Playtime Loves Japan Pop-Up Shop Comes to New York July 30th - August 1st

Playtime New York, the international trade show dedicated to the universes of children, junior and maternity, is again hosting a Pop Up Shop during the show, July 30 – August 1, 2011, at SoHo’s 82 Mercer. This season, entitled “Playtime Loves Japan,” 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) Japan Earthquake Relief. Merchandise will be sold at 70% offdonated by the designers, will be sold at 70% on designer brands including: Antik Batik, Baby Version Rock, Bensimon, Flora and Henri, Green Kids, Hélène Cousin Bébé, Kico Kids, Le Marchand d’Etoiles, Little Marcel, Sunbird, Zef, and many more.

The shop will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 5pm on Monday.

At the recent Playtime show in Paris, “Playtime Loves Japan,” in partnership with “Hope and Love” and “Labo love Japon,” generated 31,492 euros in sales, with the funds going to three charities – Kids Saver, Bonyu Kensa Network and Save the Children Japan.
Consumer access to the show will be restricted to the Pop-Up area only.

Shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase special limited edition posters created by French first-graders inspired by Japanese artist Minh Vo, a member of the artist collective 372 Pixels. Minh Vo decided to tell stories about his country, his culture, his flag, to demonstrate to students the plight and drama experienced by children in Japan after the disaster. As a result, the children of Saint Thomas Aquinas school in Toulouse, France, were invited to free their imagination and compose illustrations in the colors of the country of the rising sun. Upon learning about the project, Easy Peasy designers Camille Levai and Sebastian Germès, wanted to unveil and sell the artwork to benefit earthquake/tsunami victims. The exhibition debuted at the 10th edition of Playtime in Paris and will also be available at the New York and Tokyo’s shows. Proceeds from the sale will also be donated to K.I.D.S.