California Apparel News

MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—Material World Miami Beach got off to a strong start at its Oct. 6–8 run at the Miami Beach Convention Center with strong first-day attendance, an exhibitor base that included apparel, textile and related companies from around the country and around the world and plans to introduce a second annual show in March 2003.

This marks the third time out for the textile and sourcing trade show, which is operated by Atlanta-based Urban Expositions, and the largest show to date.

(The 2001 show opened on Sept. 10 with strong business, but several exhibitors and attendees did not return to the show on Sept. 11 after the news of the terrorist attacks broke.)

Attendance figures were not available at press time, but first-day traffic exceeded expectations, according to Tim von Gal, vice president of Urban Expositions. Indeed, the registration line snaked around the lobby until late morning on opening day and there appeared to be more traffic in the aisles than at previous shows.

Pre-registration numbers increased by 62 percent over last year and the show saw a 15 percent increase in exhibitors, according to von Gal.

Many of those exhibitors included trade representatives and international companies from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, Africa and Cambodia. And exhibitors reported meeting with attendees from South and Central America as well as visitors from New York and California.

The show has expanded beyond its original goal of being a central point between U.S. manufacturers and suppliers and Caribbean and Central American firms looking to take advantage of the trade benefits of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership -Development Act (CBTPA, colloquially referred to as CBI or the Caribbean Basin Initiative).

“We’ve seen a significant increase in international presence, particularly from South America and CBI countries,” said R. Michael Tyndall, Cotton Inc.’s senior director of mill marketing for the Americas. Tyndall said the company, which has been exhibiting at Material World since its start three years ago, has been seeing increasing interest in CBTPA.

“A lot of the companies that we work with all year long are here and they see the benefits of taking advantage of what CBI has to offer,” he said.

The show also provided a forum for attendees interested in other trade packages, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a trade benefit package that is tied to CBTPA and extends benefits to U.S. businesses producing in sub-Saharan Africa, and the Andean Trade Partnership and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), which extends trade benefits to several of the Andean nations of South America.

“We’re already exporting $400 million in apparel to the U.S.—and paying 21 percent duty,” said Fernando Albareda, consul general of Peru, adding that once ATPDEA benefits begin, he is anticipating increased interest in production in Peru.

Several international exhibitors were on hand to promote upcoming apparel and textile sourcing shows overseas including the Peru Moda and Alpaca Peru show set for Nov. 5–7 in Lima, Peru; a trade mission to Mauritius Jan. 13–17, 2003, sponsored by the Corporate Council on Africa; and the Guatemala Apparel Sourcing Show set for May 7–9, 2003, in Guatemala City.

Knit Focus

But it was the Florida companies that turned out in force at Material World, according to several exhibitors. Lycra and spandex resources including Los Angeles-based Rex Fabrics had local swim companies lined up at their booths.

Rex was one of several California companies to exhibit at the show. Among the others were American Apparel, Pad System USA, J.N. Zipper Manufacturing, California Rain, Top Textile, Brayanix International, B.N.B. International Textiles, Tag-It, United Fabrics International and Hemp Traders.

Florida is a strong market for knits in general, according to April Booth, rep for Vernon, Calif.-based importer Eclat Textiles.

“This is a knit market here in Miami,” she said, adding, “I don’t see a lot of chiffon and silk.”

The knit interest was good news for Eclat, which carries knits including novelty jerseys, ribs, velour and terry imported from Taiwan.

Lucy design executives Kathleen McNally and Suzanne Young said they were on the hunt for knit and activewear offerings for the Portland, Ore.-based retailer. The two attended the first Material World in 2000 but skipped the show last year.

“When we were here before, we had a good time and thought we’d try it again,” said McNally, design director for the company. “This seems to be pretty meaningful in activewear.”

Knits topped the agenda for Dan Eisenberg, rep for Tenefly, N.J.-based converter Driftwood Export Co., who was on the lookout for printed knits.

“I haven’t seen a show this refreshing in years,” he said, adding, “I’m seeing newer, different people here.”

This was the second year Eclat attended the show, according to Booth, who said she was encouraged by last year’s business. And so far, she plans to return for the new March show.

“We got tons of business last year,” she said. “We’re having an excellent show this year, so we will participate next March.”

This was the second show for Woodland Hills, Calif.-based importer Euromalia, which carries novelty fabrics from Italy.

Rep Tracy Renee Simmer said that despite a quiet start on the first day, she was optimistic about the show’s potential.

“Last year, we found two good accounts on the first day,” she said.

First-time exhibitor Phil Fox, whose Los Angeles-based company carries fabrics from Italy, said he joined the show to try to expand his South Florida business and hopefully pick up some Central and South American business as well.

“I’m a believer in trade shows,” he said. “If I can meet two or three good long-term customers then it’s worth it.”

The show also attracted manufacturers including California Rain, which has operations in Los Angeles and in El Salvador.

“We’re trying to get potential customers to do private-label programs in the U.S. and Central America,” said rep Jack Chang, who added, “So far, we’ve seen some good potential customers.”

The next Material World will be held March 17–19, 2003, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The show, dubbed Material World Technology Solutions, will target information technology executives for the apparel and textile industries. The show plans to expand from its current offering of about 30 IT companies to about 100, according to von Gal.

“It’s a category that really needs its own voice,” he said.