DESIGNERS & AGENTS SHOW AT LOS ANGELES FASHION MARKET WEEK – MARCH 2011

The downtown Los Angeles Fashion District was buzzing again recently for the Los Angeles Fashion Market Week. Commonly known as LA Market, it’s held five times a year in January, March, June, August and October. This recent LA Market showcased LA’s first look at designers’ Fall Collections.

LA Market week is when the business of fashion happens in the wholesale showrooms and trade shows of the main wholesale centers: the California Market Center, the New Mart, the Cooper Design Space, and other venues in the downtown LA Fashion District.

Buyers come from all over the country determined to stay within their budget as they buy what’s hot, pass on what’s not, and perhaps gamble on some possibilities. Most buyers who want to stay in business know what works for their customer, and what to gamble on to freshen up their floors. They stock up accordingly. Most are playing it safe – rarely buying out of their comfort zone – due to this never ending recession that has supposedly ended.

The most sought-after contemporary showrooms are found in the New Mart. The New Mart is where women’s contemporary buyers expect to spend most of their time. Each LA Market you’ll find the Designers and Agents Showcase on the usually vacant 3^rd Floor.

Known as the D&A Show, it describes itself as:
“an independent, international trade fair for collections and retailers who define  the cutting edge in fashion and life style. Identifying emerging talent and creating an intimate, synergistic environment that fosters relationships between designers and buyers, each of D&A’s shows in Los Angeles and New York (which typically attract 3,000 retail and media visitors) are pre-edited, art-directed, and merchandised to create a sense of camaraderie and discovery.”

All of which means, it is the hip and happening place to buy and sell…and I would agree.

Why exhibit at D&A? Maybe you have a showroom in New York but you sell to the west coast and want to be at the show for your west coast buyers; maybe you have a corporate sales force and want to show in LA; maybe you are an emerging designer without independent sales representation and need to get your product in front of the right buyers; or maybe you are in a showroom in LA but like the exposure and attention you get at D&A.

I first attended the D&A Show about 10 years ago. I was immediately struck by the energy in the space compared to the corridors of the building upstairs and in the other buildings. They can cram 100+ 10’x10’ booths into the space. When it is this full there is a vibe that says, “this is the place to be.”

The recent D&A Show had 95 booths with the usual eclectic mix of fashion forward women’s ready-to-wear and accessories.

Some of the highlights and notable trends were:

• Robin’s Jeans. This is a huge line of men’s and women’s denim founded and designed by the founder of Hudson Jeans, Robin Chretien. Robin is a real groover, and so is his collection.
• The sexy, sophisticated and chic Ticci Tonetto, owned by the sophisticated Neglia Tonetto. Gisela Marin at Nyeli represents the collection. This beautiful collection has been around for at least 10 years and it is worth a look.
• The Japanese-made US eyewear collection, Dita. Their vintage-inspired frames, which are apparently popular with celebs, are made from titanium, 18K gold and white gold, and Japanese zyl acetates.
• The fun, colorful Caroline K is inspired by the indigenous designs of Latin America. If you have ever spent any time in Guatemala you will recognize the colors, patterns, fabrics, embroidery, and pleating in the ponchos, legging, skirts, dresses, tops, and jackets. Caroline K is a real contemporary eye-catcher.
• Dolce Vita showcased their current 70’s trend footwear. Espadrilles, wedges, boots, sandals, and heels in suedes and leathers mixed with furs, appliqués, and buckles.
• Fluxus designed by Jeffrey Sebelia, the Project Runway Season 3 winner. Though it didn’t impress me as much as it did at MAGIC. It didn’t seem to have the same color and life.
• And what I thought was the highlight of the show – Hazel Brown. Hazel Brown is a beautiful inspired collection in silks, wools, soft leathers, alpaca, and flannels. I loved the delicate hand frayed edging on some of the pieces, the wool jacket with authentic Civil War buttons and the tasteful asymmetry of some of the styling. This is Boho Chic at it’s finest.

The 70’s trends and Boho chic are in full bloom this Spring and it looks like they will continue into Fall. Lots of roushing and texture, mixed media, Native American motif, fur, high heel suede lace-up footwear, scarves, maxi skirts and full leg pants remind me of an updated take on the late 70’s/early 80’s art school look. And some of the pants, jeans, and wide brim floppy hats remind me of what my Mum wore in the 70’s. Who knew she was 30 years ahead of her time?