Tailored clothing firms hit jackpot at MAGIC; business reported strong for both suits and sports coats. (Men's Apparel Guild in California) - Daily News Record

Business reported strong for both suits and sport coats

LAS VEGAS -- Clothing manufacturers were pleased with the brisk bookings they had at the MAGIC show, saying that business was split 50/50 between suits and sport coats.

Tailored clothing, which is traditionally bought at the end of the show, saw strong opening business, and, as one manufacturer put it, 'it got progressively better each day.'

The MAGIC show was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 1-4 and as late as the show was this year, clothing manufacturers said that buyers were still interested in fall goods.

'We've kept busy throughout the show,' said Steve Kurtzman, president of Chula Vista, Calif.-based American Fashion. 'The sport coat business has been showing steady increases. Retailers are looking for immediate goods, doing some reorder business for spring, but we've been doing a lot of fall business too, which is considered to be very late in the tailored clothing business,' he said.

Kurtzman went on to say that retailers are looking for fancies in sport coats, with special attention to texture and color. 'Price isn't an issue, this is an impulse buy. People want to buy something different,' said Kurtzman.

In addition to sport coats, Kurtzman said that seperate vests with textures have also been big sellers.

Alvin Kohn, president of PBM's Bill Blass Tailored Clothing, said that MAGIC is usually a big show for promotional suits but that this time he saw a marked increase in sport coat sales. 'We have a nice share of the sport coat business, with most of the business in the upper to moderate range,' he said.

According to Kohn, luxury fibers are the biggest sellers in sport coats, including camel's hair and cashmere. 'Black and white plaid also continues to be a hot buy,' said Kohn.

Mitchel Nichnowitz, president of The 500 Fashion Group, said in addition to big fall business, buyers were doing fill-in business on in-stock programs. 'We have done more of our business in tailored clothing at the show; I'd say we ended up with 65 percent of our show business in suits, with black and white checks and plaids selling in both suits and the sport coats.'

Nichonwitz said that retailers were also buying immediate spring goods to round out the current merchandise. 'We've seen a lot of latecomers at this show, with a great deal of interest being paid to our colorful spring line.'

Mike Shigazane, executive vice-president of Louis Raphael, said that he saw both at-once business and buying for late fall. 'Our sport coat business is almost completely sold up,' he said. 'People are looking for slimmer silhouettes, in black and white plaid and check patterns.'

Dress slacks were also a big seller, according to Shigazane. 'Our bottoms business has been exceptionally good, with buyers looking for pleated pants in slimmer silhouettes,' he said.

Ron Wurtzburger, president of Peerless Clothing International, also said retailers were looking for at-once goods and promotional goods. 'We've seen a lot of small California accounts with big open-to-buys.'

He said that most of his business was done in suits with black-and-white plaids and checks leading the sales. 'For us the whole sport coat trend is just beginning to happen. We expect to see more sport coat business in the next few months.'

Quenton Bragg, vice president of sales for Bowdon Clothing, said that both suits and sport coats did well. 'We saw business in both areas, with most business being done on immediate goods, although some buyers were still writing fall.

'Our sport coat business has been excellent over the last few months, and with the reaction to our line here, we expect it to get even better,' he said.