ATLANTA — Buyers gave a thumbs-up to changes at AmericasMart, an expansion and new location of the Premiere show at the market that ended its five-day run Jan. 30.
But some were disappointed by a few incomplete collections, especially in bridge and social occasion areas, because of an overlapping date with the Dallas market.
The second floor remodeling included high-end fixtures, coffee bars, a cyber lounge and lush seating areas to reflect Premiere’s juried product. Exhibitors said the change drew high-end buyers and boosted sales. Angela Burgess, owner of Angel Court, a Meridian, Miss.-based jewelry line, said she picked up 14 new accounts, more than doubling sales over last market.
Attendance at the women’s and children’s apparel and accessories shows registered healthy increases over January shows the previous two years, said Lawton Hall, senior vice president, AmericasMart. Representation was especially strong from Florida and Mississippi, as stores rebuilt inventory after numerous hurricanes in the Southeast during the past two years.
Premiere’s having the same date as the Dallas market caused problems for some exhibitors, especially those bridge lines with only one sample line that show in both markets.
“Reps can’t be in two places, so they have to choose or split the lines,” said Michelle Harrison, who runs a namesake special occasion and sportswear showroom. “It hurts the buyer if they can only see half the line, or want to work with a specific rep.”
Hall said the dates are planned years in advance and couldn’t be changed on short notice, given Atlanta’s hotel bookings with conventions. The conflict with Dallas was a rare occurrence that shouldn’t happen again, he added.
Buyers bought close-to-season, often cautiously, seeking mostly summer goods, especially novelty sportswear pieces and high-end eveningwear for spring and summer social events.
Top trends included gaucho pants, asymmetric skirts and city shorts paired with crisp fitted jackets in linen or coated metallic fabrics. Design details, rather than heavy embellishment, included pleating, ruching, appliqués and frayed seams, replacing the glitz, glitter and sequins of past seasons.
Susan Lee, owner of an eponymous Atlanta women’s specialty store, said, “We had to pass on a few lines, such as Kay Unger, because half of the line was in Dallas.”
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Lee said she would complete her buying at New York’s Fashion Coterie, which takes place next week. She shopped for eveningwear for upcoming Atlanta social events, buying dresses in the $1,000 retail range along with cocktail pants, bustiers and stoles from Badgley Mischka and Teri Jon. In sportswear, she bought novelty denim jackets with metallic details.
Tony Falcone, co-owner of Fast Buck Freddie’s, a Key West, Fla., women’s and men’s apparel and gift store, shopped with a budget that was 20 percent lower than last year’s.
“We’re sorting through the effects of six hurricanes in Florida over the past two years,” he said.
His problems range from settling with insurance on inventory and equipment damaged in warehouse flooding to lost tourist and local business from multiple evacuations. Sales for 2005 were down around 12 percent, but business is getting back to normal, Falcone said.
“We’re buying with a more focused eye on what’s going to sell,” he said. “We’ll have core groups and add pieces here and there for a tighter presentation.”
He bought summer sportswear in tropical colors, including novelty linen separates and embellished skirts from Tommy Bahama, Basil & Maude and LaCoste.
Avis Rollison, owner of The Porcupine, a women’s better-to-bridge specialty store in Hilton Head, S.C., shopped for summer sportswear, and dresses for Easter and several big golf events on the resort island.
She bought two-piece knit dressing, in easier silhouettes than in previous seasons, from Shine and Vince, and dresses from Luna Luz. Rollison purchased camel, brown and other neutrals, contrasting with white accents, in sportswear separates from Emil Rutenberg and William Rast.
In accessories, Rollison bought belts in wider, low-slung hip or corset styles from Suzi Roher, and slouchy handbags from a variety of vendors.
Special occasion dressing for Junior League balls, weddings and proms was the focus for Anne Carlton, owner of Turner’s, a Moultrie, Ga., specialty store. She bought evening separates, such as flattering black pants from Chetta B and Teri Jon, and prom dresses from Jovani. In sportswear, Carlton ordered David Kahn jeans, a line that “pays the rent,” she said, along with Cambio, for her misses’ customers who want contemporary looks.
“My biggest challenge is finding clothes for Boomers, like me, that are on trend, but with a forgiving fit,” she said.