Styles and Finishing Touches Made in America

Do your customers think that buying goods made in the U.S.A. is only a slogan? In truth, it means a great deal and here are some solid facts to mention as you proudly display clothes and accessories for kids from Lucy & Leo, Stinky McGee, Cavelle Kids and Stoney Clover Land — all companies that proudly produce their goods in the United States.

When goods are made overseas, they often don’t meet strict U.S. standards. Furthermore, workers toiling in poor working conditions may make them. Buying American-made products supports more than just American manufacturers — it also helps support our workers, safe working conditions, and child labor laws. When jobs go overseas, they rarely return. Buying goods made in our country helps keep our economy growing. Manufacturing processes here are cleaner for our environment than those in many other countries and therefore, buying an American-made product helps keep the world cleaner.

Cotton Up to Lucy & Leo

Organic cotton is undeniably the best material to touch a child’s skin and is also best for the environment. Tell shoppers that clothing made from this wonder fabric helps make the apparel last longer; is not produced with chemicals so there is nothing to irritate little ones’ skin; and incorporates the most ecologically sustainable production methods. Then, show them enchanting items from Lucy & Leo, a line for girls and boys in sizes 0 to six that is made in New York City.

The long-sleeved one-piece in chocolate or oatmeal is a great layering piece with swagger that blends with many options, be it the mocha cotton skirt with a flirty ruffle at the bottom; the denim cotton pant with a comfy elastic waist and two big, bold pockets; or the charming flutter legging adorned with a small ruffle an inch above the bottom of each leg. Little boys can rock the athletic pant in blue or chocolate with two big pockets and pair it with the long sleeve shirt in blue or gray with a stripe, solid gray or chocolate.

Lucy & Leo’s founder, Rachel Mednick, an artist with a knack for baking pies and a talent for making a crying baby laugh, started the company making a special one-piece outfit for a cousin’s daughter, Lucy, and branched out when Lucy’s little brother Leo arrived. In the giveback spirit, for spring 2014, a percentage of all sales will be donated to the All Stars Project, helping support inner city youth via career development and performance-based education.

To become a retailer for this collection, visit www.lucyandleo.com

Tie One On with Stinky McGee

Shoppers searching for accessories for little girls can go wild, but sometimes customers trying to up the fashion quotient of little guys run into a wall. Not with hip and happy styles from Stinky McGee. Premiering for Spring/Summer 2014 are super-cool suspenders available in three sizes ranging from 0 to 7 years that come in twelve fashion-forward fabrics, including ginghams, plaids and stars.
Newsboy caps and straw fedoras are also among the newest looks that add a finishing touch to any boy’s outfit. The gingham bowtie set sells as a duet, one tie turquoise and one red, making a perfect final touch for any special occasion.

For the youngest little men, check out Mini McGee, a group that riffs on one-pieces, featuring long and short sleeves complete with a snap-on/snap-off bowtie. For older boys, neckties come in a black-and-white plaid, navy with stars and a host of other patterns that dress up a dude in a jiff. No collar? No prob. A tie with a t-shirt is totally on-trend. Best of all, ties from Stinky McGee never need tying as they come with an adjustable slider and soft, plastic clasp. Made in Brooklyn, New York, this company offers hip, comfortable accessories that give every young man that fashion edge.

Dress-up for little dudes: www.stinkymcgee.com

Cavelle Kids Sports Fit and Flair

Made and designed entirely in the U.S.A., Cavelle Kids swings into spring. For girls, the Little Bo Peep collection offers pieces and silhouettes with a special focus on seaming and details. The Bo Peep Dress comes in both a delightful floral or charming blush pink and sports a big bow front and center for maximum drama. The Blush Bottom Dress is long on good looks with a cotton ruffle at the hem and matching flowers cascading over the shoulder, while the Billowed Bow Dress, featured in ever-stylish hues like toast and navy, is made of cotton jersey and can be topped with the Candy Bow Dolman Sleeve sweater with styling any adult would covet.

For the littlest ladies, display the Dainty Dina dress in striped woven cotton with Cluny lace adorning the dress and the too-adorable-to-ignore matching bloomers, as well as a back key hole opening with shell button closure and fluttery sleeves.

Might your customers be looking for a cover-up for days that start out chilly? Show them the versatile Wear Me sweater in a soft knit that comes in Coral, Blush and Grass and has grosgrain ribbon and a ruffle down the front, as well as shell buttons.

The line for boys includes shorts, pants and shirts that are exquisitely tailored yet durable so they can take what their young wearers dish out. The Ace of Spades poplin shorts more than fill the bill and fit every little guy perfectly, thanks to the easy, adjustable waist band. The Breadcrumb Hoody features a sporty plaid hood lining while the Zippedy Do has dash from a color pop zipper. Both offer warmth and make an ideal top layer as days warm up. Spring also brings plaid button-up tops that look great paired with rolled-hem shorts or further embellished with the addition of the French terry vest. There is also a top with pops of hidden color in the sleeve and on cuffs to roll up and scrunch.

Clothes this stylish win the attention they deserve and shoppers will also be pleased to note that although the fabrics are luxurious, they can go right into the washing machine.

Designer clothes for little princes and princesses: www.cavellekids.com

Baubles, Bibelots and Beads from Stoney Clover Lane

Young misses are never fully dressed until their outfit gets that final touch a bit of bling brings. The newest offerings from Stoney Clover Lane include a medley of charms in a host of materials and styles. Pink ribbon lucky charms, popular in matters of luck and love, are great for collecting or for gifting girl to girl. The BFF purple bar hangs from a vintage Liberty of London fabric and can be worn solo or mixed with other charms or a mass of bracelets.

Key chains are treasured by kids for hanging on backpacks or keeping track of keys; the newest looks include a glittery gold car, mirrored gold daisy, and glittering whale.

A cool hat gives any outfit ample attitude. Show shoppers the beanie with skull and bones in dark gray with metallic silver or for a softer look in neon yellow with a neon pink clover or heart design. The Love and Luck beanie is available in black with the words in pink, white or purple.

Stoney Clover Lane, named for the street the two fashion-driven sisters at the helm grew up on, began small with the girls making bracelets seated on their bedroom floor. Now they head the company and, in gratitude for their success, give a portion of the sales of their colorful trinkets to The Dream Foundation to help make others’ dreams come true just as theirs did.

Flash and dash: www.stoneycloverlane.com