David Semel, David’s Wholesale, North Miami Beach, Florida

Backpacks are always big.  We’re known for having really good stuff at a reasonable price.  The Peace sign logo is really big right now.  There’s also a growing demand for cell phone accessories, like the pouches that hold the phones, some with the shoulder strap – a cell phone bag for ladies.

Penny Rosenberger, President, The Merchandise Network, New York

For Fall / Back-To-School, there is a resurgence of plaids, especially outerwear which pairs with both jeans and dressier clothing. Jackets are still driving the market. Blouses and knits are back, too. It's all about clean-looking clothes, that is, unembellished and top quality, like a good turtle neck you can wear with 5 different items.

Sheryl Paras, Milan Clothing, Los Angeles

We carry a Full Line of School Uniforms for Boys and Girls at an Affordable Price; see all of our selections, visit our website at www.milanclothinginc.com.  This includes Boys and Girls School Uniform Pants in both regular and husky sizes that will be available in Navy, Khaki, and Black; Girls 4 -14 School Uniform Skorts and Shorts; Girls and Boys School Polo’s in variations of 9 colors. 

 

For early Fall, we feel that Denim Jeans for Boys and Girls, Yarn Dyed Stripe and Solid Polos for Boys, and Cute Fashion Knit Tops for girls will all be hot items.  Retailers should know that We offer a wide selection of Boys and Girls Knit Tops as well Twill and Denim Bottoms for back to school season at 60% - 70% off regular wholesale price.  We cater to anybody from a small boutique to major discount stores.  We offer both small pre-packs to private label production on our entire back to school product line for all types of small and big quantity buyers.  Our retail customers are specifically calling for Boys and Girls School Uniform Polo’s and Pants, Plaid Shirts, Yarn-Dyed Polo, Engineered Stripe Shirts, and Girls Fashion Knit Tops.  

Shimon Ovadia, Magic Kids, New York

“A lot of plaid, which was the trend for the junior crowd, will spill down to young kids.  Traditional, classic stuff.  Paisley, tweads and more classic and trendy stuff.  For the pre-school, it’s always the same – the pastels.  You just have to have innovative products that everyone carries.

“Summer’s still going on when school starts.  So don’t forget about the wide variety of dresses, floral and prints for girls.  Sun dresses, eyelets and more traditional stuff.  All these items are big sellers for us because kids and parents want to show off their summer tans when they start school.”

Paul Maya, S. Maya & Sons (Booth #441 at the August Show), Los Angeles

For Back to School, we are hearing that people want Basics. In this recession time, people opt for things that will look good and have a long life. Consumers are questioning themselves every time before making a purchase.. “Can we wear this again and again?  Do we need this or want this?” The future is opaque so people are being smarter with their buying decisions. Basics and Comforts are more of a necessity rather than Fashion Forward items. Although items which are Fashion Forward will always attract the public, they will be hard to sell. We Believe that Basics will always do better.

We have some great buys in back to school items such as uniform shirts for boys, very nice girls (children) twill pants that buyers look for during back-to-school time which is a great affordable item to wear everyday and that girls can wear during the entire school year; The girls printed l/s top is a hot transitional item for early fall and it is very comfortable to wear. The selections of colors we carry are very fun and young. It is all about TOPS this year!!!

We believe back to school sales at the off price levels will be foremost in the consumer’s mind. Kids need new clothes and the best place to get them is at places which offer discount prices.

Together with back to school, early fall is in full gear and we feel basics along with some fashion will be in the foremost of the consumers.

 

Connie Miller, Puzzles Enterprises Inc. (Booth #447 at the August Show), Los Angeles

“Jr tunics with tattoo inspired sublimation prints, boyfriend cardigans with solid leggings have been doing well. We  expect these trends to  continue through BTS.  Print Dresses  long & short have also been re-ordering.  Print t’s that promote Peace, Hope,  and Green have been doing well.  In particular, Boys 4-18 ‘Branded’ cotton  sweaters  in approx. 10 patterns, Junior layering and bulky sweaters, boyfriend Cardigans, and leggings will be hot for this Fall. 
Price points  vary depending on the deal – Junior sweaters range from $5.00 - $8.00 each, Sublimation Tops   & tunics from $5.50 - $8.00, Peace inspired print t’s range from $3.00 - $4.00 Each 
We cater to all size retailers.  minimums range from item to item with the tops usually around 6 pcs by color – to 36 pc pre-packs in assoted color & sizes.  Bottoms are usually sold 12, 18, or 24 pc pre-packs.    Price discounts are given for orders of 300 pcs  or more of any one  style.  
Our retailers are asking for sweaters in all categories, leggings for Juniors and girls, boys & young mens cargo style non-denim pants, fashion denims (all size categories), Print t’s that promote peace, Green, & Hope in all categories.

Norman Goldberg, Below Wholesale Inc. (Booth #542 at the August Show), New York City

Hot items for Fall are:

            Girls Tunic tops with matching leggings accessorized by coordinating scarves.

            Girls Embellished blue denim jeans with glitter and appliques.

            Boys Tees with all over popping screens

            Blue and black jeans are still a mainstay

            Little Kids “LITE UP” tops and Jeans sell real fast

 

            Our Hottest group for Girls fashions are:

            Tunic or Long top sets with leggings and flowing burnout scarf.

            The above also come in coordinating separates.

Ric Jimenez, TBI Apparel (Booth #729 at the August Show), Los Angeles

Printed tees from "screened" and "mighty fine" have been great selling items that we carry for $3.90 to $5.50 per pc.  As for the really hot items,   WE HAVE GREAT STRETCHY FASHION DENIM PANTs FOR JUNIORS BELOW $10.00 PER PC. WE ALSO HAVE STYLISH LONGSLV BUTTON DOWN SHIRTS FROM "191-UNLIMITED" FOR YOUNG MEN BELOW $12.00 PER PC.  FOR JUNIORS WE HAVE fashion tops with LABELS LIKE: REALITEE, BLU CHIC, BELLE DU JOUR, AND PAUL FRANK WITH PRICE POINTS BELOW $6.00 PER PC.   FOR YOUNG MEN WE HAVE SHIRTS AND PANT WITH LABELS LIKE: 191-UNLIMITED, RANK, B.C.ETHIC, AND CAFFEINE WITH PRICE POINTS BELOW $12.00 PER PC.  WE CAITER TO ALL TYPES OF BUSINESSES. MOST OF OUR PRE-PACKS ARE SOLD AS 12 PC PACKS BUT WE CARRY ENOUGH INVENTORY ON CERTAIN ITEMS TO COVER AN ORDER OF OVER 1,200PCS OF ONE STYLE.  

Ami Harounian, Penguin Kids – A Division of Orange Zone (Salon Row at the August Show), Los Angeles

 

For Back-To-School we are offering Twill Pants, Jackets, and Polo Shirts. We also carry a wide variety of fall fashion items.  For fall we are stocking up on items such as, Jackets, Hoodies, Denim Pants, Twill Pants, Sets, Sweaters and more.  As always, all items are sold at 50-70% original wholesale prices. We carry items with price points anywhere from $2 to $12. We carry lots of brand names such as Disney, BT Kids, US Polo, and more.  We stock New, First Quality Children Apparel from the Nation's Largest Manufacturers and Suppliers. We carefully sort and merchandize into unique, marketable & right sized wholesale lots. This is built specifically for small to mid sized apparel retailers, on-line sellers, apparel distributors and exporters.

 

What the Moms from Facebook are saying…

"Vera bradley totes rather than backpacks and matching lunch boxes."
Amy Papineau McCoy, Charlotte, NC

"We're a uniform family, too.  But I'm all about polos and madras shorts...To quote my father, ‘you can take the girl out of Orchard Park, but you can't take the Orchard Park out of the girl!’"
Kate Van Dyke Dzierzanowski, Aurora, IL

“My kids wear uniforms.  But my 5-year old daughter likes anything sparkly or glittery.  My 2-year old son will wear whatever you put in front of him.  They also like to dress themselves in matching Packer sweatshirts.”
Marie Zanoni, Hales Corners, WI

“As a father with two girls, I am voting for longer shorts and no writing on the butt!”
Brandon Baswell, East Lansing, MI

“I’m not a parent, but I remember the hottest thing for my mom every year was getting us all the hell out of the house.”
Sheila Breen, Royal Palm Beach, FL