The October Atlanta Apparel market, Oct. 11-15, at AmericasMart Atlanta, provided the first opportunity for buyers to source spring/summer 2023 fashions and place final orders for winter and the holidays.
“Atlanta Apparel exhibitors brought the spring/summer heat to Atlanta this October, and popular lines across contemporary, footwear, and resort categories were in high demand all week long,” says Caron Stover, International Market Centers (IMC) SVP, apparel. “Between the heavily attended fashion show and our successful first-time collaboration with The Atlanta Fabric Show, we closed out the year on a high note and look forward to another great year in 2023.”
October Market attendees traveled to Atlanta Apparel from 41 states and 3 U.S. territories, along with six international countries. More than 27% of the buyers were new to the market, and a high percentage of attendees hailed from the Southeast.
This October, Atlanta Apparel presented 350-plus permanent showrooms and 300-plus temporary exhibits, and celebrated the first full year of its temporary exhibit expansion to five floors. Buyers at the October edition of Atlanta Apparel focused their market efforts on stocking up for the upcoming spring/summer 2023 season, sprinkled in with a bit of holiday immediates and gift items.
Exhibitor Mackenzie Carter, wholesale account manager for Teleties, noted a busy market with many buyers discovering their brand in Atlanta and, “gearing up for the holidays and getting gift purchases in.”
Adolfo Perea, president of Shu Shop added that holiday immediates were popular this October.
“The October market was very strong. We had many last-minute shoppers coming in to get their holiday goods and start buying Spring,” said Perea. “This was our first time bringing our full spring line to Atlanta, and it did well.”
Retailers Millie Giangrasso and Susan Stewart, co-founders of Nest Boutique in Asheville, NC, began sourcing for Spring with Atlanta Apparel showrooms this October and appreciated finding new lines.
“We found a few new brands in showrooms here that we haven't had before in our stores and are excited to carry in the Spring,” added Giangrasso and Stewart. “The showrooms in Atlanta really create interpersonal relationships, they carry so many brands that we write with, and they take care of us very well.”
Locally-based retailer, Danean Macklin, Founder of Sandra Quinn Boutique in Norcross, GA, noted that as a small business, Atlanta Apparel allows her to gain access to new and existing wholesalers without having to travel to other cities.
“The convenience of Atlanta Apparel along with all of the resources here saves my business money in travel, lodging and food costs. Additionally, Atlanta continues to add sustainable exhibitors, and that is one of my must-have product categories,” said Macklin.
Spring/Summer ’23 Fashion Show, Market Party and Trend Education
Apparel buyers celebrated the final apparel buying event of the year at the highly-attended Atlanta Apparel Kickoff Party, with giveaways, interactive cocktail stations and lite bites, Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, buyers and brands lined John Portman Blvd. for the standing-room-only October Fashion Show, which previewed upcoming Spring/Summer 2023 trends. The safari-themed show featured 74 different looks, styled by Atlanta Apparel’s in-house stylists and long-time collaborator Mireille Beckwith of @City.Peach, along with complimentary jungle-themed cocktails and snacks.
Additionally, Atlanta Apparel provided buyers and brands with footwear and apparel trend educational seminars, presented by Footwear News and The Daily Front Row, Wednesday and Thursday of market, both of which were well attended.
International Market Center’s (IMC’s) five Atlanta Apparel markets feature the latest looks in contemporary, young contemporary, women’s modern, shoes, fashion accessories and more, plus specialty categories such as children’s and plus-size. The next Atlanta Apparel Market is January 31 – February 4, 2023, (temporary exhibits February 1 – 3) at AmericasMart Atlanta. For information, visit www.atlanta-apparel.com.
