Earnshaw's Webdesk • Oct 1, 2015

The Best New Brands for October 2015

The latest styles for spring offer charm and utility.

: Looking for sturdy gloves meant for tiny hands? Meet Glubbers, a line of durable yet flexible gloves designed for active little ones ages 3 to 10. Whether tots are throwing a snowball or pushing a sled, the water-resistant gloves, made of silicone, won’t tear and promise warmth with a poly/cotton liner. Launched in June of 2015, the collection is available in three colors—red, pink and black—as well as a camouflage print. Look for additional colors, a mitten style and adult sizes coming soon. Gloves wholesale for $13 to $15 per pair. See more at glubbers.net.

: Designer Sophia Butcher draws inspiration from Bali’s lush landscape for her label, Little Layla. The brand, originally launched in 1983, is designed in Australia and manufactured in Indonesia. Debuting stateside at Playground Las Vegas this past August, the line features colorful island-style prints and handcrafted appliqués for girls ages newborn to 14 years. Wholesale prices range from $18 to $26 for the collection, and spring will bring fresh floral, chevron and ikat prints in bright pinks and blues on a range of woven and cotton silhouettes including rompers, harem pants, kaftans and dresses with coordinating hats and purses. The line also offers made-to-order pieces: Retailers can select a preferred style in the print of their choice. Look out for boys’ apparel in the near future. Check out littlelayla.net.

: Michele Chiaramonte is a former New York City schoolteacher turned stay-at-home mom… turned woodworker. In order to keep busy while her little one napped, she began thinking of ways to add to the family home. She sketched her thoughts—bookcases and a kitchen island—and soon she had a home studio. Furniture gave way to toys and eventually to Little Miss Workbench, a handcrafted hardwood toy company, launched in 2015. From cameras to fishing rods (with coordinating magnetic cotton fish) to yo-yos to crayon blocks (which wrangle a jumble of crayons), the toys are finished with plant-based dyes and natural beeswax sealants. Wholesaling for $4 to $43, the line is intended for children ages 3 and up. Visit littlemissworkbench.com to see the full range of toys.

: English allure arrived stateside at the August edition of ENK Children’s Club, in the form of Oh…My!, a British brand with a nostalgic, yet modern appeal. Specializing in occasion-wear for little ladies ages 4 to 12, the collection includes blouses, shorts, jackets, dresses, skirts, culottes and tops. For Spring ’16, look for uniquely feminine prints, such as vintage-inspired botanicals and photographic florals. Refined colors—think pastel pink, lilac and blue mixed with cream and gold—make a perfect palette for the line’s delicate, floaty silhouettes. Wholesale prices range from $23 to $147. Visit ohmykidswear.com.

: When left to his own devices, Hallie Burton’s husband dressed their daughter in pajamas for her ballet graduation. Needless to say, Burton was mortified when she saw the video footage. Thus, Smokks was born, with the premise that each dress would be free of zippers, hooks and buttons—in other words, Dad-proof. Debuting at Playtime New York this past August, Liberty-printed smock-style dresses are available in three versions—spaghetti strap, flutter sleeve and three-quarter sleeve—for girls ages 4 to 10. Dresses wholesale for $64 to $68, and the brand also offers a style for teens and mom, perfect for Mommy & Me dressing. Visit smokks.com to learn more.

: Pals Socks aren’t just quirky and cute; they convey a deliberate message—namely, that it’s fun to be friends with someone who is different. Each mismatched pair is a set of unlikely friends: A flamingo mingles with an alligator, a bear meets a bee and a ladybug unites with a caterpillar. Beneath the whimsical surface of the socks, Pals aims to teach children about acceptance. Launched this past June, the company gives back by donating a percentage of its sales to nonprofits that promote diversity, like Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Socks are currently available for boys and girls ages 1 to 8, and for adults, but an infant collection is also in the works. Pairs wholesale for $4.50 and three-pack gift sets are $10. See palssocks.com to learn more.

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