New York, NY September 16, 2004 – The MAGIC Marketplace, world-renown for connecting a global audience of serious buyers and sellers has proven its international grandeur once again with a one-stop shopping sensation.  Running August 30 through September 2, 2004, for the first time in history, men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and accessories, fabric, trim, leather and sourcing were all located in one venue: sprawling across 930,000 net square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  This new arrangement was not only received with approval, but with applause from attendees, exhibitors and the press. 

One of many highlights this season was the First Birthday Celebration of fabric@MAGIC.  “A 48% increase in booth sales has been made since our August 2003 inception; booth space was in such demand that a wait list was put in place for the fabric@MAGIC section of the show,” according to Amy Bonomi, Show Director, fabric@MAGIC and the International Fashion Fabric Exhibition.  The same was the scenario for fabric@MAGIC’s powerhouse partner, The Sourcing Zone, also boasting a wait list and a 91% increase in booth space since August 2003. 

Attendees and exhibitors concur: the international networking opportunities possible due to the collocation of fabric@MAGIC and the Sourcing Zone are tremendous!  It was a winning combination of domestic and international buyer interest AND exhibitor resources.  Roberto Seselovsky of Santista Textil (Brazil) states: “We met MANY designers, buyers and branded companies… this show is an important venue to promote our materials in the U.S. market.”  On the other hand, Joe Wu, President of J.N. Zipper Supplies (U.S.A.), “met with overseas sourcing companies from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and was pleased to meet with Reebok!”

Buyers found fabric@MAGIC’s global mix very conducive to cultivating positive business relationships with fabric, trim, leather, suede and design technology suppliers, as well as contract manufacturers and private label businesses to produce their goods.   “We met many merchandisers, buyers and lead designers from Canada, New York, Pennsylvania, Chicago, and MANY from Mexico.  I received a sample order from Bisou Bisou;” asserts a very pleased Jay Chon from Popular Textiles (U.S.A.). 

In short, one year after it’s debut, fabric@MAGIC continues on the upswing.   Planning has already begun for the February 14 –17, 2005 edition, when fabric@MAGIC and the Sourcing Zone will move forward as a co-branded entity.  In the words of Jimmy Choi of Hyosung Corporation, a leading Korean fiber producer: “We’d like to come back next February… and book a BIGGER and BETTER presence in advance, let us know how to do it!”  Our advice to Mr. Choi: “Reserve Your Space Now!” as inevitably fabric@MAGIC booth space will be at a premium after the success of fabric@MAGIC ‘s global, birthday-bash this past August!
 
For information about exhibiting in or attending fabric@MAGIC, please call 917.326.6237 or e-mail at info@fabricshow.com or visit www.fabricshow.com.
 
MAGIC International, a subsidiary of Advanstar Communications, Inc., is the world''s largest and most widely recognized organizer of trade shows for the apparel industry producing the MAGIC Marketplace in Las Vegas featuring, MAGIC, WWDMAGIC, MAGIC kids, and the edge.  For information, log onto www.MAGIConline.com.