LAS VEGAS—Manufacturers and distributors alike traveled to Las Vegas for the fall edition of the International Lingerie Show to show off new products and lines, as well as mingle at the traditional Opening Night Fashion Show and StorErotic Awards and a cocktail party hosted by AVN on Monday night.
Adult distributor Williams Trading Co. expanded its space on the show floor to debut some of its newest items, including the Nü Sensuelle line of rechargeable vibrators. The line created quite a buzz among buyers with their powerful motors and unique functions. The Unique Touch Sensor has the ability to intensify vibrations as its inserted, while the Unique Massaging Pearl Tip has a bead in the head that moves back and forth for increased stimulation of the G-spot once inserted.
“We are getting a lot of people interested in the pieces,” said Rich Pyne, sales manager for Williams Trading Co. “They are something really unique.”
At Eldorado Trading Company, numerous manufacturers' representatives were on hand to talk up their newest goodies, including the Pipedream Products team and reps from Sportsheets, Je Joue, OhMiBod and many others. Among the most eye-catching Pipedream items were the festive Ceramix dildos and the wildly varied items in the Anal Fantasy collection. Eldorado founder Larry Garland also took some time to point out new items, including Eye of Love scented fragrances and candles. And as befits this show, the front wall of the booth was filled with boxed lingerie offerings.
Over at Coquette International, the lingerie was showcased on live models on hand to display the newest collections, Kissable and the 2014 Spring/Summer line.
Erin Sue, director of marketing and public relations for Coquette, explained that Kisssable is the newest boxed collection for the manufacturer that offers pieces that are a little sexier and more revealing.
“They are available in One Size and One Size XL and are bedroom and role play pieces,” she said.
The 2014 Spring/Summer collection boasts new colors for the company, including coral and baby blue and seafoam green. And the pieces have detailing such as pearls, bows and crochet lace, which is trending well right now, Erin Sue said.
Also showing off new collections was Baci Lingerie, which unveiled its Fetish Collection by Baci, the Corset Collection by Baci and the Accessories Collection by Baci.
Distributed by Xgen Products, the lines hits areas that were not previously covered by Baci. The accessories line is now available, while the Corset Collection and Fetish Collection will be available by winter, sales executives said. AVN has previewed the Corset Collection in the October issue. The line has corsets and cinchers that are perfect for bridal, and others that are suit-inspired. The Fetish Collection has pieces made from faux leather, shiny vinyl and stretch fabric with metal detailing in many cases.
Rapture pleasure products also feature a harder edge, and rep Janet T. showed off the newest pieces, a Five-Piece Restrain Set and a Stainless Steel Breast Squeezer. Also new is a 90-Degree Angle Wrist Restraint set.
East Coast News reps were highlighting the new Shiri Zinn for Baci Minx Designer Vibrator. Exclusive to the distributor from Zinn, the conceptual designer and head of the English company of the same name known for creating high-end luxury pleasure products, the new Minx is a perfect blend of the vibrator with a tail that complements the Baci Eyelash Collection. A faux leather case doubles as a storage container and gift box for the item.
Also generating excitement for the sales reps at East Coast News were the new Embrace collection from California Exotic Novelties, which was seen at the ANME show but debuted for shipping here at the ECN booth. Additionally, ECN has a 45-day exclusive on the line. Reps also pointed out the Tantus harness line. ECN snagged the entire first run of the harnesses when they came out last month.
The Screaming O was drawing in crowds with free mustache rides with its newest product the MustachiO. The new novelty products are made from silicone and come with a stretchy headband. They are available in pink and black and will be shipping out later this fall. Also new from the manufacturer is the Paco’s Taco Stroker. The stretchy silicone is grooved on one side for pleasure and has spaces for fingers to comfortably rest on the other. A packet of water-based Paco’s Sauce lubricant comes with every stroker.
Luna Veneziana for Baci had a booth in one of the inner aisles of the show to display the fine metal masks. Perfect for role-playing or dressing up for any occasion, the have a lacy look and are often decorated with crystals.
Hott Products, a manufacturer known for edibles and its new line of light-up products, was offering holiday-themed pecker pops (with red, white and green stripes and mint flavoring) and Dick N Dip, a new fun candy treat.
Envy Menswear showed buyers new ways to display their boxed collection of boxer briefs, bikinis and jocks. The new plan-o-grams can display the Basics collection, the Trend collection, the Sexy collection or all three at once from the manufacturer.
Fantasy Lingerie has a newly designed line of boxed costumes called Play, featuring opportunities to act out roles as naughty nurses, sexy pirates, frisky French maids and even a bawdy businesswoman. Fantasy Lingerie also showcased a new boxed collection called Pure. Leilani Whitney, Fantasy Lingerie’s managing director, said the line features all white pieces but they are not meant for bridal only. Many of the designs mimic best-selling pieces from other collections, she said.
Adventure Industries representatives introduced the new packaging for the popular WhipSmart line of swings/slings and light fetish gear. With couples prominently featured using the products inside, the new packaging also features a new logo and vibrant colors. Also new at the booth were NutriCigs, which come in a variety of flavors and formulas for various needs. The e-cigs are available in Energy, Sleep and Appetite Suppressant varieties.
Adult Brand Concepts, creators of the Zolo products for male masturbation, once again displayed its billiards-themed booth and the masturbators. The Zolo cups are designed for one-time use, while the Pocket Pool pieces can be used more than once and for male solo use, as an enhancement for wand massagers or inside out as a stimulator for either partner.
Adult distributor Xgen Products was making waves with the new Bodywand Aqua, which boasts eight modes of speeds and eight pulsation patterns. The Aqua is the first Bodywand that is submersible and it is battery-operated.
Speaking of submersible, the Revel Body team had set up a bowl of water on the table to demonstrate the pulsating action created by the vibrator when it was submerged. The vibrator launched earlier this year, but there were new items on hand for the ILS show: interchangeable tips for the vibrator, as well as a carrying caes for the vibe, USB charger and AC adaptor.
The Seattle-based Revel Body, which got its start from an Indiegogo campaign, was right next door to another high-tech pleasure product company with an affinity for crowdfunding: San Francisco-based Crave, which now has a range of four vibrators and "foreplay jewelry." President Michael Topolovac, who raised capital for the company on Kickstarter, had a table set up in his booth where attendees could see how the vibrators, which are assembled in the United States, are put together.
Across the aisle was the Entrenue booth, where numerous toy designers hung out with the distributor to talk about their products. Among the many seen chatting with buyers were Leslie Schwartzer of NS Novelties, Molly Murphy of Jimmyjane, Memo De La Vega of Fun Factory and Dean Elliott of Sliquid and Lovehoney (who also had his own booth). Adult model Kelly Shibari added to the fun, modeling harnesses from SpareParts HardWear. Shibari was on hand to answer questions about the new plus-size harnesses, for which she is the promotional model.
Also in the booth was Eric Kalen, who was there to talk about the newest Tickler items, the Trainer Toyfriends. The Trainer Toyfriends are an ergonomically shaped ball set designed for comfortable vaginal training and stimulation. There are four styles of Trainer Toyfriends, each in its own color.
One of the newest faces there was Adam Lewis, who created the Hot Octopuss, a male pleasure toy that uses an oscillating motor. Men can wrap the partial sleeve around their genitals, and because of its structure, it can also be used by men with erectile dysfunction. The item is sold with illustrations that show how it can be used in couples foreplay as well. The London-based company is brand-new, and Lewis was thrilled at the reception his product had already received.
Tyes.By.Tara, a body jewelry manufacturer, debuted a new fragrance in addition to the new Entyece line of chokers, neckties, nipple rings, earrings and lingerie accessories that range from fetish-inspired lamé to ultra-feminine lace.
And since 'tis the season for giving (at least it will be very soon), buyers were surely on the lookout for fun, low-cost items that would please holiday shoppers. Kixies Thigh Highs made a big splash, drawing on the star power of 2011 Playmate of the Year Clair Sinclair to draw people in and look at the line of legwear. Next door to that booth was the SkinForma booth, where president and CEO Antonella Carlozzi showed the virtues of her G|Skin undergarment—a self-adhesive, strapless panty made of silicone.
Other undergarments of note included Rago Foundations' beautiful retro shapewear and—on the other end of the style spectrum—the flirty, cheerful Party Pantys booth, with bras and underwear that can be used to store such party essentials as lipstick, cash and keys.
And at ILS, even the brassieres can get a touch of bling. At Oooh La Bra, sales reps were hawking attachments for strapless bras and halter and bandeau tops. Styles ranges from black and crystal rhinestones to beaded numbers and leather straps.
Panties were a big item at the Seven 'til Midnight booth. Director of Sales and Marketing Vinh Luong explained that in addition to showing the lingerie lines from Seven 'til Midnight, the booth was also home to sister company Spreegirl, which offers cute, sporty panties, camisoles and more that appeal to a young demographic. Spreegirl's cotton undies offer comfort without sacrificing style.
Liberator and Tenga both had big news at their booth at ILS. Based on the success of vacuum compression packaging on several larger pieces, the manufacturer has created the new packaging for even more items.
"It really helps out retailers who want to stock Liberator pieces but not take up too much shelf space," said LIberator Vice President of Sales and Business Development Jay Scheinberg.
He noted that in addition to the compression packaging, Liberator is also providing retailers with smaller versions of products, including the Axis, so consumers can see what the products look like.
Tsuneki Sato of Tenga was in the booth to talk up the newest line of couples products from Japanese manufacturer Tenga. Vi-Bo is a series of vibrating intimacy products designed around a vibrating orb core.
The vibrating orb, companied with five different Vi-Bo covers create a line of five different products to be used for a variety of different intimate situations for couples. Vi-Bo provides a simple, small and fun addition to bedroom play for couples. Unlike most bedrooms toys of the past that were designed for one person to “use on another," the Vi-Bo items are a “love support item” that provide an opportunity for couples to share a deeper communication.
OhMiBod company officials had their own booth where they showcased the newest collection, the Lovelife line. The seven products in Lovelife are made form soft pink silicone and white ABS. Items like the Adventure, a triple stimulator, boasts seven vibrations that are not the standard OhMiBod vibrations. In addition to the Adventure, the line includes the Smile, a lay-on vibrator with a heart stimulator attached; the Cuddle, a G-spot massager; and the Flex, a set of heart-shaped Kegel balls. OhMiBod Director of Sales Pamela Luu noted the packaging of each item has a cut-out of the product's shape on one side, a full-size photo of the item on the other and a hang tab at the top to give retailers the option of displaying the line on shelves or hooks on a slatwall.
Aside from toys, accessories and apparel, the other big category at ILS was lubricants and body care products. Many of the big exhibitors were there, including Wet, Sliquid and Swiss Navy, as well as such newer brands as Nature Labes, Uberlube and the brand-new Slyd.
Veteran lubricant manufacturer System Jo had new items on its shelves that catr to the sector of the marketplace that demands organic ingredients in body care products. An organic toy lubricant, an organic lubricant and an innovative vaginal moisturizer (ideally suited for post-menopausal women) will join the many SKUs the company has to offer.
Among the other new lube items that stood out was a new toy lube from Wicked Sensual Care, with an intriguing package design that was hot off the presses, so to speak. Wicked's Carrie Smith showed us the whimsical pink-topped dispenser, which has a completely different look from the company's signature smoke-colored bottles and black caps. Another innovation were the foil graphics on Wicked's three new flavors of lube: Vanilla, Mocha Java and Salted Caramel. All are sugar free—and utterly delectable.
The International Lingerie Show will return March 31-April 2, 2014, to the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For more information, visit LVLingerieShow.com.
