Girl Boy: Novelty Tees, Makeup, Bags
Cynthia Koco Sakai isn’t out to change the world with her novelty T-shirt and cosmetic collections, but she is out to give it a youthful makeover.
The 20-year-old Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based designer is launching a collection of T-shirts, fingernail polish, double-sided lipgloss and cosmetic brands called Girl Boy by Koco at MAGIC International after spending the past few months testing her products at specialty retail stores around the United States.
“I didn’t realize how much of an impression the logo would have on people,” said Sakai.
Her T-shirts are made with 100 percent cotton and come in three styles: razorback, baby tee and peasant top. Each shirt has a Girl Boy by Koco screen-printed logo made with special ink that gives it a 3-D effect.
“People love them because they’re made with lightweight fabrics that look really good with jeans,” said Sakai.
The budding designer also created a group of handbags for multipurpose uses, ranging from a cosmetic carrier case to a “secret” feminine product case. With wholesale prices starting at $10, the collection comes in vinyl with Girl Boy by Koco logo or secondhand denim fabric, embellished with ethnic beading.
“They’re fun and cute items that would make a nice display in any boutique that specializes in novelty items,” said Maria Ayala, womenswear buyer at Patricia Field boutique in New York.
Girl Boy by Koco is also sold at Nida in San Francisco and in Southern California at Beau Eros in Manhattan Beach, Baci in Santa Monica and Planet Blue in Malibu.
For a closer look at Girl Boy by Koco, visit MAGIC booth #AC52421. —Claudia Figueroa
