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Industry 212 draws crowds with famous industry speakers and 1,500 lines of goods.

Sunday, May 4-6, 2003

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY

From May 4-6, Manhattan’s Javitz center was abuzz with activity. Not only were the Moda and Accessories shows going on, but Industry 212 was drawing a huge crowd. Five hundred exhibitors showed around 1,500 lines of apparel and accessories,

including such well known companies as Baby Phat and Lip Service. But a huge draw was also the speakers: David Wolfe, charismatic fashion forecaster extraordinaire, was the keynote speaker—those in the fashion industry clamber for a chance to hear Mr. Wolfe speak. Also there was fashion icon Leon Hall (of the Style Channel’s Fashion Emergency and E! Entertainment Television’s Red Carpet Reviews) to present Profile Awards to outstanding exhibitors.

Why all the fuss? Industry 212 showcased the fastest growing segments of the fashion marketplace: Accessories, Casual Lifestyle/Better, Junior, Streetwear, and Young Contemporary/Contemporary. …And what product better exemplifies most of these categories than the currently ice-hot denim trend? Liberty News Online spoke to Demetre Tsoucalas, the American director of Sawary Jeans USA, a 12 year old Brazilian jeans company (note the American trend towards Brazilian clothing as well). Based in San Paulo, the company produces a whopping 800,000 pairs of jeans per month. The line caters to junior’s misses and men’s customers (although 95% of their US goods are for women), and sells in Brazil and Europe in addition to the United States. In their fourth year in the United States, Sawary Jeans feature sexy, trendy, quality denim designs for surprisingly low prices of $28-$40 at retail—great for the junior customer with limited income. Jeans come in a variety of colors and styles, and from the looks of it, should fit their target consumer’s needs perfectly.

On another end of the fashion spectrum is the Danza line, with its “Glamour Couture Collection” of breathtakingly beautiful evening dresses. Liberty News Online spoke to Kate Lucado, a partner as well as sales and production director for the company. Although the line has been in China for thirteen years, this is their first year in the United States. Also serving as a manufacturer for other companies, Danza is a vertically integrated company in regards to this, their private label: they oversee every part of design and production, from their one very talented designer to the intricate hand beading of a dress made of the finest silk fabric which they have produced themselves. Danza brings about new concepts in embroidery and beading by featuring 3-D designs in the beadwork: a beaded flower, upon closer inspection, has raised sections in the design. The result, when combined with luxurious fabrics and flattering, flowing bias-cuts as well as beautiful designs makes for a stunning evening dress (they also do matching handbags by request). For years the company has done Hong Kong fashion shows, and they had wanted to come to the Industry 212 show for a long time. Now in New York, their target is high-end retailers who will sell their couture-like eveningwear. Gowns retail starting at around $300, and the more intricate, hand-produced pieces go up to $1,000.

Being at the Industry 212 show, one can understand what a tough job buyers have: when faced with so many beautiful clothes, how is one to decide which to order? Such a selection is exactly what keeps shows like Industry so important to the fashion world.

Lidia Vita and Betty Coker are known as "The Dynamic Duo". The reason or this is they both work well hand-in-hand. They will cover trade shows, e.g. World Famous ENK shows, Fame shows, computer technology expos, gift shows and other trade shows and expos to educate you folks on how you can attend them, and give you exclusive, in-depth interviews with the vendors and the people behind these trade shows and the new products on the market. They will also educate you about different cultures and festivities. If you are interested in having the dynamic duo write about your festival or trade show, or have any comments or suggestions for them, please feel free to email them at dynamicduo@hadofnyc.org, or telephone them at our hotline, at (718) 507-7616 between the hours 8:00am and 8:00pm Monday through Friday.