Gift Fair Favorites: Microcosmic Universe

The New York International Gift Fair is the bi-annual industry gathering for the gift industry. The tradeshow is THE place where 35,000 attendees from all over the globe come to see both the latest trends if gifting as well as to get a look at what the “must-have” gifts will be in the coming months.

While there’s literally over a half million square feet devoted to all types of gifts. The Gift Gurus hit the NYIGF floor in search of fun, unique and ultimately very “gift-able” products from the countless gifts on hand. Here’s one I love:

The Gift: Magnetic Comic Strip Kits (Comic Kits are $28 – Storyboard Kits are $30)

The Scoop: These DIY Magnetic Kits allow kids as young as 5 to create their own interchangeable comic book panels. Developed by a Brooklyn-based husband and wife team, Thomas McMahon and Janny Baek, they came up with the concept for these intergalactic themed kits while designing a space-themed crib mobile for their daughter.

Each kit comes with magnetic dry-erase blank backgrounds, speech balloons, a marker, and 20 flexible magnets, Kids can create their own space-age scenarios and write in comic character dialog like “WHIZ”, “POP” or the ever-popular “BANG!” What’s great about these kits is the versatility and endless play value. Kids can constantly come up with new stories to tell and pictures to arrange. They also make Storyboard Kits featuring different play themes.

A great gift for: Creative kids ages five and up. Keep your eye out for these kits in J.Crew stores this Fall.

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