Women's Spring 2013 NYC Market Week Report: Designers & Agents, Fashion Coterie

Designers & Agents (d&a)

Designers & Agents (d&a) took place at 2 separate locations in Chelsea, New York from September 18^th to 20^th, 2012. The trade show hosted many up-and-coming designers in mainly contemporary and casual garments, as well as accessories including scarves, hats, bags, shoes, and even some interior goods. As the name "Designers & Agents" suggests, agents and designers, many with showrooms, exhibited at the show. Designers with showrooms such as Denise Williamson Showroom, S2 Showroom, Aubrey Company, Aesthetic Movement and approximately thirty others were part of a total of over two hundred exhibitors. Many exhibiting companies were based in Europe, focusing on consolidating business through such showrooms in the United States.

The trade show venues (The Starrett Lehigh Center and Center548) incorporated themes of ecology and art in its interior décor, creating a friendly atmosphere for both exhibitors and buyers - setting the show apart from other trade shows. Venues with high ceilings, open spaces and windows to capture natural sunlight were chosen to support the theme of the entire show. Each exhibiting brand had consciously customized the design of their booths, distinguishing themselves from other brands but at the same time keeping in harmony with the overall, organic theme. In addition, brands that have been making strides towards incorporating sustainable practices in the manufacturing and sourcing of their products, and brands in which the majority of their product line is achieved through ecologically sensitive practices and/or fair trade affiliations were distinguished by displaying special marks on the exhibitors' booth signs to raise awareness and appeal to eco-conscious buyers.

Since its inception in 1997, d&a is held bi-annually in New York, Los Angeles and Paris, attracting roughly 3000 attendees. d&a MAN, which began last season, currently takes place only in New York.

Designers & Agents: http://designersandagents.com

Fashion Coterie

ENK International trade event "Fashion Coterie" took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York from September 19^th to the 21^st, 2012. Fashion Coterie is a semi-annual culmination of ready-to-wear (RTW) fashion and accessories, featuring designers of both established brand names and the young avant-garde of fashion. This September, the show hosted the latest in mostly women's wear while launching a new section TMRW (pronounced "tomorrow" - young, contemporary men's wear designs), and designated sections for footwear and accessories to capitalize on such key categories. Fashion Coterie hosts over 1,200 exhibitors and attracts over 14,000 attendees.

In times of buyer uncertainty, where vendors claim retailers reallocate their buys for brands and products that have a proven track record, several Japanese designers showcased their latest collections at the show. Two of such brands include M.&Kyoko and C.T.plage.

M.&Kyoko, from Yamagata Prefecture, is a collaborative effort between textile designer, Masaki and Silhouette Designer, Kyoko. All of the materials used are hand selected, and the yarns and textiles used in their knitwear collection are all made in Japan. The exhibited collection saw many garments and accessories full of originality, in earthy tones with shots of pop colors that were both warm to the touch and eye. Many buyers had stopped by the booth, attracted to the uniqueness of M.&Kyoko's designs.

Although a frequent exhibitor in Parisian trade shows including Paris Sur Mode and MeMy mode, Fashion Coterie saw C.T.plage's debut as an exhibitor in an U.S. trade show. The company focuses on "comfortableness" in clothing by picking quality materials from across the world including France and Japan. The exhibited collection consisted of women's tops, mainly knitwear, in natural colors that were simple, yet sophisticated in design.

This September marked the first Coterie trade show in which accessory brands were designated an accessories section titled "Accessories@Coterie" at the Convention Center. Inden NY, from Yamanashi Prefecture, exhibited their latest collection of high-end bags, pouches, wallets, and other small leather goods made of deerskin that blends Japanese tradition with modernity. Inden NY has been seeing steady growth in their business through the building of relationships with retailers and boutiques across the United States by participating at trade shows such as Coterie and ENK's Intermezzo. For Coterie, the company showcased brand new designs aimed at customers in their thirties. Their booth saw many international buyers such as buyers from Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Fashion Coterie: www.enkshows.com/coterie
C.T.plage: www.ct-plage.com
M.&Kyoko: www.mkyoko.com
Inden: www.inden-ny.com