Special Clothing Requirements

www.Ernshaw.com by Libby Page

Little Loungers, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based company that manufactures and imports clothing for the Hasidic and orthodox Jewish communities and operates three retail locations and the online boutique www.LittleLoungers.com , carries items that meet the religions’ requirements.

“The main thing is all the clothing needs to be modest, with a high neck,” said manager of stores Mrs.Weiss “It shouldn’t be open anywhere and should be after the knee length.” Besides its own brand, Little Loungers offers higher-end brands from France and Italy such as Petite Bateau, Il Gufo, Lili Gaufrette and Floriane.

“[In] our community, were they have larger families,they like upscale European Designer Clothingthat’s Traditional and Classic matching brother and sister” she said. The Boutiques sell Shabbat Robes,Elegant Dresses, Sweaters, Infant Clothing, Undergarments that have great fit and washing experience plus modest swimwear collection.

Perry Ellis, a clothing brand out of Miami, creates items with wide appeal. “Because of our choice of colors and shapes, they really click with many different groups,” said Pablo de Echevarria, brand marketing representative from Perry Ellis. “We use a lot of black, so there is appeal to the Hasidim, but we don’t do specific designs based on religious affiliation.”

The market for the religious community can be a stable and healthy business, but it requires retailers and manufacturers to continue to do their homework. “It’s very good if you know what you’re doing,” said Mrs. Weiss of Little Loungers. “A lot of people try to imitate. You have to be creative. You have to know exactly the tastes of the communities.” •