MAGIC 2016 Preview: The Future of Fashion

Billed as the global pillar of fashion tradeshows, MAGIC and FN Platform takes place twice annually, bringing together more than 60,000 industry insiders in Las Vegas to shop 11 can’t-miss markets spread across the Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay Convention Centers.. The comprehensive marketplace covers the top men’s, women’s, juniors’ and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories and resources.

With 85 years of experience and attendance from more than 120 countries, MAGIC seeks to move fashion forward globally. Attendees can find it all at MAGIC, from the fabric at SOURCING to the finished product on the main show floor, the hottest brands to the top designers, and the tastemakers to the power buyers.

Every year, thousands of fashion mavens invade Las Vegas for the bi-annual tradeshow. It’s more than just a tradeshow; it’s where the future of what we wear takes place. Attendees get to meet and collaborate with different vendors, designers and artists.

It truly has become less transactional and more of a partnership approach. When you visit a booth, you are surrounded by buyers, racks of clothes, sales personnel negotiating prices and the latest fashion trends. What’s even more impressive is the entrepreneurial spirit throughout the show. You can meet with established companies, or you can meet with new startup brands.

In both licensing and fashion in general, the t-shirt is still very important, especially with a heavy influence from streetwear, but we are also seeing how it’s become synonymous within the luxury world. Companies are pushing boundaries by incorporating new technology into the garment, from unexpected fabric mixing to new printing techniques.

With technology being so accessible today, consumers are getting smarter and want to jump on a trend immediately. As a result, it is essential to always see what’s currently trending in blogs, social media and streetwear. Fashion is a chameleon, always changing and keeping you guessing. In many ways, companies are forced to take a risk and hope that consumers will resonate with it.

When you walk the floor at MAGIC, you see the risk takers, presenting the unexpected, while others are playing it safe. There is always that one vendor that truly gives you the ‘wow’ factor. Whether it’s an amazing constructed asymmetrical jacket to fabulous piece of jewelry that looks out of this world, there is always something jaw dropping to see on the show floor.

Licensing companies are always looking to meet with artists, designers and other companies to see how they can partner to offer retail something new and fresh. Not all brands are created equal so you really have to listen to your audience. MAGIC gives you an opportunity to really meet with diverse clientele. MAGIC truly has something for everyone in the industry, whether you are in sales looking to buy, to designers attending trend workshops, to meeting with brands for fashion collaborations. It’s not about making a quick deal, but looking for long-term strategic partnerships with companies that can push your brand to the next level.

MAGIC and FN Platform for the Fall/Winter 2016 fashion season takes place February 16-18, 2016 at the Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay Convention Centers in Las Vegas. For more on the show, visit www.magiconline.com.