Playtime NYC is a trade show were new brands come to expose their new products for the season. This year there were more than 100 companies in attendance, showcasing everything from childrens’ apparel to accessories like blankets, headbands, and a few toys. There is so much beautiful apparel.

Kids are getting more and more stylish each year! Some of the companies that really stood out to me were Lately Lilly, Akid, Little Lux by Lucia amongst others. I also learned about some cool apps like Alva Kids. This application for your phone lets you save information on children’s size, making shopping for them much easier. In the toy department there were Ragtales and Plan Toys.

There are some features I like about the majority of the companies that I spoke too, either in the form of their construction, materials, or craftsmanship. The story and branding was also a key element to get my attention.

The company that stood out to me the most was Lately Lilly. The pictures on the booth were painted by one of the creators of the brand. There a lot of special things about this brand. Besides the color, the materials are great, and the pieces are very wearable and easy to take care of. No need for mom to run to the dry cleaners every time kid wears something. Lilly, the character of the brand travels the world with her parents who are photographers, so every piece of clothing has a story. The stories varied by the country she visits and the experiences she has. It is so much fun to read where she goes! The clothes also have an exceptional packaging, they come in bright yellow boxes that resemble suitcases.

The brand also has a sticker passport that the kids can use and “travel” with her. If you think they are too girly and you only have boys, worry not, they also have a little boy, who’s name Eliot, he’ll be arriving soon. The clothes are fun, colorful, easy, any kids will want to wear these clothes and create their own adventures.

Akid is a shoe company. Can I tell you how crazy I went over clear little construction boots! They would be so adorable with a silly, colorful pair of socks. I can’t wait to get these for my daughter. The construction of these shoes is exceptional. They have all kinds of shoes from slip-ons to sneakers. What makes them different is their fabrics, they have every from clear plastic, to metallic. Their display at the show was very clever since the shoes were displayed in mirrored columns.
In the accessories department I really, really liked Little Lux by Lucia. The company makes headpieces and accessories for everyone. From babies to brides, every one can enjoy her creations. The pieces are very elegant and easy to wear. They are made in Mexico. She also has some bows and also what I liked the most was the sashes. The materials range from silk to some crystals, so you can definitely get some bling.
Alva Kids has to be the best app created for any parent of even better for any uncle or aunt. The way it works is by inputting some of the childs information on the app. The information includes name, age, height, weigh, belly size and nationality.

Iff aunt Mary is going to buy clothes for little John and she’s at the Gap, all she has to do if go on the app, tap on the child, and put the store she is at and the app tells her that in that brand John is a size 5 in shirts, size 4 in pants and size 10 shoes. How awesome is that?? No need to call Johns mom asking for sizes anymore. The app lets you have multiple kids and so far I have been using it very successfully! The BEST PART? IT’S FREE! Yes, you read right, the app is free, so go download it.

Plan Toys has been one of my favorites since I had kids. They have absolutely amazing toys. They are sustainable toys, which not only makes them great for the environment it also makes them good for your kids. There are a lot of new toys, the best one, in my opinion is the “chalk desk”. The desk has an easy to clean to surface, that is also a green chalkboard. So little kids can create scenarios drawing but also use the desk to learn. Ragtales has the original Tooth Fairy. The tooth fairy doll comes in a little house and has a pocket to hold the money for the kids. They also have adorable dolls and bunnies that have different outfits to change them. I really enjoy the story behind the company and their products are simple and traditional.

I don’t have enough space to really go in depth into all the trends and clothing I saw at the show. But definitely be aware of neutral-subdued colors for fall and a lot of natural materials. Layers and accessories are also big trends for the upcoming season.