Atlanta Apparel Announces 2023 Social Occasion Market Dates
EMBARGO UNTIL 10/17/22
Markets in March and August plus
Addition of an Encore Buying Event in September
ATLANTA – October 25, 2022 – Atlanta Apparel has announced its 2023 social occasion market dates, offering two, semi-annual opportunities for retailers to source in Atlanta -- with an earlier date now in March and again combined with World of Prom in August at AmericasMart Atlanta -- and its second annual VOW Bridal & Formal Las Vegas at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas. The addition of a new September Encore Buying Event in Atlanta will give retailers an exclusive opportunity to close out order writing for the year across a number of social occasion and bridal brands.
2023 Market dates
“The wedding industry has been booming and social occasions are fully back, and we are excited to offer coast-to-coast opportunities to source and restock inventory to keep up with demand,” said Caron Stover, IMC SVP, apparel leasing. “Atlanta continues to be the biggest one-stop-shop for all things bridal and formal.”
The first 2023 edition of VOW Bridal & Formal Atlanta is shifting forward to March to avoid overlap with religious holidays in early April. March VOW Bridal & Formal Atlanta showcases 100+ individual collections in both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits and runs Tuesday, March 28, through Thursday, March 30. Market hours are Tuesday – Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The second 2023 edition of VOW Bridal & Formal Atlanta runs Monday, July 31, through Friday, August 4, alongside World of Prom & Social Occasion. Together, the two events will present 150 individual collections in both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits. Showrooms will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and temporary exhibits will be open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Market highlights in both March and August include notable U.S. and international bridal and social occasion brands and a full schedule of hallmark at-market events such as the Bridal and Prom Runway Fashion Shows, education and amenities.
VOW Bridal & Formal Las Vegas Returns in 2023
After a successful launch and overwhelmingly positive feedback, VOW Bridal & Formal Las Vegas returns, August 14 – 16, 2023, for its second annual edition at the Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas (WMCLV). Beyond wall-to-wall temporary exhibits filling the Expo at WMCLV, the three-day event will include a full schedule of educational sessions, amenities and special experiences. Details are being finalized and will be released in early 2023.
“The launch of VOW in Las Vegas exceeded our expectations, and we are so excited to bring bridal and formal resources to West Coast buyers for a great second edition in 2023,” added Stover. “We look forward to expanding VOW Bridal & Formal in Las Vegas, connecting retailers and exhibitors once again on the West Coast in 2023.”
VOW Bridal & Formal now presents its collection of bridal, prom, quinceañera, mother-of-the-bride, accessories, homecoming and special occasion lines three times annually: March and August in Atlanta and August in Las Vegas. Market information is available at https://www.atlanta-apparel.com/Markets/VOW-Bridal-and-Formal.
Encore Social Occasion Buying Event
To meet buyers’ needs for another multi-day opportunity to source social occasion, IMC will host an Encore Social Occasion Buying event September 18 – 20, at AmericasMart Atlanta, with a select number of bridal, prom, and social occasion showrooms open for appointments. The Encore Buying Event, scheduled one month after the August editions of VOW and World of Prom, allows ample time for buyers to finish writing orders for 2024 product.
“We have been listening to retailers, and stores need more face-to-face time with exhibitors to write the orders they need. The addition of the Encore Buying Event in September will help VOW and World of Prom buyers to close out their 2023 sourcing in a stress-free, appointment-based opportunity, granting them more time to work with a number of social occasion brands under one roof,” added Stover.
As an added benefit, the Encore Buying Event will run concurrently with IMC’s Fall Market, offering retailers easy access to 400+ showrooms with complementary gift and home product. More details abut the Encore Buying Event will be announced in the coming months.
About International Market Centers: International Market Centers (IMC) serves as the center of commerce for the wholesale furniture, gift, home decor and apparel industries. With more than 20 million square feet of premium wholesale showroom space in High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta, IMC has more than 60 years of relationships and experience creating scalable business platforms for wholesale commerce. With the launch of Juniper, a fully integrated omnichannel B2B commerce solution and multiline B2B e-commerce marketplace empowering buyers and sellers to better manage and grow their business at markets and year-round, IMC now provides the only omnichannel sales and marketing platform that seamlessly connects physical and digital wholesale commerce. For more information, visit www.imcenters.com.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amanda Merritt
Cathy Steel
cathy@cathysteelassociates.com
