YOUNG FASHIONISTAS LOVE THE DESIGN BAR
PLAY SPACE OFFERS GENIUS IDEA FOR KIDS
DESIGNER SELLS HER OWN CLOTHING LINE
BUZZWORTHY
To be considered for Buzzworthy, contact Cindy Schweich Handler at handler @ northjersey. com.
South Orange
YOUNG FASHIONISTAS LOVE THE DESIGN BAR
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Anna Rulnick understands the allure of designing clothes you’ d want to wear; as a fashion designer, manager and director, she worked with brands including Urban Outfitters, Sean John and Champion. At her shop, MOD STUDIO, young and fashion-conscious shoppers can experience what it’ s like to be a clothing designer at the Design Bar, an on-site area where they can personalize items they purchase at the store with trims, patches and other extra touches. MOD Studio, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary, continues to stock locally-owned and organic and sustainable brands, and hosts birthday parties that feature pizza, ice cream and fashion shows.
• 15 Village Plaza,( 973) 913-4655, shop-modstudio. com
Millburn
PLAY SPACE OFFERS GENIUS IDEA FOR KIDS
The newly opened GENIUS GEMS bills itself as a“ STEM-based play and learn space for kids and adults.” What this means is that elementary school-age kids can interact with the play space’ s collection of 24,000 magnetic tiles and magnetic interactive light wall, and create their own inventions in the project room. There are classes—“ Girls who Invent,”“ Friday Build-a-thon”— and kids 10and older can explore the large array of Cubelets, Ozobots and other hands-on robotics. Parents must stay on the premises with their kids, but here’ s where the genius comes into play: A parents’ lounge carries fresh-brewed coffee, snacks and free Wi-Fi, and has an outdoor patio overlooking the main play area. General admission tickets($ 15) are required for both parent and child, and can be purchased with credit cards only; online reservations for two-hour visits are encouraged. Birthday packages are also available. • 215 Millburn Ave.,( 862) 267-0611, geniusgems. com
Summit
DESIGNER SELLS HER OWN CLOTHING LINE
Take five industrial sewing machines, a cutting table and a designer with almost 20 years’ experience in creating womenswear, and the result is the in-house fashion design studio DONNA BETH, run by Donna Beth Friedlander. She is a full-service purveyor of her own line of women’ s dresses, tops, bottoms, skirts and cardigans. At trunk shows and online, she displays her fun yet classic clothes, which are more often than not knitwear due to the forgiving quality of the fabric. Friedlander meets with clients at her home, and adjusts her designs to fit. She keepsa large inventory of clothes on hand for clients, who find her via word of mouth.“ I’ m always sewing,” she says with a laugh.“ I rarely leave the house.” •( 973) 424-7966, donna @ dbdonnabeth. com, dbdonnabeth. com
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KIDS: COURTESY OF ANNA RULNICK; DONNA BETH CLOTHES: COURTESY OF DONNA BETH FRIEDLANDER; GENIUS GEMS: COURTESY OF MELISSA SPECTOR PHOTOGRAPHY
10 BACK TOSCHOOL 2018 MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE COMPILED BY CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER