California Apparel News

The first edition of a small alternative trade show called POOL will take place Feb. 18–21 in Las Vegas, coinciding with the MAGIC International trade show taking place in the city that same week.

Rhonda Walker, owner of the Republica Party of Style showroom, led a group of West Coast designers in the creation of the show. Walker, who is sponsoring POOL through her showroom, said that the event evolved in response to requests from both buyers and designers.

“It [began as] a kind of informal situation,” said Walker. “We only named it so that we could throw a party, but we had a great response from buyers. Two in particular made me want to do it—Villains in San Francisco and Barneys in New York.”

During last February’s MAGIC event, Walker said that she was “running all over the place,” looking for new lines to rep in her showroom, which is located in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles. Based on the lines she found and the synergy among them, she suggested that they show in one hotel room. She also suggested to a number of buyers that they attend the new show, instead of “trying to take over Vegas.”

“I know a lot of the buyers,” said Walker. “I felt the need to put together this show for [buyers] who don’t do MAGIC and for [designers] who don’t want to do MAGIC because it’s not cost-effective, or whatever other reason.”

According to Walker, the lines being gathered together for the show, including Eisbar, Private Circle, Tokyo 1, Ruca, Generic Costume, Mooks, Charizmatik and Talking to Angels, were all “upscale and friendly with each other.” Following their initial talks, the decision was made to create the new show and call it POOL in reference to the pooling of talent for it.

Bobby Bienveniste, co-owner of Los Angeles-based Eisbar, sees POOL as a great way for buyers to streamline their time. He also sees great value in the fact that Walker represents most of the participating lines.

“Rhonda knows all of us and it’s sort of like a little family thing, even though it’s open to everyone who wants to do it,” he said.

Some of POOL’s lines, including Eisbar, plan to continue their presence at MAGIC while supporting the alternative show.

“[POOL] is a great way for a very pared-down group of buyers to look at your goods—we need that special attention,” said Bienveniste. “At MAGIC you sort of get lost if you’re at our price point. We’re not Tommy Hilfiger or Ralph Lauren, who have the money to do the huge booths. By having a booth at MAGIC and doing POOL, we’re assured of reaching everyone we need to reach.”

Some lines, including Los Angeles-based Charizmatik, have no plans to show at MAGIC, opting for full focus on the smaller show.

“I think Charizmatik would get lost at MAGIC,” said Rico Santos, vice president of sales and marketing for the label. “With streetwear and certain sections [at MAGIC], whoever is louder gets the most and our clothing is not loud like that. We’re not about having deejays and turning up the music or 10 television screens or a runway show. We like to have it more intimate and one on one. POOL is having lines come together who share the same type of vision in terms of where they want to go.”

Walker said that the early response from buyers is also good and that a lot of the buyers who will attend POOL will come to Las Vegas just for that event.

“I think a lot of these people wouldn’t be doing MAGIC at all,” she said. “They would have to see [the POOL lines] at another time. This gives them the opportunity to see them during the buying season.”

Walker also reported that in addition to the aforementioned Villains and Barneys, a Canada-based streetwear store called Vice has confirmed its participation in the event. Vice has a location in New York and recently opened a Los Angeles store in Silver Lake, where it carries most of the participating POOL lines.

Bienveniste said he sees the value of MAGIC to a show like POOL, which will be able to draw some buyers who will be in Las Vegas for the bigger event.

“We get a lot of interest from people walking by [at MAGIC]. POOL refines that group even more with buyers that Rhonda has personal contacts with,” said Bienveniste.

Walker set a goal of targeting a good mixture of buyers who will be at MAGIC and buyers who would not have come out for that event but are important for the designers showing at POOL.

“I want the right buyers to come and see the right collections so that they can write all the orders they need,” said Walker.

The cost to attend POOL is $100 per designer, with no fee for buyers. Walker is currently trying to nab a location and is in negotiations with Las Vegas hotels. For more information, call (323) 666-4080.