Pool’s Splash for the Newest Styles
LAS VEGAS—Karmaloop and Urban Outfitters shopped Pooltradeshow during its Feb. 13–15 run at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The youth-oriented retailers walked through the show on a quest for the latest looks in emerging fashions. The section’s vendors pledged not to disappoint.
Los Angeles–based women’s underwear line SugarPants made its trade show debut at Pool. Co-founder Meleina Mayhew said she and business partner Jennifer Coyle hoped to find strength in numbers. “Pool caters to indie, emerging talent,” Mayhew said. “We’re comfortable here. A lot of buyers come and see. They want to get their fingers on the pulse.”
They also exhibited for the sake of brand awareness. Mayhew said it was a good place to tell the industry that the new line was ready to do business. The news of brand debuts was typically trumpeted on social-media sites maintained by Pool and the various brands. They, in turn, drove more attendee traffic than at past shows, said Freddie Rojas, who has exhibited his Rojas label at every Pool show since 2001. “There were a lot of young brands there using social media to attract more people,” the Los Angeles–based designer said.
Established brand American Apparel returned to Pool with its prominent booth, and Los Angeles–based boutique chain Pop Killer maintained a booth for the accessories and T-shirts that it manufactures. Pop Killer owner Ricky Takizawa said most of the attendees were small, independent boutiques looking for something that offered real newness.
“It’s not street or skate,” he said of Pool’s merchandise mix. “You couldn’t find it anywhere else.”—Andrew Asch
