Fashion by Informa’s Las Vegas marketplace returns with resilience at the top of the agenda

Fashion by Informa returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Monday, hosting its main trade shows — Magic, Project, Sourcing and Offprice — under the same roof. The event, designed to address the needs of emerging brands, retailers, manufacturers and buyers, will take place less than 20 days after the new Section 301 duties took effect on July 24, testing the fashion industry’s stability once again.

The Section 301 imposed additional duties of 10 or 12.5 percent on imports from 60 economies covering 99.4 percent of US imports. Washington's latest tariff round added more tension to an already uncertain US market, as expressed by 92 percent of business owners in the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)’s Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study published in July, and became the center of the conversation within the sourcing community.

Emilie Lewis, vice president of events for Las Vegas and Nashville marketplaces at Fashion by Informa, said the discussions among buyers are no longer simply about reducing costs but centered on resilience instead.

“Buyers are increasingly looking for partners who can help them navigate tariff uncertainty, diversify their supplier base, ensure compliance, and shorten lead times without compromising quality,” Lewis told FashionUnited, saying buyers are focused on building multi-country sourcing strategies to create greater flexibility and reduce risk. “This includes expanding manufacturing relationships across countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Turkey, and parts of Latin America, depending on the product category and business needs,” she said.

The new tariffs impact both exhibitors and attendees, Lewis said, pushing the fashion industry to look for “real-time intelligence and actionable solutions.” To help both sides of the coin, Fashion by Informa partnered with industry experts like HGI (Hertzman Global Intelligence) to provide market insights and strategic guidance to attendees.

Last week, 25 states decided to sue President Donald Trump's administration over the new tariffs, arguing they are "arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law," according to BBC. The White House said the US was "using its lawful authority" to address practices that burden American businesses. While buyers wait to see what’s next in the US tariffs policy, Lewis said tariff uncertainty is not the only reason why they are diversifying sourcing partners.

“Most brands recognize that no single geography can meet all of their sourcing requirements, so they’re balancing offshore, nearshore, and domestic production to create more agile and resilient supply chains,” she said. “Ultimately, buyers are looking for sourcing partners that can provide flexibility, transparency, strong compliance standards, and the ability to adapt quickly as market conditions continue to evolve. Those capabilities have become just as important as price in today’s sourcing decisions.”

Following the algorithm

Another challenge for buyers nowadays is to keep up with the speed at which trends come and go from social media. On TikTok, fashion trends evolve and spread more quickly. Brands that are able to adapt can profit from the pace.

“We’re seeing brands showcase collections that reflect viral aesthetics, but with the quality and scalability that wholesale demands. Brands are watching consumer behaviors online and translating that into product within weeks. This has created incredible opportunities for agile retailers who can move quickly on emerging styles, and our show floor reflects that momentum,” Lewis said.

Trending

When it comes to fashion trends this season, Lewis points out a growth in handbags, trend-driven contemporary pieces, activewear and footwear on the Magic floor, while Y2K nostalgia, sport-inspired silhouettes and innovative footwear designs are dominating the men’s Project floor.

At Sourcing, the key categories include apparel manufacturing, sustainability solutions, fabric, trim and packaging. And Offprice features a rise in non-apparel, cash-and-carry, and licensed goods across women’s, men’s, and kids’ products.

Fashion by Informa’s Las Vegas marketplace will run through Wednesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.