The Biz: The Grapevine

Anthem of the Ants Marches to its Own Beat

By Carolyn Kavarnos

Anthem of the Ants is a well-loved girl’s clothing company creating vintage style garments for sizes 12 months to 12 years, all designed and manufactured in Los Angeles. Created by designer Lynn Keyes in 2010, the line was born from her love of denim and a desire to create items as unique and individual as the girls who wear them. Inspired from decades past and with attention to every detail, wash finish, buttons and trims; Anthem of the Ants crafts a well-made product combining vintage elements and silhouettes with a sophisticated, modern perspective.

The Grapevine

Myself Belts – A Notch Up in Independence

By Mari Gold

One of the tasks on the road to independence for youngsters is being able to get dressed with help. When clothes are easy to deal with, it gives kids an invaluable step up leading to an “I-can-do-it-all-myself” moment. In addition to helping hold up pants, Velcro belts from Myself Belts boost esteem when a potty-training toddler or preschooler manages without adult help. All belts in this line use the company’s patented one-handed Velcro closure and also offer an optional buckle that sits at the child’s waist, but is just to provide a more traditional look.

The Grapevine

Take a Step Back in Time

By Stephanie Hanlon

Summer is the season of sunshine, but it’s also a time when baby showers reign. If you carry poème & poésie in your stores, there will be no need to include a gift receipt in the card. You will be offering something personal that goes beyond the obligatory oohs and aahs at the party. Saranga Weerasuriya designed the collection with her mother to reflect her heritage and family traditions. From mother to daughter, clothes and linens have been hand-sewn for each and every new arrival, boy or girl, in her family. Bloomers, shirts, gowns, blankets and swaddling cloths are a few of the signature pieces.

The Grapevine

Everything is Personal from Cameo by Rux

By Carolyn Kavarnos

The creative vision for Cameo by RUX comes from RUX Design, a Manhattan based multidisciplinary design studio founded in 2008 by Russell Greenberg. The inspiration for a truly personal and unique baby gift came to Russell when his wife was pregnant with their son Kingston. The Cameo by RUX baby rattle is the ultimate baby gift for new parents. Each beautiful rattle is a custom family portrait. The ends of the rattle are hand carved in their workshop to match the unique contours of the baby’s parents’ faces. The handle of the rattle is etched with the baby’s name.

The Grapevine

Monkey Doodlez are Do-Good Diapers

By Carolyn Kavarnos

The need for a functional, high quality, good-fitting diaper constructed of comfortable, natural fibers is what propelled one mother to take action. Monkey Doodlez did not begin with executives around a boardroom table, but with one mother at a dining room table. Founder Cheryl Yakem named the company Monkey Doodlez because it was the nickname of her oldest daughter as a toddler, and it just seemed to fit the product line. Monkey Doodlez quickly outgrew the dining room table and their products can now be found at nearly 500 retailers around the world.

The Grapevine

Don’t Worry, Get Happi

By Kelly Lee

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt calmer? When you open your closet, are there certain colors you reach for over and over again? Color psychology seems to be at the root of the new line of products from Happi by Dena. The collection consists of lushly colored pieces, bright pastels, and gentle “cuddle-me” hues. Targeted at tiny tots and children, the Happi line was created by award-winning artist, host of the program “Embellish This”, and designer, Dena Fishbein, in partnership with Two’s Company, a gift and home décor wholesaler.

The Grapevine

littleBits Have the Power to Charge Creativity

By Stephanie Hanlon

Just as LEGOs™ allow children to create complex structures with only their imaginations to guide them, innovative littleBits are simple, intuitive, space-sensitive blocks that make electronic projects as easy as snapping small magnets together. littleBits consist of tiny circuit-boards engineered to snap together with magnets. No soldering, no wiring, no programming; just snap and play! Each bit has a simple, unique function (light, sound, sensors, buttons, thresholds, pulse, and motors), and modules snap together to form larger circuits. littleBits believes in developing the scientific thinkers and problem-solvers of tomorrow.

The Grapevine

Find Toy Space for Jupiter Creations

By Emmi Kern

Jupiter Creations is a company that offers fun toys for kids of all ages. Jupiter’s founder, Michael Katina, worked in the toy industry for years as a distributor, so he had a good idea of what sells. He’s in the process of seeking out more fun and varied products to add to his company’s already exciting line of toys. While the old standards –– dolls, trucks, and stuffed animals –– will likely never go out of style, kids today are gravitating towards toys that are innovative and interactive. While this can take the form of electronic games and gadgets, it can also refer to classic playthings with a 21st-century twist.

The Grapevine

Blankz are Ready to Be Covered in Creativity

By Emmi Kern

Children love stuffed toys, and they love to scribble and draw. Mix the two together and you have a winning combination that will keep kids occupied for hours. Blankz from Always Been Creative, Inc. are innovative new toys that allow kids the cuddliness of teddy bears and the creativity of a canvas. Right out of the packaging, Blankz are plain, unadorned stuffed toys made of sturdy white cloth. But each one comes with a set of specially made colored markers that can be used to decorate the toy in countless ways. The best part is that these fun toys can be washed and colored again and again, giving kids plenty of opportunities to express themselves.