Line and Dot was one of several women’s brands that attempted to better their chances for sales by sponsoring booths at both WWDMAGIC at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Project Womens at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
To stay competitive in a crowded market, Joe’s Jeans is emphasizing innovation. One example is using a laser machine to cut out a floral lace pattern on white denim shorts that retail for $168.
Following a banner year in sales growth in 2015, AG aims to maintain its momentum with a new fit: a straight leg style with a 10 1/4-inch rise, which retails for between $198 and $215 depending on the wash. It’s also elevating its knits, as seen in a cashmere-silk-Modal top that retails for $168.
Siwy Denim blended denim with activewear in skinny jeans accented with a tuxedo stripe cut from stretchy fabric. The vintage red style wholesales for $99.
Fresh from launching a new ad campaign for Buffalo David Bitton’s Hope line, UFC star Ronda Rousey dropped by the denim brand’s booth on the first day of Project to meet with retail buyers.
WWDMAGIC veteran Alicia Estrada halved the size of Stop Staring’s booth at WWDMAGIC in the Las Vegas Convention Center. She booked appointments with retailers two months in advance to ensure that they would see new styles like this draped peach sheath dress, which wholesales for $81.
Despite tepid sales for apparel, new designers always want to break into the industry. Tracy Li, 26, left her marketing job at PayPal to start Two Feathers, which made its debut in WWDMAGIC’s young contemporary section at the Las Vegas Convention Center. “I have the passion,” she said. Her off-the-shoulder striped rayon minidress, which retails for $78, was designed for herself and her Millennial peers. “We want to dress well and be with our friends,” she said.
Agenda is betting on experiences to propel the show forward and increase its audience reach beyond retail buyers. Randy the Cobbler, an Arizona-based shoemaker who combines vintage sneaker uppers with modern soles, demonstrated his craft on the show floor at Sands Expo. Agenda founder Aaron Levant discovered him on Instagram.