Reclaimed Purpose: Salvage Maria Clothing To Debut at Pop-In@Nordstrom Shops This Friday

Reclaimed Purpose: Salvage Maria Clothing To Debut at Pop-In@Nordstrom Shops This Friday

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Up-cycled, reclaimed children’s clothing label Salvage Maria will make its Pop-In@Nordstrom nationwide debut this Friday, September 12. The month-long event is part of an ongoing series of themed pop-up shops curated by Olivia Kim, Nordstrom’s Director of Creative Projects, showcasing an eclectic mix of rising stars in the design world. Salvage Maria, a “tragically hip” collection that launched earlier this year in Los Angeles, uses a mix of salvaged and new fabrics to create ready-to-wear looks for style-savvy kids. Available at select Nordstrom locations nationwide and online, the eco-friendly-themed Pop-In will feature their distinctive handmade fringe vegan leather jackets, hand-distressed jean jackets, fringed vests, and reworked vintage tees.

Proudly made in Los Angeles, Salvage Maria’s mission is to breathe new life into old favorites. A few years ago, designer Janeesa Joseph was inspired by a friend who made her sons’ play pants out of her husband’s old t-shirts and decided to try her hand at up cycling her own creations. She quickly received custom orders and a warm reception for her reclaimed, handmade styles. Busy after the birth of her son, Janeesa put Salvage Maria on the backburner, hoping to revisit her passion project when her son started preschool. The tragic death of Janeesa’s younger brother on Christmas Eve was the catalyst for reviving Salvage Maria as a way to honor her brother’s memory.

“My mother Maria had packed some of his clothes to be donated,” said Janeesa, a native of Dallas, Texas, with Mexican heritage. “Fortunately, I was able to save some t-shirts and other pieces. With what we had, we designed tees, pants, cardigans, and pajamas for my little guy. We also set aside some of his other items for my sisters whenever they have children. It was bittersweet, intimate, and such a special process. It truly encompassed on a personal level the power of ‘Salvage Maria.’”

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Every Salvage Maria piece is proudly made in Los Angeles from salvaged, upcycled, reclaimed, and new fabrics carefully chosen by Janeesa and Maria, who occasionally travels to Mexico to source unique fabrics. Salvage Maria works closely with local vendors to ensure keepsake-quality designs and they also take custom orders, reinventing customers’ personal pieces for their little ones.

Just a few short months after their February 2014 launch, Salvage Maria was handpicked by Olivia Kim via Instagram to sell their one-of-a-kind creations at 8 flagship Nordstrom locations, including Seattle, San Francisco, and Dallas, and online at nordstrom.com from September 12 to October 12. Salvage Maria will be offering special giveaways at all 8 locations as well.

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To learn more about Salvage Maria and the Pop-In@Nordstrom, visit http://salvagemaria.clothing and www.nordstrom.com/pop.

Celebrating Diversity: Livie & Luca Takes Part in Changing The Face of Beauty Campaign

Celebrating Diversity: Livie & Luca Takes Part in Changing The Face of Beauty Campaign

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On September 15 and 16, Livie & Luca will be joining several other influential children’s fashion labels to celebrate diversity in the “Changing the Face of Beauty” campaign. Brands including Matilda Jane Clothing, Oilily, and Persnickety have teamed up to show another perspective of beauty through a photo shoot with 5 Boys + 1 Girl = 6 Photography that will feature children from all walks of life. The end result will be a catalog displaying the true beauty of all children and hopefully changing the perspective of the social norm.

“Children with disabilities make up the largest minority in the world, yet have the smallest voice or no voice at all,” said Denise DeMarchis, founder of Matilda Jane Clothing. “These girls are perfectly imperfect and it’s time to change the face of the media and the expectations it places on our youth.”

Seventeen models have been selected, including popular “Enjoying the Small Things” blogger Kelle Hampton’s daughters as well as Atia, a young girl from Project Ladybug, a children’s charity spearheaded by Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Dina Manzo. Donated clothing and shoes will be given to the models and auctioned off for the Mighty Acorn Foundation, www.mightyacornfoundation.org, a charity for empowering children worldwide.

The aim of the project is to be an uplifting celebration of children at all levels of ability, break down barriers, and show the importance of inclusion rather than singling out children with special needs. Livie & Luca will be donating shoes for the catalog photo shoot, which is slated to be published just in time for the winter holidays. Other brands who are involved include: BuyCostumes.com, KPea Originals, and Lemon Loves Lime.

With a mission to spread joy, Livie & Luca is excited to be a part of Changing the Face of Beauty and will be chronicling the photo shoot on social media. To learn more, visit www.livieandluca.com.

Fit For a Princess: ShoSho Bella Couture Launches in the United States

Fit For a Princess: ShoSho Bella Couture Launches in the United States

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Ethereal luxury children’s fashion label ShoSho Bella recently made their successful U.S. debut at the August 2014 ENK Children’s Club in New York City. Hailing from the United Arab Emirates, founder/designer Sarah Khamis seamlessly blends uncomplicated couture touches with timeless silhouettes for girls aged 2 to 14 years. Already making waves in her native country, Khamis has now set out to provide stylish, exquisitely crafted couture dresses for style-savvy young girls worldwide.

“The dresses speak for their mellow glamour and are designed with the purpose to flatter and create a story every time they are worn,” said Khamis, a mother of two who resides in Abu Dhabi. “Our brand aesthetic can be best summed up as dreamy, expressively cute, fairytale princess-like feeling.”

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Special attention to detail is visible in every ShoSho Bella dress, from expert draping, high-quality, textured fabrics that are soft to the touch, fanciful embellishments including feathers and rosettes, to lace overlays. Khamis’ discerning eye oversees all aspects of sourcing, design, and production in Dubai, a cosmopolitan city known for high-end fashion. Her goal for ShoSho Bella is to touch hearts with her dresses across the world, adding an extra level of quality customer service and care with each creation.

From pageants to princess parties, ShoSho Bella’s designs are ideal for special occasions. Feminine but not overdone, ShoSho Bella uses an artisanal attention to detail to create dresses that gracefully flow and turn heads.

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The spring/summer ShoSho Bella collection is a delightful mix of garden florals, a show-stopping ‘20s Great Gatsby-inspired style complete with a feathered skirt, chic Parisian-influenced frocks, and classic gowns with unexpected details. The autumn/winter collection features dreamy winter whites, understated silver and golds, tiered tulle, ruffles, and classic babydoll silhouettes.

These heirloom-quality dresses are available at www.shoshobella.com and select boutiques.