California Apparel News

MAGIC International is broadening its fashion focus in an effort to continue to grow as a premier fashion trade show. The show, which is made up of four separate categories—MAGIC menswear; the Edge, for the edgy, alternative retailer; MAGIC kids; and the WWDMAGIC womenswear show—is set to run in Las Vegas Aug. 26–29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Additionally, there will be five satellite shows running concurrently with MAGIC, including two shows at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Womenswear in Nevada (WWIN) and West Coast Exclusive, an upscale men’s show that will be held Aug. 25–27. POOL, an alternative men’s and women’s show, will take place Aug. 26–28 at the Alexis Park Resort and Convention Hall. ASAP, a global sourcing show sponsored by Pasadena, Calif.-based technology company Cyber Merchants Exchange (cme.com), will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton Aug. 25–28. And the Off-Specialty Show is set to have its second run Aug. 23–27 on the first floor of the Sands Expo.

This year’s MAGIC show is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors, about 20,000 more than last February’s attendance figures. Organizers say the show will include more than 700 new companies, representing 1,000 brands.

The show will also see a surge in international visitors, with an 84 percent increase over last February’s show, said show organizers. Buyers from Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Turkey, Australia, Germany, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Korea and Hong Kong are expected to attend the event. “People are beginning to travel longer distances again,” said Ernae Mothershed, media relations at MAGIC.

New to this year’s MAGIC show are two apparel pavilions: Index and WWDMAGIC’s Design Gallery. They will host a mixture of emerging and established contemporary design talent, including Dasu, Evisu, Block 60, Manhattan Portage, NM70, Evidence, Jacob Be, Andrea D’ Amico and Bain Douche at the Index, and Plenty by Tracey Reese, Marithe & Francois Girbaud, Sanctuary, Ruth, Ella Moss, Weston Wear, Hype, Single, For Joseph, Illia, H.Starlet and GOA at the Design Gallery.

New exhibitors at the Edge include up-and-coming alternative labels The People Have Spoken and Kitchen Orange.

Visitors to WWDMAGIC will see a 21 percent increase in young contemporary exhibitors and a 29 percent increase in contemporary exhibitors compared to last February’s show, said show organizers.

There will also be a host of seminars on topics ranging from Spring-Summer 2003 trends to retail marketing and merchandising technology. Panel discussions at this year’s show will include “Teen People Trendspotters,” which takes place at 11:45 a.m. on the Sands Expo fashion show stage. Six guest panelists will discuss the latest trends in teen fashion and reveal some of their “Hot Picks” from the WWDMAGIC floor.

Internet heavyweight eBay will present seminars on how to increase apparel sales through the World Wide Web on Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Sands Expo.

Two publications geared toward Hispanic women, New York-based Latina magazine and Los Angelesbased Estylo magazine, will host seminars to discuss Latin influence in fashion. “[These seminars] will be valuable to retailers and manufacturers who wish to reach this market and expand their customer base,” said Mothershed.

At press time organizers said it was still too early to release information about which labels will be featured in the fashion shows, set to run at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Aug. 26–28 and at 11 a.m. only Aug. 29. However, this year’s trade shows will also provide a whole slew of parties and entertainment for attendees.

Among the parties scheduled is MAGIC’s opening night party, “A Hot Summer Night at the Ranch,” at the Whiskey Sky at the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa, which will feature musical entertainment by Counting Crows. The event starts at 7 p.m., and organizers said proceeds from the opening night’s events will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. On Aug. 27, Op Classic and Urb magazine will host a party at 7 p.m. at the Ghostbar on the 55th floor of the Palms Resort and Casino featuring two musical acts, the Roots and Ozomatli. Also on Aug. 27, Lucky Brand Dungarees will host a party featuring the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Band at 7:30 p.m. at the Joint, located in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

With 600 exhibitors representing more than 1,500 collections, organizers at WWIN are expecting a sellout show. “Our registration is just as strong as it’s ever been and registrations are coming in everyday,” said Jeff Yunis, president of Specialty Trade Shows.

POOL, which debuted its alternative trade show last February with about 55 exhibitors, is expecting to show 75 labels, including Alex B., Demografica, Geek Boutique, Immigrant, Plum, Teenage Millionaire and Vicious Threads. The show will host an opening night party on Aug. 27 at the Pool Lounge at the Polo Towers hotel.

And the West Coast Exclusive, which also debuted in Las Vegas last February, is anticipating about 500 exhibitors. The Exclusive’s opening night party will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Rio on Aug. 25.