheels of a stroller. Her new tees have been spotted on Heidi "Project Runway" Klum and Ari Parker (wife of Boris Kodjoe). For prices and other information, contact Murray-Cote at 866-866-2880 or visit inniesnouties.com.
ACCESSORIES: Don't got no bandanas today? No problem. You can have them by ordering the lovely embroidered pieces ($12 and $15) from ALIVIAN. Designer and co-owner Natalia Berg Nielsen offers the fetching accessories in a variety of colors each with embroidered appliqués and Swarovski crystals. The items are available in two sizes: one for infants; the other fits girls 2 and up. To contact Nielsen, call 877-ALIVIAN (254-8426) or visit alivian.us.
Andrea Chafetz's customers are fit to be tied with ANDREA'S BEAU'S latest accessory, the "Beau Tie." The versatile item can be worn as a headband, choker or ponytail holder with the delicate ribbons hanging down. Belt sizes can be used as a sash or tied at the hip. The Hanah Silk Beau Tie, made of hand-dyed silk flowers with multicolored sequin centers and luxurious velvet ribbons is the hottest seller. (Beau Ties: $5.85-$8.75; The sash, available in small/medium and medium/large is $6.85-$8.75). For more information, visit andreasbeau.com.
One complaint I hear from retailers: There are not enough cute hat collections on the market. That's one reason Jamie Well's BABY CAPPELLI collection of flower festooned knit hats has been such a hit. To her extensive line, she's introducing a new marabou trimmed item, available in several fashion forward color combinations (Sizes 0-12 months and 24 months-7 years; $11-$12). To contact Wells, call 209-756-4853, or visit babycappelli.com.
BETSY AND MILLIE, a company that manufacturers fine hair accessories for girls, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. The collection of narrow and wide width headbands, hair bows and ponytail ties ($3.50-$5) is sold nationally. For more information about the Betsy and Millie line, log on to betsyandmillie.com.
Mitra Morgan, the owner and designer of BROOKS POND, is thrilled to announce that her chic Carrier Covers will be sold through buybuyBABY. The item's removable layer of insulation that fits inside the cover like a duvet is the only three-season stroller bunting in the children's market. Look for it in buybuyBABY'S Chelsea, New York location and its Westbury store. The Carrier Cover won this year's iParenting Media Award and was included in the Best Products Media Guide. To contact Morgan, call 617 879-2733 or visit brookspond.com.
Jewelry designer CAROLYN FORSMAN can say her collection is wearable art and be stating a fact, not just bragging. Forsman's namesake line is sold in 200 museums nationwide including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MOMA, both in New York City. In November, she's been asked to speak at the New York Public Library on entrepreneurship. To see her collection, log on to carolynforsman.com.
ALBUMS, KEEPSAKES AND ORGANIZERS: Baby's "firsts," like that first smile and first traumatic haircut when baby (and mommy) say good-bye to those little curls, are moments no parent wants to forgot. That's why Aimee Jacobson of AIMEEJ KEEPSAKE ALBUMS, introduced "Little Days" a collection of frames, keepsake boxes and photo albums especially for those important milestones. The collection is made of suede/velvet and comes in soft pink or blue. (Frames $9, photo albums $13, box sets $20.) Contact Jacobson at 913-897-0449, or visit aimeej.com.
Congratulations go to Tamar Shay, the president of Organized From the Start, Inc. Shay's BABYBRIEFCASE, a plastic suitcase with organizers for all the paperwork that comes with a new baby, was chosen as one of the "Top 10 Picks" for baby products in the November issue of Pregnancy Magazine. To contact Shay, call 888-584-2337, or visit organizedfromthestart.com.
As of January 1, the folks at BUDDING FAMILY will be adding new colors to their collection of "Who's going to be a big sister" and "Look Who's going to be a big brother" keepsake albums. The new tones depart from their original classic pastel pallet with bright, rich shades of tangerine, French blue, raspberry and deep purple. (The albums wholesale for $12.50.) To contact the owner Renee Raab Whitcombe, call 310 702-4466 or visit buddingfamily.com.
STAR GAZING: Michelle Caruso of BLOOMERS BABY DIAPER CAKES can add Gwen Stefani to her list of lucky celebrities to receive one of Caruso's Leopard "cakes" as a gift. Other new parent-stars-to-be similarly "gifted" are Matt Damon (for daughter Isabella) and "TomKat" (for the infamous Suri). To order, contact Caruso at 949-951-2063 or visit bloomersdiapercakes.com.
BLACK RABBIT isn't hiding in the bunny hole. Garments from Marguerite de Balincourt's new sportswear company are included in the October issues of Cookie Magazine and C magazine out of California. To see the collection, log on to myblackrabbit.com.
Stephanie Scarpulla, the designer of the BLUEBIRD sportswear collection, spotted Julianne Moore's look alike daughter Liv wearing a dress from her line in the pages of People Magazine. To see the Bluebird collection, log on to bluebirdcollection.com.
Celebrity uber-babes have discovered COWGIRLS HE HA in a big way. In a recent issue of Vogue Nippon, the company's "Good as Gold" dress was featured on Angelina Jolie's daughter Zahara. And talk about scoring it big. OK! Magazine has none other than Suri Holmes-Cruise wearing the "Party" dress. Log on to cowgirlsheha.com to see the collection.
The hip Time Out New York Kids looks especially appealing this month. The models on its cover are wearing sportswear from DANICA & DYLAN. To contact co-partner Brian Riley, call 908-251-4170, or log on to danicaanddylan.com.
FOOTWEAR: The beautifully crafted shoes from LITTLE RAGGIO are now being sold at Selfridges in England. To check out the store's website, log on to selfridges.com. To speak to a Little Raggio representative, call 203 625-9689, or visit littleraggio.com.
TOYS: Adorable dishes make feeding a toddler that much easier. Now BABY CIE, the manufacturer of charmingly illustrated kids' dish sets, is bringing "Puzzles to Go" to the market. The 34-piece, easy-to-assemble items are printed with five scenarios: "Ballerina," "Farm Yard," "Jungle," "Ocean" and "Transportation." Each item comes in a coordinating suitcase. For information, contact Norman Kosser at 323-733-4505, or visit babycie.com.
YOU'RE HIRED! BLOOMERS BABY DIAPER CAKES has added the New England showroom Susan Callahan sales to their list of national sales representatives. To contact a representative in that sales office, call 508-864-9653.
East coast, west coast, all around the town. BLUEBIRD'S got the market covered with two new sales representatives on both coasts. Stephanie Scarpulla's unique sportswear collection is represented by the Yoka showroom in New York (212-594-7714, yokashowroom.com). In Los Angeles, look for the line in Paperdoll Style (213-629-9874, paperdollstyle.com).
BUDDING FAMILY, the company that specializes in upscale keepsake albums, has added two new showrooms to their roster of sales representatives. In Texas, the collection can be found at Choices for Children in the Dallas Market Center. Contact Nancy Shilling, 214-460-1449, nshilling@swbell.net. Interline Gifts/Curtis Dorne, a road sales representative carries the line in the New York and New Jersey territories. Dorne can be reached at 516-466-2050, mutualmarketing@earthlink.net.
The BROOKS POND collection of buggy blankets is going global. The company has agreed to allow 5514 KM Corp. of Canada, a distributor of unique, high-quality children's products, to sell their items throughout Canada. To contact a representative at 5514 KM, visit the 5514km.ca website. For more information about Brooks Pond products, log on to brookspond.com.
Brian Riley of the DANICA & DYLAN sportswear collection has hired Bob VonTour to handle his Dallas Sales. To contact the VonTour showroom, call 940-891-3322, or send an e-mail to vontour@verizon.net.
SHOW AND TELL: LYNN MEYER has added several new collections to her showroom. Her newest gift lines are DOLLY AND DIMPLES, beautiful booties in charming keepsake boxes. BEEBY is a new line of gift blankets with huggable matching buddies. The company also offers gift boxes that contain booties, bib, blanket and a toy. Meyer's latest swimwear lines include LUV MONKEY SURFWEAR, a collection of well-crafted, affordable sunwear for girls ages 4-14. PLATYPUS AQUATIC offers comfortable bathing suits and rash guards for serious swimmers. To contact Meyer, call 212 947-5522, or visit jamesgirone.com/lynnmeyer.
NOTES: Stacie Mindich-Jordan lost a friend to breast cancer this year. In her memory, Mindich-Jordan, the owner and creator of BABYDISH, has just introduced "The Hally Bag." The tote, named for Hally Yaccino Steiner, is a travel and cosmetic bag now being sold in stores such as Kitson in Beverly Hills, CA. Proceeds from the sale of the item will go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Breast Cancer Research in Massachusetts. To place an order, call 877-401-DISH or 818-784-4244, visit babydish.com.
News to share? Contact tina@jamesgirone.com.
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