YOUNG AND STYLISH: LITTLE LONDON
by Anita Sarko
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| London Lederman green silk Pucci-style dress, Joey wears the LEOPARD dress, Daisy wears the white eyelet dress with yellow underlay, and Dora wears the pink Pucci-style dress. |
| If anyone ever tells you that you’re wasting your time loving fashion, here is a handy tale to throw back at the haters. Something valid and life-changing (for the good) CAN actually result from such allegedly frivolous pursuits. “I was always into fashion and shopping for my kids.” Amanda Zacharia declares. Even though this sounds like the start of a Shoppers Anonymous meeting, believe me, she’s not repentant. In fact, she’s, rightfully, PROUD. “I kept getting compliments!” Amanda adds, joyfully. Amanda was a good customer of a vintage line that was being repped by a friend, Samantha Stein. They had met 15 years earlier in Miami. Amanda had always invited Samantha to Haley and Jason Binn’s charity benefit for children, WIZO (Women’s International Zionist’s Organization). At one particular benefit, Amanda had a fashion show of a children’s line she had started, LITTLE LONDON, named after her daughter, London Lederman. |
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| Amanda Zacharia and Samantha Stein. |
| Because the clothing was inspired by vintage, Stein had ideas. After sharing, Zacharia realized that they were on the same wavelength. They began their new partnership with a trunk show at Lemonade. The line really took off. “We’re now in about a dozen stores across the northeast!” Amanda reports. “We’ve been so graced and lucky with how people have responded.” Samantha says. “This was started by scratch and is our baby.” It took awhile before Zacharia let Stein accompany her to the fabric district. “Her taste is so great, but so expensive!” Sam explains. Amanda cops to the characterization. She laughs, then says of Sam: “She’s a GREAT negotiator!” Excellent: A marriage made in fashion heaven! |
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| Dora Wells wears a pink silk Pucci-style halter top (sizes 2-12 years), $85, and white eyelet with lavender underlay CHRISTINA SHORTS (sizes 2/3-12 years). Also available in pants. Other colors: Navy, beige and pink underlays, $95. London Lederman wears a green silk Pucci-style halter and white eyelet with lavender underlay CHRISTINA SHORTS. |
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Dora wears a gray and white gingham cotton dress (sizes 12 months-12 years), $85. Joey Goldman wears a gray gingham halter top and yellow patchwork bloomer set (sizes 3/6 months, 6/12 months, 12/18 months), $75. All clothing is made of the finest quality materials. LiITTLE LONDON ues mostly cotton, some silks and some spandex |
| Zacharia and Stein emphasize that they produce Little London in the USA and use no slave labor, badges of honor sorely tested by at least one instance. “There was this one manufacturer who wouldn’t go down in price and wouldn’t negotiate. So, we went elsewhere.” And “elsewhere” was not some third world country where women and children are forced to work in horrid conditions for nothing. Each of these women has a conscience and children of their own. This is their first season together. Despite their definite ideas about the focus of their line, as well as design and quality issues, they attribute great importance to their customers’ feedback. They love it when they see a family whose children are wearing Little London. “People send pictures of their children and say how many compliments they get!” Samantha says happily. |
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| Vintage style flower button on white CHRISTINA SHORTS. |
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| Vintage style butterfly button on black CHRISTINA SHORTS. |
| Some have suggested that they make mother/daughter matching pieces. Samantha and Amanda think that’s a great idea, but only if “it’s appropriate.” Also, though the current sizes range from 2 years to 6 years, there have been requests for larger sizes and items for infants. In response to those requests, there is a new Tween line on the horizon, as well as sweaters for boys. Feedback has also been forthcoming from trunk shows. They’ve discovered that stores in Florida, NYC and the Hamptons all lean towards different styles. Because Little London’s togs range from girly to tomboy, this has not proven to be a problem. They are particularly psyched that Blue Tree, the highly respected store owned by actress Phoebe Cates, has placed a huge order. They should be thrilled; Cates is known for her exquisite taste. There is one other set of voices Zacharia and Stein listen to, voices that are equally vocal and equally important: “WE have the best critics!” Sam says, referring to their daughters. |
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| Joey wears a gray gingham halter top and yellow patchwork bloomer set (sizes 3/6 months, 6/12 months, 12/18 months), $75. | |
London wears a LEOPARD tunic top (sizes 18 months-12 years), $80. CHRISTINA SHORTS (sizes 18 months-12 years). |
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| Daisy Deutsch wears a LEOPARD tunic top as a dress (sizes 18 months-12 years), $80. | |
Dora Wells wears black point esprit dress with pink underlay (sizes 1 year-12 years), $110. |
| Luckily, both women embrace what makes them different and recognize that these differences can only help their shared venture. Samantha wants to go more mainstream while Amanda wants to go more high-end. “I’m a Target shopper and Amanda loves the 3 Bs (Bergdorf’s/Bendel’s/Bloomingdale’s).” Samantha explains. “So, while Amanda is the designer…” “Sam is the Gestapo!” Amanda interrupts. They both burst out laughing. “We really respect each other’s areas.” Amanda concedes. So, what make Little London special? “The fabrics are beautiful, comfortable to wear and the designs are simple.” Zacharia explains. “You can see the child, even though the clothing is unique. In fact, one dress is so simply designed, the style’s name is “The Simple Dress.” |
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| Dora wears a navy eyelet dress with white underlay. Also comes in pants and shorts (sizes 12 months-12 years), $100. Daisy wears the LEOPARD dress, $80. London wears a white seersucker SAMANTHA dress (sizes 2/3-12 years), $95. |
| “I’m very sensitive to fabric. The line has quality.” Amanda emphasizes. “Every single material is soft. Even our tags are soft around the edges.” How do you get your little mitts on these pint-sized (for now) treasures? At the aforementioned trunk shows. Despite the trend towards e-commerce, Stein and Zacharia feel that selling through their own site would be a disadvantage to retailers who have their own websites. “We don’t want to be a store. We want to HELP the stores sell.” |
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| Daisy wears a disco style dress (sizes 2/3-Tween), $95. | |
Dora wears a silk Pucci-style dress (sizes 2/3-12 years), $150. |
| The NYC-based stores are BLUE TREE (1283 Madison Ave. @ 91st., 212.369.2583, www.bluetreeny.com), LEMONADE (1038 Lexington Ave. @ 74th St., 212.585.4371), 25 PARK (212.585.2525), and M.E.N.U. (1042 Lexington Ave. between 74th St. & 75th St.). Otherwise, follow Little London on Twitter and their Facebook page, which is the best source for any and all information. In addition, keep an eye out for www.littlelondonclothing.com, currently under construction. |
| Photographs by HEIDI GREEN. | Click here for NYSD Contents
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