FINAL REPORT
INTIMA America – featuring The Intimate Apparel Salon
New York, New York, August 3 – 5, 2003
· Record-setting domestic and international attendance at
first INTIMA America at the Jacob Javits Center; attendees
represented 42 countries
· Beautiful and informative fashion shows proved successful
and lead the many on-site events
· Buyers and exhibitors responded favorably to the new
show format
New York, NY: INTIMA America, featuring the Intimate Apparel Salon, took place in New York for the first time at the North Pavilion of the Jacob Javits Convention Center on August 3 - 5, 2003 during New York’s Intimate Apparel Market Week. Showcasing lingerie, foundations, shapewear, sleepwear, swimwear, textiles and various intimate apparel accessories by leading industry manufacturers from around the world, 182 exhibiting companies featuring 330 brands spanned 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. Exhibitors from 15 countries, including several European nations and a national pavilion from Taiwan, presented the most impressive international participation to date. Also, both new designers and industry veterans were well represented and displayed their latest fashions to an eager audience.
Matching the largest, most diverse and international exhibitor base, a record-setting attendance of buyers was recorded. Exceeding the organizers and many exhibitors’ expectations, 2,502 attendees were registered during the course of the 3-day event. Buyers included the nationally leading retail stores, department stores, boutiques, specialty stores, buying offices, importers and wholesalers. Registered attendees came from almost all U.S. states as well as 41 international destinations around the world. The strongest foreign buyer delegations represented Canada, Japan, United Kingdom and Italy. Many exhibitors reported brisk business with domestic as well as new foreign accounts. Cross-over buyers from the fashion and accessory related shows held concurrently at the same convention center created additional business opportunities for many exhibitors.
The fashion shows held twice daily during the first two days of the event received rave reviews and proved highly effective for the participating exhibitors. 36 companies contributed products for the impressive shows presenting the 2004 trends on a runway located directly on the show floor. Beth Sobol of Fashion Week of the Americas brought her talent and experience to the event by coordinating the runway show with glamorous models adorned with next year’s spring and summer collections of participating exhibitors. The standing-room only fashion shows were a hit among buyers, many of whom quickly made their way to the booths of featured exhibitors following each of the shows.
In support of young, upcoming talent for the intimate apparel industry the Young Designer Showcase, co-sponsored by The Underfashion Club, featured award-winning designs by students of the High School of Fashion Industries in New York. Awards were presented to the contest winners by Barry Ross, Vice President of the Underfashion Club and Roland Bleinroth, President of Messe Frankfurt, Inc. during the show. The special display area showcasing the award-winning designs of the talented students proved popular with the show attendees.
INTIMA America also presented an informative seminar program with sessions appealing to a variety of interests. Retail information was a strong topic with one very popular session providing vital information for new store owners, and another pinpointing five keys to retail success. Trends were another focus with sessions dedicated to global views on style and design, as well as color, patterns and fabrics. Session presenters included: Rita Nakouzi, Promostyl Trend Consultant; Mercedes R. Gonzalez, President of The Global Purchasing Group; Richard Isham Sardouk, Promostyl Managing and Creative Director; and Margaret Walch, Director of The Color Association of the United States.
The new location at the North Pavilion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was met with positive feedback from attendees and exhibitors. The single floor layout was easy to navigate for buyers. The unique fabric roof construction and lighting system with partial daylight provided the appropriate atmosphere for the show’s products. A complimentary shuttle service provided easy access to the facility from Times Square and the showrooms.
INTIMA America rounds out 2003 with its November 2 - 4 Intimate Apparel Salon set to take place at the Millennium Broadway Hotel. In addition to the November event, preparations are already underway for the next INTIMA America show being held February 29 - March 2, 2004 with the same format as this year’s August show. Messe Frankfurt also hosts INTIMA Japan, an annual event scheduled May 17 - 19, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan.
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For more show information and photos, please contact:
Messe Frankfurt, Inc.
Attn.: Elly McCloud
1600 Parkwood Circle, Suite 515
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: 770.984.8016, ext. 425
Fax: 770.984.8023
E-Mail: intima@usa.messefrankfurt.com
Website: www.usa.messefrankfurt.com
Exhibitor / Buyer Quotes
ABRIELLE, Ann Sullivan, Owner: “I love the show. The lighting is better than at other shows. The layout on one show floor is much better and convenient for buyers. The show was very professionally produced and we generated excellent results.”
AMOURETTE, Katherine Harestad, Designer: “I had an immediate response to my line and terrific feedback from the fashion show. I like the open format - there’s more room to show the line.”
ARIANNE LINGERIE, Isabelle Gauthier, Vice President – Sales and Marketing: “We had a marvelous show. Our buyers loved the new layout of the event. The fashion show was a very effective shopping tool for buyers and we had strong traffic at the booth following each show."
CABANA CLUB ROBES BY TOWELS OF KEY WEST, Kent Henry, President: “We had such a great show. It was the best show in the 17-year history of this company.”
COSABELLA, Carmen Salazar, Export Manager: "We really loved the open format, wonderful lighting. Everything was crisp and organized."
I.D SARRIERI, lulia Dobrin, General Manager: “We were very happy with our first participation at INTIMA America. There were a lot more buyers at this show than we expected. We saw qualified, professional buyers from department stores, specialty, boutiques and catalogue stores. We were busy all day and the booth was always full. The buyers were not only from North America. We were thrilled to close business with buyers from the UK, Russia, Japan and Finland! The fashion show was great in driving traffic to our booth. This show was a pleasure.”
JD FINE, Susan Kleban, East Coast Sales: “We were pleased to see all the majors here. This is our second show and we were delighted with the response to our line. The cross-over traffic from the other shows was a big plus.”
LARRIVO, Loretta Schneider, President: “I loved being a part of the fashion show. It made a huge impact on the traffic in my booth. I officially introduced my line at INTIMA America so this is a very important step for me."
LEVANTE U.S.A., John Flynn, Vice President – Sales: ”The traffic was excellent. We had many major stores come by the booth. I am amazed that we continue to find new customers at this show. We definitely benefited from the cross-over traffic generated by the new location.”
MIXONA / VIAMODE / SIREN, Don Young, President: "INTIMA America far exceeded my expectations. The new venue made a positive impact on the buyers and created an ideal environment for an intimate apparel trade show. I only exhibit at INTIMA America and strongly encourage other manufacturers to do the same. As the owner of a retail store in SoHo, I ordered some fabulous lingerie collections from new companies who were featured in the fashion shows."
SCHIESSER MARKETING (Distributor for Sabina Nadal, Le Chat, Schiesser), Angela Dobbie, Vice President: "All of my appointments came and then some! Everybody loved the open, airy format. One buyer told me they thought the lighting was magnificent.”
Press Contact:
Messe Frankfurt, Inc.
Attn: Roland Bleinroth
1600 Parkwood Circle, Suite 515
Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone 770.984.8016
Fax 770.984.8023
e-mail: info@usa.messefrankfurt.com
web: www.usa.messefrankfurt.com
