Leisure the primary focus at the new MAGIC show in Las Vegas

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Sep 2, 2015

UBM Advanstar kicked off a much different MAGIC and Project show in Las Vegas this season. For one, the shows under UBM underwent name changes. ENKVegas was renamed Project Women’s and MAGIC Men’s became The Collective. The shows commenced at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center showcasing the next chapter for UBM trade shows as well as men’s and women’s fashion.

The Collective showcased a number of new mass-market and returning brands including Woolrich, Wolverine, and Stetson, and Project housed returning brands like 7 For All Mankind, Dockers, Fjallraven, Lacoste, Timberland, and Nautica, and brands new to the show like Goorin Bros, Members Only, Trafalgar and Daniel Wellington. The Pooltradeshow rounded out the shows at Mandalay and featured independent brands like Jeffrey Campbell, Rojas and even Shopify.
 
New to the Project show was the relaunch of Workroom, a space devoted to up-and-coming, forward-thinking brands. Workroom featured primarily new brands, which included Active Cashmere, Black Score, Diablicos, Flinders Lane, Hotsprings, Roamers & Seekers and Vestige Brand.

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Much like the other men’s shows, designers and brands focused on comfort through silhouette and fabric. The male consumer is trending towards garments that are not restrictive and promote functionality. Leisure has been the name of the game for a few seasons now, and brands have finally found a way to balance their design and aesthetic with consumer demands. Todd Snyder and Baldwin told GQ how they have introduced more relaxed fits and styles, and Craft Atlantic, the new menswear brand designed by Luis Fernandez, bases its entire line on tailored comfort. Designers and brands will have to keep comfort at the forefront as men continue to receive more options in the market that play to their style.