Clothes with character: new lines of character-driven apparel complement toys.(exclusive)

Playthings, September, 2005 by Benitez, Tina

Fashion is becoming a natural extension of toys--an extension that savvy toy retailers may want to leverage. From belts to bags to hats and beyond, the next best thing to playing with a favorite character in toy form, is wearing it on pajamas or a T-shirt. As manufacturers cash in on character-decorated apparel, more consumers welcome the one-stop shopping options for toys and the clothes that go with them.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lisa Weger, vice president of consumer products for the Cartoon Network, Atlanta, tells PLAYTHINGS that the new line of Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi apparel for tweens, scheduled for fall 2006 release, is an extension of the toys and television series. "We're looking to toy awareness pulling in more girls without losing...