New Resources – September 2016

Kwadusa

With a focus on sustainability, fair trade and Africa’s economic development, Kwadusa is a line of cool, urban clothes for active kids that goes beyond fashion alone. “We want to show that Africa is a diverse and creative continent that has much to offer,” says Vibeke Kjeldsholm, co-founder of Kwadusa, along with Anna Seeberg Braun. “Our ambition is to combine our passion for beautifully designed clothes of good quality with job creation, growth and trade.”

The essence of the brand is a unique intersection of colorful African textiles with simple Danish designs. Kwadusa presents two yearly collections, produced under fair trade conditions in Kenya. The Danish founders carefully select only African-sourced materials, such as wax fabrics, shuka, batik and jersey.

Debuted at Playtime Paris in July, the Spring ’17 collection “African Breeze” uses a small range of expressive textiles to create sporty outfits in handmade Kenyan batik, stunning jumpsuits of vivid Ghanaian wax fabrics and cool T-shirts with wild animal prints. “We want to make you feel the African breeze,” Kjeldsholm remarks. Sizes are available from 12 months to 10 years, with a small collection of organic baby T-shirts from size 6 months to 12 months. Wholesale prices range from $10 to $34. www.kwadusa.com

Made-To-Be

Made-To-Be offers a new trend in kids’ shoes that reflects fun, creativity and, most of all, versatility. Owner Kim Reid reconnected with her old friend and fashion designer, John Sun, for expertise in sourcing and product development. The entrepreneurs brainstormed about how to bring Reid’s idea to market, and ultimately, through trial and error, they created a unique kids’ footwear brand dubbed Made-To-Be. What makes the collection so fun and unique? The footwear line offers a large assortment of interchangeable fashion accessories that customize each pair of shoes. The patented attachments allow the wearer to transition with ease between playtime and formal events. Made-To-Be products are non-seasonal and range from kids’ size 9 to juniors’ size 8. The wholesale price range is $22 to $24. www.made-to-be.com

Art & Eden

Art & Eden is a new children’s apparel brand that strives to minimize its ecological footprint at every cost, from sustainable materials and low-impact dyes to recycled packaging and fair trade factories. “We push to be the change we wish to see in our production, process and culture,” explains Founder and CEO Susan Correa.  Upon its debut at Children’s Club in August, Art & Eden presented a collection brimming with prints and patterns that highlight nature’s beauty. The Spring ’17 collection is available from sizes 3 months to 10 years, across colorful, eye-popping designs that give a nod to ocean life, mountain tops and everything in between. Spanning asymmetric skirts to breezy button-downs, the collection wholesales from $9 to $20. www.artandeden.com