Intern Spotlight: Behind the scenes of Atlanta Apparel

This past Atlanta Apparel was very special for the Beija-Flor office. It marked the inaugural “market experience” for our summer interns, Sarah Rigter and Sarah Williams. We thought we would share some of their insights, and give you the inside scoop of what really goes on behind the scene of an apparel trade show!  From designing a trade show display, to spotting all the great upcoming trends for fall 2012, the girls were able to capture it all in just two days!

(Left to Right: Sarah R., a rising Senior at Clemson University, and Sarah W., a rising Junior at University of South Carolina)

Visual Merchandising Display - Sarah W.

Last week I got the opportunity to be a part of a wondrous experience. To some it may seem a bit extreme to call it wondrous, but as a fashion merchandising major getting the chance to attend “market” for the first time, the word almost does not do it justice.  When I walked in and saw this (pictured below) I thought I was  going to begin hyperventilating.

An entire thirteen floor building devoted just to apparel? About 400 vendors in one location all selling gorgeous clothing, jewelry, and shoes, and I get to be a part of it? Yes,please!

One of the best things about going to market, for me, was getting to see how merchandising was done from both the levels of apparel vendors and manufacturers. While all “exhibitors” were confined to a specified space, every booth looked different. I was especially proud of how our booth looked! Sarah and I were responsible for creating a visual merchandising display of Beija-Flor’s upcoming fall/holiday denim collection. There is no doubt all the hard work we spent the days leading up to market paid off. It was a new level of satisfaction seeing our final display come to life at market.

(Beija-Flor’s June market display we created)

Booth Motif

Our entire booth presentation played upon our company’s recent Denim Studio campaign - “Fashion is art, our denim is your canvas.” To achieve this art studio feel, we used the minimalist approach of wooden materials so that way our jeans could be the main focus instead of getting lost in the display.  It was so rewarding also to have other vendors, buyers, and AmericasMart employees come by and tell us how much they liked our display, and thought it was creative.

My experience at market was a great one. I am so grateful that Beija-Flor let me come along!              

Trend Forecasting - Sarah R.

Since returning from my first apparel market, I’ve been super interested in looking further into all the upcoming fall 2012 trends I was exposed to while in Atlanta. Between the fashion shows, talking with designers, and getting the chance to view hundreds of different clothing lines, I was able to really get a feel for what the “must haves” are this fall. Our very own Beija-Flor designer, Kathy Moca, was spot on with the upcoming fall line in terms of style, fit, and trends, while still adding her own “Beija Flare” to the denim with pieces like our Brazilian inspired jeans and first awareness jean.

Trends

1. Coated Denim: This jean offers the appearance of a leather pant while maintaining the comfort of denim. Although many view this as a holiday pant (and it definitely makes a great one when paired with a bright silk or sequined top!) it also has the versatility to be a wardrobe staple. This must-have denim can be paired with a neutral oversized sweater for a stylish daytime look as well.

2. Printed Accessories: There are no limits when it comes to this trend; I love the look when applied to shoes, handbags, and belts.

3. Colored Denim: Colored denim adds a pop of color to your outfit and the best part… it can be worn all year long! This look won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, people can’t get enough of these jeans. They can be paired with a variety of colored and patterned tops to change up the look and feel of the jean.

4. Contrasting Collars: Dresses and tops embellished with contrasting collars are super cute and a trend that everyone can pull off. This look is so wearable because you can choose a collar shape that flatters your face. Hint: Rounded edges are better for angular faces, and pointy tips for softer features.

For more fall trends, here is great video I found about trends at Atlanta Market!