Alternative Fashion Exhibition

Just being prepared for running-out, and perfectly timed for the oncoming Summer festival season, Alchemy UL13 is the latest new product range from loyal Leny exhibitor the Alchemy Group. This is Alchemy, but for the mainstream youth of today! 

Alchemy UL13 began as Alchemy’s version of the classic, urban-rock style of artwork and made particularly popular by several highly successful licensed product ranges. Now however, it has grown to become a brand new range of young men’s accessories straight from Alchemy’s UK factory, consisting of guy’s pendants and dog tags on leather cords and ball chain, Cuban chokers, bracelets and wristbands, rings, wallet chains, belts and buckles. The theme of this collection is thoroughly testosterone-male and based on classic, iconic and retro tattoo imagery such as 1940’s and ’50’s pin-up girls, gambling, dice and poker cards, tribal art, dragons, daggers & skulls etc, but with the distinct flavor and quality that only Alchemy can add. Absent this time of any ‘goth’ or gothic styling, this new, no-frills range of urban-style, ‘lad’s’ accessories fills the gap for headbangers, festival goers & rock music fans, bikers & boarders, etc.  This jewellery collection has finally come about following the very highly successful UL13 series of artwork and graphics from Alchemy, resulting in many great licensed products, from metal signs and school stationary to vintage shorts and urban clothing. Below can be seen some brilliant examples from a cool new sereis due out soon from Bioworld. To see some more of the licensed UL13 products that are available, you can visit Alchemy’s Licensee’s Index here.

London-based emo, goth and punk label Ethic Star have chosen the forthcoming LondonEdge show at the Olympia to launch their new brand ‘Evil Bat’.  Adam from Ethic Star says ‘We will be displaying some great styles in the new range.  Besides that we have some great new all over printed t-shirts and hoodies plus a new line of drainpipe jeans’.  If you want to take a closer look at their new products make sure you attend our next trade show in London.  You can find Ethic Star on stand 73 which is located on the ground floor.

Buyers can register here for their FREE tickets  >  www.londonedge.com/registration.asp

Sunday was one of the best first days since the show was launched in 2000 with 54% of buyers from the UK and a mega 46% coming from overseas.  In that single day 35 countries were represented from all over the world and notably from far afield as Vietnam and Tahiti.  Even some of our regular top 10 countries there were some particularly excellent attendences from Italy, France, Finland and Sweden.  By the end of the show 38 countries were represented including:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eire, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, The Netherlands, Turkey, USA, Vietnam

Interestingly of the attending buyers the greatest categories of interest were menswear, womenswear, streetwear, rock influence, punk, gothic, licensed products, footwear and accessories. As is the usual the LondonEdge and LondonCentral trade shows attracted an impressive overseas attendence which, by the end of the 3 days, represented 40% of the total gate.

It was a hard fought battle but finally …here we are again with some happy and very worthy LondonEdge and LondonCentral winners:

LONDONEDGE: Best Dressed Stand

1.  Cyberdog

2.  Manic Panic

3.  Ink Clothing

Highly Commended - Alchemy

LONDONCENTRAL: Best Dressed Stand

1.  Celebrity Babe

2.  Vintage Queen

Highly Commended - JunkShop

Highly Commended - Smash

Above:  Alchemy 1977 were highly commended for their stand dressing.

article sourced from expoabc.com

LondonEdge/Central

Expoabc’s James Barrett hotfooted it it to London’s Olympia for the LondonEdge/Central alternative fashion and clothing exhibition.

‘For those of you who are about to rock, we salute you!’ is a rallying cry for rockers everywhere to mosh to their hearts content and ’scare the normals’.  Fashion has always played an important part in defining the genre, from the teddy boys of the 50’s up to the baggy jeans and hoodie statement of the 00’s.

LondonEdge/Central is the premier exhibition show for trade/consumers products to fulfil every wannabe Marilyn Manson/Monroe desires, and this year’s show didn’t disappoint in this vigour. 

A chilly opening Sunday didn’t deter the crowds.  The closer you got to the Olympia 2, the more you found yourself surrounded by punks, goths, burlesque queens and skinheads.  But, you might be forgiven for thinking the 80’s legwarmers and knee high boots weren’t just for style purposes!  Inside, you were greeted by many clothing stands, a small stage for live performances and a whole host of weird and wonderful curiosities. 

Despite the popular belief, black wasn’t the dominating motif.  The show is very visually stimulating and colourful - and some traders took advantage of the ‘nu-rave’ explosion by incorperating fluorescent t-shirts and glow sticks.  Please believe me when I say that I didn’t see many miserable Goths at LondonEdge!

With some of the biggest brand names in attendance including New Rock, Lucky 13 and Adeline rubbing shoulders with the cream of the independent traders there was something for every budget.  Old fashioned ‘cigerette girls’ were distributing information, spindly legged ‘aliens’ were wondering the floors bemusing the young and a sound system blasted out an electic mix of rock and roll. 

Upon walking around both floors, it’s apparent that you will never get tired of starting again.  Well, with a Captain Jack Sparrow in attendence, even the high seas couldn’t keep him away!

LondonEdge/Central is a very multi-cultural show.  Gabriel and Janet of ‘Couch UK’ told me ‘It’s a perfect show to get in front of out target audience, but we find it advantageous to snare some international leads too’.

LondonEdge/Central reported a 12 per cent increase in pre-registrations for the show which was attributed to a commitment to marketing through social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook.

The world is shrinking and shows like this are paramount in bringing together and promoting alternative avenues.  As the aforementioned Captain Sparrow once said ‘Bring me that horizon!’ and the next one to appear is on the 7th Spetember when the show returns for a second time this year. 

Strap on your air guitar in anticipation.

 article written by James Barrett of expoabc.com    jbarrett@mashmedia.net

http://www.expoabc.com/

article sourced from Drapers

LondonCentral full of optimism

Buyers were pleased with the mainstream product on offer at streetwear shows LondonEdge and LondonCentral last week.  Attendence was 20% up on Sunday compared with the Sunday last season.  A fifth of floor space was filled by new exhibitors, including denim brand Monkee Genes and Japanese label Kid Ninkimono, and buyers said they picked up new labels as a result.  Tina Davis, owner of indie Pumpkinhead in Preston, said ‘We have been coming to the show for years, mainly to see our regular suppliers, but this season we picked up a couple of new brands, which is exciting for us.’  Exhibitors were also positive about the show.  Anastasia Gaeva, managing director of Russian brand Vintage Queen, said ‘This is our first UK trade show but is perfect for our alternative for our alternative antique and vintage fashion.  We’ve seen a good cross-section of buyers, and have all shown interest with our product.’  LondonCentral managing director Carole Hunter said visitor reaction was positivie.  She said: ‘With all the doom and gloom, we’re really pleased the show has attracted similar visitor figures to last season.  The product mix is edgy mainstream, but i think there are more young fashion T-Shirt brands at LondonCentral this season, which seem to have gone down really well.’