ATLANTA, GA – August 14, 2025 – ANDMORE®’s August 2025 Atlanta Apparel and Formal Markets concluded a week of cross-category sourcing and industry connection, with Formal Markets running August 4 – 8, and Atlanta Apparel running August 5 – 8, at AmericasMart Atlanta. The combined markets attracted buyers from across the United States and internationally, including an active prom buying season, continued strong bridal buying, children’s sourcing and successive days of order writing for Autumn/Winter 2025 alongside early commitments for Spring/Summer 2026.
“This August market season delivered success in every category, solidifying Atlanta as a can’t-miss destination across apparel and formal categories,” said Caron Stover, ANDMORE® SVP, Apparel. “At Formal Markets, order writing began before the first day, setting a high-energy tone for the week, and across Apparel floors, buyers were finalizing end-of-year assortments while also starting early Spring/Summer 2026 commitments, making it a productive and forward-looking season all around.”
Attendees traveled to Atlanta from 48 states and 26 international countries, with growth reported across Southeastern and Southwestern categories.
Atlanta Apparel: End of Season Autumn/Winter 2025 and Early Spring/Summer 2026 Drives At-Market Energy
Across nine floors of permanent showrooms and four floors of temporary exhibits, Atlanta Apparel delivered an active, high-volume buying event. Retailers shopped a full spectrum of young contemporary, contemporary, resort, holiday and accessories resources while showing particular interest in immediates and early Spring/Summer 2026 collections. Exhibitors noted strong order writing from both returning accounts and new-to-market buyers alike.
“This market has been positive. We’ve had great orders from our regular clientele, and even brought in exciting new customers,” said Doris D’Angelo, owner of D’Element Style Showroom. “Having a permanent showroom makes a huge difference because buyers can step into our world, see everything we carry and experience the brand in a way you just can’t in a booth. This showroom has helped us attract more customers and truly showcases what makes us unique.”
Additionally, the strength across temporary exhibits was palpable this August, with veteran exhibitors noting record-breaking markets.
“This market was absolutely amazing. We doubled our sales over last August numbers,” said Isis Kim, Show Supervisor of temporary exhibitor HYFVE. “Atlanta draws a great mix of buyers, and when you tailor your presentation to this audience, the response is incredible. The energy and engagement here really set it apart.”
Buyers across the market even took to Instagram, noting the discovery of top trends across Autumn/Winter 2025 categories.
“We had a great time at Atlanta Apparel checking out all the great Autumn and Winter items. We found the best styles from cozy and casual basics to elevated and luxe statement pieces,” said Magnolia Jane Boutique in Owens Cross Roads, AL.
Children’s: Seasonal Sourcing and New Buyer Engagement
The semi-annual children’s presentation offered Spring/Summer 2026 order writing, with buyers exploring a mix of new and returning brands. Retailers used the market to refresh assortments for upcoming seasons, discover unique product lines, and strengthen relationships with key resources in the category.
“Our first market has been overwhelming in the best way. Coming to market and seeing products in person makes such a difference; you can feel the quality and know exactly what you’re getting,” said first time buyer, Selena Bloodworth, owner of Whimsy and Wild Children’s Boutique in Mountain Home, AR. “Coming to Atlanta has been a huge learning experience about buying seasons and shipping timelines, and we’ll definitely be coming back to Atlanta better prepared and excited for what’s next!”
"Atlanta Apparel is where we can efficiently see the vendors we already work with while also discovering new lines that keep our assortments fresh. It’s one of the best places to find those hard-to-source tween styles that bridge the gap between youthful and sophisticated, which our customers love. The energy here, from the music to the crowds, keeps us coming back and makes the whole experience exciting and productive,” added children’s buyer Myriah Marcus, owner of Madisonn Avenue in Woodstock, GA.
Formal Markets: Strong Prom Buying and Strategic Learning
Formal Markets delivered a standout prom buying season, with strong orders on key 2026 designs driving energy on the floor. Bridal, quinceañera and social occasion resources also saw solid traffic, supported by buyers eager to refresh their product mix for the upcoming year.
In addition to sourcing, this edition provided a timely forum to discuss the new tariff landscape, equipping exhibitors and retailers with strategies to implement changes, articulate price increases, manage costs, and maintain margins without compromising style or selection. Buyers praised Atlanta’s easily accessible location and the depth of resources available within a single building.
“At Formal Markets in Atlanta, we consistently find on-trend collections. This time, we saw so many pearls, corset boning and unique colors that really resonate with our customers. Even with price increases, the quality and variety of brands in Atlanta make it worth it,” said Jenna King, owner of My Best Friend Jenna in Jackson, TN. “We keep coming back because it’s the one place where we can see all our reps and designers in person, connect directly and discover everything we need for prom and bridal in one efficient trip.”
Exhibitors praised Formal Markets for its consistency in delivering a successful market experience.
“This market has been incredible and encouraging; my business keeps growing in Atlanta at every Formal Market,” said Evelyn Anastos, President of Emily Shalant. “I find that many high-end boutiques understand our collection, especially our elevated mother-of-the-bride and evening separates and buy across all categories. The show is well-organized, and the support from the team makes it easy and enjoyable to connect with customers.”
New exhibitors, Samantha Fitzgerald and Jade Fitzpatrick with Starielle, added, “As a well-known designer in this category, Dani [Vlahos] was excited to launch her own line. So being able to showcase a new brand that’s entirely her own and launch it at Formal Markets in Atlanta means she gets to keep doing what she loves. This market was very successful, and being in Atlanta, we know we will only continue to grow as a brand.”
Events and Brand Activations: Connection and Product Discovery
Daily brand-partnered events and market activations added energy and networking to the August markets, drawing strong attendance and creating a lively, collaborative atmosphere. Many buyers reported discovering new products or placing orders after experiencing brand-hosted activations, from hands-on customization stations to themed receptions.
These events also served as informal meeting points for networking, encouraging connections between buyers and exhibitors in addition to at-market appointments. The mix of trend-focused showcases, social gatherings and interactive brand moments contributed to the overall market buzz and engagement.
“I’ve been coming to Formal Markets in Atlanta to source prom for years; it’s my main show where I source everything from prom dresses to jewelry and purses all under one roof. This time, I discovered a new vendor through a brand-partnered activation on an apparel-focused floor I hadn’t explored before. I found clear Game Day bags that are perfect for my prom customers and placed an order right away. I never would’ve found these bags if it weren’t for the product-discovery events,” said Debbie Harris, owner of Fiancée in Minot, ND.
The next Atlanta Apparel market runs October 14 – 17, 2025, and the next Formal Markets event runs March 30 – April 1, 2026, both at AmericasMart Atlanta. Registration and information will be available at www.atlanta-apparel.com and www.formalmarkets.com.
About Atlanta Apparel: Atlanta Apparel is a series of five annual markets hosted by AmericasMart, showcasing the latest trends in contemporary, young contemporary, women’s modern, shoes, fashion accessories and specialty categories like children’s and plus-size apparel. Atlanta Apparel is the premier destination for buyers seeking fresh, on-trend styles. Owned and operated by ANDMORE®, Atlanta Apparel is held at AmericasMart Atlanta. Atlanta-Apparel.com.
About Formal Markets: Formal Markets showcases an extensive selection of bridal, prom, quinceañera, mother-of-the-bride, accessories and homecoming. Owned and operated by ANDMORE®, Formal Markets is held twice annually at AmericasMart Atlanta. FormalMarkets.com.
About ANDMORE®: ANDMORE, a Blackstone portfolio company, empowers wholesale buyers and sellers to connect, grow and prosper through premier physical markets and design centers. The company operates over 20 million square feet of premium tradeshow and showroom space, hosting live events in Atlanta, High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and New York City. Serving industries such as home décor, gift, furniture and apparel, ANDMORE supports the global B2B community through its unmatched marketplace experiences. ANDMORE.com.
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