Just as with the evaluation process for the "Good Housekeeping Seal", which was so popular and trusted for many years in the past, a product must include excellent production values, universal ethical values, appeal to children, be consistent with age appropriateness, and innovative value, in order to be considered for acceptance for A Prelude to Fashion™ Seal of Approval and/or awards.

A Prelude To Fashion™ staff look for products that entertain and teach with unique flair, actively stimulate a buyer's attention, and inspire excitement in the age group for which they are designed.

The product should be made of materials made to deliver an excellent image and encourage continued sales if not a custom piece.  A very vital part of the scenario is that the company should be dependable and stand behind its product. Innovation, Quality, and Style, are the primary factors we expect to see in a product which we consider for induction into our product guide. 

Our Product Evaluation Guidelines

All products are evaluated based upon strict guidelines established by Positive Marketing International™, ( hereafter referred to as PMI ), which are quite detailed and have been carefully developed. Top professionals in multiple divisions of fashion apparel, footwear / hosiery / accessories, fabric design, and many other associated areas have donated their time to help establish these guidelines. A combination of models, sales reps, specialists in education and behavioral science for pre-school to juvenile age groups, as well as parents and children, provide evaluation feedback on everything reviewed in addition to our own staff results. These guidelines are periodically updated to remain consistent with current trends of the consumer market.

It is important to know that we do NOT publish reviews on any product which we feel can generally be seen as offensive, of bad visual or audible influence, or not acceptable according to PMI™ standards.

A quite small sampling of our product review guidelines which we use to evaluate and rate products submitted for review is listed below. Please note that this is only a "brief" outline of our entire product evaluation guidelines. We do not share our entire group of guidelines to maintain a unique proprietary evaluation procedure.

Visual Appearance

• What is the level of visual appeal for this product? ( How strong of a positive response is drawn from you when seeing the product? )
• Does the product have a consistency in color and design? ( Is it too busy in color or is the design distracting? )
• Does the product exhibit a message that encourages a buyer to take it off the rack and look at it in greater depth?
• What is the level of visual appeal for marketing value and sales for the product?

Comfort

• Does the product design deliver a message of comfort?
• Does the fabric being used pose any risk of causing distraction or irritation?
• What is the level of movement and flexibility in the product for the person wearing it?
• Does the product have any risk of a tear in a seam or other portion from extended movement or reach?

Originality / Uniqueness

• What is the level of innovation and creative style that makes the product special?
• What is the level of "WOW!Factor™" in the product? ( Does the product have a unique feature(s) that really packs a punch in drawing immediate attention in uniqueness or innovation? ).
• Does the uniquness and/or innovative quality of the product add greater marketing value potential for fast sale?

Design Quality/Functionality

• What is the level of simplicity of use of product?
• What is the level of quality in the design of the product?
• What is the level of quality and consistency in the stitching of the pieces of the product?
• What is the level of contribution to children’s healthy physical development with the product?
• What is the level of suitability of the product for use in home, work environment, or both?

Durability

• Does the material used for the product demonstrate durability for extended use?
• What is the level of potential for breakage or tearing with extended use.
• Does the material used for the product exhibit minimal risk of discoloration with extended use?
• What is the level of assurance of good comfort with the product after extended use?

Marketability

• What is the level of quality in packaging design, safety, and age/gender designation with the product?
• What is the level of quality in design and use of the product? Determination needs to be made as to how well the product will hold up to continued use?
• What is the level of accuracy of meeting specified productive ends with the product?
• What is the level of environmental contribution and social responsibility by the product?

Eligible Products
A Prelude To Fashion™ accepts products designed for infants through adult. Prototypes are also eligible for submission, but they are only given article recognition, no awards.

Resubmissions
Products that are NOT approved for A Prelude To Fashion™ Seal of Approval are eligible to be resubmitted.  Upon re-submission the product must have had made the changes specified in first submission denial for approval.

Entry Fees
Unlike many other organizations, there are no entry fees of ANY kind.  It is the desire of A Prelude To Fashion™ staff to keep a level playing field for all products and accessories submitted for approval.

Shipping and Delivery
A Prelude To Fashion™ upholds a policy of no acceptance of COD or postage due packages. If your package is considered to be oversized or overweight by the US Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, DHL, or Airborne Express, you will need to contact our office to specify how the products or accessories will be submitted.

Please ship your products to the following office for review upon completion of this form.
All products with their corresponding applications, press kits, etc. should be included.

( Evaluation and analysis generally is completed within 30 business days following reception of product. )

Our shipping addresses is: