Moda Trade Show Rebrands as Stitch
Contemporary trade show Moda Las Vegas will relaunch in February as Stitch.
The show, which is part of the fashion trade show group that includes Accessories The Show and MRket, is operated by BJI Fashion Group, a division of Business Journals Inc. “This is far more than a simple name change,” stated Britton Jones, president and chief executive officer of Business Journals Inc. “This is a momentous milestone in the complete transformation of the show. In reality, the name was just about the only thing we had not evolved, and, thus, we felt it was time to give this totally revamped show a new identity to more clearly reflect where the show is today and where it is headed in the future.”
With a mix of contemporary, lifestyle, sportswear and international brands, the show draws buyers from upscale boutiques located in the western United States.
When Moda Las Vegas bowed in August 2007, show organizers envisioned a ready-to-wear show for better brands and better specialty boutiques and large department stores, something BJI says has been missing from the mix of trade shows in Las Vegas.“In its early stages Moda Las Vegas became centered around the dress and special evening-attire communities, but throughout the years Moda Las Vegas has evolved into what better retailers asked for—a contemporary show within Las Vegas that focused on the right mix of product categories, from contemporary and sportswear to lifestyle and international collections,” said Beth Cowperthwaite, director of retail and public relations for Business Journals. “This natural transformation of Moda Las Vegas has become so pronounced that it has created the need to rebranch the show as Stitch.”
Show organizers surveyed retailers to determine what they were looking for in a trade show in Las Vegas.“As BJI Fashion Group is closely connected to the retail community through a multitude of forums, such as our website and social-media outlets in addition to our extensive personal outreach programs, it was made clear to us by the industry that is was important to host a show that enhanced their shopping experience in Las Vegas,” Cowperthwaite said.BJI will retain the Moda name for its New York contemporary ready-to-wear show, Moda Manhattan, held during the January, February, May, August and September market weeks in New York.
In Las Vegas, Stitch will continue to be co-located with juried accessories show ATS and upscale classic menswear show MRketLV, and show organizers will continue to provide amenities such as meals for buyers and exhibitors, as well as late-night hours with wine on opening day.“These three shows will collectively meet the needs of retailers looking for a juried, tightly edited shopping experience in Las Vegas, which has always been in the goal of BJI Fashion Group,” Cowperthwaite said.Stitch will bow Feb. 17–19 at The Venetian in Las Vegas.For more information about Stitch, visit www.stitchshows.com.—Alison A. Nieder
