By Moira Nelson
February is one of the busiest months of the year for the Intimate Apparel industry. This week is “Market Week” in the mass wholesale side of the business. Major retailers fly into New York from all over the country to shop for Fall ’13 and to preview product for Spring ’14. Boutiques and brands are making every possible last ditch effort to capitalize on Valentine’s Day.
The annual FEMMY Gala was held last night at Cipriani 42nd Street. Again this year, the “Intimate Affair” was hosted by Carson Kressley. This year’s Student Design Contest was sponsored by Penn Asia Co., Ltd., Regina Miracle International Ltd. and Stretchline Holdings Ltd. And the theme of the Student Design Contest was “Midnight Garden” – Seduction of Flowers. This year’s winner, Tiffany Spagnuolo, created an elegant and exquisitely detailed gown entitled Dark Bloom.
We wrap up the month with Curve NY at Jacob Javits from February 24th – 26th. The Lingerie Collective is making its debut in NYC and the world’s first fashion week dedicated to the intimate apparel industry, LingerieFW, is launching on February 22nd. And of course, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is February 7th through the 14th.
Here are a few highlights in other lingerie news and upcoming events:
I’m excited to announce that my friend and fellow Lingerie Briefs columnist, Ali Cudby, Bra Fit Coach and bestselling author of the lingerie book Busted! The Fab Foundations® Guide to Bras That Fit, Flatter and Feel Fantastic has launched the FabFit™ Academy, (www.fabfitacademy.com) a comprehensive, online certification course in bra fitting. The course begins with some complimentary videos designed expressly for the lingerie industry, and offers essential training for people working in all sectors of intimates, from retailers and manufacturers to bloggers and sales reps. “The best assurance of a profitable return in any Lingerie business is to be consistently trained in the art of bra fitting,” says industry veteran and Lingerie Briefs Publisher Ellen Lewis. The FabFit™ Academy offers complimentary online training videos in advance of course registration at FabFitAcademy.com.
On Monday evening, the NYC-based handmade lingerie company RELIQUE hosted an “Intimate Affair” to preview their Fall/Winter 2013 Collection. The brand uses graphic lingerie shapes accented with experimental fabric dyeing and trimming combinations. The focus in each collection is lingerie that is meant to be seen as a piece of fashion rather than traditional lingerie, while still keeping its sex appeal. Designers Chelsea Carson and Kait Vasquez believe that lingerie doesn’t need to be just for the bedroom or hidden under clothing; it should be an enhancement to an outfit. By taking a more modern approach in design, they want to fill the gap between basics and special occasion and give lingerie an outerwear functionality.
New York-based independent brands Lola Haze Lingerie and Victoria Bekerman Jewelry invite you to their Valentine’s Quickie Pop-Up Shop located at the RS Pop Space – 501 Lexington Avenue between 47th & 48th Streets, NYC. The “fling” is running February 1st through the 14th from 10am-8pm and includes discounts of up to 50% off on select items. In addition to every day shopping, you can join them for a special Valentine’s shopping event on February 12th from 5-9pm. Sip wine, receive personalized shopping consultations from the designers, and sneak a preview of the Lola Haze Fall/Winter 2013 collection. For 24/7 indulgence, visit www.lolahaze.com and enter code LolaLove20 for 20% off site wide.
Sweetest Sin in Red Bank, N.J. is hosting their annual Valentine’s Day Soiree this Thursday, February 7th from 6:00-9:00pm. You can expect free gifts from brands such as Hanky Panty & Booty Parlor AND the event will feature special guests from LELO, the world’s leading designer brand for intimate lifestyle products.
The Fitting Room, a chic bra fitting boutique in Grayslake, Illinois and Eminjayin Productions are co-hosting a Valentine’s Day themed Lingerie Fashion Show Benefit Event to raise funds for The Sandy Hook School Support Fund. In addition to the Lingerie Fashion Show, the festive affair will include a burlesque show, raffle prizes, cocktails provided courtesy of The Vine, a DJ and a photo booth. The event organizers will donate 100% of the proceeds to the Newtown/Sandy Hook families and schools. The event is taking place on Saturday, February 9th from 7-10pm at The Studio.
Chez Johnson of byChez Designer Lingerie Boutique is featuring her collections in a Trunk Show on Sunday, February 10th from 4-9pm. The “Intimate Affair” called “Welcome to the Sweet Life” is being hosted by Posh Beauté in SoHo, NYC (and is also the location for the affair.) The event will offer sweet treats, a candied cocktail concoction, a champagne hour from 6-7pm and a lot of fun!
SAVE THE DATE – Lauren Rich, founder of RICHPR and LingerieFW, is planning a party to celebrate the close of Lingerie Fashion Week (LingerieFW) which is set to debut on February 22nd. The “Intimate Affair” will be sponsored in part by The Lingerie Journal and The Lingerie Alliance and will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2013 following the last runway show of the day. Details to follow….
Mark your calendars for these upcoming “Intimate Affairs” which are taking place here in the USA and around the World:
Pure London in London- February 10th – 12th, 2013
Moda Lingerie and Swimwear in Birmingham- February 17th – 19th, 2012
Curve NV in Las Vegas- February 18th – 19th, 2013
Lingerie Fashion Week (LingerieFW) in New York- February 22nd – 23rd, 2013
The Lingerie Collective in New York- February 24th – 26th, 2013
Curve NY in New York- February 24th – 26th, 2013
INDX Intimate Apparel Show in the UK- March 19th – 21st, 2013
China Sourcing Fair in Hong Kong- April 27th – 30th, 2013
Got Insight? Having an Intimate Affair? Let us know! Everyone can be an Intimate Insider!
