International Intrigue at CurveNV
Expensive travel costs and a diversity of trade show offerings drew several West Coast buyers from their normal New York buying trips to CurveNV at The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. This year, there was a 15 percent increase to more than 2,200 buyers registered for the Aug. 25–27 show from last year’s August session.
Across three ballrooms, 225 brands—including Calvin Klein Underwear, Wacoal, Le Mystegrave;re, Carole Hochman, Cosabella, Natori, Marlies Dekkers, Hanky Panky, Diesel, Barbara, Felina, Carol Malony and Huit—exhibited their collections. In addition, the Boutique Lingerie section, pioneered by lingerie designer Samantha Chang, hosted upscale lines such as Janet Reger Couture, Pfiff Lingerie, Pluto, Christine Vancouver and Claire Pettibone.
Boutiques such as Birdies Panties and Swim in Kansas City, Mo., came to look for new resources in swim and lingerie. The 110-square-foot store stocks brands such as Red Carter, Vitamin A, Gideon Oberson, Elle Macpherson Intimates and Clo.
“We usually try to look for something that we haven’t seen before,” said co-owner Corrie van Ausdal. This was the first time van Ausdal and co-owner Peregrine Honig have attended CurveNV in Las Vegas, but van Ausdal has attended Curve’s competing show, Lingerie Americas, in New York.
“I was really excited to find Sheandme at [Lingerie Americas’] show, and we’ve done really well.” Van Ausdal said she was reordering the line at CurveNV.
CurveNV Executive Vice President Laurence Teinturier noted that in addition to stateside buyers—including A Tropical Affair in Santa Barbara, Calif.; Belle Fleur in Washington; and majors Dillards and Nordstrom—15 percent of the buyers were from overseas, includingshops from Canada, Australia, Japan and Russia.
Teinturier emphasized that the presence of multiple trade shows such as the Project Global Trade Show, the MAGIC Marketplace and new show ENK Vegas makes Las Vegas a one-stop shop for international buyers. “It’s happening only in Vegas,” said Teinturier. She added that the ready-to-wear and lingerie markets do not always coincide in New York. “We think we’re going to grow more international buyers in Vegas. The dollar positioning is excellent for these buyers.”
American buyers that were cautious in February were ready to write this market, said Betty Wells, who represents Mary Green and Lucy B. “This is fourth quarter. They got to do it now,” Wells said.
Basic bras with a touch of fashion kept Laura Greco of foundations line Marie Jo “steadily busy.” “Because of the economy, people are really going basics,” Greco said. One popular basic bra featured cute daisy embroidery on the convertible bra straps that gave an added fashion edge. “Our basics business has gone up, and fashion business [is] down from last year.” Prices range from $100 to $150 retail.
Los Angeles–based Tra La La’s modern pinup interpretations, such as a black-and-white high-waist panty with tuxedo-inspired detail and another set with fringe detail, caught the attention of buyers from Southern states, Canada and California. Designer Kristine Hardig relaunched the brand this season under a new partnership with New York–based D2 Brands. “We like to give the consumer a lot of value,” Hardig said. Wholesale prices range from $8 to $58. —Rhea Cortado
