Exhibitors at Moda Manhattan said they were pleased with the business they did at the three-day show, which ended last Tuesday. Moda ran concurrently with Coterie at the Jacob K. Javits Center, and several retailers said they went back and forth between the two shows.
According to Britton Jones, president and chief executive officer of Business Journals, which produces Moda, retail attendance was up about 1 to 2 percent versus a year ago. “As with last year our international attendance was particularly strong,” he said. Some 550 lines were on the floor, an increase of 15 percent over last February.
Chetta B, which has moved from the bridge to the better zone under new owners Castle Hill Apparel, was drumming up retail interest at the show.
Alan Geller, vice president of sales at Chetta B, said he opened accounts at Moda with retailers in Brazil, Lebanon and Argentina, as well as Julian Gold in San Antonio, Tex., and Town & Country in Springfield, Mo. Chetta B’s dresses, which run the gamut from knits to eveningwear, wholesale from $49 to $89.
Related Articles
“It’s a good show for us,” said Peter Casagrande, sales director for the U.S. for Pure Handknit and Neon Buddha. He said the knits are all handknit in Thailand, “and color is our forte.” The line includes sweater vests, fringe sweater coats and open cardigans.
You May Also Like
With an average wholesale price point between $47 and $52, Casagrande met with accounts he already has at the show and opened a few new ones. Among the stores that wrote business were Top of the Hill, in Highland Park, Ill., and Evelyn & Arthur in Boca Raton.
“We always do well at the New York shows. We’re positioned very strongly in the market,” said Alka Tolani, designer and co-owner of Tolani, which makes directional scarves and tops. The scarves wholesale for $39 and the tunics are $45.
She said the company added bohemian tops to its colorful scarf line in October, and they’ve been selling well. Celebrities such as Nicky Hilton and Lindsay Lohan have been photographed wearing the tops, she pointed out.
At the show, Tolani said she had appointments with Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Anthropologie.
“We’ll do business with our existing majors, and we pick up new stores and a lot of international business, including Japan,” she said.
Kelly McDonald, a buyer for Clodhoppers, a women’s specialty store in Louisville, Ky., was shopping Moda.
“We do a big derby business,” said McDonald. She said she placed an order for Smitten by Smith, which has “cute skirts and dresses.” She described the skirts as bright, high-waisted and silk skirts with pockets. She said she got her first order in recently, and was placing another order.