Creative Minds

We’re all familiar with the adage “great minds think alike,” but creative minds are also connected, through common behaviors and innovative ways of seeing the world. A creative mind can think outside the box, color outside the lines, try new things without the fear of failure. A creative mind zigs when others zag.

Here at Earnshaw’s, we celebrate the creative minds of childrenswear industry professionals. Our feature story “Unique Boutique,” starting on page 12, highlights three retailers from across the country who have become small-business pillars in their communities. Each store has a distinct point of view, but they all share the same commitment to creating a special buying experience for the customer.

When it comes to design, it can be challenging to develop new looks, season after season. But Paige Lauren makes it look easy. This California-born and New York-educated business owner never worried about what the competition is doing; she believes in her own vision and follows her instincts to create her sustainable line that focuses on the coziest clothing for little ones. Enjoy reading about her Renaissance-esque background that ultimately led to her passion for making baby clothes in “Loungewear Elevated,” on page 31.

We also highlight a children’s licensing footwear company, Esquire Brands, started by Isaac Saada. He slowly but surely expanded his business over nearly 15 years; DKNY Kids, Jessica Simpson, Marc Fisher, and Kenneth Cole are now sold in more than 6,500 doors. We interview President Peter Roccamo about how Saada’s entreprenurship helped build his leadership team and fashion footwear brands in “Seeing the Glass Half-Full,” starting on page 14.

Earnshaw’s further celebrates the creative minds who develop the content of this magazine. Our fashion story, Squish (starting on page 16), is visually dynamic, textured, bold, fun—and incredibly original. Fashion Director Mariah Walker bought foam shapes from Etsy and together with photographer Zoe Adlersberg, experimented with the props and light to build a magical backdrop. They cast cherubic little models to match the theme, and voila—you have our imaginative take on baby and toddler fashion for Fall/Winter 2023. We hope this inspires you to explore different brands and dream up fresh ideas for your store. Before we know it, the summer Playtime/Kid’s Hub shows will be here, and it will be the perfect time to try something new.

We’ve got one more thing to celebrate. The Society of Publication Designers nominated our very own creative team of Nancy Campbell and Trevett McCandliss for a medal in the fashion/beauty category for  “Culture Club” in the January/February 2022 issue. Take a look at this stunning fashion story, shot by Zoe Adlersberg and styled by Mariah Walker, on our website, Earnshaws.com.

How do you think outside the box and color outside the lines? What inspires you to create, design, merchandise, and find new and inventive ways to grow your business? I would love to know, so please email me at michele.silver@wainscotmedia.com.