Spring 2009 Market Week Wrap Up
22 Oct
Itinerary
1:30 – Kathy Walker Sales
2:30 – Agent Icon
3:30 – Bluebird Showroom
4:30 – Bright ENK
This was my fifth trip to market week and I had more appointments than ever! The first two were at the New Mart and the second was at the Cooper Building, which I had been to before but only for the Designers & Agents trade show, and the last was Voom at the Brighte ENK trade show in the California Mart.
This was also the first time I got into LA and actually had time to spare. Usually I get there 15 minutes early or something and we’re scrambling to eat before our first appointment. But this time around I had an hour just to hang out and catch the trade shows. We went to Focus, which is on the top floor of the California Mart….now I understand why I never bothered to go up there before. They had such a poor selection of vendors up there, minus one or two.
We also zipped through the Transit shoe show quickly. Now, there are TONS of shoe vendors there, and good ones too. And they’re all producing the same things. I can tell you right now that styles won’t be changing next Spring from Spring 2008. Booties, gladiator sandals, ballerina flats and strappy heels in abundance. Shoes are something that will probably be out of my budget for a very long time now.
D&A at the Cooper building was a HUGE improvement over the last two times I visited it. I found a new line that I LOVE! It’s a brand new, unknown label Kitchen Orange. It’s definitely something I would consider but I’m so weary about adding more lines that have little press.
And I’m sure some of you have heard of Fluxus. I really regret not inquiring about this line when I was creating my budget for Spring. I thought they were only about gray knit vests but they have some impressive mini dresses, coats and shrugs for Spring. Ugh! If I hadn’t gone over budget (WAY over budget) I would’ve been all over that! Definitely in the Fall though, if not Summer.
Bags are also something I’m considering later on in 2009. I’m thinking Linea Pelle or Hayden Harnett. Or who knows, something new might come around.
D&A also has a special market for Green retailers this year, which is great! Didn’t get to check it out though, unfortunately.
Showrooms & Buying
There wasn’t too much that wowed me for Spring, at least not like Holiday, but I did find a bunch of SUPER cute dresses! I got that maxi dress from Lauren Conrad that I posted about last week, as well as an adorable black and blue printed chiffon bubble dress, a couple of wraps and some cute tees. I also ordered a bunch of maxi dresses from Gypsy 05 as well as their sweat suits. Ordering for Love Quotes Spring hasn’t opened yet but the colors are super pretty, albeit the same ones from last year. Boring!
Plastic Island…oh man, I’m glad I went back to this line! So many gorgeous, fashion forward pieces and at great prices too. There are two mini dresses I picked up that I’m absolutely in love with, a great white tuxedo jacket and this amazing navy skirt with tiered strips that totally reminds me of 3.1 Phillip Lim….just half the price and just as good quality.
I’m also looking to branch my merchandise out into basics, so I stocked up on PVC/latex/faux leather/whatever leggings, tanks and tees from LNA. I know, I know…every other boutique carries LNA but EVERYONE needs tees! And any extra search traffic is welcome.
Lastly, there was Voom. Voom always delivers and their Spring stuff is especially cute! I can’t wait for you guys to see this denim tube dress they have; it’s outlined with red and white strips and it has a dove cut out on it. I think it’s going to be next hit in the way the Eva Longoria elephant dress was.
Spring 2009 Preview
Most of you are probably worrying about getting your fall wardrobes together and not even thinking about next spring, but here’s a preview of the new stuff anyways. They should show up early February.
*The red jacket will actually be in this week!
TRENDSTALKING
Hot Colors:
Hot trends: Fringe, florals, tiered strips (aka mini layers), tuxedo style, leggings, burn out, maxi dresses, asymmetry, zippers….blah blah blah, not really anything new.
sounds like a productive trip to market week & good picks. that maxi dress is so cute:) i hope the economy hasn’t taken a toll on business, urgh so frustrating, i can’t wait for things to pick up!
^Hey girl! Im worried about the economy too, but oddly enough since its gotten worse my sales have improved, lol. Its mainly search traffic though. I s a bummer though cause I wanted to start a physical store in 2010 and it prob wont happen if things dont get better
I am just getting my blog up and I’m new to blogging. I’ve followed your blog for a while now and have left you comments before. I was wondering do you have any icons for your store I can put on my blog to advertise for you. To link people to your store or blog. I all ready have you as a link, but would like a icon or the sale icon you have here on your blog.
I know your busy but if you can get back to me I’d appreciate it.
Thanks, MommyVega
^Hey Mommyvega! That’s so sweet of you, I appreciate the support! I’m in the process of making new icons and graphics and I’ll email one to you later on today.
Can’t wait to see your blog!
egh…love love love, especially the white dress! cant wait to join you on fun trips like this..one day i’ll have time to do my store again, in the mean time know em dead
^It would be SO much fun to check out markets together. I never have anyone to go w/ because my friends aren’t into fashion or anything! Glad you like the stuff, that’s reassuring
um, kitchen orange is not a new label. it has been around for like 10 years. it used to be really popular with canadian ravers in the 90s.
^Seriously? Lol, I know they’re Canadian, which is why I haven’t heard of them I guess. This was my first time seeing them at a show, so maybe they’re branching out into the US market for the first time? Who knows, thanks for the info though!
the last girl with the bob cut looks like a modern Snow White causal wear cute