California Apparel News

The mood was mostly upbeat and, for many, the orders were better than expected at the recent apparel, accessories and sourcing trade shows in Las Vegas.

With 14 trade shows spread across Las Vegas, many covering a wide range of products and merchandise categories, it’s hard to get a consensus on the recent Las Vegas trade shows.

In addition to the giant MAGIC Marketplace and its subsidiary shows, the Project Global Trade Show and the Pooltradeshow, other concurrent trade shows included Capsule, Off-Price Specialist Show, Mrket, Accessories The Show, Moda Las Vegas, CurveNV, Women’s Wear in Nevada, ASAP Global Sourcing Show, Guild, ENK Vegas and the PGA Fall Expo.

Retailers TJ Maxx, Dillard’s, Macy’s, Scoop, Fred Segal, Arden B. and Metropark shopped the MAGIC Marketplace. A statement from MAGIC management said the number of vendors had increased 17 percent compared with the same show in the previous year.

For many retailers, the challenge was to find interesting new merchandise at a price that met their tight open-to-buy budgets.

Buyer Randy Brewer said the market was tilted in favor of the retailers.

“It was anything to get the customer back,” said Brewer, who until Sept. 4 was a buyer at influential San Francisco boutique chain Villains. “People are willing to do consignment. They are trying to make partnerships.”

(Brewer is now seeking new opportunities. See related story here.)

Even in a market where everyone was ready to make a deal, retailers such as Diane Merrick pulled reins on buying.

“I’m watching my pennies,” said Merrick, who owns the Diane Merrick boutique in Los Angeles. “I used to make orders for six different styles in nine different colors. Now I’m ordering two items and in two colors. If it is good, I can call for a reorder,” she said.

Retailer Fred Levine also said business was tighter. “I did not leave the paper I normally leave. But my orders were normal. I’m not cutting vendors out. But I’m not buying every color and every print,” said Levine, a co-owner of the Los Angeles–based M.Fredric chain of contemporary stores.

For his most recent MAGIC buying, Levine placed orders for stylish T-shirt labels with a moderate price point such as Tank Farm. “My [customers] want to spend $30 to $70 for T-shirts instead of $80 and up.”Reason to buy

Several retailers said they were finding plenty of new product to entice consumers to buy.

Darren Gold, co-owner of Los Angeles–based men’s boutique Alpha, said he was pleased with the new resources he found at ENK Vegas, Project and Capsule—so much so that he was placing quick-turn orders for some items.

“A lot of the lines that I ordered for Spring, I’m bringing in as Immediates because I’m so excited about them,” he said.

Overall, Gold said, the offerings at the shows were more exciting this season. “The designers and manufacturers are forced to really think about what they’re doing—offering must-buys and value. A lot of things were weeded out. Everyone’s lines are focused and well-done and edited. Everything feels more sellable. Everyone has thought about price point.”

Jackie Brander, owner and founder of Fred Segal Fun in Santa Monica, Calif., found plenty to buy at Capsule and Project. She was focused on finding items with staying power—particularly premium denim and premium tees.

“My customers are looking for non-disposable clothing,” she said. “They want things that are not going to be worn for a season and then dismissed. My buying strategy is to tune into this, to give my customers what they are looking for.”

Merrick made orders for a sweater line from Atlanta-based Project E.

For juniors, sequins and bling are forecast to be all the rage, according to Barbara Fields, owner of the Barbara Fields Buying Office. Brewer, formerly of Villains, said he thought that torn and distressed jeans were going to be popular. “Chambray is back in a big way. Non-denim is going to come back strong.” He forecast khaki pants with a skinny fit were going to be popular.

One vendor, streetwear brand Tokidoki, cut its wholesale prices 10 percent to 20 percent for most recent show, said the Los Angeles–based brand’s chief executive, Ivan Arnold. “It was imperative we reacted to the marketplace and how retailers are spending now,” he said. The move turned what could have been a show of flat sales to a market where sales increased 10 percent compared with the same show in the previous year.Alisa Loftin, owner of the Aero & Co. store in Los Angeles, was similarly bullish on new product at the shows. Loftin spent two days in Las Vegas, shopping the lines at Project, Capsule and Pool.“Pool is always better for me—it has all the upstart new lines, the young blood,” she said, adding that Pool’s expanded cash-and-carry section was a welcome discovery. “I spent a couple of hours there,” she said, adding she found several new resources among the cash-and-carry exhibitors.For M.Fredric’s Levine, everything seemed to be coming up plaid. “It’s taking over from the prints of tattoos and skulls,” he said. For this season, it had become more popular than stripes on men’s shirts. Levine also gave good marks to the Steve McQueen line of motorcycle-inspired fashion from Los Angeles–based Johnson Motors Inc.

For complete coverage of all the Las Vegas trade shows, click here.