USA: Green kids clothing fashion addresses economic downturn
Write:
Visvajit [2011-05-20]
GreenEdge Kids announced a new 2009 line-up of sustainable children’s clothes targeted for budget-conscious parents. We’ve all recognized the need to economize this year, and GreenEdge Kids, the largest online boutique for designer organic and natural kids clothing, sizes 2-12, is offering eco designer styles that are both greener and more affordable than ever.
Eco designers, typically already operating on lean margins, have trimmed even more off prices for both spring and fall 2009 with strategies like avoiding high-cost eco fabrics, keeping designs styled yet simply sewn, offering new colors of prior seasons’ designs. Those who can’t get prices down are getting value up by adding versatility and functionality, with features such as reversible dresses/skirts, 3-season colors/weights/styles, mix-and-match and dress up/dress down capability.
Maia Andersen, designer and owner of Sustainable Kids, a U.S.-based green childrenswear designer, says, “Because we are manufacturing in the U.S. and we’re using high quality certified fabrics, we can only bring down our prices so far, but we can add value to our pieces. We have developed a number of multi-season reversible styles, which we are selling much faster than we had anticipated. We have also adapted to the market uncertainty by adding flexibility to our manufacturing and delivery timeframes for certain styles.”
On the retail side, in 2009 GreenEdge Kids is bringing in more value-based products, such as the Kite Kids organic tees, affordable but high on original style, the reversible organic dresses by Sustainable Kids, and the 3-season well-priced organic and recycled styles offered by Twirls and Twigs.
“We listened to our retail customers, and developed some fall styles with value in mind,” explains Shawna Dalton, designer and owner of Twirls and Twigs. “We are offering pieces that carry the same Twirls and Twigs look and feel, but are constructed more efficiently so we can offer them at lower prices.”
GreenEdge Kids is showcasing the latest in green kids’ clothing values at 2009 Earth Fairs, including San Diego’s Balboa Park and Sony Pictures.