The Biz: The Grapevine

Cities like Milan, Paris, Seoul, Tokyo, and New York are meccas of fashion. New York City is a destination spot for kids’ clothing with a distinctly elegant feel; rich colors, elegant earth tones, and fashion-forward prints mingle with revisionist takes on what it means to be a classic. New York designers know that they are catering to parents who desire clothing that speaks to the heartbeat of the city’s fashion scene, while still providing for comfort. Aioty Kids New York is known for its multi-patterned boho pieces: rich colors matched with exotic patterns that mix great together or as separates.

Back in the day, when we wanted to unplug or our parents were out of batteries, we would reach for the simple things like a Rubik’s Cube or those little maze games with marbles. Once they were solved (or we gave up in frustration), there was little use for the toys and they were promptly put on a shelf in favor of the latest video game. What if you could offer your customers an alternative to video games, but with just as many player options? And kids six and up could be entertained for hours with minimal noise and no batteries necessary? You can, with Perplexus!

With most toddlers using sippy cups at least some of the time, there’s bound to be some daycare and playdate confusion about which one belongs to which child. This is a genuine concern, not just because of the inevitable tantrums that would ensue should the little ones realize the mix-up, but because of the transfer of germs. Baby Face Band enables parents to easily personalize their baby’s sippy cups in a way that’s both effective and super-cute. The company was launched in 2010 by momprenuer Laura Black, and has been making steady progress ever since, thanks to a wonderfully simple product that makes parents’ lives a bit easier.

Getting organized is one of the big challenges of motherhood. Infants grow quickly and go through so many changes, it can be hard for a mom to keep up. Older kids have endless appointments, events, and extracurricular activities, and keeping on track is often difficult. Glow Baby is a company that produces useful and stylish stationery products to help a family’s schedule run smoothly. Glow Baby, a Toronto-based company, is the brainchild of Lindsay Harris, a busy mom of two who found out firsthand how difficult it can be to juggle the needs of young children while tending to all the other responsibilities of work and home.