Green Days Ahead

By now, all merchandisers who have an ear cocked to the public pulse show lots of green products. Sustainable fabric, environmentally-friendly packaging, and companies that truly embrace their workforce are good for everyone. Some green companies may have taken their path to differentiate themselves from others. They may find setting a positive example makes customers think more highly of them. Often, the company really likes making and selling goods that don’t harm anyone, either in the making or the end usage. They like knowing that what they sell is as pure as it can be. The Giggle Guide^® presents four companies with green profiles and offerings: Winter Water Factory, Bright-Brained Toys, trash-á-porter, and Dot&Co.

Winter Water Factory Taps into Refreshing Prints

From Brooklyn with love come duds carefully crafted of screen-printed textiles. The looks are classic and wearable, especially as the cotton items are organic. The line is Winter Water Factory, a company with attitude that springs from its name. “Winterwasserfabrik” began in the early 1980s in Eschweiler, Germany, where lead designer Stefanie Lynen and her sister bottled melted snow and sold it to their parents as “winter water.” After finishing medical school in Germany, Lynen came to the U.S., married and let her creative juices flow.

Bright new prints include Kittens and Yarn, Ropes and Anchors, Squares, Butterflies and Lotus. Baby gowns are available in Confetti with blue and green dots on a white ground; Danish Flowers in coral and gray; or High Seas in navy. The Gowns have soft elastic at the bottom for easy changing.

Pants, tee-shirts and tanks for boys designed for play pop in stand-out colors and patterns. Consider the Lucca pant in Mushrooms Red or Under the Sea Blue as well as short-sleeved t-shirts in Ropes and Anchors Blue or Blue and Gray Triangles. For young ladies, choose from several cool dress designs, including the sleeveless Arcadia with a neck trim that echoes the skirt fabric; the Halter Dress, a knockout in Anemones Red and Pink; and the Ruby model with short sleeves and a dropped waist, especially enchanting in navy with a bold red poppy print.

Bright and cheery: www.winterwaterfactory.com

Bright-Brained Toys Are Crafted from Wood

The sky is the limit when it comes to young minds just waiting to be inspired. Cassie Rinehart, founder of Bright-Brained Toys, remembered the wonderful times she shared with her grandfather, a talented woodworker. Together they explored wooden toys and made puzzles using a jigsaw. Later, when Cassie became a mom, she recalled her delight in wood and set out to create her own brand.

“I Can Build My Own Company” is a colorful book and wooden puzzle set that inspires even very young kids. As an eco-minded entrepreneur, Cassie is a huge believer in offering only high-quality organic materials. The puzzle is crafted of organic, non-toxic plywood produced in the U.S.A. and incorporates a patented soy-based glue. Images are printed with child-friendly inks and additional images are printed under each puzzle piece.

Bright-Brained Toys don’t leach paint onto little hands and mouths and are durable. This brand offers merchandise that is built to last and to stimulate young hands and brains.

Explore more at www.bright-brained.com

trash-á-porter Upcycles to Create Renewed Fashions

What could be greener than repurposing? This concept is the basis for items from the agua and KIDs lines from trash-á-porter that take cashmere and “up-cycle” it into exquisitely designed garments for babies and children.

Even tiny ones deserve fine design, as well as fabulous fabric, so these charmers fully meet the test. The agua collection offers pieces in a host of tot-friendly colors including oatmeal, yellow, pink, blue and charcoal, and fits wee ones from size 0 through 18 months.

For older boys and girls, the company includes colorful, well-crafted leggings, jackets, sweaters, dresses and other items from KIDs by trash-á-porter. Also of re-purposed fabrics, each piece is entirely original, made to be worn on a regular basis whether it is for a trip to the park or a visit to grandparents. Items are all re-made in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Re-luxe: www.trash-a-porter.com

Dot&Co Is Playful and Practical

“Practical” is a word that resonates with customers, especially in a time when shoppers want the best value for their dollar. Since no one wants to sacrifice style, fashionable items that can be worn several times before washing deserve special attention, such as the Reversible Trousers from Dot&Co. Show these both in raspberry and navy, stripe on one side and solid on the other, with pull-on waist and turn back cuff for maximum cuteness.

The Dotty Babygrow, a comfy one-piece, features bright red all-over dots and has long sleeves with mitts to keep babies from scratching, nickel free poppers on the front and inseam so dressing is a breeze, and the signature bird emblem on the chest. The Babygrow also comes in Multistripe so kids take on rainbow hues, as well as other patterns.

Dot&Co garments are 100% organic cotton, made to coordinate with other pieces in the line including one-piece “vests,” bibs and reversible hats for that finishing touch and added warmth on cool days.

All organic cotton all the time: www.dotandco.co.uk