D&A to Expand to Cooper Building
Designers & Agents has outgrown its third-floor space in the New Mart in downtown Los Angeles and will host a second show on the 11th floor of the Cooper Building across the street during the Nov. 1–5 run of the event, which will be part of Los Angeles Fashion Week.
Designers & Agents producers Barbara Kramer and Ed Mandelbaum said the show’s offerings in the Cooper Building would be the same blend of ready-to-wear and accessories as found in the New Mart. The show will also offer a cafeacute; and lounge to visitors.
Management from both buildings is very supportive of the show, said Mandelbaum.
“This is a move toward people working together to build L.A. as an international marketplace, and everyone’s working hand-inhand to make Los Angeles a more exciting marketplace,” he said.
The show’s newly added contemporary and young designer collections are going to occupy approximately 22,000 square feet in the Cooper Building.
“We have the capability of expanding our show between 50 and 100 percent with the addition of new space at the Cooper Building,” said Mandelbaum, who co-produces the show from New York, while Kramer handles the show’s business from the West Coast.
Some of the new collections scheduled to be at the show include Juillet, a Los Angeles- based vintage-inspired separates line; New York shoe designer Bettye Muller; New York-based Dante Beatrix handbags; ENA showroom, a Latin-inspired showroom based in New York; Undesigned, an architecture- inspired separates collection from Los Angeles; and Masse-Made to Measure, a Los Angeles-based dress collection.
“We are working hard to keep our shows in the Fashion District,” said the Cooper Building’s Steven Hirsh, who noted that the show expansion represents a combined effort between his building, the New Mart and Designers & Agents.
“We really want to enhance the value for the buyers for market week,” Hirsh added. —Claudia Figueroa
