July 29 – August 2 in Atlanta; August 11 – 13 in Las Vegas;
MCA Continues Education Series Before, During & After Formal Markets
ATLANTA – June 7, 2024 – Exhibits and on-site experiences are larger- and better-than-ever for the upcoming editions of Formal Markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas, providing buyers with two prime opportunities to complete their seasonal purchasing, July 29 - August 2 at AmericasMart Atlanta and August 11 - 13 at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas.
"Formal Markets offers the most dynamic sourcing experience of the summer, with all resources located conveniently under one roof at both Atlanta and Las Vegas locations, affording buyers easy access to top industry suppliers including exclusive-to-ANDMORE exhibitors," said Caron Stover, ANDMORE℠ SVP, Apparel. "With both markets running before Labor Day and offering more resources than ever before, Formal Markets allows buyers to see more and buy more efficiently in a buyer-prioritized experience.”
As recently announced, two of the industry’s top brands – Allure Bridals and Justin Alexander – will exhibit exclusively in Atlanta and Las Vegas this summer in new, larger presentations. At both markets, Allure Bridals and Portia & Scarlett are showcasing both collections in a combined exhibit space. Quinceañera resources are also growing across both markets, with notable brands in Atlanta and Las Vegas, including: Amabella Quinceañera by Allure; AMARRA Quinceañera; LizLúo Quinceañera; Morilee; Preciosa by Sophia Thomas; Princesa by Ariana Vara; Rachel Allan and SHANKARA.
Both markets feature daily New Buyer Orientation sessions, and host full schedules of events, activations and amenities to enhance the overall experience. Prior to market, Mon Cheri Academy hosts webinars in June and July to address issues and opportunities facing today’s bridal retailers.
Atlanta Formal Markets: Sold-Out Exhibit Space and Enhanced Programming
This August, Formal Markets Atlanta is expanding with 200+ individual collections showcased for across three completely full floors—10, 12, and 14—along with a relocated Collective on Floor 12, and more temporary exhibits in overflow space. In addition to ANDMORE exclusivity from top brands, notable new and expanded brands include: ASHLEYlauren; Jessica Angel; Ava Presley; Diverse Style by Sydni Dion and Stefanie Somers. Formal Markets also presents the industry’s coveted Prom market in Atlanta, which marks the debut of Spring 2025 collections from top designers: Ellie Wilde; Johnathan Kayne; Jovani and Sherri Hill, along with new international temporaries including ALFABETA (Turkey); Bariano (Australia); Carla Ruiz (Spain) and Tiffanys (UK)”. A full list of Formal Markets exhibitors is at https://www.atlanta-apparel.com/exhibitor/directory.
With more bridal resources than ever before, the show will debut a new pre-market event to welcome retailers before they start a busy week of sourcing. One day before market, Formal Markets will host a pre-market Bridal Kickoff Party sponsored by Justin Alexander and Allure Bridals on Sunday, July 28, in an immersive party experience nestled between social occasion showrooms on Floor 12. On Wednesday, July 31, a Formal Runway Show and Reception in the Floor 15 Fashion Theatre spotlights top trends for Spring/Summer ’25, followed by the Top10 Prom After Party.
To welcome buyers during the market week, Formal Markets will provide daily breakfast and coffee, plus arrival Champagne during the first two days of market. Additionally, buyers can enjoy two brand-sponsored activations with giveaways on Monday and Tuesday of the market. A full listing of at-market events is available at https://www.atlanta-apparel.com/Attend/Events.
Both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibits at Formal Markets in Atlanta run Monday, July 29 – Thursday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday, August 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information and registration, visit www.formalmarkets.com
Las Vegas Formal Markets: Third Annual Sold-Out Trade Show Features Expanded Amenities and Events
The third annual edition of Formal Markets Las Vegas is set to present more than 90 individual collections, with larger presentations from sought-after brands, a new show floor layout for easier sourcing and enhanced events and amenities, at World Market Center Las Vegas, August 11 – 13, 2024.
The sold-out exhibit floor includes expansion of several anchor brands to feature larger collections, including ASHLEYlauren, Morilee and Portia & Scarlett, exclusive participation by Allure Bridals and Justin Alexander, the growth of quinceañera and the debut of a new Turkish group of formal brands. Additional key participation brands are: Anne-Marie Designs; Casablanca; Couture Fashion Group; De Blossom; House of Wu; JL Johnson Bridal Veils; Jovani; Kitty Chen; Mon Cheri and Ragazza. A full listing of Formal Markets brands is available at https://www.atlanta-apparel.com/Markets/Formal-Markets/August-LV.
Formal Markets’ Las Vegas edition will feature an expanded slate of on-site experiences, amenities and events for the social occasion industry, kicking off with a full day of pre-market education presented by Mon Cheri Academy. In this industry-exclusive presentation, Steve Lang and Nayri will educate buyers on the newest tips and tricks for formal business success on Saturday, August 10, from noon to 8 p.m.
On the first day of Market, Sunday, August 11, attendees can celebrate and buy late at the Formal Markets Kickoff Party – the Rosé Soirée – in the main aisle of the exhibit floor. On Monday, August 12, Justin Alexander and Formal Markets will host an invite-only VIP kickoff event at The Legacy Club at nearby hotel Circa, celebrating the industry’s success and benefitting for Vow for Girls, a growing global movement that partners with brands, individuals and the wedding industry to end the international child marriage crisis.
For the first time this August, Formal Markets Las Vegas will feature a category-organized show floor with a themed lounge in each section – bridal, quinceañera and prom – for ease of sourcing. In addition, each category lounge will host a daily buyer activation with amenities and giveaways and Formal Markets Las Vegas also will have a daily branded giveaway upon entry.
Formal Markets’ Las Vegas edition is open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information, visit www.formalmarkets.com.
Mon Cheri Academy & ANDMORE Continue Education Between Markets
Following the success of Mon Cheri Academy’s ANDMORE-exclusive virtual education and in-person education event in Atlanta, Mon Cheri Academy will host two more virtual sessions leading up to the August markets and an in-person educational event on Saturday, August 10, in Las Vegas. The two webinars, hosted by Steve Lang and Nayri, are covering topics: “How to Leverage Yourself Through Your Employees,” on Monday, June 17, at 1 p.m., and “Today's Bride, Prom Goer, Mother Bride/Groom, Social Occasion and Quinceanera Customer by the Numbers and Interpretation of Impact on Your Sales and Profits,” on Monday, July 22, at 1 p.m.
Mon Cheri Academy will continue its exclusive, year-long virtual education series with Formal Markets again with one monthly session from September through December. For more details and to register for the in-person event, visit https://www.atlanta-apparel.com/Markets/Formal-Markets/MCA.
Formal Markets: ANDMORE’s Formal Markets presents its collection of bridal, prom, quinceañera, mother-of-the-bride, accessories, homecoming and special occasion lines three times annually: April and August in Atlanta and August in Las Vegas. Formal Markets is owned and operated by ANDMORE℠, formerly International Market Centers. For more information, visit www.FormalMarkets.com.
About ANDMORE: ANDMORE℠, formerly International Market Centers, is an omnichannel wholesale marketmaker that fuels opportunities for wholesale buyers and sellers to connect, grow and prosper through physical markets, design centers and digital channels. The company owns and operates more than 20 million square feet of premium event and showroom space, hosting live events in Atlanta, High Point, N.C., Las Vegas and New York City. By pairing face-to-face events with always-on digital tools, ANDMORE provides truly omnichannel business platforms for its global wholesale customer base. ANDMORE.com
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Amanda Merritt
Cathy Steel
cathy@cathysteelassociates.com