New Lingerie Trade Show for Gerry

Empty spaces in the Gerry Building don’t stay empty for long on the happening lingerie floor.

Lois Evans, whose eponymous showroom is on the intimate-apparel floor of the Gerry Building in downtown Los Angeles, will launch the first Los Angeles Lingerie Association trade show Jan. 12-16 in a space across the hall from her showroom.

Evans said she started the LALA show because she was consistently approached by sales representatives who were interested in renting temporary space in her showroom during market weeks. Because of lack of space, she has always turned them away. When the 2,100-square-foot showroom near hers became vacant, Evans decided to launch the LALA trade show to provide those vendors with an intimate atmosphere in which to exhibit.

Evans’ showroom, which carries high-end lines such as MYLA, Epifania Lingerie, Mary Jo Bruno, Falke and Elizabeth Cotton is overflowing with shabby-chic antique furniture and vintage trinkets. She plans to extend the home-like ambience to the LALA trade show deacute;cor.

The new trade show will be held next to Samantha Chang’s continuing Boutique Lingerie show and will exhibit the same market of higher-end intimate apparel and sleepwear. Evans doesn’t see the two trade shows as competing, but more of an overall push for the intimate apparel category as a whole.

“It’s just another venue. I think it’s really just supporting [the lingerie business] and getting as many great people in the building for market as possible,” Evans said.

For more information, call (213) 438-0358. —Rhea Cortado