BUZZWORTHY
To be considered for Buzzworthy , contact Cindy Schweich Handler at handler @ northjersey . com
Montclair area
BEDDING AND BATH BRAND HAS LOCAL ROOTS
Growing up in Austin , Texas , Robin Wilson suffered from multiple allergies . Fast-forward to the present , and she is providing ways consumers can avoid the same discomfort — at least in their bedrooms and bathrooms . Now aMontclair area resident and entrepreneur named one of the “ Top100 Female Founders in the World ” by Inc . Magazine , Wilson has launched CLEAN DESIGN HOME , anew line of hypoallergenic home textiles , in partnership with West Point Home , maker of the Martex brand . In January , Wilson ’ sline became available at 165 Macy ’ sstores nationwide .
The Clean Home Design bed and bath collection includes eco-friendly and sustainable pillows , cotton sheets , Supima cotton towels , and robes that keep asthma and allergy triggers — dust mites , pet dander , pollen — under control . Her new business makes Wilson the first Black American female founder of aglobal , licensed hypoallergenic textile brand . Consumers can look forward to aspring launch of Clean Design Home quilts .
— CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
Montclair
RETROAND RELAXED
When we last spoke to Montclair native and resident Evan Holt , he and two close buddies had launched aclothing line called Chaingan9 Supply Co . [“ KEY TO
SUCCESS ,” HOLIDAY 2019 ]. This month , he celebrates the one-year anniversary of his solo venture , SAINTERS , a clothing line he describes as “ modern vintage .” He sayss the style of the more than 30 different T-shirts , hats , hoodies , long-sleeve shirts and pants he ’ sdesigned are “ like old-school tour merch from the ’ 70s ’ 80s and ’ 90s with an up-to-date vibe .” In the future , he says , he hopes to hold fashion shows , hire young employees and design socks and crop tops for women . “ Relaxed fits are trendy right now ,” he says . “ Women like that , too .” • saintersclothing . com
— CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER
Bloomfield
ART . ICE . ZEN IS MORE THAN VEGAN ICE CREAM
Belleville native Kris Schmalz may have opened his vegan ice cream shop ART . ICE . ZEN in neighboring Bloomfield , but he ’ scome along way to get to this point . A former stick boy with the New Jersey Devils and equipment manager for the New Jersey Nets , he traveled the world with the teams before transitioning to the hospitality industry in New York . But his career came to ahard stop around 2010 , when he slipped into opioid addiction and lost 10 years of his life to it . Asuccessful stint at atreatment center in Florida , along with prolonged dedication to sobriety , training under two ice cream-making masters in Austin , Texas , and a decision to partner with his buddy , Kevin Davies , have led to the soft opening ( pun intended ) of Art . ICE . Zen around Christmas .
The shop ’ s prepackaged vegan ice cream flavors range from Vanilla Ice to Peanut Butter Ice Kreme with House Made Nutty Buddy to Oat Milk Based Bourbon Infused Apple Pie Ice Kreme with Candied Pecans . In February , Schmalz added La Colombe coffee , Harvey ’ s hand-rolled bagels and pizza to its menu . Warm weather should bring outdoor seating , Schmalz says .
• For more information and hours , go to @ Articezen on Instagram . 73 Park Ave ., Bloomfield .
— CINDYSCHWEICH HANDLER
CLEAN HOME DESIGN : PHOTO COURTESY OFABLUE EGG CORPORATION ; ART . ICE . ZEN : PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRIS SCHMALZ ; SAINTERS : PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN HOLT
4 SPRING 2022 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE