FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Resources and Hospitality Round Out the Market Experience
Las Vegas – February 21, 2023 – The fourth semi-annual edition of Las Vegas Apparel kicked off Las Vegas Fashion Week, connecting buyers and brands in a resource-filled and hospitality-driven environment, February 12 – 15, 2023, at the Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas.
“Las Vegas Apparel offers a unique opportunity for buyers to get work done in a relaxed, intimate setting,” said Caron Stover, IMC senior vice president, apparel. “Our offerings, from a curated assortment of young contemporary brands to hallmark amenities and activations as part of the overall market experience, are sought after by attendees, and we look forward to continuing to bring this experience to the West Coast.”
Las Vegas Apparel offered 100+ lines across apparel, accessories, gift, and even home décor through temporary exhibits and the unique advantage of open gift and home showrooms. The winter 2023 edition drew a diverse geographic audience, with retailers from 46 states and Puerto Rico, as well as 8 international countries. Over half the February attendees were new to the market.
Throughout the four days of Las Vegas Apparel, retailers reflected positively on at-market experiences, with highlights including easy navigation of the show floor, daily amenities and a hospitable environment for conducting business.
Retailer Jessica Sweeten of Sweetly Striped Boutique in Orange County, CA, said, “I have been sourcing for my boutique for six years, and I can truly say that Las Vegas Apparel is so calm, relaxing and organized. I really felt like as a buyer, the market was grateful to have us here. Every detail was so well thought out, and I really felt appreciated as a buyer.”
Melissa Sanders, owner of Filthy Gorgeous on Main from Madison, AL, added, “I enjoyed being at Las Vegas Apparel because it gave me the opportunity to go from vendor to vendor, really take my time and search for the pieces that I needed. I spent more today than I probably would have because I didn’t have to fight for attention from vendors or pieces from other buyers.”
Whether sourcing for a single store, or multiple storefronts, Las Vegas Apparel’s easy sourcing environment and broad range of sizes led to efficient and effective shopping. Liz Perez, owner of Sun Kissed Apparel in Albuquerque, NM, who traveled in with her family of 11 to source for five storefronts between New Mexico and Colorado, noted, “We came here shopping for a full range of sizes and we were able to find great regular and plus sizes. We found everything we were looking for.”
Opening on Sunday, one day earlier than other Las Vegas Fashion Week venues, gave buyers a jump on sourcing and enabled Las Vegas Apparel to host its second-annual Watch Party for the Big Game. The Sunday evening event had high attendance and generated overwhelmingly positive feedback. Still, the market saw continued arrival of buyers throughout the evening, demonstrating the strength of the industry and seriousness of retailers in Las Vegas to conduct business.
Buyers also had access to a full-slate of onsite amenities, including daily complimentary breakfast, coffee and lunch. At-market activities included an on-trend belt bag, a custom t-shirt embroidery station, personalized hair clips and photo ops in the registration lobby and on the show floor.
The next semi-annual Las Vegas Apparel is Sunday, August 6 – Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at the Expo at WorldMarket Center Las Vegas. For registration and information, visit https://www.lasvegas-apparel.com/.
About Las Vegas Apparel: Las Vegas Apparel – Atlanta Apparel’s West Coast fashion sourcing market – adds a curated mix of young contemporary apparel and accessories to Las Vegas Fashion Week offerings each February and August. LasVegas-Apparel.com
About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries. IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. Our premium showroom spaces spanning more than 20 million square feet in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, paired with our digital tools, connect the wholesale industries we serve. IMCenters.com.
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NOTE: For market images, visit Las Vegas Apparel’s Instagram account @apparelmarkets, or for higher resolution images, reach out directly to Amanda Merritt at amerritt@imcenters.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amanda Merritt
Cathy Steel