Sep 15, 2008

Fall brings spring debut at Atlanta apparel

ATLANTA — Fresh spring lines, edgy new designers and product introductions headline the October 11-14 Atlanta Apparel Market, featuring the Atlanta International Bridal Market. With more than 550 showrooms and 1,000 temporary booths, AmericasMart Atlanta continues to offer the largest apparel market on the East Coast. Contributing to the growth is the contemporary men’s category and the focus on bridal in October, in addition to the burgeoning women’s, children’s, shoes and accessories product mix.

This October, the Atlanta International Bridal Market showcases bridal, along with prom, pageantry, Quinceanera and other special occasion product. AmericasMart boasts an entire permanent floor dedicated to this product with complementary showrooms—including mother-of-the bride, bridesmaid, flower girl and guest of the wedding—spread throughout the 13-floor building.

Men’s product spans across AmericasMart Premiere—premium contemporary brands— the NY/LA Co-Ops on Floor 9, classic and streetwear men’s on Floor 12 and AmericasMart alpha.

Additionally, the October Market features its annual swim product on Floor 3, along with the growing AmericasMart’s Children’s World permanent showrooms—featuring the Kids’ Co-Ops, comprised of contemporary children’s multi-line showrooms within a loft-like gallery.

These product collections are supported by a full lineup of activities, events and educational seminars designed to reinforce the overall Market experience for the buyer, including:

Order the Cure: AmericasMart is teaming up with the American Cancer Society for a major fundraiser in which participating manufacturers will donate $1 towards the fight against cancer for every order written. To highlight this, exhibitors will host Order the Cure events and parties in their showrooms and offer additional incentives to participate.

Style Runway: On Saturday evening, designers’ spring trends will take to the stage during the Style Runway fashion show sponsored by Montreal Collections.

Seminars: Mercedes Gonzalez, director of Global Purchasing Companies, will teach retailers how to thrive in a struggling economy and leads a crash course in inventory and sales.

Floor events: Parties and festivities dedicated to product centers, including the pre-fashion show cocktail party, Chill in Style for men’s and An Engaging Affair for special occasion.

Shop Late ‘Til Eight: Every Market, AmericasMart stays open until 8 p.m. on Sunday evening for extended shopping, cocktail parties and networking. Participating exhibitors host parties in their showrooms and are designated with a purple balloon.

Atlanta Apparel opens Saturday, October 11, and runs through Tuesday, October 14. For a complete listing of events or more information on AmericasMart and its annual markets, please call 1-800-ATL-MART or visit AmericasMart.com.

The Atlanta Apparel market is held five times a year (excluding August which does not include a1pha), and spans 13 floors with 550 permanent showrooms and 1,000 temporary booths showcasing more than 8,000 apparel lines.