The Biz: The Grapevine

For summer traveling or just hanging out, take note of a new line of tee shirts that celebrate fabulousness and adventures. Lately Lily is the star of the show, a curious girl who loves to visit foreign places accompanied by her bright yellow suitcase. The tees come in twenty-five versions, each with a hand-drawn graphic and a hand-drawn hangtag that details Lily’s thoughts on the places she’s visited. Lily’s adventures give shoppers a way to bring home the gift of curiosity, a quality Lily has in abundance. The tees and tags are also a way to motivate kids to keep notes on the world around them.

When a baby is in the process of arriving, all attention focuses — as it should — on Mom. But Dad, often forced to hang out for a long time in whatever he was wearing when the hospital beckoned, is an important player too. With DaddyScrubs®, a father-to-be gets the ideal labor-and-delivery outfit so he can be comfortable while supporting proud Mama every step of the way. DaddyScrubs is a perfect gift for a new father on his first Father’s Day or a man preparing to welcome a new son or daughter. “Daddy” is writ large on the front chest of the top, with an even bigger, bolder “I’m the Daddy” declaration on back.

Parents know the potential horror when they pick their kid up while on an outing and realize a diaper change has to happen right then and there. Blizzard or not, a dirty diaper waits for no man. Offer these frenzied parents the perfect option with Zopheez: a fashionable one-piece outfit that actually looks like two-piece separates. The best part? Zopheez features one zipper down the center front for getting dressed and another through the crotch for presto change-o diaper swaps. As a pediatrician, Kerry Newman, CEO, founder and creative director of Zopheez saw many parents struggle with front, back and crotch snaps that never seem to match up. Kerry’s mission is to provide a safe, stylish and easy option for dressing young babies and toddlers.

Caletha Crawford
Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S)

Blessence Maternity is a boutique maternity line that focuses on what a joy and blessing it is to be an expectant mother. As a mother of eight, ShaeLyn Werner knows what it’s like to want to promote positive messages about a woman’s growing body and family. When she found out she was expecting a baby girl in 2007, she designed the Blessence Maternity line as a way to express her joy. Her collection of maternity tops comes in tanks, tees, and long-sleeve tees. There are even a few t-shirts for dads-to-be. Each top is designed with a positive message that uplifts and affirms women throughout pregnancy.

Perry Mackin is a line of chic and functional diaper bags. These mom-designed bags aren’t just high on style, they are built to last with the functionality to make mom’s childcare tasks a little easier. There are five different styles in the line: Zoey, Harper, Alexis, Billy, and Amy. The Perry Mackin line comes fully equipped with features and accessories, including a bottle warmer pocket, a diaper changing pad and pouch. Each bag is fully lined and easily cleaned. The interior of each bag was designed to have large, sectioned pockets surrounding every side, and multiple interior zippered pockets.

The Babymoon Pillow was created when designer, Kelly Su couldn’t find a solution for her 3 month old’s “flat head”. Flat Head Syndrome is a common issue and can lead to long-term mis-forming of the skull. As more and more families are following guidelines to put their babies to sleep on their backs, Flat Head Syndrome has also risen. The Babymoon Pillow was designed to ease flat head for babies that love lying on their back. Not intended for use during sleep, this donut shaped pillow keeps the baby’s head elevated off the floor or seat, providing light neck support and eliminating pressure on the back of the head.

Donita Fashions
JP Lizzy

a-door-nimals are a versatile creation from the minds and hearts of two grandmas. An a-door-nimal is a baby-friendly stuffed animal holding a high-quality dry erase board heart. The animals were originally created to be used as birth announcements to decorate hospital room doors. a-door-nimals can be hung on the outside of the door with a message that includes baby name, birth date, weight, and any other info parents want to share. Because the writing surface is a dry erase board, parents can easily change the message. Moms can write, “shhh… napping” or “privacy please, nursing baby.”

Boho chic has long been in vogue for adults, but it’s making its way into the children’s world with parents who like to share their style with their offspring. Capitalize on this burgeoning trend with Mademoiselle à Soho. Raised by a Romanian actress mother and a director father, Alexana’s flair for the dramatic is apparent throughout her collection of unique clothing for infants and older children. Her bohemian clothing is the perfectly playful blend of practical and trendy. While her items are sold separately, you’ll want to feature some of them just as she does on her site: as complete outfits she refers to simply as Looks.

On a scale of one to ten, I would award a twelve-plus to Knotties, something new in baby sleepers. This little gem from Lala’s Pequeños was designed with the idea of snugly bundling little legs and toes and, as a bonus, making it possible for baby-tenders to change diapers quickly without having to mess around with snaps or ties. The changer can simply tie the ends in a knot so tiny toes stay under wraps. The force behind the company is a dynamic mother of two who, together with her family and business partners, owns a 1500 acre rain forest in Costa Rica. To make and keep ecological awareness top-of-mind, a percent of proceeds from Lala’s Pequeños goes to help the Rainmaker Conservation Project.

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