Remember “it’s a small world”?

“it’s a small world, after all … it’s a small, small world!”

Disney Consumer Products teams with Nordstrom to mark the 45th anniversary of Disneyland’s it’s a small world theme park attraction with a new line of kid’s apparel, accessories and footwear. Based on Disney artist Mary Blair’s original artwork, four seasonal collections for newborns, infants and toddlers début at Nordstrom stores throughout the year.

Each collection represents a different country: Japanese Spring (February); Indian Summer (June); Scottish Fall (September); and Russian Holiday (November). Each collection features items from collaborators such as Petunia Pickle Bottom, Trumpette, Baby Nay and Mighty Fine.

Disney and Nordstrom are also teaming with TOMS Shoes and FEED Projects to give back to communities around the world, with TOMS Shoes’ One for One commitment of giving a pair of new shoes to a child in need, while FEED Projects Small World items benefit UNICEF, which was the ‘it’s a small world’ ride’s original 1964 beneficiary.

-Janet Muniz

Empowered Clothing

Action sports clothing line celebrates first year!

“My eight-year-old son wanted me to buy him a t-Shirt at an action sports event a year ago, but every shirt had an image of a gun or a marijuana leaf,” Javier Gamboa says. “That’s not the example I’d like to set for my children, and I know there are many other parents out there that feel the same way. So we set out to do it better, and bring a positive message to the action sports community and the youth of America. Javier is president, CEO and co-owner of Phoenix, AZ-based Empowered Clothing Company, who, along with Chuck Crouthamel, created a line of clothing designed to be cool enough to rival the biggest established brands in the lifestyle and action sports category, but also “inspire everyone to find their purpose in life, and feel empowered to live that purpose.”

Messages like LIVE ON PURPOSE, BREATHE IN VICTORY, EXHALE DEFEAT and IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE adorn nearly every t-shirt, beanie and cap. “We’ve even invited our customers to design their own messages,” Chuck says, “and we take tag lines suggested by fans and incorporate them into our newest products.”

Since launching last year, Empowered products are being shipped to kids of all ages in every corner of the country. The commitment to giving back to the youth in each community is unrivalled. As inspirational speakers, Javier, Chuck and Empowered Clothing Company’s strategic partners -often action sports athletes- visit schools, recreation centers, skateboard parks and other places where kids can learn to become empowered members of their community and speak about goal setting, dreaming big and dedicating their lives to following their dreams and becoming positive, contributing members of society. The company also works with charitable and community organizations by creating fundraising partnerships designed to assist non-profits in continuing to create inspiring programming and outreach for kids. Led by “Social Media Dude and Community Architect” Tommy Pierucki (yes, this is his real title), Empowered Clothing Company connects daily with their customer base via their rapidly growing online presence. Celebrities from throughout the action sports world provide online messages and endorsements, and kids are encouraged to share their own videos of themselves participating in action sports while wearing Empowered gear.

-Janet Muniz

little society

“Teach your kids to be fashion-conscious and eco-conscious.”

-Taira Soo

Taira Soo is founder and designer of little society, a clothing brand committed to encouraging young children to care for the world where they live. Designed for kids ages two thru eight, the clothes are comfy and imaginative with environmental messages that do just that, featuring the world’s most endangered species.

“Wearing these clothes may not seem like a big deal,” Taira says, “but in the world of our littlest humans, it’s a small step toward big change.” Not only are the message graphics fun and inspiring, but the materials and techniques used in producing the garments are earth friendly.

little society is responsibly Made in the USA, too. The company is donating a portion of proceeds to help protect species, habitat and humanity.

-Janet Muniz

Follow-up to HCRSourceBook post…

As a follow-up to today’s HCRSourceBook post…

HELP JAPAN! K.I.D.S. is coordinating immediate relief efforts following the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and 23-foot tsunami that swept the northern part of Japan. K.I.D.S. is asking retailers and manufacturers to provide donations of desperately needed new products, and for the public to provide monetary support to the long-term relief effort, by visiting www.KIDSdonations.org or calling 212.279.5493.

In the hours following the record-breaking quake that set off tsunami warnings as far away as California and South America, K.I.D.S. alerted both its corporate and private donors with a call for support. Urgently needed new items such as blankets, undergarments and apparel are being collected and K.I.D.S. is working with its not-for-profit partners to ensure that shipments quickly reach affected children and families.

Through the K.I.D.S. 10-to-1 system of matching donations, the organization is donating $10 worth of new product for every $1 raised. Donations of $5, which provides $50 of new merchandise to child in need, may be made by texting the word ALLKIDS to 85944. Visit www.KIDSdonations.org for more information.

-Janet Muniz

Hollywood K.I.D.S. Benefit

Ooh! La, La! Couture and Disney Star Host Tutus 4 Tots

In mid-February, Ooh! La, La! Couture and Disney star Bella Thorne invited young Hollywood to distribute over 300 new dresses to underprivileged girls, making the Second Annual Tutus 4 Tots a huge success! The Los Angeles, CA-based Ooh! La, La! coordinated with the Volunteers of America Los Angeles to invite girls from its Strengthening Families Program -which assists families that are either homeless or at risk for becoming homeless –donating about $24,000 in new merchandise to Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.).

The room was filled with poufy tutus and huge smiles as surprised families were treated to fun fashions, sparkly shoes, headbands and cupcakes. Enthusiastic young Hollywood celebs escorted little girls through racks of colorful dresses, signed autographs and posed for photos. All the guests were brought to tears when one mother thanked everyone, saying that it was her daughter’s first birthday and she couldn’t afford to give her a present, so she was grateful that a beautiful new dress given to her.

Bella Thorne was joined by fellow Shake It Up cast members Roshon Fegan, Adam Irigoyan and Davis Cleveland, as well as other hot stars Billy Unger, Morgan Lily, Jadin Gould, Kathryn Newton, Pia Mia Perez, Kaitlyn Maher, Elsie Fischer, Ashlee Keating, Daphne Blunt, Emily Grace Reaves, Avalon and Alexis and Natalia.

Co-owners Ann Dugourd and Jennifer Rotunno founded the line of fun and funky, yet sweet and girly clothes eight years ago and regularly gives back by donating clothing to children in need. Since 2007, Ooh! La, La! Couture has donated over $272,000 in new dresses to K.I.D.S.

China Doll Shoes generously donated a new pair of shoes for every girl in the room. Penelope Wildberry, Pink Pewter, Top Trenz, Gaby! Be Gorgeous, Be Happy! and Bracelets by Caley Camarillo also donated merchandise to make this event special.

-Janet Muniz

Real Kids Shades

Real Kids Shades honored by Prevent Blindness America.

Prevent Blindness America, the nation’s oldest volunteer eye health and safety organization, honors Real Kids Shades™ (RKS) with the Star Pupils™ Inaugural Partner Award, presented in recognition of the outstanding support the company provided to launch the organization’s new children’s eye health program, Star Pupils.

“We know that many parents are not well-informed about how critical quality UV protection is relative to their children’s vision,” says VP of marketing Lisa Medora. “We are now able to help educate parents on the importance of UV protection as well as provide much-needed funds to support such an important program.”

RKS designed a pair of Star Pupils-branded infant sunglasses and pledged 20% of the proceeds from every purchase to the Star Pupils’ efforts. A main component of the program is education on eye safety, including UV protection.

Even though every parent has been warned about the harmful effects of UV rays, and 82% of parents use sunscreen to protect their children’s skin, only 32% take action to protect their children’s eyes. This is especially dangerous because children’s eyes are

more vulnerable to sun damage than those of adults. Long-term UVA/UVB exposure is linked to adverse effects such as the development of cataracts, sun burning of the eyes, known as photokeratitis and macular degeneration, which scientists now believe is a leading cause of blindness in adults.

Real Kids Shades products make it easier than ever for parents to quickly and thoroughly shield their children’s eyes from what could turn into a lifetime of disease. With a complete line of sunshades that feature 100% protection against UVA/UVB rays along with shatterproof, impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses, parents now can have the protection without the hassle. The company meets the strictest American, European and Australian standards in eye protection and are CPSIA compliant. Products are also CE Certified and FDA approved for protecting children’s eyes.

Prevent Blindness America also honors The Abbott Fund, Transitions, Healthy Sight for Life Fund and VisionDirect.com with the award as well.

-Janet Muniz

K.I.D.S. 25th Anniversary Gala

Congratulations to K.I.D.S.!

Internationally renowned children’s charity Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.), celebrated its 25th anniversary at a Gala on December 1 in New York, NY at Cipriani Dolci, raising about $1 million to help benefit children in need.

Gayle King, editor-at-large for O, The Oprah Magazine and host of The Gayle King Show, hosted 650 guests including the mayor of Newark, NJ, Cory Booker -the event’s keynote speaker.

The organization also raised close to $3 million in new product toward its 2010 goal of $100 million of new merchandise to distribute to needy children.

As part of the event, K.I.D.S. honored three industry leaders for their exceptional contributions to help underprivileged and disaster-struck children, including John Goodman, executive vice president of Sears Holding Corporation; Oscar Feldenkreis, president and CEO of Perry Ellis Corporation; and Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of footwear charity Soles4Souls. A special service award was given to Karen Bromley, principal of The Bromley Group and K.I.D.S. board member, for her 25 years of continuous service to the organization.

-Janet Muniz

Ninachka Couture

The Ninachka Couture collections create worlds where a child’s fantasy reigns supreme.

The name means “little Nina,” her grandparents’ term of endearment for Nina Hovnanian, American Armenian designer, children’s book author, home decor innovator and all-round Renaissance woman. Ninachka Couture by Nina Hovnanian and Ninachka Princess are two wondrous collections for children from ages 0-7 that include handmade twirly tulle dresses and hand painted bejeweled silk organza circle skirts that sit atop tulle ruffled layers of silk chiffon. Each delicately finished piece of the Princess collection is inspired by every little girl’s fairy tale fantasies. It also includes Swarovski encrusted tops and hand-stitched items. Every made-to-order heirloom piece comes with a handmade tiara and arrives in a limited edition zippered satin lined storage case to pass on to future generations. From party dresses and formal wear, sun dresses, separates and swimwear, Ninachka Couture is always all about comfort – and fun.

“I’ve tried to capture all the magic of childhood fantasies and the classic delights of summer and print them onto cool cottons to create super fun collections that literally inspire kids’ dreams to come alive,” Nina tells HCRSourceBook. The European-inspired brand made its North American début at Playtime New York just this summer with bold colors, adorable animal prints and intricate details that enchant buyers all over the world. Also available are clothing for boys, books, toys, gifts and décor items.

Nina’s story is an inspired one. This New Jersey girl moved to Armenia in 2001 to start the Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) to help lift the country’s devastated post-earthquake, post-war economy. In 2005, she created Treasures of Armenia, a specialty shop of artisanal treasures created by Armenia’s master craftsmen. She also formed the Nina Hovnanian Couture brand, creating hundreds of new jobs and breathing new life into Armenian artisanal traditions by marrying time-revered skills and ancient Armenian design elements with state-of-the-art technologies and materials to create designs with a fresh 21^st century appeal. All of Nina’s creations are saturated with her timeless, yet contemporary international flair.

Nina herself has twin daughters, Gayane and Katya, who remind her of how fast children outgrow their clothes, so she designs classic, yet delightful “heirloom” creations that can be passed down from generation to generation.

-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

I Rescue Rover

I Rescue Rover Apparel is a collection of t-shirts for kids and toddlers made from organic cotton bamboo and other eco-friendly fabrics. Artist Paula Bonham features her original, animal-themed work, inspired by the many dogs she has rescued and enjoyed in her life, and also by the passion people have for their own dogs – and cats, birds, fish, horses, goats and more – (I’m a huge fan of goats!)

Other styles feature artwork from Julie Rozelle Contreras of Urban Bird Design. Artists are encouraged to submit artwork for consideration, too. Textiles include organic cotton bamboo and other eco-friendly fabrics, and I Rescue Rover exclusively partners with companies that adhere to ethical manufacturing practices.

“Be Good, Do Good, Buy Good, Feel Good” is the company’s mantra, and sales benefit animal welfare organizations such as the ASPCA, The Humane Society, Red Cross Emergency Rescue Efforts, Animal Acres, Petfinder and BestFriends.org.

Hip graphic clothes that simultaneously generate support for needy animals. Who wouldn’t like that?