Mar 13, 2013

Merging of LA Fashion Market and CMC Gift & Home Market Created Exciting Product Mix for Buyers & New Business for Vendors

The Fall 2013 Los Angeles Fashion Market took place March 11-14, 2013, running concurrently with CMC Gift & Home Market, which ran March 10-14, 2013, all at the California Market Center (CMC). New accounts were the predominant reports from many of the CMC’s showrooms and exhibitors of the Market’s featured tradeshows, including SELECT Contemporary Tradeshow, and TRANSIT Footwear & Accessories Show. The Markets featured thousands of lines and daily special events, including an Opening Night Reception, complimentary cafes, hospitality, plus much more.

“We have had a great Market!” said David Perlman, founder of PerlmanRep, Suite B525. “Darling had a terrific showing, and Lavand from Spain did a lot of business as well. Thursday Island, from South Korea had some very large orders placed, and we debuted Ankorel from Paris this Show, who opened over 15 new accounts, making the launch a success. Makers of True Originals out of Montreal was also busy writing orders the entire Market which we were pleased with. Overall, every one of our brands were thrilled with the turnout of buyer traffic and new accounts opened this Market.”

Noteworthy retailers in attendance this Market included Shopbop.com, LF Stores, Boulmiche, Revolve Clothing, Wasteland, Kitson, Nasty Gal, Bluefly.com, Planet Blue, M. Fredric & Co., Zappos.com, Dillard’s, Barneys, Modcloth, The Denim Bar, Zulily, Urban Outfitters, Free People, Steve Madden, Polkadots & Moonbeams, KD Diamonds and Jewelers, Fresh Produce, Apricot Lane, Roxy, Chantel & Vicki, No Rest For Bridget, Arden B, Pan American Sportswear, Ideeli, Diane Merrick, and Bendls, to name a few.

“I love shopping the California Market Center, it is so convenient for us,” said Mary Dawson of Revelation TOPS! “We do not travel to other shows because we find everything we need here in one place.”

There was also a significant presence of international retailers shopping at the CMC this Market. They included Kai Lani, Laisser Faire, Word of Mouth Inc, State of the Art, Distortion, Inc, Londi, Free;s International, Rizzi B, Stoke Co LTD, and Cher Office, from Japan, Clara Natalia from Paris, Comercializadora Santa Catalina from Santiago, Chile, This Is My Haus from Vienna, Bischoff Roja Tekstil from Istanbul, Fiori from Hong Kong, Pombo Apparel & Accessories from Managua, Nicaragua, Belly Couture from Mexico, YML from Panama, and Colnotex SA from Bogota, Columbia. Canada also had a large retail attendance, with stores such as Cream from Stanmore, Philip Nyren from Victoria, Purr Petite LTD from Calgany, Vincent Park from Vancouver, PJZZZZ Pyjamas Inc from Surrey, Aria Boutique from Regina, Joan’s Accessories & More from Winnipeg, and Ella’s from Langley, plus many more.

“This show has been really great,” reported Liza Stewart, founder of Liza Stewart Showroom, Suite B535. “We have seen a ton of international customers, and a very nice flow of traffic throughout the Market.”

SELECT was held Monday-Wednesday of Market, and presented a tightly curated selection of Contemporary apparel, accessories and footwear exhibitors that included brands such as Magaschoni, Deepa Gurnani, Christina Miller Designs, Flynn Handbags, Kunzli, Tiffany Alana, Winston White, Will & Fame, Style New York, Theia Jewelry, Azaara, Pour la Victoire, Kelsi Dagger Handbags, Beagle House NY, Boutique 9, Enzo Angiolini, Gillian Julius, Marcia Moran, Minnie Rose, Sogoli, Monserat de Lucca, Mystique, Jolie Altman, Remi & Reid, Streets Ahead, Adina Reyter, and Christina K Pierce Showroom, representing Lily and Migs, The Third Piece, Sefani, G Kim, Launch, Ruch, and Selahdo.

“This show has been fabulous for us,” said Denise Shaller, Sales Manager of Minnie Rose. “We introduced new product this show, and it has been greatly received. We continue to exhibit at SELECT each season because we have a great clientele on the West Coast, and they enjoy knowing that they can always find us here.”

“This show was good for us. We saw all of our loyal returning customers,” said Yukiko Kawabata, president of Beagle House NY. “They know they can find us here.”

TRANSIT Footwear & Accessories Show was also held Monday-Wednesday, in the CMC Penthouse. The showcase was geared toward footwear retailers of all sizes. Notable labels exhibiting included Palladium Boots, Tsubo, Tretorn, Jeffrey Campbell, ABS Allen Schwartz, Charles David, Betsey Johnson, Report Signature, Steve Madden, Splendid, The Frye Company, Modern Vice, Obsession Rules, Blowfish Malibu, CC Corso Como, Carolinna Espinosa, Sendra Boots, Madeline, Report Footwear, Vince Camuto, BCBG Max Azria, Lucky Brand Footwear, YRU, Ella Moss, Jessica Simpson, Matiko, DV by Dolce Vita, Michael Antonio, Alli Marie, Chinese Laundry, and Rocket Dog, plus many more.

“We had never done TRANSIT, and actually had three separate retailers ask us why we had never participated in showing here, so we decided to try it this season,” said Logan Olson, Southwest Sales Representative of Tsubo. “The show has been really good for us. We do not participate in any West Coast Shows, and this has been a really great jumping off platform to establish our brand in the Western US.”

Running concurrently to LA Fashion Market, the CMC Gift & Home Market took place Sunday- Thursday, March 10 – 14, 2013. Buyers were able to discover endless creative merchandising opportunities from all the cross-over product, and as a result, gift and home companies all reported a very successful Market.

“We have seen much success from the cross-over traffic by merging CMC Gift & Home Market with LA Fashion Market,” said Mitchell Hall, owner of Bridgeport Gallery, Suite C1211. “More than half the people who have written orders with us this show were mainly apparel sector. It has been very good for us, and we are really happy to be here at the California Market Center.”

Gift and Home retailers in attendance included Wynn Las Vegas, The St. Regis, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Bungalow Home, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Helping Hands Gift Shop, Sheraton Resort, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, Goods, Peppermill Hotel & Casino, Holiday Hats & Gowns, Bear Valley Community Hospital, Balboa Bay Club, KSL Resorts, and Bracha Werner Interiors, to name a few.

Mickey Lang, founder of California Marketing Associates (CMA), Suite C1300, agreed with Mitch, saying “We had a great Market and opened many new accounts.”

Contributing to the positive energy at Market was a variety of special events and perks for attendees of Market. Monday evening, the CMC’s lobby atrium was packed with buyers, industry guests and various media outlets for The Opening Night Reception an organic wine bar courtesy of Frey Vineyards, Dry Soda and Honest Tea mixed cocktails, and live beats by DJ Lead One. Other sponsors include Dry Soda, Honest Tea, Vita Coco Coconut Water, and Luna Bar.

Dates for the Fall II/ Holiday 2013 LA Fashion Market are Monday – Thursday, June 10-13, 2013. The Market is also open to buyers on Sunday, June 9, 2013, for preview.