Michael V Accessories
The New Mart Suite 506 (213) 623-2932
When Michael Violandi opened his accessories showroom in 2000, he wondered if he had made the right business decision.
“The market for jeans and T-shirts was taking off. I wondered how accessories would fit in,” Violandi said.
He soon found out that he had made a good choice. He said his showroom was profitable in its first year, and sales increased 30 percent in 2005 over the previous year.
Violandi’s timing was right, as the accessories business has been showing strong growth in the past few years, said Barbara Fields, a retail consultant and owner of the Barbara Fields Buying Office. Violandi said he rode the wave of that growth by offering a wide range of accessories that sell well at luxury boutiques as well as retailers offering popular price points.
For the Los Angeles Fashion Market Jan. 13–17, Violandi is debuting several lines, including Kauml;rin’s Garden, a hair accessories label based in Redmond, Wash. The line features hair clips made of silk orchids ($5–$48 wholesale). He is also carrying Betsey Johnson Sunglasses. The funky, oversize glasses ($47.50–$87.50 wholesale) bear images from the veteran designer’s storied career. Sugar Toes, a Newport Beach, Calif.–based line, offers sandals embellished with Swarovski crystals and other details ($19–$65 wholesale). The other new line for the showroom is Steve Madden Handbags, a label featuring bags that juxtapose soft leather with metal studs and grommets ($22–$60 wholesale).
Violandi’s lines are diverse—and colorful. This is one reason why he designed his showroom to be a minimalist space bathed in white. “It makes the product pop,” he said. —Andrew Asch
