The recent mergers in the trade show landscape — notably UBM America’s acquisition of Business Journals Inc. for $69 million — are also set to dramatically alter the New York marketplace in the second half. Executives hope the changes will offer a more streamlined and efficient experience for buyers and brands.
UBM’s deal brings together WWDMAGIC, Project and Coterie with BJI’s portfolio, which includes MRket, AccessoriesTheShow, EDIT, Fame, Moda and Stitch.
But the integration of the shows won’t sacrifice their identities, according to Danielle Licata, vice president and general manager of Coterie.
“All of the shows will remain as they exist currently,” Licata said. “They each really service their own distinct communities and we want to keep it that way. But we want to allow the retailer to shop the shows effortlessly — to ease their experience and improve their productivity. Buyers can come into the show, get one badge and see all product categories without having to go to multiple booths to register and sign in.”
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At Coterie, to be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from Sept. 18 to 20, the show’s new mammoth size on the venue’s already expansive floors might prove overwhelming to navigate. To save buyers time and energy, Licata said Coterie will offer a “matchmaking” concierge service, highlighting labels that will suit their stores.
Meanwhile, the Accessorie Circuit, Intermezzo Collections, Children’s Club and FWD shows, running from July 31 to Aug. 2, will mark a merging of Fame and FWD into one section focused on juniors and young contemporary apparel.
“It was a no-brainer,” said Kelly Helfman, show director of FWD, Project Womens and WWDMAGIC, emphasizing a cohesively merchandised “one-stop shop” for buyers.
Newness remains as crucial as ever, and organizers across the board spoke of ushering in undiscovered or emerging brands to make their shows places of discovery that have an increasingly international flavor.
“The retailer wants to see new,” Helfman said. “That’s why they’re coming.”
Coterie will boast new eyewear collections from Jason Wu, Alice + Olivia, Steven Alan and Ottavo, as well as contemporary apparel from first-timers such as Superdry, Bill Blass, Cacharel, Jill Stuart and La Vie Rebecca Taylor. New brands in the Tmrw section will include Antipodium, Manebi and Korean labels August Alive and Carnet Du Style.
At Designers & Agents, cofounder Ed Mandelbaum is providing a solution for out-of-towners with the launch of the D&A Showroom. Bowing in September, the space will allow exhibitors to have an extended presence in New York the week before and after D&A’s show, which will take place from Sept. 17 to 19.
“Our exhibitor roster comprises both domestic and international independent designers, many of which do not have a corporate showroom,” Mandelbaum explained. “The D&A Showroom [was born out of] the interest of D&A’s exhibitors in an extended New York selling period.”
In addition, D&A will collaborate with the New York City Economic Development Corp. on a new initiative called the Designers & Agents: Made in New York Collective, which will support designers who are based and producing in New York City.
Another, more logistical change is in store for D&A: the location. Besides its longtime home on the 13th floor of the Starrett-Lehigh Building, the show will be housed in multiple venues on West 26th Street, including Cedar Lake, a freestanding creative space that D&A has inhabited in past seasons.
At Capsule, also bowing in New York from Sept. 17 to 19, a new activewear section called Axis will make its debut, highlighting swimwear, ath-leisure, footwear and wearable electronics. The show’s organizers have also teamed up with Merchant Factors on a design competition. Designers in business for less than two years and with sales of less than $250,000 — and who are not currently factored — are eligible to apply, with the winner receiving a free booth at Capsule along with mentoring services.
Textile and sourcing executives have a full lineup of shows at their disposal in the city in July.
Texworld USA and Apparel Sourcing kick things off for three days starting July 12 at the Javits Center. Texworld organizers have put together 550 exhibitors from 17 countries for the exhibition’s celebration of its 10th year in Manhattan, and Apparel Sourcing will host 210 exhibitors from nine countries. The sister shows will each feature an expanded array of country pavilions and specialized presentations.
A trio of fairs takes place the following week. The European-centric Première Vision New York returns to Pier 94 on July 19 and 20 with 300-plus weavers, leather producers, accessories companies and manufacturers.
Spin Expo, featuring mostly Asian spinners and knitters, will again encamp at the Brooklyn Expo Center from July 19 to 21, while Italian leather goods fair Lineapelle New York sets up at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street on July 19 and 20.