THE ELEMENTS OF FASHION

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POST-SHOW REPORT
THE
ELEMENTS
OF
FASHION
India
August 2013 Focus Region:
It was impossible not to notice the indelible imprint of India on this year’s
SOURCING at MAGIC. Beginning with a traditional Indian dance at the opening-day
ceremony, a henna artist in the Cultural Center and nearly 100 exhibiting companies,
Indian culture permeated the entire week’s festivities.
This is especially timely given the continued expansion of India’s apparel and textile
industry, with more than 25% of their manufacturing exports landing on U.S. shores.
The India Pavilion highlighted the country’s sourcing specialties and production
capabilities, a catalog that includes accessories, cotton, embellishments, leather goods,
small minimums and more.
Representatives from India were enthusiastic about the nation’s future in the apparel
industry. Speaking on behalf of TradeIndia, the country’s largest B2B marketplace, Zille Elahi
made no effort to conceal his optimism. “India is becoming a more attractive destination
for business in the U.S. and E.U. all the time,” he said. “It is much more sophisticated now
and getting better all the time.”
This was certainly the theme of Sunday’s
India workshop and cocktail event. Sudhir
Sekhri, chairman of export promotion for
the AEPC, and Dr. Arumugam Sakthivel,
the organization’s chairman, both made
powerful and systematic cases for taking
India seriously as a premier exporter,
particularly for the U.S.
Sakthivel boasted that India is able to
work with both high-quality cotton and
a wide range of synthetics, along with
being renowned for its traditional printing
techniques. Meanwhile, Sekhri discussed
the niche parts of the export market India
inhabits, such as processing smaller orders
and strength in speed-to-market.
Another topic addressed was India’s
increasingly aggressive attempts to
combine an emphasis on social compliance
with social and economic remediation.
Here, Sakthivel made the case that a unique
component of India’s export industry is its
laser-like focus on labor conditions and
factory safety, stating that, “India is already
asserting itself as an industry leader in safety
and compliance.”
With a scope of activities that mirrored
the breadth of the growing nation’s sizable
ambitions, SOURCING at MAGIC provided
an ideal forum for putting India’s aspirations
on display.
Pump
Up
the
Volume
MAGIC MARKET WEEK rolled out the red carpet this August
for the launch of WSA@MAGIC, offering the industry’s
most comprehensive portfolio of fast fashion footwear and
sourcing with more than 400 exhibitors from over 20 countries.
Spanning the LVH Convention Center and North Hall at the
Las Vegas Convention Center, WSA@MAGIC became the
ultimate destination for this element of the market.
Aneta Corps, a wholesaler based in El Monte, California,
exhibits at WSA@MAGIC not only for sales opportunities,
but also for the reputation boost of being seen at
MAGIC MARKET WEEK. “Our company has come here
for 12 years, and it’s very good exposure,” said Annie Lin.
“Competition is so tough right now; we need to keep our
profile high.”
Now a four-day event, WSA@MAGIC exhibitors benefited
from adjacency to FN PLATFORM, where more than 1,600
exhibiting footwear brands for men, women and children
were given the opportunity to shop footwear resources at
WSA@MAGIC a day before their show began. Attendees
benefited from the ability to shop both apparel and
footwear in a single trip and one central location.
“I’ll definitely come next year,” Lin continued. “Business has
been a rush. The placement is great, and it’s very relevant,”
she explained, noting how impressed she was with the caliber
of attendee, as well as her delight at being surrounded by
other international exhibitors, which allowed her company
to see the latest trends from around the world. “It keeps us
creative,” she concluded.
The August show brought together the footwear industry,
including seasoned veterans as well as first-time exhibitors
and attendees. The LVH Convention Center presented
newcomers alongside the biggest names in fast fashion
footwear, while North Hall featured manufacturers,
materials and components from global factories
representing China, Bangladesh, India, Colombia, Mexico,
Thailand, Vietnam and more. The expansive selection of
exhibitors offered footwear products and footwear resources
across all categories, including athletic, dress, fashion,
comfort and more.
For first-time exhibitor, Dinesh Primalani of Moheir Industries,
WSA@MAGIC provided exactly what they came for.
“Seeing different types of buyers was an amazing
experience. Being first-time exhibitors at WSA@MAGIC,
we feel we achieved the buyers we were looking for in the
USA and South America,” said Primalani.
The addition of WSA@MAGIC to MAGIC MARKET WEEK
brought an impressive number of new buyers to both
seasoned and new exhibiting companies…and will
undoubtedly continue to do so in 2014.
New for February 2014!
Footwear Sourcing is now part of SOURCING AT MAGIC.
Goes Local With
MADE IN USA
Made in USA continued to make a splash
at SOURCING at MAGIC this August with
over 90 exhibitors across nearly every
category. Located within the Americas
Pavilion, the Made in USA area attracted
brands, buyers and designers looking
for near sourcing and quick turnaround
combined with high-quality products.
To this end, the show offered an impressive
selection of leading Made in USA
companies, all easily identified with an
American flag in the directory. Attendees
were drawn to the range of cross-category
resources, from exhibitors including Buhler
Yarns, American Apparel and Trend
Chasers among many others.
Maker’s Row joined SOURCING at MAGIC,
serving as a one-stop solution for connecting
buyers with American factories. An increasing
number of designers and brands are
interested in producing domestically but
don’t know how or where to access the
resources. With Maker’s Row, they can easily
connect with American suppliers who meet
their specific production needs.
The growth of domestic production was also
the topic of the seminar “Revival of Made
in USA: Sourcing, Branding, and Marketing It
to the World.” Alongside speakers from FBI,
Made Movement, Restore Clothing, Save
the Garment Center and Sandler, Travis &
Rosenberg, Maker’s Row addressed the
demand and consequent increase in
Made in USA products.
Thomas Travis, managing partner at
Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, explained his
position that startups should almost never
import. “It’s too hard for you to manage
a global supply chain,” he advised new
businesses. “If you’re dreaming here, it’s
easier to make it here.”
In this era of slow economic growth,
Made in USA is more important than ever.
It’s also strongly supported by consumers.
Recognizing the demand for and growth of
domestic production, SOURCING at MAGIC
has made it a priority to offer an unparalleled
selection of Made in USA resources.
and
Crowd Pleasers,
Profit Increasers
SOURCING at MAGIC continues to stay
ahead of the curve by partnering with the
most cutting-edge apparel technology
companies to create the Buzz Boutique
and Innovation Zone.
Presented by SGIA, the Innovation Zone is
SOURCING at MAGIC’s first foray into the
growing world of equipment technology.
Fueling nonstop foot traffic, SGIA brought
in a global assortment of companies
specializing in screen-printing, sublimation
and other talked-about technologies. The
pavilion drew a crowd with its first-ever
display of onsite operating machinery,
including live demonstrations from Vapor
Apparel, Gans Ink and Motion Textile.
Specifically, Brother Fabric Printers made
a strong showing with an impressive line
of individually printed designs, applied
directly onto American Apparel tees
and quickly heat dried. Using non-toxic
ink, which has an integrated feel, the
environmentally friendly process prevents
the bumps and raising that often result from
earlier printing technologies.
Buzz Boutique rounded out the technology
solution by showcasing a selection of
companies bringing groundbreaking
advancements to sourcing and manufacturing.
A technology pavilion back for its third
appearance, Buzz Boutique brought together
firms from around the world including [TC]2,
Alvanon, Optitex, FastFit360 and Sync.
Alvanon, the industry’s largest clothing fit-form
manufacturer, looked to Buzz Boutique as a
forum for rolling out new software, a solution
that takes body scans of target customers
and aligns them to company specs.
Alvanon president Ed Gribbin explained how
their digital innovations help retailers and
brands systematize their otherwise erratic
sizing. “The fit of a garment is the single most
important factor in return and conversion
rates,” he said, noting that, “85% of all
returns are based on a poor fit.”
Gribbin also spoke to the significance of
SOURCING at MAGIC as an opportunity
to meet potential new customers. “We have
a lot of partnerships with major outfits,” he
shared. “But some of the smaller companies,
especially startups, might not have
discovered us yet.”
To this end, he was impressed with the
idea of carving out a dedicated area to
showcase the most progressive technology
providers — and the bilateral benefit it
brings to exhibitors and attendees.
After years of coming to the show, Gribbin
commented that he appreciates its value
for networking as well as keeping abreast
of the latest industry trends. And what better
way to do both than a dedicated space
amidst North America’s foremost fashion
sourcing forum.
Over 50 Hours
of Education,
Without a Single
Consulting Fee
Of course MAGIC MARKET WEEK is about
selling, shopping and sourcing. But
increasingly, business-building opportunities
are also derived from education.
With an impressive agenda complete with
trends, industry insights and technology
innovations, the August MAGIC MARKET
WEEK Conference Series featured over
50 sessions rich with industry information —
all aimed at keeping fashion professionals
informed and positioned to succeed in
today’s fast-moving market.
Complimentary for attendees and
exhibitors, topics ranged from sourcing
for newbies and 2015 trends, to sourcing
alternatives, denim and the latest apparel
technology opportunities.
And for seasoned professionals and c-level
executives, the show also featured the
first-ever Executive Suite Series. By invitation
only, this program included three executivelevel seminars led by renowned industry
experts Otto Group, The NPD Group and
PricewaterhouseCoopers. In these sessions,
attendees gained valuable knowledge on
how to increase ROI along with strategies for
expanding business outside the U.S. market.
Throughout the show, retailers, sourcing
executives, designers and other industry
professionals packed seminar rooms
seeking to gain knowledge and network.
Because when you come to MAGIC
MARKET WEEK to shop, sell and source,
why not leave with the latest industry
intelligence as well?
An extraordinary roster of speakers
represented the following organizations:
Fashion Snoops
Pantone
The NPD Group
Charming Charlie
J.C. Penney
Maker’s Row
SGS
PVH
Lululemon Athletica
WGSN
FDRA
Brown Shoe Company
And many more...
“
See What the
Industry Is Saying
About
Exhibitors
Attendees
“SOURCING at MAGIC is as advertised, the world’s most
extensive sourcing event. The traffic to the pavilion was
very busy and I was very pleased with the interest level
and visitor frequency.”
- Johnny Shell, Vice President, SGIA
“SOURCING at MAGIC is the only sourcing show in the
Americas where you can find all of your apparel production
needs under one roof. From manufacturers to fabric and
trim vendors, SOURCING at MAGIC offers everything you
need! I was excited about the wide variety of vendors
who manufacture in the USA and the number of vendors
offering small minimums. There is no other sourcing show as
organized and easy to navigate as SOURCING at MAGIC.”
- Amber Sellers, Owner/Designer, Artisan Revival &
Production Manager, Quality Peoples
“The matchmaking is the best part about SOURCING at MAGIC.
You do many things before the show with matchmaking and
the mobile app.”
- Crystine Li, Chinatex
“SOURCING at MAGIC is a treasure chest for the savviest
of buyers and provides the platform of success for budding
entrepreneurs and small business owners. There are no
other shows in America that not only put the best breed
of suppliers from over 40 countries under one roof, but
also assemble the most respected and talented leaders
in apparel to put on dozens of engaging, inspiring and
knowledge rich seminars. SOURCING at MAGIC is a pillar
example of an event that values your time and goes out
of their way to make sure you get what you came for: new
supplier relationships and product diversity.”
- Jason Prescott, CEO, Manufacturer.com
“The quality of the show is higher than other sourcing
shows. The factories at SOURCING at MAGIC are more
in tune with the fashion industry as a whole. There was a
good selection of fashion-forward manufacturers.”
- Jay Hallstein, Project Manager, ACQ Textile & Apparel
“I want to thank you for the best sourcing show ever. All the
seminars I attended were very interesting, the panels were
focused and I really felt I learned new and useful facts.”
- Liviu Goldenberg, Senior VP, Marithe, Francois & Girbaud
“The best thing about the show is the variety of items that are
offered. It is one-stop shopping! I’m always looking for new
innovation and I found something at SOURCING at MAGIC.”
- Dina Colangelo, Soft Goods Design Engineer, Philips
Noteworthy Retailers
and Branded Manufacturers
Shop
American Apparel
Andrew Marc
BABY PHAT Holdings
BB Dakota
BCBGeneration
Bebe
Brooks Brothers
Buffalo David Bitton
Charming Charlie
Chinese Laundry
Cinder Block
Columbia Sportswear
Dan Post Boot Co.
Deer Stags Concepts Footwear
Dollhouse/Jou Jou
Eastland Shoe Corp
Elliott Lauren
Flojos
Fruit of the Loom
G.H. Bass & Co.
Hustler Apparel
J Brand
J.C. Penney
Jordache
Kenneth Cole Productions
Lily, Inc.
Lord Daniel Sportswear, Inc.
Lululemon
Macy’s
Mad Engine
Maggy London
Manhattan Beachwear
Marciano
Michael Stars
Miss Me/MM Couture
Mocean Group
N.Y.L.A.
Not Your Daughters Jeans/NYDJ
Otto Group
Papillon Eastern Imports, Inc.
Petite Jolie
Point Zero
PVH
Ralph Lauren
Rocawear
Seychelles
Silver Jeans
Skechers USA Footwear
Sledge USA
Steve Madden/Steven/Superga Footwear
Stussy Inc.
True Religion Brand Jeans
Two Lips
U.S. Polo Assn.
Under Armour
US Polo Association
VF Corporation
Volatile Footwear
Wanted shoes
Washington Shoe Co.
YMI Jeanswear International
And many more...
6000+
Attendees from over
*August 2013 attendees
Adding It All Up
99% Growth
in SOURCING at MAGIC attendees
over August 2012
Branded manufacturers
exhibiting at MAGIC MARKET WEEK
100 Countries
Contact Us
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFIN
Vice President of Sourcing, vAdvanstar
[email protected]
310-857-7602
KATHLEEN JACK
Senior Consultant,
Attendee Relations & Matchmaking
[email protected]
JESSIE ZHANG
International Business
Development Manager
[email protected]
310-857-7648
BRUCE ANTROBIUS
Attendee Relations
[email protected]
310-857-7652
BOB BERG
Director of International Business
[email protected]
310-857-7568
ANA URIBE
Customer Service Representative
[email protected]
310-857-7653
WINNIE LIU
Customer Service Representative
[email protected]
310-857-7649
CHRISTINA CORRALEZ
Sponsorship Account Executive &
Customer Service
[email protected]
212-951-6782
BARBARA ENDE
Educational Series
[email protected]
SAVE THE DATE!
February 17-20, 2014
Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall
www.sourcingatmagic.com
/sourcingatmagic
@sourcingatmagic
@sourcingatmagic