L.A. Market Dates Shift in August
Managers and owners of Los Angeles’ central showroom buildings moved the dates for the August run of Los Angeles Fashion Market to avoid overlap with the Intermezzo show in New York. The August market is now scheduled to run Aug. 13–16. Originally, the market was planned for Aug. 6–8. Intermezzo, the popular contemporary trade show run by ENK International, is scheduled for Aug. 5–7.
Showroom owners at the California Market Center and the Cooper Design Space had sent informal requests to their buildings' management to change dates so the show schedules would not pile up on each other. The ball got rolling last month when Mona Sangkala, director of leasing at the Cooper, sent emails to the managers of the CMC and The New Mart suggesting August dates should be changed. After a further round of emails and conference calls, the new August dates were chosen because they fall during a relatively free time in August, one of the busiest months in the fashion trade show calendar. North America’s biggest fashion trade show, MAGIC, is scheduled for Aug. 20–23 in Las Vegas. The Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market is scheduled to run Aug. 16–19.
August is typically the smallest of Los Angeles’ five annual market weeks. Ethan Eller, The New Mart’s general manager, did not forecast whether the new dates will increase business for the August L.A. Fashion Market or affect Intermezzo, but he said, “At least buyers won’t have to choose between going to New York or Los Angeles if they intended to shop at both.”
But not everyone is happy with the new dates. Michael Gae, a co-owner of the Rep et Trois showroom at the CMC and a longtime critic of scheduling for the L.A. Fashion Market, said the new dates are too close to MAGIC. In recent years, many showroom owners said more Southern California retailers are visiting the L.A. Fashion Market because they do not want to make the trip to MAGIC. But with MAGIC in Las Vegas falling the week after August's L.A. Fashion Market, Gae predicted a lower turnout for Los Angeles.
In addition to the permanent showrooms, market will include temporary exhibitors at the Select and Focus trade shows, both at the CMC. Designers and Agents, which is typically held at The New Mart, will not hold an August show in Los Angeles.—Andrew Asch
