TRADE SHOWS

New Brand and New Plans for Stitch, MRket and Accessories The Show

LAS VEGAS—With the recent announcement of Modern Assembly, debuting next season (see related story), the trade shows at The Venetian are positioning themselves to build off each other’s strengths and producing a one-stop shop for buyers.

Business Journals Inc. owns three of the shows, Accessories The Show (ATS), for accessories; MRket, for menswear; and Stitch, a better women’s contemporary and lifestyle section. During this season’s Feb. 18–21 run, exhibitors reported a successful show, thanks to the schedule, which had Business Journals’ shows starting one day earlier than MAGIC and Project.This season marked the debut of Stitch, the rebranded show formerly known as ModaLV. (Business Journals continues to run sister show Moda New York on the East Coast.)

Annu Gyani designer of Shaw Lux, a New York–based luxury scarf line, uses cashmere and silk fabrics in her pieces. The collection combines digital printing such as cityscapes, landmarks and graphic art that have been picked up by major retail department stores such as Nordstrom, Kitson, and Fred Segal. Gyani also caters to museums and gift shops where she provides custom printing. The wholesale price points vary according to material; the cashmere pieces start at $65, where Modal begins at $38 and rayon as low as $10.For men’s trends, special detailing and cuts on tailored suiting, as well as casual shirting and bottoms, were a noticeable look.

Maggie Grubb of Weatherproof Vintage, account executive of the sportswear division, said the company started off with a small collection and is now taking off with knit and plaid button-down tops and a classic rustic sensibility.This is Weatherproof Vintage’s third time around at MRket, and “reception from buyers has been wonderful,” Grubb said. “A lot of orders were made, and I believe that is because our customers really appreciate our specialization in trimming and attention to detail, as well as our fabric choice.”

On the higher end of menswear, Craig Lickliter, vice president of sales at BMG Imports Inc., represents a division of finer men’s clothing. Based out of New York, the privately held company specializes in importing finished products from countries such as Italy and China, as well as other parts of the world, to bring to the U.S. and Canadian market.Those products are primarily men’s tailored clothing, with some dress furnishings and boy’s wear. “We have two very prominent commercial lines in which we are the licensee for—Nichole Miller and English Laundry. We also have a trademark under the Acquaviva product line—it’s for better stores like Sacks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdales —and it is an Italian collection with Italian fabric. We import that line for the U.S. market,” Lickliter said.

As for the show, “it has been fantastic, he said. “Each show successively from this time last year has improved, and we all benefited this week with MRket being the only show open Monday. It was crazy with how many orders we made,” he said.The tailored suits wholesale for $245, with a suggested retail price at $695. The Italian collection starts at $325 and goes up to $495.

For Julian Chang, the young contemporary designer was pleased with Stitch, where he previewed his line of all-U.S.-made products. “We serve to the customer who likes to travel but wants to be comfortable and chic at an affordable price,” Chang said.

The resortwear collection’s wholesale prices start at $28 and go up to $80. “This show was great. We started with Moda New York and Las Vegas, and it has been a platform to help us grow,” he said.Orders were placed with an amazing first day, a busy afternoon for the second and a steady third day, Chang said.Marianne Suzak, the West Coast sales representative for Pendleton womenswear, was pleased with Stitch. “This was our first time showing here. We did the Rio previously, and we have worked three times the number of accounts here than elsewhere. We had many new walk-ins who placed orders,” Suzak said.

Pendleton women’s was showing Fall 2103 and launching a new women’s accessories line, as well a new brand, called Thomas Kay, in celebration of its 150-year anniversary. It is an elevated version of the women’s line—with a trimmer fit and shape. Pendelton’s wholesale price points for sweaters, cotton knits, wool, plaid and cotton shirts vary with a wool shirt coming in at $64 and a lower price point for cotton at $30. Jacquard items range from $99 and go up to $194.