In 1979, Ms. Peggy Hart Earle founded Hartstrings as an upscale, girl-focused brand inspired by classic American styling. From the very beginning, the company pushed the envelope of kids’ fashion with its own tweaks and twists, all the while maintaining an age-appropriate aesthetic. The company began branching off with a boys line in 1986, which relaunched under the name Kitestrings in 2012, as well as with the 1997 addition of KC Parker, a brand designed for style-savvy 8- to 12-year-old girls. When combined, the varied lines help to keep infants through young adolescents looking dapper. Acquired by the Parigi Group in April 2011, most Hartstrings, Kitestrings, and KC Parker items can be found in high-end department stores and children's specialty stores nationwide.