Janet Gray Muniz

Petit Home by blabla Kids


051313_petithome_playpadExclusive blabla Kids designs come to life in a new line.

This year, Georgia-based blabla Kids continues an adventure in cloth, creating Petit Home, a complementary collection of poetic, modern soft goods for kids.

Winner of Milk Magazine’s 2013 Discovery Prize, the playful bean bags, traveling play pads, matching pillows and reversible totes that make up Petit Home are inspired by designer Florence Wetterwald’s imaginative drawings. The 100% cotton collection is made in Peru, very washable and sure to delight pixie people with its charm!

  • 051313_petithome_lunchtoteChildren’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Brilliant Sky Toys & Books


Featuring more than 10,000 high-quality specialty products, Brilliant Sky Toys & Books is truly the place where everyone can find their way to play.

050913_BrilliantSky_01Walk into any Brilliant Sky Toys & Books specialty store, and you’ll be … enchanted. The entire mission is to delight the shopper.

Michigan-based Brilliant Sky Toys & Books provides the highest quality products in an atmosphere that is both active and interactive. Brent Taylor left the corporate world in 2002 to open his with his wife Sonia, a registered nurse, and their three children.

Together, the family created a unique retail experience that has been embraced by communities nationwide and has grown from a single location to one of the fastest growing toy retailing concepts in the country in just seven years.

Back in 2002 my singular goal was to create the finest upscale specialty toy store in America. Now we have 15 and we’re still growing!

050913_BrilliantSky_02Who needs toys? Everyone! At Brilliant Sky, personal Play Consultants help you make the most informed and successful buying decisions while you peruse several thousands of dolls, games, puzzles, crafts, books, dress-up, kites, plush, musical instruments and more. The end result is always the same: walking away with a toy that a child will cherish.

050913_BrilliantSky_03“We believe that the right playthings can teach, inform, enlighten, reinforce and enrich,” Brent says. “We believe in how they can foster self-esteem, non-violence, patience, sensitivity, diversity, and tenacity. We live it and breathe it and experience it every day, and we love nothing more than to share it with others.”

To applaud the very best toy makers, Brilliant Sky initiated the coveted Brilliance Award, an annual tip-of-the-hat to “toys that represent the very ideals that Brilliant Sky Toys & Books was founded upon — the importance of quality, the value of open-ended play and the simple beauty of a child’s fascination and delight.”

050913_BrilliantSky_logoShop online, click here to find a store near you or see more.

Millions of Colors


050713_MOC_SS2This young label has caught the eyes of millions of minis out there – and their moms, too.

Designer brand Millions of Colors just introduced a Spring Summer 2013 collection that is light and ethereal –full of  flower petals, beach blossoms and summer parties. From polka-dot chiffon ruffles and flower petal skirts to light blue shorts and navy blue bows; the variety of lounge and beachwear is just right for the season.

050713_MOC_SS2_02The seaside is the inspiration for the vibrant floral designs by award-winning industry creative Rujira Lawonvisut, who has worked for a variety of companies including Gap, Theory and Urban Outfitters.

Designing is a lot like cooking. You mix simple ingredients into a big pot to create a dish. And then you add your own special spice.

050713_MOC_SS2_03The all-girl fashion label for ages 2-14 features details like floral petal-shaped embroidered necklines, waistlines and hemlines – with styles that blend solid cotton modal blouses with striped silky skirts for a dash of beauty and beach time fun.

Celebrity Eye-Catcher. Millions of Colors outfits have also caught the eye of the celebrity parents such as Brooke Shields, Tori Spelling and Jennifer Garner, as well as major magazines like Parenting, Small Magazine and others.

If your daughters love the look of soft, breezy style of summers on the beach, head for Millions of Colors –a seaside standout!

Sew Lati


043013_SewLati_01Sew Lati Couture débuts with the Royal Collection for Fall Holiday 2013.

Smart, chic and glamorously functional, Sew Lati Couture is a new luxury brand for kids that features a bold, rich palette, exquisite fabrics, lux detail and modern style.

The color palette this season inspired the Royal Collection. When I think of royalty, I envision rich color and timeless, regal pieces. The deep hues of plum and navy combined have such a regal feel.

043013_SewLati_03Drawing inspiration from her three young children, designer TJ Hamilton, wife of NBA Chicago Bulls star Richard Hamilton, has created a collection infused with quality and bursting with practicality. From luminous velvet suits and jacquard coats to playful graphic tees and cargo leggings, pieces are designed to be mixed and matched into countless combinations of effortless elegance.

043013_SewLati_02Designed and fabricated in the USA, Sew Lati has a distinctly high fashion feel while keeping comfort in mind.

Numero 74


Handmade and vintage adorables for kids, made in Thailand.

042513_Numero74_logoEstablished in 2009, Numero 74 is designed by cousins Poupy and Nancy, who bring their French and Italian-inspired dreams to reality in a eclectic collection of furniture and vintage items, as well as blankets, pillows, paper products and more.

Heartmade … for kids.

Poupy and Nancy just introduced BE HAPPY, a line of accessories for happy birthday parties.

042513_Numero74_Montage_02The designing cousins select all the materials and oversee the manufacture of the handcrafting by skilled artisans and women’s cooperatives in Thailand.

Zooligans


Children’s Retail Today Adorables – the founders of Zooligans create a new company, taking the brand to another level.

042413_Zooligans_01Cheryl Andonian, co-founder of Zooligans footwear, tells me it’s been a crazy year since she and  her husband, shoe designer Joel Rusnak, launched the brand. The duo just reformed a new company, ShoeString Shoes LLC to make Zooligans shoes even better.

042413_Zooligans_03Stampeding Toward Fall. The Massachusetts-based company is offering exciting additions to the clever collection of animal-themed shoes for Fall ’13, multiplying for the back to school season with a new menagerie of styles, colors and characters in their Pawflex line.

New critters-shoes include a Penguin, Pony and Kitty boot; a Puppy and Gator Ox; a Dinosaur and Monkey mid-cut boot and an Owl and Panda slip on clog – all featuring Zooligans’ signature Paw Flex bottom with its bold paw print design that’s super flexible. Zooligans shoes are designed for little kids’ growing feet with a roomy toe box for toes to stretch and grip plus the flexibility that little feet need.

042413_Zooligans_02Zooligans is also expanding the brand with Baby Zooligans, a collection of soft-soled shoes for infants. Baby Zooligans’ tiniest menagerie includes a Lamb, Lion, Kitty, Piglet, Puppy and Monkey,  made from soft leather and suede to provide protection, warmth (and cuteness) for baby’s delicate feet. The bottoms are made of soft suede and have a fun printed pawprint on the bottom.

Loved by blogging moms everywhere, recognized as “must have’s” and “most awesome,” the new company will be ready to ship the new Zooligans to retailers in August.

Talking Threads Kids


042313_TalkingHeadsKids_comboNicci O’Rourke is quite the doodler. And she’s turned her doodling into a children’s wear line.

Talking Threads Kids is Nicci’s first-ever children’s wear brand, which just launched a Spring/Summer collection of clothing, shoes –even funky wallpaper- full of Nicci’s doodles.

042313_TalkingHeadsKids_tshirt_girlThe Edinburgh-based artist is mom to three children and started the business in January. For Nicci, Talking Treads fulfills a life-long ambition to create a children’s wear line that combines her love for fashion and illustrative design. With an affinity for the fun side of dress-up, Nicci used her previous experience running her own women’s wear label to develop Talking Threads.

Talking Threads Kids – Creative, playful clothing, illustrations without limitations.

042313_TalkingHeadsKids_sneakersNicci believes strongly believe in supporting British manufacturing, which is where Talking Thread is made. And the clothing is label-free.

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

Earth Day Adorables – Knickerbocker Glory


A new category of premium children’s undergarments that encourages “the pursuit of proper fun.”

041813_KnickerbokerGlory_FBSasha Muir, also known as She-Brit, is a British entrepreneur with a passion for dreaming up unique new businesses that scream with personality.

Case in point: butter LONDON, makers of exceptional nail lacquer, which she founded in 2005. Following that success, Sasha built a second company, Knickerbocker Glory, makers of high-end children’s undergarments that lives up to its inspiration: the independent and spirited girls of 19th century England who wore fashionable “knickerbockers” so they could defy society and do just what they wanted.

Keep Calm and Put ’em On. Made from the company’s special blend of 31% organic cotton, 65% modal and 4% Lycra, Knickerboker Glory’s unique Underouts collection is soft, comfy and fresh with newborn style – this underwear is designed to be seen.

Underouts are fun and allow girls today (and boys, too!) to explore and grow whilst encouraging their unique sense of fashion. Our motto, ‘Because I Want To…’, serves as a reminder that pursuing proper fun is essential and that being dressed appropriately is key to enjoying that freedom.

041813_KnickerbockerGlory_Boxerbockers-homeNot only are Knickerbocker Glory styles made from organic cotton, each pair of Underouts is packaged in bright, fun, sustainable packaging.

Sasha Muir, who lives in the Seattle WA USA area, enjoys assisting female entrepreneurs grow their businesses and serves on a number of consumer product advisory boards. Follow her on Twitter.

Earth Day Adorables – NurturMe


Snack healthy – from four months to four years, NurturMe helps parents feed their children better from the ground-up, with new organic dry meal pouches and toddler treats.

041713_NurturMe_quinoa_02Austin, TX-based NurturMe, the first and only family of certified-organic, dried fruit and veggie meals, is expanding the award-winning line of organic dried baby food with  1) a 100% quinoa rice cereal alternative; 2) a new line of blended NurturMeals organic dry meal pouches and 3) a new line of bite-sized organic Yum-a-Roo’s dried fruit and veggie snacks for toddlers.

Eat Healthy. The first “stage-free” food for infants to toddlers, NurturMe’s convenient organic dry meal pouches and fruit and veggie snacks make it easy for busy parents to ensure their children are getting maximum nutrition with every bite.

“With our new expanded family of certified organic, gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher products, we’re bringing convenience, versatility and peace of mind to a whole new level,” says CEO and co-founder Caroline Freedman, who’s also a mother of two. “Just one NurturMe pouch equals countless healthy and delicious opportunities for mealtime.”

NurturMeals is the only baby food on the market designed specifically for the option to mix with breast milk, providing even more nutrients with each feeding.

NurturMeals organic dry meal pouches are rich in nutrients and super versatile. Simply mix them with breast milk, formula or water to create the desired consistency, or mix them in to toddler favorites like pastas, baked goods or yogurts for a boost in protein and nutrients.

041713_NurturMe_boxlineupNurturMeals Singles now come in Protein-Packed Quinoa, which is the first and only certified-organic pure 100% quinoa meal created especially for children that supports growth.

Brand new to the NurturMe family, NurturMeals Blends bring together nutrient-packed superfoods such as green kale, quinoa, squash and banana to delight developing taste buds with creative and delicious combos.

Big nutrition designed for little hands, NurturMe’s new Yum-a-Roo’s organic dry toddler snacks are made from bite-sized pieces of fruits and veggies that easily dissolve in the mouth, using a NurturMe drying process that preserves the nutrients, freshness and flavor –in a resealable pouch.

All NurturMe products are Made in the USA. NurturMe’s organic dry meals are packed in recyclable materials made with wind energy, leaving a smaller carbon footprint on our planet than the other options found in the baby aisle.

From the soil to their spoon, each earth-loving, lightweight NurturMe pouch provides added convenience and peace of mind.

Please visit nurturme.com for pricing and where to buy in your neighborhood.

  • Another Hilary Abbott Communications client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Adorables for Earth Day – Burt’s Bees Baby


041613_BurtsBeesBaby_earthdayAll the natural goodness that Burt’s Bees is loved for, made especially for little ones.

Last year, Burt’s Bees® -a name that stands for natural skin care- introduced Burt’s Bees Baby, an earth-friendly lifestyle brand for babies and their moms.

Launched as a “natural” evolution of the Burt’s Bees brand, Burt’s Bees Baby has introduced an entirely new genre into the natural and organic markets, catering to the family that shops locally, buys organic and visits famers’ markets.

And you can buy it at Target.

We are building on that tradition by offering families a high quality, organic line of products that starts with babies and expands to the entire family.

041613_BurtsBeesBaby_lifestyleThrough a licensing venture with brand building and product design firm Ayablu, Inc., the line includes newborn essentials such as apparel, accessories, bath linens and gift sets, as well as skincare. And the relatively new brand seems to exude both the character and spirit of the Burt’s Bees brand, described as “whimsical, carefree and intent upon doing things in a ‘better way’ -in a way that is accessible to all.

“The Burt’s Bees Baby brand was thoughtfully crafted in the glow of the Burt’s Bees brand mission,” says Michelle Visser, Ayablu’s CEO. “We wanted to bring you a product line that would nurture children – soft, natural pieces and 100% organic. Building on a culture of caring and well being, our mission is to create a collection that frees families to relax, enjoy and revel in every moment with their little ones.”

041613_BurtsBeesBaby_giftbasketAn expert in the children’s market, Michelle has launched children’s brands for Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co and Lucky Kids, and help senior executive jobs with Pottery Barn Kids, Nike for Kids and others.

Burt’s Bees Baby is a high-quality, organic collection trusted almost immediately by the shopping public. In addition to e-commerce, www.burtsbeesbaby.com serves as an educational platform with original editorial content and as a forum for moms and moms-to-be. The brand is poised for growth, with plans to add apparel and accessories sizes for toddlers and children, new categories including diaper bags and gear, health and safety, playtime, seasonal offerings, furniture and other products the family.

  • 041613_BurtsBeesBaby_sweaterChildren’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!