PPB April 2015

15 / 108

APRIL 2015 • PPB • 13
Youth Sun Visor Shield
those young ones’ eyes from
harsh rays with this 100-per-
cent cotton visor, available in
six colors. Otto
International, Inc.
UPIC: ottocap
Simply put, the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA)
requires all children’s products to undergo
third-party testing for certain requirements.
Assuming a garment complies with all reg-
ulations, the inks, embroidery thread and
any other decoration applied by industry
decorators must also comply. In addition,
tracking labels must be applied by the deco-
rator so that suspect garments can be
tracked back to their decoration source, the
date they were produced and the production
batch from which they originated.
The good news is that playing by the
rules when it comes to children’s apparel is,
in Poissant’s view, much less complicated
than campaigns involving toys or electron-
ics. A basic screen print decoration, for
example, is easy if distributors and suppliers
choose trusted partners who use compliant
inks. “Working with trusted partners such
as Wilflex and their Epic series of inks
helps ensure the decoration is compliant,”
Poissant says. “Testing documents of
Wilflex products are completed yearly and
updated to meet standards set by the
CPSC.”
However, Poissant says CPSIA require-
ments have pushed distributors and end
buyers to streamline their children’s wear
orders, resulting in fewer creative finishes.
“While specialty inks are available and
product-compliant once decorated, distribu-
tors tend to shy away from the upsell to
forego concerns.” Instead, the trend in youth
apparel is to feature standard inks and play
with off-location printing or large-scale
patterns to add interest and novelty.
Whether you stick to standard inks and
decorating methods, or venture into some-
thing more unique, Poissant says working
out compliance issues with suppliers before
purchase orders are submitted goes a long
way in smoothing out the order process and
ensuring products are compliant.
We bet it will limit tantrums and melt-
downs, too.
TAMA UNDERWOOD IS AN ASSOCIATE EDI-
TOR FOR PPB.
‘Rabbit Skins’ Infant Bodysuit Resort and hospital
clients will love these CPSIA-compliant baby body-
suits. They range in size from newborn to 24 months
and come in nearly 50 patterns and colors. Heritage
Sportswear UPIC: HERI0002
CHILDREN’S APPAREL
Dress The Little Darlings
In These Fab Finds