Lady LUX

Sometimes it can be ever-so-hard for emerging designers to make their mark. To address this difficulty, design showcase event MAGIC and nonprofit Fashion Business, Inc. have partnered to create a new section, aptly called Launch Pad. The two aim to nurture up-and-coming designers and help them to cultivate sustainable fashion businesses. Located inside WWDMAGIC, the area is intended to inspire industry hopefuls and launch their careers, furthering MAGIC’s mission to be an incubator of design.

“It’s critical to WWDMAGIC, and to the fashion industry, that there is a platform for emerging designers to gain exposure to buyers and capture the spotlight,” Chris DeMoulin, MAGIC international president and executive vice president of Advanstar’s Fashion Group, said to LadyLUX. “MAGIC can create that connection. We have buyers from all over the world come to Las Vegas twice a year and one of the reasons they come back each year is to discover new fashions, new trends and new design talent at the show. So we are committed to providing buyers with incredible rising talent, and in turn, allow these young brands the opportunity to showcase their line in front of fashion influencers.”

Launch Pad will allow more than 15 up-and-coming ready-to-wear clothing and accessory designers to exhibit their collections in a gallery-like format within a special WWDMAGIC Launch Pad lounge at the LVCC Campus/North Hall.

Fashion labels to be showcased include Sonas Denim, G.I.A. Luxe, UnSpoken Lingerie, Zone 6, Me2Roo, KUERO, JOLYNN by Joanne Hong, Danilo Gabrielli, astridland, BESNE, Blanc Blouse, Flow by Tara Davis, Carrie Parry, Deborah Moser and Lizzie Parker. Any designer may apply to WWDMAGIC. Submissions are judged to determine the most compelling and fashion forward.

In August and February each year, the fashion community takes over Las Vegas for one of the most significant affairs in the industry: MAGIC. As industry professionals connect, new trends emerge that determine what shoppers will be wearing.

“MAGIC places all areas of fashion under one roof to connect and inspire the fashion community and, when we looked around at the 360 degree view of the show, we realized there was an area in our community that we could serve better: emerging talent. We want to help these emerging ready-to-wear designers make their mark on the map,” DeMoulin said.

For example, Joanna Hong, a fledgling modern women’s wear designer from Oklahoma, is attending MAGIC to gain visibility for her line JOLYNN by Joanne Hong. Lizzie Parker, after launching her line with two used sewing machines she bought on the Web, created her own boutique to sell her “Lizzie Parker” clothing collection. Parker seeks to design apparel for today’s modern, busy women, and MAGIC is the perfect next step.

The Fashion Business, Inc. is a nonprofit that serves the fashion industry by supplying the entrepreneurial development, resources and training it needs to grow and flourish. By providing targeted business education, sourcing, networking opportunities, marketing and consulting services, FBI encourages the continuing vibrancy of the U.S. fashion scene.

MAGIC will be held from Feb. 13 to 15. For more information, visit www.magiconline.com.

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Fashion / Features