The 35th annual SwimShow, the most comprehensive and longest-running of its kind, took place July 22-25 in Miami Beach and brought together the biggest and best US and international retailers with the hottest swimwear collections of the season. The four-day event hosted thousand of buyers in the two halls as they met with new and existing vendors.
“We welcomed over 100 new designers and redesigned the floor plan to showcase the expanded and highly anticipated Collection area,” said Judy Stein, Executive Director of the Swimwear Association of Florida. Luli Hanimian, Designer and Partner of Luli Fama was thrilled with customer response at the show, “This is the biggest and best show for us to present our collection to the world and get the most exposure in front of all of the international buyers.”
There was an exhilarating buzz on the show floor this year. Buyers, bloggers, and influencers moved quickly from booth to booth, discovering new brands, new trends and catching up with familiar favorites. “I’m delighted that the swimwear industry is going so strong. According to the NPD, US swimwear sales totalled $5 billion through the end of May 2017. With those figures, this market is one of the best performing in the retail industry at this time, putting it in a truly advantageous space. Walking the SwimShow floor, you could see that orders were being written and business was being done,” said Stein.
In addition to the 4-day exhibit, special events and amenities surrounding SwimShow included a GIF photobooth, cyber cafes, Ride Freebee Scooters, swim lounge happy hour, a daily breakfast bar, high tea service every afternoon allowing for networking, free WiFi and a zen lounge with mini treatments that included a dry and braid bar, henna tattoo, nail bar, make-up studio, massage services and a Reiki Healer. The SwimShow also featured a Fashion Law seminar for exhibitors presented by Greenberg Traurig that focused on the legal issues fashion brands are facing in the age of social media, and the Eveden Fit School seminar for buyers, a unique opportunity to learn the art of fitting with Frederika Zappe, Eveden’s National Fit Specialist, and the Eveden Fit Team.
Recognized as the most important swimwear trade show in the world, SwimShow is the premier resource for buyers from all swimwear categories and caters to designer boutiques, resort shops, speciality stores, surf shops, department stores, mass merchants and more. This global trade show includes buyers, manufacturers, designers, corporate personnel, press, bloggers, influencers, fashion consultants, stylists and other fashion industry leaders.
