Diversity Rules the Day at ENK

ENK International is one of the world’s biggest trade show producers. Four times each year, ENK presents the Children’s Club Show, a trade event that highlights popular and up-and-coming fashion brands for kids. The latest ENK Children’s Club Show included some tried and true brands as well as some newcomers to the kids fashion scene. The best part about the Children’s Club Show is the diversity. Both domestic and international brands arrive to show their wares, allowing for a variety of style perspectives, as well as a sneak peek into what’s new and trending in other cities around the globe.

This year’s show featured the Kid’s Shop, in which children were recruited to browse among the offerings of the presenters, picking out their favorite styles and modeling them in a spirited photo shoot. Brands that captured our attention this time around include Craftholic, Chach, Sweet Marcel and Dagmar Daley.

Craftholic Characters Celebrate Universality

There are everyday stuffed toys and then there are Craftholic stuffed toys. If you want to cause a stir with some fun conversation pieces, then these quirky playthings might be for you. Craftholic offers a series of characters designed by Ikuko Yamamoto of Accent, a Tokyo-based interior goods and lifestyle company, and is sold by UK-based distributor Pango Productions. These cool items, known as “Crafts” are plush characters available in four basic shapes: Korat (Cat), Loris, Sloth, and Rab (Rabbit). In addition to plush toys, customers can also choose from accessories like pillows and body pillows, slippers, purses, eye masks and key holders.

While there are only a handful of shapes, the fabric covering the toys comes in a huge array of designs. For example, there are the classic craft patterns like stripes, polka dots and pastels, but there are also quite a few theme patterns available as well, some with international themes that capture the spirit of a region in their choices of color and print. For example “Mexico” Crafts sport either desert sunset stripes, cactus and lizard print, or a Native-inspired triangular print. “Japan” Crafts feature a black, white and pink color scheme with cherry blossoms and other Asian florals.

See the full line at www.craftholic.com/uk

Chach Covers-Ups are Beachy Keen

While finding swimwear for a little girl is relatively easy, chances are it may be more of a challenge to find a beach cover-up. Most often, what passes for children’s cover-ups are really only beach towels. Some may be designed with a head hole that allows the child to wear the towel, but these are often made for very young children and may not pass muster for a fashion-conscious young lady. But not to worry, Chach has a solution.

Chach is a children’s swimwear company that specializes in stylish beach cover-ups for girls. The cover-ups are cute and functional, with a V-neck design, above the knee length and classic pink or blue print. They are a great back-up for sunscreen when you want extra protection from UV rays. They’re also perfect for strolling down the boardwalk to get a post-swim snack. In addition to the cover-ups, Chach also offers other casual beachwear, like breezy cotton long pants and tops.

Chach’s owner, Belgian-born Sandra Mishkin aka Chach, founded the brand in 2002 and now enjoys doing business with retailers around the world. Her family background in the clothing business helped feed her ambition and confidence when the time came to launch her vision into reality.

See the full line at www.chachcollection.com

Sweet Marcel Kicks Up Knee Socks

Over-the-knee socks have often been associated with parochial school uniforms and New England preppy style, but today these accessories have become trendy across many genres of fashion and are especially popular among young women from tweens up. But not just any knee socks will do; they have to have a certain flirtiness and flair, as well as a cool pattern.

Sweet Marcel is a company that specializes in fashionable over-the-knee socks with a fun and youthful look. Amy Anderson, founder of Sweet Marcel, is a world traveler who finds inspiration for her designs wherever she goes. She describes her socks as “creative, unique, funky, original and free-spirited.”

The over-the-knee socks and children’s line come from a family-owned textile mill in central Turkey where Anderson travels frequently to oversee production. Each hand-drawn design is named after an influential figure, like Wee Lucienne, which takes its name from Lucienne Day, the 20th-century British fabric designer. Each pair comes packaged with a vintage mini hanger “too cool not to keep.”

For more information, visit www.sweetmarcel.com

Dagmar Daley Offers New Takes on Classic Styling

Sometimes it can be nice to reminisce about simpler times by surrounding ourselves with the best aspects of times gone by. Memories of a slower lifestyle can help create a sense of peaceful calm, which is why retro furnishings and fashions are so popular these days among designers, particularly in children’s fashion. In generations past, kids’ clothing had a natural appeal, without the bright neon colors, glitter and synthetic fabrications that are more common today.

Dagmar Daley is a California-based children’s clothing line offering classic kids apparel with some modern creative embellishments. Designer Dagmar Daley launched her eponymous line in 2003; prior to that she worked in architecture and design. This background helps Daley to envision the structure and shape in the clothing she creates out of her restored cottage in the Mission district of San Francisco.

The description of Daley’s clothing line states that it is “inspired by the pure and natural beauty of children and the imagery of childhood in simpler times.” Those who are interested in a retro look will love many of the offerings, including fine-knit sweaters, floral skirts, layettes , baby bloomers, Henley T’s and more.

Take a trip back in time at www.dagmardaley.com