Key Stores at Lady Liberty Building
Vivian Patao relocated the Tricot showroom from the Cooper Design Space to the Lady Liberty Building to open for the March 20–23 run of Los Angeles Market Week. Buyers from Bloomingdale’s, Scoop and Milk in Los Angeles shopped Patao’s lines, which include Heidi Merrick, Les Prairies de Paris and Eksempel. “Most of them are selective about what they’re buying, but they’re buying for Fall,” Patao said.
Karissa Von Esch, buyer for Milk & Honey in Solana Beach, Calif., shopped the Fall ’09 collection of Dace in the Tricot showroom for “pieces that can be layered and worn different ways” and “things that go with different seasons, especially in Southern California.” Von Esch, who previously worked in manufacturing, opened her store in November and has so far been successful with multifunctional items, such as reversible dresses.
Karen Spaulding of The Globe Showroom said price point was especially important this market compared with “other markets in the past, [where buyers shopped for] the shirt of the season or the dress.” The Globe Showroom met with buyers from Intermix, ShopBop and Fred Segal and carries the lines Karen Zambos, Luc Kieffer and Manoush.
Trey Alligood of The Penthouse said buyers wrote “a lot less,” closer to delivery date, and shopped for “really special pieces” such as motorcycle-style pants in denim or ponte double-knit with quilted knees and ankle zippers by Dylan George. T-shirts and knits “always sell,” especially the vintage California beach styles by Beach Life and Rex that wholesale for $14 to $18, the sweats line Country Love by the founders of 2 B Free and edgy music-inspired graphics by Kid Dangerous that wholesale for $20 to $35. —Rhea Cortado
