Items tagged “Modern/Urban”

It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that is certainly true for some of today’s creative children’s apparel. Children’s fashion has never under estimated the creativity of moms. The Giggle Guide^® takes a closer look at mom designers that “toe the line” during a time when more brands and styles of socks are available than ever before. One pair of socks per day for children is simply not enough. Hosiery by Hank & JoJo, Celeste Stein Designs, SmartKnitKIDS, and BabyLegs are made to increase foot traffic!

While Kermit sang of the difficulties of being green, toymakers are creating new toys that make it easy and fun to be “green.” With the continuing trend toward greener living, Toobalink is a new toy company that encourages imagination with an eco-friendly, reusable twist in building kits. Recyclable toilet tissue and towel tubes get a new life when combined with the Toobalink connectors and couplers. Developed initially as part of a Classic Play toy class at Pratt Institute, Toobalink was inspired by children playing with often tossed-out household items. The brand re-imagines traditional building blocks and logs, with creativity and a focus on helping Mother Nature.

Historically, boys have been easy to please when it comes to shopping. They tended not to fuss over clothing styles and many were happy with simple, action-themed toys. Today, many parents of sons voice a need for more variety in boys’ products. To some extent, they crave a return to the traditional ideal of carefree, outdoorsy boyhood. At the same time, they’re aware that a young man needs to develop his mind as well as his body. Kapital K, Outset Media, Lil’ Teammates, and Manhattan Toy are all doing their part to expand a boy’s world well beyond “snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.”

If you like contemporary design, you’ll love OFFI & Company. Launched in 1997, this manufacturer offers beautiful, practical kids’ furnishings with a modern vibe and plenty of pizzazz. OFFI products are the work of a group of independent designers, many of whom have won awards for their creations. Rock on in the OFFI rocker which combines style and practicality in a chair with a lift-up seat that provides a great space to store treasures. The rocker has a handy hole in the back so it’s easy for kids to move around and is crafted in beautiful birch wood.