Flower girl dresses

	Model SD-002 from Anhui Shineday of mainland China is made of 100 percent cotton. Price is $4.20.

Suppliers of children’s sundresses in mainland China and Hong Kong are directing product development efforts toward stylish and colorful designs that also have improved comfort.

Releases feature floral and crocheted motifs, embroidery, lace and satin ribbons. They come in bright shades of pink, orange, yellow, blue and green. Rhinestones, beads and metallic thread are used for a glittery effect.

Most makers employ cotton fabric, with the weight ranging from 180 to 220gsm, mainly because of its softness, excellent absorbency, and nonallergenic and breathable properties. Some versions are blended with polyester, spandex and Lycra for improved comfort.

To meet demand for environment-friendly designs, a number of companies are launching models in organic cotton.

Suppliers are also adopting poplin, seersucker, pique and jersey on new sundresses. Designs in these materials are durable and can withstand repeated machine-washing. In addition, special finishes are employed to make releases resistant to fire, stains and wrinkles.

In light of recent garment recalls, mainland and Hong Kong makers are using only fabric that is free of or has minimal lead, azo and formaldehyde content.

To ensure quality further, companies are implementing stricter QC measures in production, following international standards. Most have set up in-house laboratories to conduct tests on chemical content, durability, flammability and colorfastness.

Other makers send samples to third-party institutions such as Intertek and SGS to evaluate their products’ compliance with safety standards such as ASTM, EN 71 and the Oeko-Tex Standard 100.

Among mainland suppliers interviewed for this report, China Silk Wujiang Imp./Exp. Co. Ltd has released the ZS02 sundress with crocheted motif. Made of 100 percent cotton, the model is priced at $8.50.

China Silk Wujiang’s factory is equipped with fabric-inspection machines. Among its 600 workers, 40 technicians supervise QC.

The company exports primarily to North America and the EU. The majority of shipments are under OEM and ODM contracts. Kmart and Haggar in the US are among the major clients.

The BTK1034 model from Jiangsu Botai Group Co. Ltd is made of pure cotton fabric and priced at $8.80.

Designs from the ISO 9001:2000-certified company are subjected to a series of inspections, including chemical tests, all of which are performed in-house. There are 30 technicians dedicated to ensuring that models are safe and valid for export.

Anhui Shineday Industries Co. Ltd has 45 personnel who perform raw material and finished productQC according to ISO 9001:2000 guidelines. The company also manufactureschildren’s shirts and underwear.

Models from Danyang Best Import & Export Trade Co. Ltd undergo QC to meet the strict directives of key export markets, including the US, which absorbs more than half of shipments.

The supplier offers mainly children’s garments, including sundresses, T-shirts, pants, vests, skirts and formal wear.

Model XJM240 from Jiangyin Xinjiamei Clothing Co. Ltd is a sundress made of 100 percent cotton, embellished with fabric applique and embroidery.

The company’s designs are exported to North America, Europe and Asia.

In Hong Kong, models from Century Star (China) Ltd T/A BTV Trading Co. meet the EN 71 standard.

Among the company’s best-sellers is a pure cotton sundress with colorful prints and patterns. Other designs are embellished with satin ribbons, lace and embroidery.

Century Star also manufactures children’s jackets, pants, shirts and formal suits. The EU, South Africa and Australia are the main export markets.

M.R. Simak Ltd implements QC measures at all stages of production. Models from the company adhere to international standards, usually those of the US, Europe and Asia.