HUDSON'S CHILDRENSWEAR REVIEW
"The latest buzz at California-based Treehouse Showroom is Budzie, trendy clothing for girls ages two thru 10 featuring bold colors, animal prints and neon flair." - Hudson's Childrenswear Review, February 2010
Lincoln Journal Star
A good place to give
By NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, December 21, 2009 12:40 am |
Amy (L), a mother of five, considers a long shirt designed and donated by Kerry Emswiler at the suggestion of Foster Care Closet founder and director Leigh Esau, on Dec. 17, 2009. (GWYNETH ROBERTS / Lincoln Journal Star)
Kerry Emswiler had never heard of the Foster Care Closet until a few weeks ago when she set out to donate new clothes to a worthy cause.
Emswiler and her partner Lynn Martin design and sell really cool clothes for girls under their own label, Budzie.
And they wanted to make some year-end donations.
In that search for a good place to give, Emswiler found Lincoln's Foster Care Closet and its founder and chief volunteer, Leigh Esau.
So Emswiler is donating a dozen boxes of new clothes, outfits that grandmas often buy in a boutique for 40 bucks or more.
Trendy clothes that will make a girl feel like a princess and a fashion queen during traumatic time in her family life.
But don't make this about the clothes, says Emswiler.
Make this about the closet.
She thinks everyone ought to know about the Foster Care Closet, its loving, gusty volunteer organizer, its mission of providing gently used and new clothes and equipment for children who are in the foster care system.
"She is a saint," says Emswiler about Esau.
"And they do such good work."
Emswiler wants everyone to know about the closet so they will be inspired to help.
And Esau, who began the closet three years ago, really appreciates the donation - $12,000 at retail value.
New clothes are a rarity. "It's a huge blessing, really."
But Esau really wants the story to focus on Kerry and Budzie, the women's generosity, their cute clothes.
So, in the spirit of Christmas generosity, we will grant both women's wishes to focus on the other giver in this equation.
Budzie:
The two-year-old business expanded this year, even in the midst of a recession, and now sell its clothes at 65 stores in 18 states, including Tiaras and Post and Nickel in Lincoln. It is also available online at www.Budzie.com.
Foster Care Closet:
The all-volunteer closet expects to serve more than 1,000 families next year because the private agencies now in charge of foster care will not be providing clothing vouchers, Esau says.
Need is always greatest for:
- New underwear and socks, since the closet doesn't distribute used in these categories.
- Diapers, particularly in larger sizes.
- Equipment, such as high chairs, strollers, playpens.
- Teenage clothes for both boys and girls.
- Money to pay the rent on the warehouse store.
- Regular volunteers to help sort donations.
To donate, call (402) 617-0667.
For more information, go online at: www.fostercarecloset.org .
THE GIGGLE GUIDE - 12/15/09
Hear about the Hot New Collection to boost sales? The latest buzz is Budzie. It offers trendy clothing for girls ages 2-10 years old. The stylish bold colors, animal prints, and neon flair make this fast-growing clothing line so popular. Budzie is selling like crazy all across the USA and internationally. To get the Budzie look, contact The Treehouse Showroom at 213-688-8377.
Lincolnites' Budzie clothing line is budding KATHRYN CATES MOORE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 12:00 am | At East Junior High, Kerry Emswiler and Lynn Stuart were fast friends. In college, they were roommates. Now, even though one lives in Lincoln and the other in Houston, they are business partners. The two buddies own a children's apparel line called Budzie. Clever. And so are the clothes, which are edgy, appliqued and funky. "Between bows and rock stars," said Stuart, who's now Lynn Martin. But not in a sleazy way. Both are adamant about appropriate clothing for young girls - no belly buttons showing, and most skirts or dresses come with leggings to match. "I don't let my 6-year-old play with Bratz dolls," said Emswiler, 33. "And these don't look like Bratz clothes." The name, Budzie, was actually an early nickname for her daughter, Averie. "Now she hates it," Emswiler said. Regardless, Averie has been an inspiration for the clothing line. "She's a little clothes monster," she said. Emswiler saw boutique children's clothing in California and knew there was a way to make them at more moderate prices. So Emswiler spent six months researching the possibilities. She asked questions, enlisted friends and family, then started working on making it a reality. It's been a year since the company became official. It was a giant leap from her previous jobs and, no, Emswiler was not one of those teens who sewed her own clothes or longed to be a designer. Nor had she worked in retail. Martin, 34, a graphic designer in Houston, was the perfect sounding board for Emswiler's budding Budzie clothing line. She knew color. She knew design. Emswiler would send Martin a sketch. What did she think? Martin would send a possible design idea. What did Emswiler think? They set up Skype on their computers to chat and exchange ideas. The first order of 300 outfits barely filled up the plastic stacking bins in their Haymarket headquarters. With trunk shows, they sold out in three weeks. Word traveled fast among moms of young girls. Budzie was off and running. The next order was for 700 outfits, and it has grown from there. The label has a "look." Emswiler likes black mixed with bright, and it shows in this season's line of polka dots and animal print appliques. Martin is responsible for the tattoo-like hand-drawn detailed designs and some of the prints on the fabrics. It has been a learning experience for both of them. Filling out the manufacturers' order, with detailed measurements of each size and fabric pattern, is complicated. So was setting up a business model. And they are promoting their garments in a variety of ways, not sticking to a traditional marketing plan. For instance, one of their most successful venues is their Facebook Budzie fan page. They get suggestions, stores link to it - and they found their bow makers through Facebook. They sell on their Web site, www.Budzie.com, but also have clothes in 25 stores in nine states and the United Kingdom. In Lincoln, you can find Budzie at Tiaras and the Post and Nickel. Angie Parde, owner of Tiaras, said the $40 price tag is fairly moderate for that type of outfit, and they have been selling well. "My target is grandma," she said. The fall line is already on its way, and Martin and Emswiler are heading to their first trade show, where they will market fall and winter lines and some for spring 2010. The best part is that Emswiler has managed to make ends meet the first year. And Martin will leave her job at the end of this month to work from home for Budzie. Keeping up with their ideas for new designs is exhausting - but in a good way, Emswiler said. "We couldn't have ever imagined it would be this great," she said, looking at her longtime friend. Reach Kathryn Cates Moore at 473-7214 orkmoore@journalstar.com.