Djäknemåla Delights!

Stunning new brand from Sweden is designing for boys, too.

Self-described as “whimsical couture from the beautiful forests of Sweden,” the first collection of Djäknemåla will be available this spring, and it’s already caught the eye of many-an-A-list celeb daughter with its bold colors, striking imagery and elegant lines. (This video really captures the brand personality. Watch here).

Djäknemåla (pronounced yīk-ne-mah´-lah) is named for a beautiful bit of Blekinge Län, Sweden. Designer Pia (who’s also involved with the swimwear line Stella Cove) tells CupcakeMag for Littles that her easy-to-wear clothes made from crisp cottons are inspired by her grandmother’s own magical, fantastical artwork. Plus she’s also included a little bit of Sweden for boys, too:

We have a little Fall line coming out at the trade fairs in early spring which includes a mini foray into boys clothing. I only have boys myself –they would rather walk on hot coal than wear anything I designed- but it was so much fun to make.

Looking forward to seeing more from Djäknemåla!

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

A special thanks to Rachel Florio PR.

Loved by Celebrity Kids and Everyone Else, too!

Kiddo By Katie and Love Jay Girls are getting a ton of attention from celebrity kids lately for their chic designs, luxe fabrics and ahead-of-the-trend pieces.

Most recently seen being worn by such famous faces as Willow Smith, Shiloh Pitt, Zahara Pitt, Suri Cruise, Ariel Winter and Kennedy Armstrong, these two brands are taking the kids fashion industry by storm -at an affordable price.

Established in 1992, the Kiddo By Katie clothing line appeals to the tween with a keen eye for high fashion.

The versatile Kiddo collection of structured military jackets, off the shoulder tops, playful knits and easy to wear dresses captures the innocence and high energy of the tween lifestyle, thoughtfully incorporating lace detailing, cascading ruffles and funky prints into a wearable look that’s on trend.

Love Jay Girls turns a little girl’s fairy tale into a reality, infusing princess silhouettes with a fashionable edge.

With an array of dresses for young girls sizes 4-8, the Love Jay Girls line captures the beauty and charisma of a young girl’s spirit with a combination of luxurious textures and colorful designs. The core belief that a princess lives inside every little girl is the guiding inspiration behind the enchanting collection.

From great everyday basics to fun, flirty dresses, Kiddo By Katie and Love Jay Girls truly have clothing for any girl who wants to stay as stylish as their moms.

If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

New Wendy Bellissimo collections début in June

Fans can expect innovative, streamlined apparel and fashion-forward creations made from high quality fabric reminiscent of the favored Bellissimo lines originally launched in 1997.

Wendy Bellissimo Media, Inc. and 5 Star Apparel Group recently announced a licensing partnership that includes the marketing, production and distribution of the Wendy Bellissimo Baby & Kids apparel line. 5 Star -which owns and licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including kids lines Mecca, Akademiks and Rocawear– is heading the creation, production and distribution of favored Bellissimo brand lines including layette sets, sleepwear and clothing geared for boys and girls ages 0-7.

With the re-launch of our Wendy Bellissimo Baby and Kids apparel designs, the consumer will have an opportunity to enjoy my designs and the products that have become so well-loved on a mainstream level. With the support of 5 Star, we hope to bring these creations back to the consumer for Fall 2012.

-Wendy Bellissimo

The mother of four daughters, Wendy Bellissimo is widely known as a successful entrepreneur with a passion for creating products that families love. First perceived as an authority on products for growing families, Wendy’s sincerity and approachability enable her to connect with other women who see her as either the mom they are or as the mom they would like to be.

A celebrity favorite designer as well as a sought-after television personality, Wendy is hard at work designing new collections for apparel and room décor, scheduled to début in June.

In the meantime, enjoy one of Wendy’s videos!

kangacoo designs at SAG Awards

The youngest actor to ever receive Screen Actors Guild recognition wears a kangacoo designs original. Congratulations!

When the cast of ABC’s Modern Family accepted the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, little Lily Tucker-Pritchett was wearing a kangacoo designs original dress.

The character Lily, daughter of her two loving adoptive dads Mitchell and Cameron, is played by Aubrey Anderson Emmons who, along with her mom Amy Anderson and agent Carlyne from Dramatic Artists Agency, requested a simple, chic dress for the event. Designer Katie Nguyen delivered -adding a little sparkle as well. Aubrey completed her look with black tights, black patent leather shoes and an itty bitty purse. Katie’s longtime friend stylist Brooke Lee gave Aubrey a pretty side bun with feather clip and light makeup.

In 2008, Katie founded kangacoo designs, creating fun and functional clothes for kids using two basic principles: Creativity is King and Life is an Occasion, Dress for It!

My ruffle leggings are my signature piece and I have built a made-to-match collection around the leggings. My design is inspired by the fabric I find so you can always expect to see interesting fabrics and textures in my collections.

-Katie Nguyen

Where the runway meets the playground. “I believe that clothes should be fun and unique,” Katie says, “but also wearable and washable.” The line includes dresses, leggings, play clothes, swimwear and more and Katie tells me the business has grown with a lot of love and hard work. Fans can buy the handmade/custom collection as well as a wholesale line carried in almost 50 stores nationwide and abroad.

Very Cute Dress-Up!

“All of our clothing is Made in the USA and we are very proud to have stayed true to our heritage. Many of our customers love it.”

-Richard Behar, Capitol Clothing

Miami, FL-based Capitol Clothing Corp. manufactures a variety of novelty uniform outfits for kids under the Little Baron and Capitol Boys brands. Themed outfits allow kids to dress up as a boat captain, police officer, sheriff, firefighter, the U.S. Military and more are available in sizes Infant, Toddler 2T-4T and 4-7.

The 22-year-old company recently introduced the Safari Style Vest to the collection. Celebrity children are big fans, too – Michael Jackson’s son Prince has been seen wearing the Police outfit; Victoria Beckham’s son Cruz wears the Jr. Zookeeper outfit and most recently, John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s newborn son received outfits in a celebrity gifting basket.

-Janet Muniz

Got a boo-boo? Here’s a blankie!

Determined to soothe her baby son’s pain following a minor operation, mom Krissy McCoy added a pocket to his favorite security blanket to hold – and hide – an ice pack. As soon as she saw her baby happy and healing, Krissy wanted to use her ingenious Boo-Boo Blankies® design to help other parents in the same situation. These Made in the USA fleece blankets are personalized with monograms and appliqués, and equipped with a reusable hot/cold pack.

“Krissy McCoy is building a very special business by creating a product that helps ease the suffering of children and their families,” says MaryLenore Arsenault of BopStar-PR Inc., a company known for BopStar Baby celebrity baby baskets. “With loving care as its foundation, a Boo-Boo Blankie® is truly ‘the blanket that makes it all better.'”

Krissy has added matching burp cloths, doll-sized blankies, bracelets and keychains to her product line, all handmade to order at the small Alabama home-based business. Her products have been featured on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly among others. And that’s not all.

Krissy launched a charitable division of her company the very say day she opened for business. Her Close to My Heart Charity Projects donates $1.00 from every blankie sold to a Child of the Month, selected from Boo-Boo Blankies® customer nominations. “My heart goes out to those families who spend more time at the hospital than at home,” Krissy tells HCRSourceBook. “I am amazed at the bravery these young children possess and admire their strength. I see this blanket business as a way for me to be able to help other families with children suffering from serious illness or rare disorders.”

Boo-Boo Blankies™ is also a corporate sponsor for AMCSI, an organization that supports families suffering with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a rare neuromuscular disorder.

-Janet Muniz

Retro Fav: Baby Bonnets

I was born with very little hair on my head, which made me an instant fashionista. How? Mom always had me wear a baby bonnet, so people would instantly recognize that I was a girl!

Mary and Janie of yesteryear

Now, thanks to celebrity moms like Sarah Jessica Parker, baby bonnets are all that and more, which puts Susu & John‘s baby bonnets, buckets hats and clothing in the spotlight.

Mother-daughter team Mary Patrick and Janie Brooks McQueen marketed their products all the way to People magazine and E! online’s Fashion Police in less than a year with a company slogan, Made to be worn. “Our bonnets are based on an original heirloom pattern with humble beginnings – the pattern was actually cut from plain brown wrapping paper,” says Janie. It is Mary who ran across the generations-old pattern one day in Spring 2009 and decided to try updating it with designer fabrics. Bu there’s no fussiness here.

According to Janie, people are returning to classic tastes and basics due to the country’s economic climate, and Susu & John has found a way to bring back the traditional baby look using trendy fabrics and very practical materials. “Not only are most of our pieces reversible, but they’re machine washable,” Janie says.

Plus, they’re stylish sunscreen. “Our bonnets also protect baby’s delicate skin, and in a much more fashionable way than the frumpy sun hats you see too often,” Mary says. “They make a beautiful baby gift because of the impeccable quality and workmanship, but they’re easy on the parents because they’re so easy-care.”

The small company based in Beaufort, SC has really grown in less than a year, repped by Larry Lucas in the Southeast and Cathy Downey in the Midwest. Product is handmade in the USA. Employing Janie’s infant twins Sophia and Susannah (Susu), with John Lathan as models, Mary and Janie came up with their first bonnet collection, which quickly drew a buzz in Beaufort. Eventually they added a boy’s bucket hat with the unique button-all-round feature, too.