Twice a year in New York City ENK International, the most exclusive trade show producer in the United States, produces the most anticipated fashion trade show of the year—Coterie. Fashion Coterie, an international fashion exhibition, was created in 1986 when ENK responded to the demand for a womenswear market for an apparel and accessories show.
Now more than 14,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors walk through the entrance of the Jacob Javits Convention Center over the course of the three days that Coterie takes place. Coterie runs simultaneously with TMRW, a showcase of fresh talent, and SOLE COMMERCE, a trade show highlighting upscale footwear and handbags. This year the events took place February 22-24 to showcase the Fall/Winter 2014 edition of the show.
Buyers come to this event to discover the latest creations made by both major and up-and-coming labels. From Diane Von Furstenberg and Badgley Mischka, to Whitney Eve and BB Dakota, Coterie hosts both contemporary and traditional women’s ready-to-wear designers. These domestic and international retailers come from all around the world to showcase their merchandise to buyers and increase the locations that their merchandise is sold worldwide.
Coterie is meant for buyers to make orders with the labels and for the press to discover the emerging trends and designs for the next season. However, as a student of Lasell College I was lucky enough to attend Coterie with the Fashion Connection club on February 23 as a guest to observe what really goes on at this world-renowned event. Everyone had a colored lanyard that held a card with a barcode, which granted people access to the exhibition. The student, or guest, passes were pink lanyards (yay!) and the merchandisers and buyers were red and blue.
There were dazzling chandeliers and sheer posters, some recognizing the event, suspended from the amazing metal infrastructure of the center outside of the trade show rooms. Inside the trade show each vender was set up as a display, as if it were in a retail location, with a table and chairs for the buyers to use while viewing the merchandise and filling out order forms. As a fashion major, this was an amazing opportunity, for one day I could be in their seats as a buyer at the event.
And just in case you didn’t notice the aforementioned Whitney Eve collection, let me just emphasize on that for you. That is Whitney Port’s (of the hit reality TV shows on MTV, The Hills and The City) clothing line, and yes, I did make sure to get a picture with her before the day was over. Day at Coterie = SUCCESS.