Kalencom Aids in Oil Spill Relief

Lifestyle company Kalencom is an active supporter of the city of New Orleans, its home for over 35 years. Back in April, when word reached the company and its division Hadaki of the devastation of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Louisana’s wetlands and animal life, it put in place a plan to raise money for Audubon Nature Institute which is coordinating the sea turtle marine mammal rehabilitation.

During the month of June, Kalencom and Hadaki are donating 10% of all sales to Audubon Nature Institute. “Our company is no stranger to devastation, having lost an entire warehouse as a result of Hurricane Katrina,” owner Monica Kalozdi tells us. “We made the decision to return and rebuild our business in New Orleans because our ties to the city and state are extremely strong. It breaks our heart to see so much of our natural resources and animal life in jeopardy as a result of the oil spill, and we hope our June program will have an impact on saving the wildlife.”

Due to the timing of the spill, sea turtles are gravely affected as this is the time of year when they migrate to Mexican beaches to nest. Kalencom/Hadaki’s donation directly supports the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program. “We are grateful for companies such as Kalencom – through their generosity, we will be able to accelerate our efforts in this region and hopefully succeed in helping local animals through the Audubon Aquatic Center with assessment and treatment,” says Laurie Conkerton, senior vice president for development, Audubon Nature Institute.

Kalencom is best known for their line of diaper bags that can double as totes for mom. The bags incorporate intricate detailing, high quality and affordable pricing. The Hadaki line features a wide variety of accessories such as small wristlets, wallets and zip cases to messenger bags, backpacks and duffels for teens, tweens and young professionals. Recently the company revamped its production, and now all products are manufactured in an eco-friendly manner and are free of Phthalates, AZO, DEHP, DBP, BOP and other harmful chemicals.

Consumers can support Kalencom’s efforts during June by visiting www.hadakishop.com to purchase Hadaki products and by purchasing Kalencom at any store or etailer such as www.rosenberryrooms.com and www.luvmybag.com. For more information on Audubon Nature Institute, visit www.auduboninstitute.org.

-Janet Muniz

June Flower Girls

Pegeen Announces Newly Expanded Jr. Bridesmaid Collection

Ah… to be a June bride – is nothing compared to being a June flower girl! Since 1982, Pegeen has created beautiful dresses in sizes for infants and girls, including plus sizes – and a Couture collection The company specializes in flower girl and special occasion dresses, offering shoppers several options for customization.

Ideal for weddings, bat mitzvahs, First Communions, holidays and other special occasions, shoppers can make each dress uniquely their own by choosing from over 200 different colors and customizing to short sleeves or tank style, adding a sweetheart neckline, flowers or a sash – the combinations are endless.

Pegeen has recently expanded their Junior Bridesmaid collection with five new styles in sizes 6X to 16 and plus size, featuring elegant, long dress styles, some with spaghetti straps and signature silk flowers.

Virtually every Pegeen dress is available in plus size, offering fuller-figured children stylish choices. Pegeen sends their customers a bodice made of muslin via U.S. mail in advance, to use in determining a flattering fit.

Pegeen dresses and ring bearer suits are sold exclusively online at www.pegeen.com. Shoppers receive free expert advice when they call or chat with Pegeen, where the company’s designers themselves answer questions and take the guesswork out of ordering dresses online.

Special note: Pegeen would be happy to participate in special contests, giveaways and other promotional opportunities!

-Janet Muniz

DIY Design

I first learned about Boston, MA-based FashionPlaytes on ABC World News. CEO Sarah McIlroy is interviewed in a story about jobs returning to the marketplace. At the time, she hired two of the start-up internet company’s temp employees full time. Yay!

Sarah and her daughter Maddie

Sarah designed her own clothes as a young girl, learning from her mom. “On occasion, we’d stay up almost all night selecting embellishments and making the outfit ‘just right,” she says. Now, her personal passion is her business.

“I’d like to offer girls the chance to create something unique and build their confidence and self-esteem in the process,” Sarah says. “Our business offers tween girls an opportunity to design clothing and have it produced to wear, at a reasonable price.”

DIY designers use the Fashion Playtes online designer sketchbook to select, customize and accessorize their own clothes. Design instructions are illustrated – and narrated – quite a nice addition! After placing the order, the custom-made threads are beautifully boxed and delivered in about three weeks’ time.

Sarah designed Fashion Playtes as a collaboration between parents and daughters, so moms and dads can be sure their fashionista has a safe place to express her creativity.

Design on!

-Janet Muniz

New Collections Introduce Khadi

Mahatma Gandhi promoted the production of khadi, Indian homespun, hand-woven fabric, in his movement to revive India’s domestic weaving industry. “This fabric is close to my heart for its aesthetic appeal as well as the small scale industry that it supports back in India,” says Dipali Patwa, president of Masala Baby NYC.

The company is introducing khadi to its brand with the new Mod Masala, an urban, modern and casual collection using Masala Baby’s signature prints and unique appliqué techniques. “Khadi’s natural properties keeps kids cool in the summer and warm in the winter,” Dipali says. “The collection is urban, mod and relaxed.”

The company’s other introduction, Mela Masala, is inspired by Indian village fairs. Dipali tells us that “mela” is the Hindi word for “gathering” or “village fair.” “The line is inspired by gypsy folklore, fortune tellers, colorful caravans, medallions and the dancing peacock, which set the mood for our patterns and colors,” he says. “The cuts and designs are earthy, comfortable and chic.”

Both of Masala Baby’s new offerings cater to the young global traveler who appreciates the simplicity and wonder of life. Travel on!

-Janet Muniz

Global Neighborhood of Sesame Street

The Expo 2010 Shanghai China kicked off recently, and American icon brand Sesame Street is there. Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and the rest of the Sesame Street gang are taking to the stage for an interactive educational program called Magic Map Show. The live event takes children on a journey to five continents to learn about the world we live in, to appreciate and to take care of the environment.

“Big Bird first came to China in 1983,” says Maura Regan, senior vice president and general manager of Sesame Workshop’s Global Consumer Products, “and when he heard about the World Expo in Shanghai, he couldn’t wait to come back to see some old friends and to make some new friends, like Haibao.”

Sesame Street teams with BASF Kids’ Lab, established in Germany in 1997 by BASF, the world’s leading chemical company. The program is designed for children, ages six to 12, to learn about science and environmental protection through fun and hands-on chemical experiment. Since its introduction to China in 2002, more than 104,000 children have joined BASF Kids’ Lab.

Expo 2010 runs through October 31.

The global brand is taking to the streets – worldwide. On the heels of an historic United Nations General Assembly resolution proclaiming 2011-2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, has joined the Switzerland-based Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) in a move to contribute its educational media expertise to the worldwide effort to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities among children and families.

Road traffic injuries are a major but neglected public health challenge. According to the World Health Organization’s Global status report on road safety published just last June, 500 children die every day in road crashes, which rank ninth among the leading cause of deaths for children aged one to four years. More children died in Africa in 1998 from road crashes than from AIDS.

“Over the years, Sesame Workshop has harnessed the power and popularity of our Muppet characters to make a meaningful and measurable difference in critical issues facing children and families, from obesity to emergency preparedness,” says Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop. “Raising awareness and knowledge of vital road safety behaviors is the key to reversing these statistics.”

Seems the company is making its mark on the virtual world, too. SesameStreet.org was just awarded a 2010 Webby Award.

Let’s hope there’s a “Sesame Street” in a neighborhood in every corner of the world!

-Janet Muniz

What Charms You?

CHARM IT! turns 10 in 2010, kicking off a year-long celebration as the leading charm line!

Last fall, accessories company High IntenCity invited girls from all across America to design a charm in honor of CHARM IT!’s anniversary. Now, 36 trend-savvy talents can claim bragging rights as CHARM IT! designers. The winners of the Design-A-Charm Contest are not only launching in the new What Charms You collection, but High IntenCity is donating 10% of its proceeds from the contest charms among six causes nearest and dearest to the winners’ hearts.

The winning styles celebrate themes from world peace, save the animals and other messages of positivity to out-of-the-box creations like a talking taco and a giant smile full of braces!

“Ten years ago, CHARM IT! was launched with a vision to inspire girls to express their individuality through creativity,” Renee Levy, president of High IntenCity, says. “Now, the contest brings the mission full circle by producing charms created by girls!”

In honor of the winners, donations will be made to the following charities: World Wildlife Fund, Kids for Saving the Earth, Share our Strength, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Family Promise and Girls’ Inc.

CHARM IT! is the original, detachable, interchangeable, tradable, collectable and fully customizable charm jewelry program for girls of all ages. Super-fun fashion styling, incredible quality, ever-evolving design and – above all – the highest product safety drive the brand.

Congratulations – you’ve certainly charmed me!

-Janet Muniz

p.s. Oh, and enjoy Cinco de Mayo!

Mother/Daughter Mother’s Day

Cynthia Berman of D-Lux 57 signs her correspondence with a fabulous “Happy Cooking” – a great reminder of what us fashionistas can whip up in the kitchen when we have a mind to. And why not look stylish while doing it, too!

RETAILER ALERT: With Mother’s Day coming up on May 9, now is a perfect time to stock Made in the USA D-Lux 57 aprons – for Moms, Grandmothers and Little Cooks alike. The latest addition to the line is the Bird House print, twinned with a whimsical fruit print, orange gingham straps and red trim. And for “Moms-2-B,” the two pocket flirty apron may suit their fancy. D-Lux 57 aprons are fully lined and packaged inside a matching keepsake envelope.

“Be sure to check our website for other aprons you can match up for Mother/Daughter,” Cynthia says. “We also have many prints for big sister in Tween Cook sizes, too.” The company offers free shipping on all retail orders within the U.S.

As Cynthia says, happy cooking – and happy planning for Mother’s Day.

-Janet Muniz

Go to Your Very Cool Room!

These days, when kids are asked to go to their rooms, they can be headed for a magical, whimsical place or a comforting, calming environment full of chic décor!

With a passion for kid-friendly style and the unexpected, owner of Zeal Interiors Molly Payne has designed her daughter Ayla’s nursery to have an organic modern design using natural, simple materials. With a hand-carved bird mobile (Ayla’s nickname is Bird) and a 200 year-old heart peck cypress wood crib made by Molly’s husband, the minimalist nursery reflects Molly’s design aesthetic. Molly’s available for expert nursery design tips.

Alpine-UT based Oilo™, a manufacturer of designer inspired contemporary nursery décor and home furnishings products, makes its debut with two bedding collections, faux leather gliders and a range of coordinated lighting and pillows. Founded by Annalisa Thomas, a former art director and graphic designer and her mother, Dorte Anderson, a former interior designer with more than 25 years of custom interior design expertise, Oilo offers the modern mom a fresh new approach to style-setting nursery décor. The Oilo collection includes chic baby bedding and designer home furnishings. Though not an actual word, Oilo’s name is derived from a combination of Hawaiian words, “lio” (small sprout) and “ho’oilo” (the cool, rainy season). The Oilo name personifies the image of relaxing and enjoying the serenity of life. Made in the USA and available online.

Rondo introduces the latest collection 3D kid-friendly wall décor, Animal Safari. Easy to use, peel and stick wall décor is the perfect accent to spice up a child’s room. Coordinated to use separately or mix and match. Rondo features pearlized foam letters with a peel and stick adhesive which is removable and won’t damage walls.

With this beautiful room decor and furniture, kids are sure to “go to their rooms” in style!

-Janet Muniz

Kids in the Kitchen

This is right in the spirit of HUDSON’S good eatin’-themed Fashion Focus in the April/May issue!

Seattle, WA-based Zebra Mix is a fun company from Brian Alm and Lisa Burgess, devoted parents with two energetic daughters. Like most kids, their girls love to bake; like most grown-ups, these parents quickly discover scratch baking requires lots of pre-planning and supervision – so Zebra Mix is born – and they’ve got brand new baking mixes, too.

The company makes innovative products centered around kids and learning that make life a little more fun, interesting and delicious. Each all-natural and organic baking kit comes with a poster-size Safari Baking Map … step-by-step instructions and activities to make the baking process fun, easy and full of smart learning.

After selling more than 90,000 Zebra Mix Baking Activity Kits since 2008, Brian and Lisa expand their tasty line with three back-to-school baking kits. “We developed the idea for Zebra Mix because as parents, we were able to identify a need for interactive learning kits for kids,” Brian says. “As designers we were able to create a concept that appeals visually to kids and engages them in the baking process much like a traditional board game.” (These parents are also proprietors of a successful graphic design/marketing firm). Since its debut, toy industry judges and editors have awarded the company the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, among others.

As brand builders and graphic designers with 15 years experience in consumer products, Brian and Lisa assembled a group of kids and parents called the “Zebra Mix Think Tank” to help develop, test and perfect many puzzles, recipes and instructions before coming up with the Safari Baking Maps. Each map is double sided with two levels of learning and kids follow illustrated, step-by-step baking instructions and conduct zany science experiments while measuring ingredients, work their way through a word puzzle or maze or create their own work of art on a cupcake.

As they say, this company really is stirring up fun!

-Janet Muniz

Not Your Mother’s Muzak

Music can not only make your day, but it can also help make your sale. So says the venerable creators of “elevator music,” Muzak.

Recently featured on CBS News Sunday Morning in a story called, The Sound of Muzak, the company is reportedly the world’s leading provider of music, messaging and digital signage services for businesses. For 75+ years, Muzak has been creating the soundtrack of our lives – even if we’re not aware of it!

Muzak works with businesses – especially in retail – to brand them using music. Giving a store an audio signature can give its customers an emotional connection with the experience of shopping there, which can keep them coming back for more.

Muzak recently launched Touch, a solutions-driven experience design firm that specializes in audio and sensory branding. Touch is designed “to bring strategic intent to the most emotive touch points in a retail environment” and is targeted at Muzak’s most progressive and innovative clients already utilizing the company’s full product suite. With a more focused, integrated approach to sensory branding, company officials say Touch develops a comprehensive experience design that supports the client’s overall business and brand objectives – in-store, online or beyond.

“Innovation is happening at every level of the company. We are aggressively introducing new clients, new service offerings, new product lines and new technology,” says Touch’s VP/GM Robert Finigan. “Touch brings it all together.”

At this year’s Globalshop conference in Las Vegas, NV, Touch hosted an exclusive after party where a panel of industry experts had a lively discussion on the current state of music and branding, moderated by music expert and lifestyle artist Allison Hagendorf, host of FUSE TV’s The Pop Show.

So if you want your customers to “whistle while they shop,” so to speak, consider designing an exclusive sound for YOUR shop.

-Janet Muniz