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Domestic Trade Show Calendar 2018

Here are all the key trade events happening in the U.S. in women's, men's, accessories, denim and luxury.

June 21, 2018, 12:01am

JULY

17-18 Première Vision New York, Pier 94, New York

Tel.: 646-351-1942

E-mail: pvusa@premierevision.com

Web: premierevision-newyork.com

22-24 Project Womens, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, N.Y.

Tel.: 877-554-4834

E-mail: cs@ubmfashion.com

Web: ubmfashion.com/shows/ny-womens-1

22-24 Fame, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York

Tel.: 877-554-4834

E-mail: cs@ubmfashion.com

Web: ubmfashion.com/shows/ny-womens-1

As businesses and brands bustle to meet and exceed the wants, needs and desires of consumers, the enigmatic Millennial generation remains in focus. And with aims to actualize Millennial consumers’ expectations, trade show and event organizer Messe Frankfurt recently led a study to determine pointed methods for increasing show attendance and engagement centered on the digitally savvy sector.

Conducted alongside students from the EBS University of Business and Law, the study surveyed Millennials with the aim to unlock the psyche of “potential” future trade-fair participants. Research found that Millennials “still see trade fairs as part of the ideal marketing mix,” and that they’d like to see “high-caliber speakers and the use of virtual and augmented reality” as part of trade-show offerings, as well as more opportunities for interactive events.

The study also found that almost half of the Millennials surveyed revealed they are reticent to approach strangers and unfamiliar faces at trade shows, which lends itself well to the networking apps and events available to show-goers. And the research showed that more than a quarter of respondents said that “access to personal networks” was a primary factor in attending trade fairs.

Wolfgang Marzin, president and chief executive officer of Messe Frankfurt, said, “It is very encouraging that, in spite of increasing digitalization, Millennials still value personal interaction, thus validating our business model. Messe Frankfurt’s success has always been founded on its ability to listen to the different target groups and to align their needs with the industry sector in question.”

Professor Diane Isabelle Robers from the EBS University of Business and Law said, “Exhibitors should harness the FOMO principle — i.e., the fear of missing out — and should design trade fairs in such a way that visitors and exhibitors want to be part of this community at all costs — ideally before, during and after the trade fair.”

Swimwear Association of Florida

They say it’s always summer somewhere. And the latest looks for beating the heat will soon be on display at the annual SwimShow in Miami, which spans swimwear for women, men and children, as well as resortwear, beachwear, lifestyle, activewear and accessory collections. The event will take place July 14 through 17 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, held by the Swimwear Association of Florida.

The SwimShow is the largest swimwear trade show in the world, and will showcase more than 2,500 curated lines, more than 7,500 brands and approximately 3,000 buyers this year, hailing from 60 countries. The show was initially launched as a special event in Miami to help connect key swimwear industry players.

A curated selection for event-goers called “The Collection” was introduced in 2016, which aims to help identify notable emerging boutique brands and highlight distinguished swimwear industry brands. Showcased via a “modern and polished platform” with a focus on the product, buyers can “engage with brands in a one-on-one intimate environment that allows them to garner personal insight into the collections,” according to show organizers. The Collection segment also offers VIP amenities such as champagne butler service and a lounge area.

Collection lines for 2018’s show include Bluette, Helen Kaminski, Juicy Couture, L’Space by Monica Wise, Luli Fama, Muche et Muchette, Nicole Miller, Queen Moda, Sea Level, Soleil Toujours, Sunday Saint-Tropez, Thaikila, Vitamin A and Wet Leopard, among many others.

Judy Stein, director of SwimShow, said “At SwimShow, buyers get the best of both worlds, having the opportunity to view the most exciting collections from emerging designers, as well as the most important established brands. Our show has become part of the fabric of the swimwear industry, consistently attracting premier brands and buyers.”

UBM

UBM Fashion, an international producer of fashion trade shows, has introduced a novel and significant addition to its event portfolio: the New York Men’s and Women’s show. The event will be marked as the first dual-gender marketplace held in New York, taking place July 22 to 24 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The shows in the event include Project, MRket, Project Womens, Fame, Moda and Accessories the Show, collectively offering apparel, accessories and footwear.

“In a period when so many companies serve both men’s and women’s markets, creating one inspiring, unified market enables brands and retailers to connect, discover new resources and grow their businesses more effectively and efficiently than ever before,” the company said of the launch.

The firm redesigned its New York fashion trade event calendar to better align with New York Fashion and Market weeks and evolving consumer trends such as fast fashion, as well as the emergence of new seasons. To reflect these changes, UBM fashion launched its new June market, [Pre]Coterie, “to provide an inspiring and productive central locale for the fashion community to capitalize on this key market period,” the company said. Referred to as its June “pre-collections” show, the event is a taste of what’s to come for women’s apparel and accessories across resort, international women’s wear, designer accessories and fine jewelry, swim and active, inclusive of beauty and vintage.

Mike Alic, managing director, UBM Fashion, said, “As the global leader in fashion trade shows, UBM Fashion has been seeing firsthand the dramatic changes in the retail landscape. From the growth of e-commerce and fast fashion and changes in consumer buying patterns to the importance of delivering lifestyles and experiences — we at UBM Fashion realized there was an opportunity, in fact a duty, to make real changes for our industry.”

Kingpins

Sustainability and transparency were far more than merely buzzwords at the recent Kingpins Show in New York — they were demands. And so denim, it seems, could be best described as an industry in transition.

As legacy brands and denim start-ups pivot toward creating and manufacturing denim ecologically and responsibly, the Kingpins show has responded by centering its focus on promoting sustainability industry-wide. Andrew Olah, Kingpins founder and ceo and partner of Olah Inc., told WWD, “Kingpins is working really, really hard on sustainability and moving the dial in the industry, and making companies do more. It’s basically Kingpins mission,” he said. “Sustainability is really vital.”

And in a further effort to implement and see change, the firm initiated Kingpins Transformers, a summit series that spotlights key innovators in the denim industry that are making strides in sustainability. The biannual conference takes place in New York and Amsterdam, and is developed by Kingpins Show organizers in collaboration with House of Denim.

Ebru Ozaydin, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Artistic Milliners, told WWD, “Nowadays, people are asking a lot of the sustainability solutions and technologies,” with many American brands in the market seeking solutions for clean indigo dyeing or post-consumer waste or recycle fibers, as well as a strong desire to achieve certifications that define a brand as sustainable.

Tricia Carey, director of global business development for denim at Lenzing, told WWD, “After Kingpins and [the] denim market gathering, there is a flurry of stories. The market is talking about sustainability in all facets — some are true and some are a real stretch to verify.”