Gearing Up for a Crowded Trade Show Scene in L.V.

It’s that time of year again, when a huge swath of the apparel industry descends on Las Vegas for the massive MAGIC Marketplace and its concurrent satellite shows.

This year the mix will include a dozen shows featuring everything from men’s sportswear and streetwear to juniors fashions and contemporary and missy merchandise. There are shows dedicated to accessories, swimwear and lingerie, as well as shows where retailers and manufacturers can source overseas manufacturers and fabric suppliers.

Fashion in the spotlight

Las Vegas may devote its frenetic energy entirely to the MAGIC Marketplace and its satellite shows. It will be the only major convention in town in the last week of August, according to Jeremy Handel, a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The only other major event, besides gambling, taking place in Las Vegas during the last week of August will be competitions of the International Basketball Association, better known by its French acronym, FIBA. National basketball teams from around the Western Hemisphere will play in a pre-competition for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The competition will take place at the campus of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.Dresses define MAGIC

The dress has been the “must have” item for much of 2007, and a quest to find the next big trend in dress styles will be one of the top priorities for retailers as an estimated 120,000 people converge on North America’s largest tradeshow, the MAGIC Marketplace, in Las Vegas from Aug. 27 to 30.

For Kathy Shawver, partner and buyer at the Diane Merrick boutique in Los Angeles, offering a variety in dress styles should be the key to a profitable Fall season. “I’m looking for fresh designs,” Shawver said of her upcoming MAGIC shopping trip. Long dresses have been outselling mini-dresses at her boutique recently, and she forecasts that dresses popping with color also should be in style for Fall and Holiday.

Trend forecaster Janine Blain also placed her bets on the dress being popular for the Holiday season. But she added that many dresses and other garments would feature novelty details that would make styles shine.

“We want the special details: interesting sleeves, embroideries, pin tucks and embellishments,” said Blain, the West Coast director of The Doneger Group. She forecast that ethnic trims such as wood beads would also be popular later this year and through Spring 2008.

Variety could be even more crucial to a retailer’s bottom line than in the past year, said Michelle Dalton Tyree, owner of Iconology, a boutique in Los Angeles. “I think the economy is changing a lot. We might be possibly going into a difficult period,” Dalton Tyree said. During the holidays she plans to spread risk by offering designer items for those with luxury budgets and also chic-looking items with popular price points for those with more-modest bank accounts. Streetwear skyrockets at MAGIC

The MAGIC Marketplace hopes to offer every kind of garment, with more than 4,000 vendors exhibiting their Holiday and Spring collections for crowds of retailers. However, one category that MAGIC feels is grabbing retailer’s attention this year is the hip-hop and skateboard-influenced streetwear.

This August’s trade show will offer the largest exhibit of streetwear in the 10 years that the brash style has maintained a presence at the show, according to Chris McCabe, the vice president and general manager of MAGIC. Proof of streetwear’s living large could be defined in real estate. The entire first and second floors of Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall will be devoted to 200 streetwear exhibitors in August.

The quantity of streetwear offerings will be matched with high quality. MAGIC will debut a show in a show called Progressive Streetwear Community. It will spotlight the labels hailed as having the highest cachet for streetwear fans, such as Obey, Crooks & Castles and The Hundreds.

Retailers also may find out what makes streetwear culture tick at the trade-show floor. Streetwear retailers, such as Beautiful Decay and Karmaloop, will produce lounges with entertainment and artwork at the Progressive Streetwear Community.

Streetwear won’t be the only story at this August’s MAGIC. Swimwear will have an added presence at the show. More than 300 exhibitors will exhibit. But like all MAGIC Marketplace events, celebrity will be important. Paris Hilton, Heidi Klum and rapper LL Cool J will be on hand to debut fashion lines.

In addition to men’s and women’s apparel, childrenswear resources will set up shop at MAGICKids, also at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Swimwear brands will return for ISAM, set for Aug. 27–30, at the Hilton Convention Center, adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Also at the Hilton will be MAGIC’s accessories resources showing under the banner Accessories at the Hilton.

More than 750 manufacturers and fabric suppliers from more than 30 countries will fill up the cavernous Sourcing at MAGIC section in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall during the show’s Aug. 27–30 run.

Exhibitors include contract manufacturers as well as ODM (original design manufacturers), fabric and trim suppliers, design studios, packaging suppliers, logistics specialists and technology companies.

The show features a full slate of education seminars and matchmaking services that will pair buyers with offshore manufacturers.

* The MAGIC Marketplace, Sourcing at MAGIC, ISAM, Accessories at the Hilton, MAGICkids* Aug. 27–30* Las Vegas Convention Center, North and South Hall * Show hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 27–29), 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (Aug. 30)* www.magiconline.comProject Global Trade Show

Project Global Trade Show will land at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas Aug. 27–29 with a packed show floor filled with fashion’s cool kids, premium denim and contemporary styles. Exhibitors will include Black Hearts Brigade, Cassette, Charlotte Tarantola and Cory Lynn Calter.

Last season, Project doubled its size from 500 exhibitors in 2006 to more than 1,100. The show’s mix of contemporary men’s and women’s collections drew 23,000 buyers, according to show organizers. And although some exhibitors and attendees found the new larger size daunting, show founder Sam Ben-Avraham said he intended to stick to the same larger size for the next two years. *Project Global Trade Show*Aug. 27–29*Sands Expo & Convention CenterHours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 28–28), 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (Aug 29)www.projectshow.comPool goes green

The PoolTradeShow will continue to focus on emerging brands Aug 27–29, when it returns to its new home, a tent in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Gold Lot. “We’re sticking to our concept of supporting those up-and-coming brands,” said Mindy Wiener, Pool’s director of operations.

The big news is S[eco]nd, Pool’s green show within a show. Showcasing approximately 40 eco-friendly brands, S[eco]nd is Pool’s answer to retailers and manufacturers looking to affect a positive change in the environment. Weiner, who has been making efforts to make Pool more environmentally conscious, said the idea of elevating the profile of green brands and escalating Pool’s own green efforts made sense. “It all clicked. Brands have been very receptive.”

So far, brands such as Linda Loudermilk, Manimal and Peligrosa have signed up for S[eco]nd. Brands in the capsule show were selected because they use sustainable or organic fabrics, reduce landfills through eco-friendly packaging, feature reused or recycled fabrics, support fair trade practices, use local production or contribute portions of their proceeds to charity, Weiner said. The best part is that this is all done without losing style. “There is a new breed of individuals that want to contribute in a positive manner but that also have a desire to hold onto their individual fashion style. We have no doubt that after visiting S[eco]nd and seeing our designers, people’s perceptions will be changed. Perhaps a new breed of hippie will be born—focus on ’hip,’” Weiner said.

S[eco]nd will feature bamboo floors, trees and recycled furniture. Pool itself will recycle its carpet, serve organic food at its concession stands, turn its vinyl show banners into bags, print its show book on recycled paper and use organic cotton to make its official show bag.

“Trade shows or large events typically create a lot of waste. We are hoping others are inspired in their personal and professional lives by some of the simple changes we’ve made,” Weiner said.

Pool has also teamed up with San Diego–based independent shopping event Thread, which will produce a small show within a show at Pool with a select group of indie labels. For information about Thread, visit www.threadshow.com. *PoolTradeShow *Aug 27–29 *Las Vegas Convention Center Gold Lot*Hours: 9 a.m.–7 p.m. (Aug. 27–28), 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 29)*www.pooltradeshow.comUnited Global Trade Show

For its second installation at Las Vegas, United Trade Show will return Aug. 27–29 to the Alexis Park Resort. The show, which bills itself as the only independent show in Las Vegas, is dedicated to up-and-coming streetwear brands. Exhibitors will include We Are the Superlative Conspiracy, Ambission, KR3W, Han Cholo, Blood Is the New Black and Turk + Taylor.*United Global Trade Show*Aug. 27–29*Alexis Park Resort*Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. *www.unitedtradeshowusa.comWomen’s Wear in Nevada

Kristi Williams, who reps several updated lines from the California Market Center, already knows the Women’s Wear in Nevada (WWIN) show, running Aug. 27–30 at the Rio Hotel & Casino, is going to be hectic.

“I’ve got lots of appointments set. I’m getting reorders and buyers are ready to get on to the next season,” she said. Williams is exhibiting at WWIN, showing Jag Jeans, 180 T-shirts, Magnet Art, Bedazzled belts, Biak Biak resort skirts, Urban Tribe contemporary wear and Colour Works knits.

The show’s co-producers, Roland Timney and Jeff Yunis, reported that WWIN has been sold out for three months, which offers another indication of a busy show to come.

Based on feedback from her accounts, Williams said retail is soft right now, but she still is expecting lots of paper moving because many buyers are maintaining a positive outlook.

WWIN buyers will have an opportunity to see it all from misses and updated categories to accessories. Emerging categories at the show include eco and green lines featuring natural and organic fabrics as well as lines from plus-size designers such as Svoboda by Jessica Svoboda, Kiyonna and IGIGI. Denim and dresses also remain popular.

California reps slated to exhibit include Crayola Sisters, Les Winner, Cary Lowe, Indira, Robert Friedman, Betty Bottom, Jon Katz and Mitch Stedman, among others. WWIN’s childrenswear show KIDShow will return to the Rio.

One of the new features of the show includes a “late night at WWIN” event. The Monday of the show will be open until 8 p.m., with wine and cheese being served. Daily free lunches and shuttles to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center will be running.

“You can sell a million booths, but it’s the buyer traffic we have that makes this show work,” said Yunis.*Women’s Wear in Nevada (WWIN) *Aug. 27–30*Rio Hotel & Casino*Hours: 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (Aug. 27), 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 28–29), 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Aug. 30)*www.wwinshow.comThe Exclusive

The Exclusive shifts to a new venue at the Palazzo Ballroom of The Venetian hotel for its Aug. 26–28 run. The show was previously held in Hall G of the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

“We signed a long-term contract, and this will be a more fitting venue for our exhibitors and buyers,” said Larry Hymas, co-producer.

The Exclusive caters to buyers looking for luxury and better goods for mostly menswear vendors with some womenswear companies. The exhibitor lists features top European and American brands such as Nick Hilton, Torras of Spain, Ted Baker of London, Z&B Creazione, Haupt, Ingram and others. Trade groups from Italy, Britain and other countries will also be bringing large contingents.

Among the Italian exhibitors are Dalmine, Dolcepunta, Gran Sasso, Italo Ferretti, Luciano Moresco, Luigi Bianchi Mantova / LBM 1911, Mabro, Vitaliano Pancaldi, Pavone, Pierluigi Della Spina /The Sampson, Xacus and Yashi Yamamuri /Ital Wear, which will participate in a pavilion sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission.

Since last season, big fluctuations in currency rates have the euro trading at a near-record level against the U.S. dollar. That has forced many European labels to raise their prices. While it is not expected to affect the high-end buyer to a large degree, it may have an impact down the line if the trend continues. Still, any price increases may affect some buyers, some of whom are already trimming the fat, and the menswear market has been soft.

The accent on casual clothing in this market is one of its bright hopes, and it is expected to continue strong with denim, T-shirts, polos and novelty shirting growing in the show’s Synergy section. Buyers can expect to see lots of linen, artistic prints, more subtle coloring and fabric treatments, especially stretch fabrics.

High-end suits, neckwear and footwear from European and U.S. resources will be on hand as well as a contingent of Resort and golfwear labels such as Greg Norman and Ben Hogan.

An alternative rock band will perform during a happy hour following the show on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27.*The Exclusive *Aug. 26–28 *The Venetian, Palazzo Ballroom*Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 26–27), 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (Aug. 28)*www.theexclusiveshow.comCurvExpo

CurveNV’s first installation in February featured more than 50 brands and was the only trade show dedicated to high-end intimate apparel during Las Vegas Fashion Week. The second installation of CurveNV, which will run from Aug. 27 to 29 on the main floor of The Venetian hotel, has grown to more than 150 lingerie and swimwear brands. International brands sponsored by Wear? Canada!, La Mode de France and The Italian Trade Commission, as well as a variety of brands from across the United States, will exhibit.

Some of the foundations, fashion lingerie, sleepwear and men’s underwear brands expected to inhabit the 40,000-square-foot trade-show floor include Wacoal, Le Mystegrave;re, Felina, DKNY Underwear, Vera Wang, Panache, Rampage, Elita, Cosabella, Hanky Panky, Spanx, Free People, Diesel, Louis Feacute;raud, Kenan, Claire Pettibone, Mary Green, Munki Munki, Arobatherapy, Derek Rose, Mansilk, Giulio, Gregg Homme, Parah, Roesch, T, Verdissima and Y & Co. Some of the swimwear brands include Aqualara, Panache and Cosabella. There will also be a special category of maternity wear, shapewear and accessories brands. *CurveNV*Aug. 27–29*The Venetian hotel, main floor *Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 27–28), 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (Aug. 29) *www.curvexpo.com Lingerie Americas

Lingerie Americas has hosted successful lingerie trade shows twice annually in New York since 2002. Lingerie Americas will hold its first Las Vegas installation from Aug. 26 to 28 on Level 4 of The Venetian hotel.

The trade-show exhibitors encompass a variety of international brands in the intimate-apparel and swimwear market such as John Galliano, Kenzo, Nina Ricci, Christian Lacroix, Betsey Johnson, Oscar De la Renta, Elle Macpherson Intimates, Bendon Group, Calida, Carole Hochman Group, Eveden, Natori, Van de Velde, Aubade, Barbara, Chantelle, Huit, Lejaby, Ravage, Simone Peacute;regrave;le, Clo, Blush, Nina V, Vida by Juliana Paes and Wendy Glez.

Among the panel events planned is an “Eveden Inc. Fit School Seminar,” presented by Frederika Zappe, Eveden national fit specialist, and Jim West, director of marketing and product development for Eveden. The panel will teach retailers techniques for fitting full-bused and full-figured customers. *Lingerie Americas*Aug. 26–28*The Venetian hotel, level 4 *Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 26–27), 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (Aug. 28) *www.lingerie-americas.comASAP Global Sourcing Show

The ASAP Global Sourcing Show will return to host its 12th show at the Venetian Grand Ballroom, where exhibitors representing factories from around the world will set up booths displaying their wares.

China will, once again, represent the largest number of exhibitors, which will also include representatives from factories in Hong Kong, Macau, India, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the United States. Exhibitors include full-package apparel makers, accessories manufacturers, and textile and leather suppliers.

ASAP will host its matchmaking sessions in which meetings are pre-arranged between buyers from the United States and international suppliers. For buyers at the show, ASAP sourcing specialists will be on hand to walk to the show and make introductions with appropriate factories. ASAP executives can also assist attendees interested in finding joint-venture opportunities and can help match international factories with potential sales representatives based in the United States.

The trade show’s education seminars will focus on international sourcing opportunities and sustainable sourcing and production.

The Global Eco show will also return to share space with the ASAP show.* ASAP Global Sourcing Show * Aug. 26–29* Venetian Grand Ballroom* Show hours: 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (Aug. 26–28), 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (Aug. 29)* www.asapshow.comEco Fashion Show in Vegas

“Green Vegas,” a fashion show highlighting apparel from exhibitors of the Global E.C.O. Show, will take place at 6 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Venetian hotel’s Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas.

The show will kick off the second running of the E.C.O. show, set for Aug. 26–29 at The Venetian and run in conjunction with the ASAP Global Sourcing Show.

The latest organic and natural fabrics will be featured on the runway.

Designer Julia Szkiba O’Connor of Zoom Kitty Zoom Designs is producing the event. O’Connor specializes in eco-related designs for various clients nationwide, including the Disney Store, Paramount Studios, Bacche children’s apparel and B Green organic wear. She also consults with other designers on producing eco garments and other products and teaches at the International Academy of Design & Technology-Las Vegas (IADT).

The show will feature several student designs as well as employ them behind the scenes to provide for some industry experience.

For more information, contact Linda Crane at (702) 804-6149 or by e-mail at vivalc@aol.com.* Global ECO Show* Aug. 26–29* Venetian Grand Ballroom* Show hours: 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (Aug. 26–28), 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (Aug. 29)* www.globalecoshow.comOff-Price Specialist Show The sprawling Off-Price Specialist Show will return for its Aug. 24–28 run at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

The show’s new section, called The Very Best of Off-Price Specialist (TOPS), will showcase some of the most stylish wares available at the off-price show.

“It will show the buyer that closeouts are not about broken sizes and colors and ill fits,” said David Lapidos, vice president of the show, in a prepared statement. “That’s not what it is anymore. Closeouts just mean it’s a value. That’s what buyers want—they don’t care what you call it.”*Off-Price Specialist Show*Aug. 24–28*Sands Expo & Convention Center*Hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 24–27), 8 a.m.–3 p.m. (Aug. 28)*www.offpriceshow.comAccessories The Show, Moda Las Vegas

New York–based accessories show Accessories The Show will return for a fourth season in Las Vegas during its Aug. 27–29 run at The Venetian hotel.

With an exhibitor mix that includes jewelry, handbags, hats and other accessories manufacturers, the show draw both first-time exhibitors as well as seasoned veterans from the Accessories The Show in New York.

This season, Accessories The Show will run alongside the Las Vegas version of its sister show, Moda Manhattan, both produced by Business Journals. The debut of Moda Las Vegas will feature a juried mix of more than 300 ready-to-wear lines. *Accessories The Show/Moda Las Vegas*Aug 27–29 *The Venetian *Hours: 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. (Aug. 27–28), 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. (Aug. 29)