Printwear & Promotion The Total Promotional Package
P&P editor Melanie Attlesey caught up with Bella + Canvas’ UK sales and marketing manager, San Ferdinand, at this year’s Printwear & Promotion LIVE! to find out more the launch of the company’s first complete kids collection.
An introductory note opens the Bella + Canvas Kids catalogue. Penned from kids to mums and dads it sums up exactly the reason behind the creation of the collection. “Why should we get cheap tees just because we’re kids? We want the kind of stuff you guys wear,” it says.
San agrees. “What we are seeing is people moving away from the typical baby pink, baby blue, cute looking garments. Mums and dads are dressing their kids as they dress. If the dad is wearing a triblend T shirt, he’s not going to dress his kid in something that’s poor quality. The creation of the kids collection is what we are so excited about.”
The range comprises of two of Bella + Canvas’ best-selling T shirts in the adult collection – one made from 100% combed and ring spun cotton and another from triblend fabric. The short sleeve jersey tee and the short sleeve triblend tee are available in sizes 3 months to XL. These T shirts are then available in matching colours in the adult collection enabling the whole family from baby through to teenagers to mum and dad to wear matching garments.
Knowing just how much the adults love the 3/4 sleeve baseball tee and the flowy racerback tank, Bella + Canvas took the decision to introduce these styles into the kids collection and so far the uptake has been fantastic.
The 3/4 sleeve baseball tee is the third biggest seller in the adult collection and is extremely popular in the world of music merchandise. “We work with some of the largest music merch customers in the world and the response has been phenomenal in this market. Imagine mum and dad and their kid all wearing the same merchandise? Parents will love it!” says San.
The flowy racerback tank for adults is already popular among the dance and fitness communities, and San expects the youth version to be as equally popular.
“Adult women love our flowy collection. The range is super soft, polyviscose and super easy to wear. But for the younger girls there was nothing like this. Until now girls would have to make do and wear alternative tank tops,” says San. “Because it’s the flowy fabric and style, wearers can easily go up and down sizing. We’ve added some new colourways for the kids, but otherwise the colours match. This garment has gone down so well.”
It’s the little details
Every little detail in the collection has been thought through; from the retail-inspired colours used to each garment featuring tear-away labels and side seams.
It’s this kind of thinking outside the box that Bella + Canvas is recognised for. The company is currently the second biggest selling brand in America with plans to emulate this in Europe. The Bella half of the company was founded by screen printers Danny Harris and Marco DeGeorge over 30 years ago as one the first ranges in the industry catering solely for women. Canvas, the unisex and men’s half of the company, followed some time later.
From day one the company’s mission has been to bring retail quality tees to the wholesale market and with the launch of the new kids collection, it looks as though the company has childrenswear all sewn up as well.
The Bella + Canvas Kids collection
- Baby Jersey Short Sleeve One Piece 100B
- Baby Triblend Short Sleeve One Piece 134B
- Baby Jersey Short Sleeve Tee 3001B
- Baby Triblend Short Sleeve Tee 3413B
- Toddler Jersey Short Sleeve Tee 3001T
- Toddler Triblend Short Sleeve Tee 3413T
- Toddler 3/4 Sleeve Baseball Tee 3200T
- Youth Jersey Short Sleeve Tee 3001Y
- Youth Triblend Short Sleeve Tee 3413Y
- Youth 3/4 Sleeve Baseball Tee 3200Y
- Youth Flowy Racerback Tank 8800Y
