November is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, and this week, Nike débuts the Nike N7 Collection, a select range of performance footwear designed with the environment – and the future of Native American communities –  in mind.

Photo Credit: Anthroscribe

Sold exclusively through 33 Nike Factory Stores in the U.S. such as the Lake Elsinore Outlet Center in California, a portion of the profits are gifted to the N7 Fund, which supports youth sport in Native American communities.

The collection was created through the lens of Nike’s Considered Design approach, where products are engineered for higher performance and lower environmental impact, and features the N7 Air Pegasus+ 26, the N7 Huarache and the N7 SMS RT for preschool and toddler sizes.

“For more than 10 years Nike has worked closely with Native American communities to provide support through product innovations specific to the needs of Native Americans and by providing grants to support sport programs through the N7 Fund,” says Sam McCracken, general manager of Nike’s Native American Business and chairman of the N7 Fund. “With the introduction of the N7 Collection, consumers now have the ability to be their own agents of change, as the profits from their purchase will help young people in Native American communities realize their potential through sport.” (To contact Sam: N7.Fund@nike.com.)

Native American Inspired Design

The Nike N7 SMS RT for kids as well as the N7 Air Pegasus+ 26 and N7 Huarache features Native American inspired design details and graphics that tie the shoe back to the N7 Collection. The Nike N7 SMS RT is a durable, all-day play shoe that meets the demands of the rough-and-tumble kid, featuring Sensory Motion System (SMS) technology for a natural, efficient range of motion and  aiding healthy foot development.

The collection is available for the holiday season – through the end of December. Giving the N7 Collection is like giving two gifts in one!

-Janet Muniz

Children’s apparel and accessories company baby star® launches a new denim collection for both girls and boys, made from certified organic denim – all at a reasonable $40 retail.

With star accents and green stitching, the lucy skirt and jane jeans for girls and the jack jeans for boys feature pre-washed, dark blue denim available in sizes 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 plus 2T, 4T and 6T. 

The collection is part of the company’s  new soy/organic line growing in popularity with babies and toddlers – and their parents, of course. Other new arrivals include buddha long-sleeve tees and matching pants, stella skirt for girls and johnny pants for boys.

A member of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, baby star was founded by dana bach johnson in fall of 2004 with the purpose of balancing style, functionality and sustainability in apparel and accessories for children – essentials items like blankets, burps, bibs and bedding, too.

-Janet Muniz

Looking for some stocking stuffers for your store? Why not consider holiday music CD’s – created especially for the little ones?

My Baby Loves…Christmas is part of the My Baby Loves… CD series, created by husband-and-wife team Charley and Susan Greenberg and distributed by Traffic Entertainment/The Orchard.

Since late summer, the Greenberg’s have released CDs of popular music produced into lullabies for children, including anthologies of hits by Madonna, Michael Jackson and the 80’s, to name a few. “We wanted to make something that parents can love as much as their babies can enjoy,” Susan says.

With kid-friendly versions of holiday favorites like Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, My Baby Loves…Christmas can warm hearts on a cold winter’s night.

Nancy Stewart is a Washington-based children’s singer-songwriter who creates a plethora of musical moments for kids.  Her CD, A Season for Singing, combines holiday classics with original material, bringing a global sensibility to the spirit of the season. “Children are singing all over the world,” she says, and she also offers music  for Thanksgiving, Ramadan, Kwanza, Eid and the sounds of winter.

At California-based Music For Little People, founder Leib Ostrow and his team have been creating award-winning children’s audio for over 20 years. Christmas Favorites is the fifth offering of the company’s “right-priced” Favorite Series, with holiday singalongs performed by children and grown-ups – like Little Drummer Boy, The 12 Days of Christmas and Coventry Carol.

Giving the gift of music is very special – for kids big and small.

-Janet Muniz

Are you a new designer, new business, new buyer? How about a fashion student  or a model? Chances are, people who are passionate about what they’re doing want to connect to others industry professionals in as many ways as possible.

For the folks in the childrenswear industry, we’ve got HUDSON’S, trade shows, member associations and others. Now, we can add one more networking outlet to the list.

Banker-turned-entrepreneur Rita Kahn is the president of newly launched ZeePortal, a free virtual marketplace for designers, buyers and models working in the fashion industry.

Marketed as “the 24/7 virtual trade show for fashion professionals,” ZeePortal combines the power of BtoB commerce sites with the immediacy of online social networking to help designers, buyers, models and other industry professionals connect and do business in today’s competitive climate.

“The heart of ZeePortal is the virtual showroom, an online marketplace that directly connects working designers with an international network of verified wholesale and retail buyers and distributors, contacts developed through my years of experience in the industry,” Rita says. “When you sign up, we will verify your design credentials, so that our buyers know you’re the real deal. Real designers, real buyers: that’s our promise to both sides.”

Users can search member profiles and designer catalogs, fashion news, expert advice, industry events, online chats, exchange rates, stock quotes, classified ads and online order taking. For added security, designers can choose which buyers can access their profiles and catalogs.

ZeePortal is great for designers, students and startups to make connections, get the latest business news and even conduct business in a virtual environment that Rita says “is tailor-made for our industry.” Zeeportal is also a good way to keep products on the top of buyers’ minds, follow up and to do business after the show, “which is when most buyers place orders,” she adds.

Buyers can join Zeeportal for free and their profiles are searchable by geographic region, style (contemporary or classic), store section (children’s, women’s, men’s, etc.) size, price point and type of item. The site is also open to models, students and the others, creating a streamlined environment that fosters commerce and communication from all corners of the fashion world.

-Janet Muniz

For those of you not in the pink, this month  is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s been 25 years (!) since October was designated a time to promote awareness, education and empowerment about a disease that strikes both women and men.

So many organizations step up in support now, as anyone who watches pro-football can agree: pink is definitely a neutral that can be paired in any color combination (consider the Cincinnati Bengals’ wild orange uniforms PLUS pink cleats!). Fans can even buy “Breast Cancer Awareness Gear”  – a portion of the proceeds is donated to support breast cancer research.

Certainly one organization that’s nearly a household name is Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, which has become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. This group also popularized the famous pink ribbon, among others.

Many children’s companies step up for the cure, too. Like Baby K’tan, LLC, joining the fight to save lives and increase breast cancer awareness by giving $1 from the sale of every pink Baby K’tan carrier to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Miami/Ft.Lauderdale Chapter (the company’s hometown).

In Philadelphia, PA, children’s apparel company Olive Juice is donating $1 of every purchase made this month to Cuddle My Kids, an organization that provides a retreat for children struggling to deal with their loved ones’ battle with cancer.

“Being that breast cancer is something that has personally affected and changed my life, I knew I wanted to take this opportunity to help others who are in a similar situation,” says Olive Juice founder Maryellen Kane. “There are a lot of great organizations dedicated to cancer research and aid, but I thought I would reach out to Cuddle My Kids because they help a group that is often times overlooked. The children of cancer patients are in a very difficult situation, one that no one should ever have to endure alone.”

It’s called social marketing these days – taking up a cause for the good of society. Companies  are inspired to support a cause for goodworks, not for financial reward. Yet, it’s usually a reward, nonetheless.

-Janet Muniz

Sometimes, it’s a secret. A surprise. A mystery. Other times, it’s just fun.

“What will you be for Halloween?” is the popular question this time of year. In my younger years, I dressed up as “Janet Planet,” one of my very popular nicknames. What’s a “Janet Planet,”  you ask? The back story has something to do with Q-tips and electric blue hair…

Even a recent episode of Project Runway focused on costumes (episode seven). Yet in the  world of children’s fashion, fantasy dress up is one hot segment of the market, available year-round. And right now, a spotlight is burning bright on it.

Walk in to most big box stores and you’ll find Halloween costumes and candy. Catalog companies such as Grandinroad devote a huge section of their publication to Halloween décor and dress up. And each year, I look forward to picking up Martha Stewart’s October issue, because I really admire her Halloween looks. Fabulous online toy merchant Fat Brain Toys offers a variety of costumes that complete the fantasy of growing up and being a chef, for instance.

And in the world of kid’s fantasy dress up, entire companies create real-life, magical fantasywear for kids to light up their  imaginations with.

Kaiya Eve Couture is the maker of The Original Pettiskirt, a full, lush, updated version of the vintage petticoats, for girls to dress up in whether it’s Halloween or not. Just ask celebrities Dakota Fanning or dad Christian Slater.

Because little girls love to dress up like princesses, Posh International offers their soft skirts with built-in leotards. Yet little boys love to don fantasy clothes, too. Aeromax has a wide variety of outfits that boys really love.

Why is fantasy dress up for kids so popular – year round? Little Adventures, a company dedicated to being a part of their children’s daily little adventures, puts it nicely: “We get to dress up like princesses and experience the joy of being a part of our children’s lives. What more could any Mom ask for?”

Look for more on Fantasy Dress Up in our upcoming December issue.

-Janet Muniz

Infantissima manufactures a specialty line of infant accessories of the same name. According to their Facebook page, the company’s goal is to “create a world for babies and moms of stylish comfort, fashion and function-ability at competitive prices.”

Founded in 2003, the Infantissima line is Made in the USA and includes burp cloths, infant and toddler bibs, changing pads, hooded towels, diaper roadies, “blankys,”  nap mats and aprons. Now, they’ve added sleep sacks and diaper covers.

The use of sleep sacks is one of the recommended methods of covering the baby to prevent the possibility of S.I.D.S. The one-size, newborn-to-22-pound Infantissima sleep sacks are available in a choice of ginghams and polka dots, camouflage and several patterns of their Minky fabrics, and feature a front zipper, fitted, sleeveless bodice and fully cut sack bottom for ease of leg movement. All fabrics match or coordinate with bibs, burp cloths, “blankys” and hooded towels.

Infantissima’s new diaper covers  are available in matching or coordinating fabrics. The styling features elastic for ease of fit at the waist and legs in two convenient sizes:  newborn up to 12 pounds and 10 to 22 pounds.

Orders may be placed online or by fax at 713.522.1813.

-Janet Muniz

Little Pea, a new, print driven collection of girl’s separates for Spring/Summer 2010, caught the eye of HUDSON’S at KIDShow in August, with retro-inspired prints, bright colors and girlish details.

During breakfast with HUDSON’S co-founder/publisher Margaret Mobius, designer Sara McMahon talked about her fun, carefree philosophy for kids’ clothes – as a mother of two little girls, Little Pea’s founder is no stranger to the fashionable needs of today’s sophisticated child.

“My goal is to create a line of modern pieces that are easy to wear and can easily be mixed and matched together or incorporated into the existing wardrobes of any little girl,” she says. Especially since the busy lifestyle of  today’s family requires pieces that can transition from school, to the playground, to dinner , style – together with functionality – is key.

The Portland, OR-based company pays  careful attention to comfort, and detailing is applied to each piece. Flirty empire waist tops, A-line dresses and ruffled skirts fashioned in an array of eye-catching prints and key basics such as denim and linen, make  it easy to create a variety of outfits with just a few key pieces.

Fresh. Unexpected. And as Margaret says, “Simply beautiful.”

-Janet Muniz

Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.

This is the message of the 3/50 project, founded in March by Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant and professional speaker with a mission to strengthen independent brick and mortar businesses. According to the website, Cinda has spent 14 years as a successful retail store owner, and feels “an obligation to pay forward the hard earned knowledge and expertise that brought me to where I am today.”

The 3/50 project encourages consumers to shop local, asking them, What three independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared? The initiative explains that if just half of the employed population spends $50 each month at locally owned businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Something the local businesses may appreciate.

More stats for thought from the 3/50 project: For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. Spending in a national chain keeps $43 in the community. Spend online, and “nothing comes home.”

Here is the way the 3/50 project is really getting the word out to consumers: locally owned independent retailers are encouraged to register with the 3/50 project to stay on top of what’s happening with the initiative. If the business takes the next step and lists as a Supporter, that business has access to a variety of free marketing and media materials including graphics for use on websites and in advertising, flyers, banners, enclosure cards – even t-shirts and cool stuff -  plus the listing of the company, complete with a reciprocal link, on The350Project.net. However, it may be interesting to note that a project of this nature really builds momentum from its online connections – the good will of the global community, as it were.

Cinda and the 3/50 do have people talking everywhere, from coverage in the Wall Street Journal, on local television, CNN Monday, prominent blogs … on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and more. The 3/50 project is proof of the power of social media indeed. In more ways than one.

After Kim Crow, style editor of Plain Dealer in Cleveland, OH, wrote about the 3/50 project, she heard from people in her community, many of whom support the 3/50 project, yet many really aren’t interested in shopping local. Some cited the inconsistent hours some local shop owners keep as a deterrent. Some don’t like the keen customer service offered by small stores – where there’s no place for someone who’s “not that kind of shopper” to run, once a salesperson spots them. Others are more interested in the return policies and other services offered by department stores, that may be more convenient for them.

Wow. After talking with and sharing the success of so many local children’s wear shops with our readers – in just the last two years or so – retailers such as Seal & Co. in Summit, NJ … Synchronicity Boutique in Baltimore, MD … Lollipop Junction in Pawleys Island, SC … Heritage House in Miami, FL … Sugarplum Tree in Perry, GA … Me.Me’s in Metairie, LA, Honey Beez in Louisville, KY … Little Threads in Chicago, IL … Kathleen’s Kids in Tulsa, OK … Buns in the Oven in Boise, ID … Side Street Boutique in South Lake Tahoe, CA … Wee Three Children’s Store in Santa Rosa, CA … For Kids Only in Los Angeles, CA … Luan’s Children’s Dresses in Long Beach, CA … Sam Ellis Store in Calexico, CA, just to name a few – it’s a little distressing to me that some folks in the Cleveland area have such uninspired local shopping experiences.

There are  lots of local retailers who strive for shopping experiences with the “WOW” factor … and I’d bet a lot of these local shops are children’s wear professionals.

In any case, certainly the nobility of “saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on” can inspire both consumers and retailers to act. In some way. And that’s a good thing.

-Janet Muniz

Looking for beautiful and unique holiday gifts for your store?

Terra Traditions, a Los Angeles, CA-based green artisan studio, makes every order, to-order, for creating what the company calls “soulful” items – award-winning photo albums, pillows, LaTela Wall art and more. The company was just honored with the 2009 iParenting Media Award “Best Gift Item” for Baby Dream Baby’s Journey book, 50 vintage pages to complete and hold baby’s moments.

The Baby Bunch has another unique gift – Crayon Rompers. Packaged as only The Baby Bunch can, the set includes one red, green and orange one-piece rolled to look like crayons in a crayon box – for the budding artist in anyone’s famly. I hear that Martha Stewart loves this company.

Jenny Gaynor Glass creates lovely ethereal, handmade recycled glass jewelry … and memory vases made with personal photographs, to display the special memories of new moms, grandparents, and more. These beauties are Inspired Retailers’ pick as “Best of Atlanta,” one of the country’s top wholesale gift trade shows.

Delicate Raymond’s delicate gold charm jewelry features designs inspired by art deco, Bohemia, the coast and nature, and has been photographed on the likes of country music star  Carrie Underwood, Tori Spelling – of Little Maven fame, Lauren Conrad and more. What’s more – theVintage Monogram Necklace and Montmartre Bracelet can be customized for that special person.

Head to Rock N Moms for fun, edgy and totally functional diaper bags. The company recently released a limited-edition, hand-painted messenger bag, available now at RockNMoms.com.

Skateboarders Reese Forbes, Alex Olson and Danny Garcia teamed up with Quiksilver to create a collection of skate-engineered denim. All three signature styles are made with CoolMax fabric, with stretch denim properties that wick moisture away from the body and dramatically accelerates drying time. Their three styles are now available on Quiksilver.com and in skate shops.

Now, just the name of this next item is a gift. Recently re-launched, Hooter Hiders are Bebe au Lait’s premiere collection of nursing covers, with six newly added styles for Winter/Holiday, offering a funky bohemian chic character that moms seem to enjoy. Packaged in a lovely dust pouch and made of a soft but durable 100 percent cotton, they have a little bit of boning around the neck so that eye contact can easily be made with baby and a convenient pocket.

Remember, when it comes to giving, it’s the thought that counts. Have a great season!

-Janet Muniz