If you have any idea of what the fashion business is made of, then MAGIC is not a sideshow for you. MAGIC is the biggest international fashion trade show that happens twice a year in the sinful city, adult Disney World, if I may, Las Vegas. Every August and February, the world’s fashion industry travels west for a 3-day long desert sleepover that takes place August 17-19of 2010

MAGIC has been taking place for 75 years, and every time the event is it has always found some innovative way of making things better. Keep in mind, the industry changes and so they have to keep up with the change and coevolve with the times and trends.

This February, MAGIC will divide itself into two different territories. At Las Vegas Convention Center and simultaneously at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

The trade show has organized itself as follow:

Magic Menswear
Don’t have to be a wiz to know what to expect in this section. All different types of assortments for men; casual and contemporary accessories and footwear, business or sportswear.

WWD Magic
A section that can be a whole planet of its own with seven seas and more continents than this world could ever fathom. Every category for women can be found in this section. You can start with the main outerwear, footwear, casual wear and sportswear and then find a subdivision and a subdivision to those subdivisions too.

Project
This satellite show was launched back in 2003 presenting the most original, avant garde, trend setting and directional contemporary brands. It is a privilege to be showcasing at this show. The assortment, quality and edge of this show set the standards of a Gallerie LaFayette contemporary bridge section.

POOL
This section invites one into a very eclectic, artsy bedroom, comfy show. All those side projects that someone once had, all those ideas of stitching your Barbie’s clothes to make it into a bracelet or maybe even an accessory dog collar. Yeah, that type of creativity and insanity is cherished in this part of convention.  Think The Science of Sleep for one instance and you will get a picture of the merchandise and imagination displayed at POOL. (Wasabi has to take a dive!)

S.L.A.T.E
This section is for the slick and skate kids. Get it? S-L-A-T-E? The brands featured at this section are all those brands that the artists, musicians, and hipsters dig. It is street style; it is the notion for fashion that is way beyond trends; it is clothing fitting your lifestyle.

FP Platform
This is the first time the trade show has a section that has been designated solely to shoes (pun obviously intended). MAGIC introduces FP Platform with the following statement “We have clothed you. Now, the Shoes.”

PREMIUM
I will withhold my critiques and opinionated fashion perspective for this section. Mind you, WFK won’t visit it. (A lot of bling, diamond studded jeans . . . okay, no more words.)

STREET
This section is action packed of clothing that wants to accompany the individual that leads an adventurous lifestyle. A whole range of contemporary, colorful, on the edge, exciting clothing can be found here. It is for smart brands that know how to balance creativity with all the commercial stuff. That is how one makes good business.

What:: Magic Fashion Trade Show
When:: August 17^th, 18^th, 19^th , 2010
Where:: Las Vegas Convention Center
Why:: This fashion stuff is kinda fun!

Tweet This Post Facebook

Pleasure Doing Business @ Project

Can you hula hoop? Have that thing go round and round around your body? That same elliptical concept was kept in mind when designing “Pleasure Doing Business with you”. They took some elastic bands and stitched them together to go round and round around your waist. Voila! And let there be skirts.

Buy:: www.placelosangeles.com

Tweet This Post Facebook

Melissa @ Project

You can easily locate in your colorful thoughts a shoe whose body is made from something like plastic (It’s called MELFLEX and this material is 100% environmentally safe). Dig into your mind for a shoe that is seamless, award winner designed worth and sustainably dipped in color.  Melissa, out of Brazil, has been around for 25 years making more than 50 million pairs of shoes. She has also partnered up with designers like Campana, that bring an “organized mess” of patterns and texture highlighting the simplicity of the design and making it even more candy-like must mold-my-foot-with it. Among other designers, you can also find collaboration with Viviane Westwood who introduces her “Lady Dragon,” a princess sandal shoe with a red butterfly spirited heart placed on top of the tippy toes of the shoe.

Melissa is like liquid dreams molding your feet, try picturing walking on clouds for an instance. Now exhale, that is what Melissa’s designs and creativity can do to you.

Buy:: www.melissaplasticdreams.com

Tweet This Post Facebook

Shigoto Fashion @ Project

Shigoto is from Japan. Their designs are not only originally Japanese but also got their historic roots built in them. All designs are adapted from the Japanese construction worker uniform. But what makes this story really interesting is that the worker’s uniform is adapted from the ancient Samurai warriors. The Samurai were just as meticulous about their clothing as their weaponry; they designed their armor and fashion to better their movement, provide protection from weather, and to give them the ability to be sleek and fast when needed.

Shigoto introduces the practicability of Japanese fashion into the western world with a dash of boldness, color and attitude.

Buy:: www.shigotofashion.com

Tweet This Post Facebook

Kao Pao Shu @ Project

Every one has the freedom to create, even to call themselves an artist. However, to make that idea a fact is what makes one a real creator or have an ingenuous mind. That is the case of Bosnian designer Naida Begeta and her kaleidoscopic designs.

Whatever the piece that falls your way for examination, it gives you the chills for its exquisite complexity. All her pieces consist of an unpredictable way of folding and stitching tape-fabrics into the creation of a new fabric and the composition of a new garment. Naida stitches not only thread but also that European avant garde enchantment and appeal into all her designs.

Buy:: www.kaopaoshu.it

Tweet This Post Facebook

Jump @ Project

This is the sneaker shoe that will match your tie or your denim outfit. It’s not that it has a multiple personality disorder, it’s just that it knows how to roll when it comes to design. Jump is originally from Taiwan and it has been in the shoe business since 1975.

Buy:: www.jumpcorp.com

Tweet This Post Facebook

Jayimie Jean @ Project

Jayimie Jean is a jeans company out of LA. They offered a jean that has that aura of a rock star with cut-offs, color thread stitching, patchwork and different dye treatments. Maybe you have heard that before, but what’s cool and very dig-able about Jamie is that she will customize your own jeans too. She understands how sometimes we all have those pair of ancient denims that we wear everyday and wouldn’t want to trade for any new pair of oh-wow-brand. For that, Jamie has a solution if you just want a new look. You can mail or pass by her boutique in Hermosa Beach with your favorite denim pair for an up-do. JJ will decorate your jeans according to your rock and roll request.

Buy:: www.jayimejean.com

Tweet This Post Facebook

Dr.Martens @ Project

A shoe brand with more soldiers than an army. A dictator that is loved and cherished.  A classic born in the 60s. Before internet, before cell phones before instant communications this boot was raw-ly famous. They were seen, heard and worn by every rebellion identity known to men. Dr.Martens have grown into the heart of every revolting group “Mods, glam, punks, ska, psychobillies, grebos, Goths, industrialists, nu-metal, hardcore, straight-edge, grunge, Britpop and many others.” They stand by revolution and they state and recognize that to stand up against a system is not about how much mess you create, but how you can hold up to yourself and let your individuality happen. This boot dresses the individual not the institution.

Buy:: www.drmartens.com

Tweet This Post Facebook

Dosh @ Project

These wallets are SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSMOKIN’! Recall the MASK with Jim Carrie? That crazy character waterproof,  dish washable resistant, good recovery after deformation material, unaffected by tear propagation and extremely flexible? Well, these wallets are The Mask superhero of the money keeping artifact business. Thin to sit on your back pocket, and durable to protect your dollars and your plastic magic cards. They come in solid colors keeping a modern simple design topped with a swoosh of color.

Buy:: www.dosh.com.au

Tweet This Post Facebook