MAGIC News

At WWDMAGIC’s Emerging Designer Showcase, innovative ideas and designs reign supreme. Strategically situated in the front of North Hall, the new initiative — one of MAGIC’s many — introduces a curated collection of up-and-coming designers to seasoned retailers in search of fresh talent.

Sponsored in partnership with Fashion Business Incorporated (FBI), the showcase features an eclectic exhibit of 15 brands, across various categories including lingerie, loungewear, handbags, apparel essentials, eveningwear, and even activewear for expectant women.

Providing a sneak peek at the top lines of tomorrow, exhibitors were hand-selected from a sea of submissions — a process that solicited prayers from new launches like Besne, a loungewear line that incorporates comfort with runway elements such as pleats, puffy sleeves, and pearl epaulettes.

“I submitted my collection, and I was praying for two or three months. When they finally made their selections, I was so excited,” enthused Besne Ceylan, the creative force behind the fashion-forward designs. “I’ve always looked at MAGIC as the greatest industry showcase, and now my pieces are here.”

California-based exhibitor Deborah Moser was also thrilled with the opportunity. Moser’s self-named Deborah Moser Designs reinterprets leather with a leaning toward the refined. “The motorcycle jacket, the biker chick, leather pants, that’s been done a million times,” she said. “I wanted something that was elegant, sophisticated, and feminine,” a sentiment reflected in her ladylike dresses, bustiers, and bolero jackets.

“I love this environment, and the reaction has been fantastic,” responds Moser, when asked for her first-day assessment. “This is absolutely the best way to get exposure. It’s like having my boutique here and having thousands of people walking by — and they’re here to buy clothes.”

Even better, as buyer Kyla Smith points out, the benefits of the initiative go both ways.

A yoga and activewear buyer [for online retailer Evolve Fit Wear], Smith loves to support boutique brands. And she is not alone. “Look at Etsy,” she notes. “They showcase smaller designers and passion projects, and people go crazy for it.”

But there’s another reason, she adds. “There’s always tradeshows that have the huge companies, but it’s the smaller companies that are next in line to get bigger. If you get onboard with them early, you’re going to reap the major benefits.”