Just like MAGIC: Show evolves into 10 events
A white carpet weaves throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, giving the venue a feel that something chic is happening here. At Mandalay Bay, thousands of young men wearing designer jeans walk the corridors outside the fashion trade shows.
Here through today is a collection of events that have attracted designers, retail buyers, sales people, media and the fashion curious.
The granddaddy of all the shows, the ever-evolving MAGIC, has transformed this year into the 10-show Magic Market Week: FN Platform, WWDMAGIC, MAGIC Men’s, Project Las Vegas, Project MVMNT, the Tents at Project, Pool Trade Show, WSA @ MAGIC, Sourcing at MAGIC and ENK Vegas, held in the Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Magic Market Week attracts about 80,000 people twice a year and has an estimated nongaming economic impact of $100.6 million, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Shoes and women’s clothing take up most of the space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, while menswear has a home at the Mandalay Bay.
As for the difference between the many shows, think of Project as the sometimes high-end MAGIC’s edgier cousin: There you’ll see more modern haircuts among the brands that strive to appeal to young urban dwellers. MAGIC Men’s boasts well-known brands, including the O.G. and Ben Davis, while Project MVMNT features streetwear brands such as Sullen, Split and Streetwise Clothing Co.
Among the lines at Project are Abbot + Main, a brand created by actor Kellan Lutz and his business partner, Danny Guez.
“Coming here, I wanted to see the clothes more than gamble, and that’s saying a lot because I love gambling. I love getting away and relaxing from my normal life,” Lutz said.
Each year he blocks out time to attend Magic Market Week, between movie shoots. He attended his first Las Vegas fashion week two years ago.
“I was a kid in a candy shop. My eyes were so wide to the different looks, the fabrications, the style, the trends that were out there. It’s a world where you can be yourself,” Lutz said.
Abbot + Main is comprised of super-soft core pieces: sweat pants, T-shirts and tank tops for men, women and children. Comfort is one of the most important aspects for the brand’s creators. Inspiration for the line comes from multiple sources around Lutz: costume designers, everyday people and shapes he notices that would play well in a design.
“This is my new baby,” Lutz said.
Down the road, expect Abbot + Main to move into board shorts and sunglasses.
Aside from Advanstar’s Magic Market Week empire, the Offprice Show at the Sands Expo concluded Tuesday with about 10,500 attendees. It’s produced by Tarsus Group, a company with interests in conferences, exhibitions, online media and publishing. Modern Assembly also is at the Sands, with its six shows: Agenda, Accessories The Show, Capsule, Liberty, MRket and Stitch.
“It’s been a great couple of days,” said Stephen Krogulski, CEO of the Offprice Show. “We all get together here for fashion week, and there is crossover between the shows. There’s a nice runoff for us, because we’re selling the immediate seasons, where the other shows are selling spring and summer 2014.
If Project is MAGIC’s edgier cousin, then Agenda is Project’s grittier cousin, while Liberty has more upscale casual such as John Varvatos USA, J Shoes and Mackage.
At Agenda, Ames Bros. showed its T-shirts featuring Abraham Lincoln riding a motorcycle . Rocksmith & Wutang Brand was there showing its spring and summer 2014 collection of hip-hop clothing.
Previously, the company showed at MAGIC but switched over to Agenda this year when it added a Las Vegas show to its repertoire.
“Agenda made a very good pitch. It just seemed more viable to be over here. The buyers we’re trying to cater to, some of them will be here instead of Project,” said Mark Sylvestre, the brand’s marketing coordinator.
In its first Las Vegas show, traffic was solid at Agenda and buyers were willing to make deals during the two-day event, Sylvestre said.
Contact reporter Laura Carroll at 702-380-4588 or lcarroll@reviewjournal.com. Follow @lscvegas on Twitter.
