California Apparel News

Traffic was slow at MAGIC’s Pooltradeshow, but buyers were more serious about placing orders, exhibitors said.The event was held Aug. 22–24 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

“Overall, it’s been a slower show,” said Cindy McCain, a teacher and creative director of Classic Coup, a company launched by McCain to help educate kids in Ecuador. Her recycled straw bags and T-shirts promote reading with slogans from classic books such as “The Great Gatsby” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and proceeds from sales are used to purchase books for schools in Ecuador.

It was McCain’s first time showing at Pool, and while traffic was not what she had hoped, she said she was happy she came. “I’ve been pleased with the way the bags have gone, and I’ve made some good contacts,” she said.

Teresa Remple, founder of Bellingham, Wash.–based Texture clothing, said there had been a lot of interest in her line, but she’d only written four orders. The organic-cotton and hemp clothing is manufactured at Remple’s store in Bellingham. The clothes’ generous sizing and tighter fit from using a small percentage of Lycra were both selling points with buyers, Remple said.Michelle King of Chicago-based fair-trade company Mata Traders said this show was slower than the February show, but she had written 16 orders and gained new customers. The story of the dresses, skirts, tops and pants made with hand-blocked prints from women’s cooperatives in India and Nepal attracted buyers, she said.Scooter Gates, co-owner of Blue Platypus, has been showing at Pool for the past five years and said business had been pretty good, but he mainly had repeat customers and hadn’t opened any new accounts.“The traffic is about the same as last time, but buyers are writing more,” he said. “They’re more serious.”Another trend Gates noticed was buyers were primarily buying Immediates and Holiday, with very little Spring. The brand’s brightly colored printed shirts and dresses wholesale for $16 to $24.50, and its scoop-neck shirt with petal sleeves was the most-popular item this show, he said.Long-time Pool exhibitor and Seattle-based graphic-design company Ames Bros was having a great show despite the slower traffic, according to sales rep Anthony Columbus.“I think it’s been great; we definitely open up new doors every time we’re here,” he said.The February Pool show was better for them, but they were still pleased with the turnout, he said. “We’ve had less traffic but larger orders.”The company, which began designing CD covers for the likes of Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters, branched into graphic tees, hoodies and pullovers more than six years ago and had “a ton” of existing clients coming through, according to Columbus. One of the brand’s biggest clients is Nordstrom, which carries the “Big Bear” T-shirt, one of Ames Bros.’ most popular items, Columbus said. Their “all-time best-seller” is the Clint Eastwoodshy;–inspired cowboy tee, but T-shirts sporting Charlie Sheen-isms were selling best this show, according to Columbus. He said he thought the brand’s use of celebrity placement on shows such as “The Big Bang Theory” also helped increase business.