Immediates, Holiday Strong at WWIN
Buyers were out in force at the Women’s Wear In Nevada (WWIN) show, held Aug. 25–28 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, picking up mostly Immediates and Holiday goods and focusing on items and anything that may drive consumers into stores. The show caters to independent specialty stores as well as some chains that focus on the misses and updated categories.
Many of the West Coast showroom reps who took booths at the show reported that they were consistently busy—a big turnaround from the lackluster Los Angeles Fashion Market, which took place earlier in the month.
Lynne Andresevic of Los Angeles–based Crayola Sisters, said she was consistently busy writing orders for mostly in-stock clothing and some Spring I. Skirts and jackets with European styling from labels such as Cordelia were especially hot, she said. Buyers were keen on price points to about $110.
“When things get tough, they go back to the tried-and-true labels,” Andresevic said.
Canadian designer Sarah MacLachlan of Chloe Angus figured the show would be item-driven, so she just brought her “Button Wrap” knits ($59), a garment that could be worn as a sweater vest, poncho, shawl or several other items.
“We have an entire line, but nobody wants to take on entire new lines right now,” she said.
Retro tie-dyed tops featuring a variety of treatments were among the hot items in the Studio III and Betty Bottom booths. I.D.I. was the brand of choice in Studio III, and Baba was checking at Betty Bottom.
Buyers such as Kyleen Stevenson of Fashion Crossroads in Casper, Wyo., said her store hasn’t really felt the effects of a sluggish economy, so she was in an optimistic mode, eyeing trends such as maxi dresses, tie-dye, knit hoodies and prints. “Anything unique and different,” she said.
Mardi Bilsland, owner of the Clothes Tree in Corvallis, Ore., said her university town’s retailers are still feeling the effects of the sluggish economy. “It really hasn’t been strong since February,” she said, adding that the offerings at WWIN gave her hope for improvements because she saw some nice silks, jackets and tops.
Jeff Yunis, the show’s co-producer, said the show was sold out once again and buyer registration was on par with the past few shows.
“We came in with low expectations but had lots of late registrants,” he said. —Robert McAllister
