Atlanta Apparel is thrilled to be partnering with the

The October Market will showcase top lines manufactured in Montréal exclusively offered here at the Atlanta Apparel Mart. Our featured guest designer will be Ms. Iris Setlakwe of the renowned Iris Collection featuring 30 fabulous outfits from her new Spring 2012 Collection along with 15 other designers’ lines from Quebec. 

Montréal is home to the largest Fashion Mart in Canada and headquarters for several major North American apparel companies. It is also host to several high-profile fashion events, including the Montréal Fashion Week, the Fashion and Design Festival and the North American Fur and Fashion Exhibition (NAFFEM).

Over time, Montréal has gained a reputation as a design capital, attracting designers from multiple disciplines. In 2007, UNESCO awarded a special honor to Montréal by labeling it a UNESCO City of Design! 

Please join us on October 14 to see what Montréal has to offer.

For more information: Virginia Rand-Hill, Trade Attaché, Quebec Government Office Atlanta, Virginia.rand-hill@mri.gouv.qc.ca or 404-584-2995 x 59913

Newly featured this Market was the exciting category for swim and resort called SPLASH. Exclusive to the October Market, the category was located on floor 3 in the Market Temporary booths.

The Daily Strut, a fashion show that took place every day during Market, showcased the latest fashions that buyers could purchase at Market.

As retailers shopped for the latest trends and styles, they looked to fashionista sales reps and designers like Alessandra Chu from Ya Los Angeles for trend advice such as, “A lot of ruffles are still in [as well as] the rompers and maxi dresses” and “spring dresses are still hot” from Judith March.

Friday night’s fashion show brought buyers from the entire Market to the floor 2 atrium for the premier event: The Style Runway Fashion Runway Show featuring Canada’s Montreal Collections. As the headlining sponsor of the show, Montreal Collections showcased 30 looks from the spring 2011 collection of renowned designer, Samuel Dong. The show also included the spring 2011 collections of 20 different Montreal ready-to-wear manufacturers and additional lines from participating AmericasMart exhibitors.

The Market brought all the hottest spring 2011 trends together for one exciting weekend of fashion. And, it was all captured on video. Be sure to check out the highlight video, where we spotlighted the Market’s most exciting features, spoke with designers and retailers and explored our campus at its peak brimming with products and buzzing with the anticipation of the upcoming season. To view the video, click here.

Don’t miss the largest apparel market on the East Coast, the nation’s largest special occasion market and the largest resource for apparel, shoes, accessories and fine jewelry. Mark your calendars and start making plans for the next Atlanta Apparel Market, Feb. 3 – Feb. 7, 2011!

For more information, click here.

The energy at Market was high on day one with exciting events and the opening day of the new swim and resort category called SPLASH on floor 3.

The Daily Strut, which takes place everyday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., has highlighted the styles retailers can find right now during Market.

Plus, the Friday night hit, the Style Runway fashion show, drew crowds from every floor of the building. Everyone gathered in the atrium on floor 2 to watch the show featuring Montreal Collections. And, Montreal Collections featured one of their hottest designers, Samuel Dong. Samuel Dong presented 30 outfits from his Spring 2011 collection, followed by other Montreal lines. For the show’s grand finale, other Atlanta Apparel exhibitors and designers showed their lines and collections after the debut of Montreal Collections.

And, there’s still more to come. It’s only day two of Market! Be sure to experience all at the last Market of the year!

The cocktails start flowing at 6:30 p.m. so be sure to hop over after your day ends at Market.

Market Kick-off Part
6:30 p.m.
Bar Eleven at the Loews Atlanta Hotel
1065 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 745-5000

Skye

To celebrate, the showroom is hosting a grand opening party on Friday at Market this week. The bash will feature live music form Rare Form DJs and a special Herradura Bar. Everyone is invited so be sure to stop by the party on Friday between 5-7 p.m.

Skye showcases designs and contemporary men’s and women’s styles from Agave Denim and 7 Diamonds.

Stop by Skye to party and discover fabulous contemporary trends!

We have enterntainment and food recommendations, the Top 50 things to see/do in Atlanta, what’s happening in October in Atlanta and more! Check it out and start making plans before you arrive. Click here and enhance your Atlanta trip!

If you want to wait until you’re at Market, we can still help! Just go to the registration lobby on the second floor and look for the “experience Atlanta” booth. We’ll have brochures and information on all the fabulous things to see, do and eat in Atlanta.

Atlanta is just around the corner for you! Start thinking about what you’re going to do while you’re here.

Want to know who will be here and who’s new? Find out the featured new lines here.

Here are a few highlights of the discussion:

• Look for gray to replace brown as the neutral; buy plenty of bright, bold color for spring and summer.
• Consumers should look forward to sales as special, must-attend events. If you want to have sale merchandise all the time, make sure to place it at the back of the store. You can get away with not putting basics on sale – people need to buy those anywhere. Use sales to move seasonal or higher-end merchandise.
• Diversify your product mix. Post-baby shower; birthday gifts and tweens are hot market segments so make sure you can accommodate customers looking for all those. Make your store a known destination, a surefire go-to for busy parents who need great gifts as well as items for their own kids.
• Use gift wrap as a strong marketing tool. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be showy and effective. Use gift bags and lots of fluff with a big ribbon – all imprinted with your store name and logo – to create an impressive gift with little investment on your end. Customers like the perceived extra effort and added value, and it’s an ongoing advertisement for your store.
• Use tools such as birthday clubs and custom postcards to drive traffic throughout the year. And, make sure your store is on Facebook with a fan page so you can continually communicate with your customers – free!

All day, every day, Fashion is center stage at the October Apparel Market. Fashion shows take place in different areas of the Market throughout the day each day. The latest contemporary men’s and women’s styles are the focus of twice daily shows in the Floor 2 Atrium, while the kid’s walk the walk on Floor 13. Saturday night is all about the latest styles at the big event – the Style Runway on Floor 15 in the Fashion Theatre. No matter who or where, buyers continually have the opportunity to view showcase style at Market!

At the Friday seminar, she explained the basics of  social media to a diverse audience of boutique owners, sales reps, store buyers and retail professionals. Whether you opt for a basic Facebook fan page or tie all your elements together, it’s vital to stay connected and communicate with your customers. Social media tools don’t have to be intimidating and benefit any size business.

Stay tuned for her guest blog with more helpful info coming soon! For now, follow her on Twitter @alisonilg to stay up to date.

To busy buying to attend the seminar? Click here for the notes.