Funky and Functional Jewelry

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The Roundhouse Design Collaborative creates stylish accessories for moms that multi-task as toys and teethers for baby.

Roundhouse’s newest creation, the Oh Plah!™ Simplicity bracelet is free of paints, lead, latex, PVC, BPA and phthalates and is Made in the USA using socially responsible practices, just like their other products.

RoundhouseDesigns_OhPlah Named for the French term meaning, “here you go,” Oh Plah!™ comes in a variety of colors and designs like Energy – Windmill in Clover Green, Simplicity – Daisy in Hot Pink, Serenity – Daisy in pearlescent white, Harmony- Flock of Birds in peacock blue, and Synchronicity in pewter.

Another cool feature: Roundhouse Design practices a closed loop cycle with its Full Circle Recycling program: when it’s time, Roundhouse covers the cost of shipping your Oh Plah!™ back to the company for recycling into new products.

-Janet Muniz

Support mounting for CIT Group, Inc.

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The last few weeks have been tumultuous for CIT Group, Inc. The company, which has been lending to almost 1 million small and mid-sized businesses for over 100 years, is looking at a second-quarter loss of more than $1.5 billion.

CITGroup After learning from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that it has not approved CIT’s application for one of its borrowing programs, late Sunday evening CIT’s board secured $3 billion in rescue financing, which could help the company to avoid bankruptcy.

According to Reuters, “In a regulatory filing, CIT said the cash tender offer for its outstanding floating-rate senior notes due August 17 was the first step in its recapitalization plan. CIT said it could file for bankruptcy if the offer does not succeed. The offer, disclosed on Monday, is $825 for each $1,000 principal amount of notes tendered on or before July 31.”

Needless to say, a CIT bankruptcy can deeply affect the children’s wear industry. According to the American Apparel and Footwear Association, “CIT funds more than a million businesses-many of them are small- or mid-sized companies. In the case of the smaller manufacturers, more than 90% of the business is done with the thousands of U.S. specialty retailers who have one or more outlets. Industry growth has happened because of available factoring; it has been the lifeblood of the creative process.”

Act Now

CIT has taken its story public and is asking for your help. HUDSON’S has already seen support after our posting on our Facebook page. Please click here to contact your elected government Representatives and urge them to take action now.

-Janet Muniz

Photo Credit: Ernst Moeksis

New venue for popular trade show

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The 8th edition of Bubble New York is taking place at a new venue. “The Kids Trade Show” takes place at Cedar Lake, 547 West 26th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues in the Chelsea District of New York City.

Which is huge, since part of the cache of Bubble is the inviting, creative atmosphere of the show – for children’s wear companies and buyers alike.

No worries, though – this venue is the home of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet. Karl Lagerfeld held his first and only New York season there. It’s also been host to other fashion events, awards shows, private parties and more.

bubblenewyork Spring/Summer 2010 fashions for children are on display August 2 and 3 from 9:30am to 6pm, and August 4 from 9:30am – 4pm. Exhibitors new to Bubble New York include 4funkyflavours, Adooka Organics, AppleCheeksT Reusable Diapers, barley & birch, Benny & Moon, cargo® Cool, Chop Shop Kids, Crystal Rock Kids – from Crystal Audigier, daughter of famed Ed Hardy designer Christian Audigier, Daylee Designs, Earth Friends, Happy Green Bee – from the founder of Burt’s Bees, Honeyami, JakeAndMaya, Jess Brown, Kiki, Kina, Little Esop, Little Linens, Mawok®, Nellystella, Nui Organics, Pluto Tees, Ryder & James, San Diego Hat, Sanook, Sara Noelle, Shirin Kids, Sustainable Kids, Zacasha Company, and more.

See returning favorites Atsuyo et Akiko, Chase ‘n Sky, Clover New York, Elephantito, Fournier, Hilly Chrisp, Iceing on Top, Igloo Island, Kate Quinn Organics, KicoKids, MAKIÉ, manny and simon, Mija Jewelry, Mini Rotation, Morgan & Milo, Patouche, Red Thread, Rikshaw, Seedling Kids, ses petites mains, TANE organics, Winter Water Factory, Wovenplay, among others.

The next Bubble London takes place January 31 – February 1, 2010.

-Janet Muniz

Made in Los Angeles

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Americans sure are proud to see the Made in the USA label on anything crafted right here at home.

PaigeLaurenBaby_001 On the left coast – as I so affectionately refer to it – designer Paige Lauren takes this one step further by creating, designing and manufacturing her line, PAIGELAUREN baby, solely in one city – Los Angeles, CA – to “represent the Los Angeles native lifestyle.”

PAIGELAUREN baby’s Spring/Summer 2009 layette collection includes caps, blankets, kimono gowns, rompers, crawlers, sleeveless body suits, collared body suits, t-shirts, shorts, pants and bloomers, all in a breezy beach palette. The new colors, relaxed in super fine jersey, are truly “Angelino,” inspired by the California lifestyle of casual luxury. “These clothes are summer,” Paige says, “the palm trees, endless coastline, sailing at sunset, playing at the beach club with your family and that amazing feeling that a summer evening could last a lifetime.”

Paige tells writer Eitan Kadosh that her collection of rich, classic and elegant clothes is born out of frustration. “I would walk into baby boutiques and everything in the stores was over-designed,” she says. “I knew plenty of moms who wanted the best for their babies and who appreciated clothes that would never go out of style.”

Designer Paige Lauren by Charley Challay

A Southern California girl educated at New York’s Parsons School of Design, Paige says, “I think that clothing should be timeless and beautifully constructed. If something isn’t well-made than it isn’t worth getting at all.” And she works tirelessly so her line can reflect these sensibilities. “If I have an idea for something, I just throw every resource I have into it, even if that means doing everything myself to get the results I want.”

The company describes the brand as the luxury of simplicity: useful, usable, beautiful, sustainable – committed to purity of form over gimmicks.

Just like playing on the beach in the summer sun.

Check out our August issue for more on companies loyal to the Made in the USA label.

-Janet Muniz

Kids Book Club

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Summer is a great time to read a good book, isn’t it? For kids as well as parents.

A brand new gaggle of self-published authors are offering fun and interesting books for kids at AuthorHouse.

C is for Chicago is written by Ashleigh Deese Grambo and introduces young readers to Chicago culture while teaching the alphabet.

The Misadventures of Dust Bunny by Beth Smithem teaches the importance of friendship with its lighthearted tales of one dust bunny’s adventure.

Pediatrician and mother Avril Beckford discusses the importance of play in the life of a child and in the parent-child connection in her new book, I Love You 65 Bulldozers.

Inspired by the imaginative lives of children and his own creative thoughts, Thomas S. Adam brings together a delightful collection of short stories for children and their parents, Tom’s Short Tales.

Sometimes it’s the most read book of all time that inspires writing. Author Melanie C. Christmas wrote a story for her daughter that she turned into for a children’s book series. A Picnic with Jesus is the first book in her series called Miss Patricia Diane’s Bible Study Class. The Bible story of the loaves and fishes comes alive in Melanie’s tale. “My life has been filled with many obstacles to overcome,” she says. “However, if God brought me to it he would bring me through it.”

For anyone working with kids ages 10 to 13, leadership development specialist Dr. Alan Nelson’s new book, KidLead: Growing Great Leaders, explores a new way of training the next generation of leaders.

“We’re giving these kids a 10- to 20-year head start from when most leadership training begins,” says Dr. Nelson, founder of KidLead, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing effective, ethical leaders while they’re young. “Imagine what any of us would do with that kind of jump on the competition.”

With personal stories from leaders like Stephen Covey, Mike Huckabee, Ken Blanchard and George Foreman, the book offers a tool chest of ideas for parents, teachers and coaches in a new approach to leadership training.

With a master’s degree in psychology-communication and doctorate in leadership from the University of San Diego, Dr. Nelson has published many articles and books in the field of leadership. He is also certified by the American Society of Trainers & Development and the Center for Creative Leadership. Look for the book in stores July 31.

-Janet Muniz

Moving Day

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Happy July, everyone!

This week, HUDSON’S is moving our main office suite at 235 East Broadway in Long Beach, CA a few floors down to suite 624.

We’re taking our phone and fax numbers with us, so you can continue to stay in touch! And especially if you’re in town, you’re welcome to visit … after we settle in.

Here’s all our contact info:

HUDSON’S Childrenswear Review
235 East Broadway, Suite 624
Long Beach, CA 90802
p 562.436.6400 f 562.436.6449

Enjoy Independence Day! See you at the shows-

-Janet Muniz