Latest news with #Theme
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Tween clothing line Theme is designer by 16-year-old Ariella Maizner
Ariella Maizner is sew talented. At age 6, she took her first sewing class and discovered a natural affinity. At age 9, she launched her own fashion line, Theme, after friends started asking about the feminine frocks she was making and wearing to birthday parties and bat mitzvahs. Initially, she tie-dyed shirts on the roof of her family's Manhattan apartment to sell at boutiques and pop-ups. When she was 10, Rent the Runway invited her to show a collection of sequined hoodies and matching skirts at New York Fashion Week. 6 Ariella Maizner started taking sewing classes at age 6. Now 16, she has her own thriving fashion line, Theme. T H E M E/ Ariella Maizner Now, at age 16, Maizner has a growing brand that's sold at more than 200 boutiques across the country, as well as in department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. Her clothes have been seen on Zaya Wade — the daughter of actress Gabrielle Union and basketball star-turned-Utah Jazz co-owner Dwayne Wade — and TikTok influencer Charli D'Amelio. She's collaborated with the likes of Walmart and State and recently debuted a line of beaded bracelets and charm necklaces for teen mall brand Claire's. 'Ever since I was little, I played dress up,' Maizner, a sophomore at a Manhattan public high school, told The Post. 'I thought, 'Oh, if I can make my own clothes, that would be so cool!'' The first piece she finished was a rainbow-striped maxi dress with a matching belt. Soon, she was sewing herself frocks for her friends' birthday parties and other events — and getting lots of requests from others who wanted clothes like hers. 'That's when I was like, 'I want to make a brand,' because everyone asked me to make things for them,' Maizner said. When she told her mother, Debbi Maizner, then a CMO at JPMorgan Chase, she wanted to start her own line, Debbi was cautious but encouraging. 'I told her: 'We live in the best city in the world. You should meet people and learn from them,'' Debbi — who now handles operations for Theme — told The Post. 'It started as a journey to just support her interests.' 6 Maizner (pictured at age 9) started out designing party dresses for herself. T H E M E/ Ariella Maizner Maizner often would DM designers and entrepreneurs she admired on Instagram and ask to meet with them. 'I would bring all the clothes I sewed and lay them all out, and [they would invite] their whole team to come in, and they would just connect me with other people and give me really good advice that motivated me,' Maizner said. 6 Soon, friends were requesting the dresses she was making. T H E M E/ Ariella Maizner 'When I first met Ariella I was struck by how young she was, but how she knew exactly what she wanted to do,' Minkoff told The Post. Theme is unabashedly girly: tiered ruffled skirts with lace trim, sequin-studded strapless party frocks, frilly tops and tie-dye hoodies and loungewear in pastel hues. Yet Maizner prizes comfort and versatility. Tops come with detachable, adjustable spaghetti straps; skirts have shorts attached to them. One of those designers was Rebecca Minkoff, who has become a key supporter of Maizner's work. 'A really big thing is making sure the clothes are comfortable and the girls feel confident in what they wear,' Maizner said. 'Because I think that's like the biggest thing when you wear clothes: feeling good and feeling yourself. 6 Theme is sold in 200 boutiques across the country, as well as in department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. T H E M E/ Ariella Maizner While Maizner sits in on business meetings, provides feedback to manufacturers and helps conceptualize the brand's photo shoots, Debbi wants to make sure she has time to be a normal teen. 'I want to let her be a kid,' she said. Maizner competes on her school's basketball team, runs track and field and plays tennis. Her favorite subjects are math and photography. On weekends, she goes vintage shopping with her friends and hangs out in the West Village. 6 Maizner's designers are girly but unfussy. T H E M E/ Ariella Maizner And, in between all that, she works on her fashion line. She creates mood boards with vintage photos for inspiration. She sketches silhouettes and sends them, along with color swatches, to the various manufacturers she works with. She tests fabrics and examines every single stitch. Yet Maizner told The Post that she doesn't think of designing as work. 'Whenever I have nothing after school, I want to go to sewing class, because it's my happy place,' she said. 'Honestly, it doesn't feel like a lot to fit in, because I really like doing it. It just feels fun.' 6 When she's not designing clothes, Maizner is an average New York high schooler — playing school sports and hanging out with friends in the West Village. T H E M E/ Ariella Maizner She involves her friends and sisters in the process as much as possible — fittings are like parties. And her rambunctious 7-year-old sister, Noa, is one of her best fit models. 'She gives us really honest advice,' Maizner said with a laugh. 'We always say if she can do a cartwheel in it then it passes the test.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shark, stingrays, fish arrive as Sea Life Florida at Legoland plans June 6 opening
The first marine animals have arrived at Sea Life Florida at Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven as the aquarium prepares for its grand opening June 6. The resort posted images of a reef shark imported from Germany, now residing in its main oceanarium, called a Theme Park Under the Sea. The new residents include clownfish, cownose stingrays and unicorn tangs, Legoland Florida said in a news release. 'This moment marks the shift from construction site to conservation site,' Sarah McMahon, curator at Sea Life Florida, said in the release. 'From building walls to building connections between people and the ocean. Every fish, ray, and shark that arrives is a chance to spark curiosity and inspire care for our planet.' Sea Life Florida will have more than 25 interactive exhibits, including a stingray bay, hands-on rockpools, and 10 underwater-themed galleries. The aquarium will be fully ADA accessible, and Sea Life Florida aspires to earn a designation as a Certified Autism Center, a resort-wide initiative, the release said. Annual passholders will be given exclusive early access on May 23, ahead of the official grand opening. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Marine animals arrive as Sea Life Florida plans June 6 opening
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Animals get into swim of things at new Sea Life Florida aquarium
The first animals have joined the tanks at the upcoming Sea Life Florida Aquarium in Winter Haven. Among the initial inhabitants are a black-tip reef shark named Pretzel, who was born and raised in a Sea Life attraction in Oberhausen, Germany. 'It's a whole team effort, from transport logistics to habitat checks. A lot goes on behind the scenes to make sure animal arrival is smooth and safe,' Marie Collins, regional head of conservation welfare and education, said in a video released by the attraction. Epic Universe: Exec mixes arts, engineering in theme park roles The aquarium will operate adjacent to Legoland Florida theme park in Polk County. Both are owned by Britain-based Merlin Entertainments Group, which also runs Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and Orlando Eye in Icon Park. The Winter Haven aquarium will feature more than 3,000 marine animals, including stingrays and big-belly seahorses. It will feature 25 interactive exhibits plus a 180-degree ocean tunnel that travels beneath sea life. The new attraction won't have a Lego theme but will include a 'Theme Park Under the Sea' display 'We'll continue to welcomes species in the weeks ahead as we build towards opening day,' Collins said. The grand opening is now scheduled for June 6; its website says a 'soft opening' will launch May 23. No rest for Mess Fest: Foam flies again at Orlando Science Center For more information, go to Email me at dbevil@ BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at
Gulf Today
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Sheikh Khaled witnesses announcement of Disney Theme Park Resort project on Yas Island
His Highness Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has witnessed the announcement of the Disney Theme Park Resort project on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, following a strategic partnership agreement between The Walt Disney Company and Miral. Sheikh Khaled underscored that the development of this entertainment project in Abu Dhabi reflects the importance and global standing of both the United Arab Emirates and the emirate as a leading destination in the leisure tourism sector. Sheikh Khaled also highlighted that the creative and cultural economy has become a key pillar in supporting economic diversification and enhancing GDP growth, in line with the objectives of the National Strategy for Cultural and Creative Industries. During the project announcement, Sheikh Khaled was accompanied by Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Miral; Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport; Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Crown Prince's Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court; and Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral. Miral, Abu Dhabi's leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, has reached an agreement with The Walt Disney Company to develop the new Disney Theme Park Resort on Yas Island waterfront, one of the world's premier entertainment destinations. Sheikh Khaled and other dignitaries during the Disney Theme Park Resort project announcement. Strategically located, Yas Island serves as a gateway connecting major tourism markets across the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia and Europe. This project will become Disney's seventh theme park destination worldwide, following its parks in California, Florida, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said, "Abu Dhabi stands as a unique model where authentic heritage meets a bold vision for the future, where we preserve our past while laying solid foundations for a promising tomorrow. The collaboration between Abu Dhabi and Disney demonstrates the remarkable results of combining visionary leadership and creative excellence. "What we are creating with Disney in Abu Dhabi is a whole new world of imagination - an experience that will inspire generations across the region and the world, creating magical moments and memories that families will treasure forever. Through the development of unique attractions and experiences, Abu Dhabi continues to reinforce its position as a leading global destination for cultural and family tourism," said Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak. The new resort will be fully developed and built by Miral. Disney will lead creative design, attraction development and operational oversight to provide a world-class guest experience. Upon completion, Miral will also operate this recreational destination, drawing on its extensive experience in developing and managing some leading family entertainment destinations on Yas Island and in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with prominent American and European brands. Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, said, "This is an extraordinary opportunity for Disney to bring its renowned storytelling to yet another region of the world with a completely new theme park experience that will be a cultural, entertainment and technological marvel. "Abu Dhabi's position as an international crossroads, its embrace of global culture, and its ambitious vision for the future make it a perfect location for Disney to reach millions of new families and captivate guests for generations to come.' Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, said, "The concept for this resort will push the boundaries of theme park design, showcasing groundbreaking technology and visionary architecture, including a modern castle unlike anything we've ever created. "This project, together with our ambitious expansion plans in Florida and California, will create thousands of new jobs in the US as we enter into a new era of expansion.' WAM
Wall Street Journal
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Shopping for Tweens Is a Nightmare. These Brands Want to Fix That.
Ariella Maizner started sewing at age 6. By 9, she was making clothes for herself and friends. That hobby became the launchpad for her tween clothing line, Theme. At 10, she was showing off her designs during New York Fashion Week. Theme's clothes exist on the line between girlhood and grown-up. Dresses are strapless but come with detachable straps in case the tween isn't comfortable baring her shoulders. Special-occasion dresses have cutouts but can be worn with the opening in the front or back, depending on the girl's comfort level—and what her parents allow. Many of the dresses are either smocked in the back or have ties, allowing the garments to grow with their wearer as her body changes. Spaghetti straps have buttons to securely adjust the length.
