LAS VEGAS—While adult novelty and pleasure products manufacturers have increased their presence at the International Lingerie Show in recent years, the trade expo is still mostly about lingerie. And in exhibitors’ booths and the fashion show, buyers got a glimpse of what’s hot this season.
Coquette, a Canadian-based lingerie company, had several new pieces to showcase, including its new Darque collection. The company officially launched the 2013 catalogue for the edgy collection at ILS, which took place April 8-10 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Darque collection incorporates more hardware such as grommets, zippers, metal garters and studs in this year's line as compared to last. They also use materials such as wet look, pleather, PVC, lace, poly-knit blends and Lycra.
Some of the most popular items in the collection include the wet look thigh-high stockings that come with or without lace bands at the top, wet look wristlet gloves and a wet look spiked mini dress with a scrunched behind.
“Our designers also incorporated soft, molded push-up cups in the bras of most pieces,” said Erin Sue, director of marketing and public relations for Coquette.
Also new from the company are items in the main collection, many of which comes in various shades of purple.
“Purple is the new red,” Erin Sue said.
And for Halloween, the lingerie company introduces 21 new items including a knit cable mini dress and accessories in the Sock Monkey outfit and a line of pieces with accessories inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
“We wanted to expand out styles and really focus on our brand,” Erin Sue explained. “We are going in a completely new direction from the blacks and reds that our company was known for, for so many years, and have everything feature a more European boutique feel.”
The trend of licensed costumes for Halloween continues this year, with companies like Rubies Costume Co. introducing hot new items from the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises. The new Darth Vader-inspired costume that features a black mini dress with tu-tu style skirt with a matching belt, headpiece and knee socks, while the Female Stormtrooper Costume is a black jumpsuit with while molded armor pieces on the front of the torso, legs and arms with a utility belt and two-piece full-head helmet.
Other pop-culture notables include costumes inspired by the television shows 2 Broke Girls and The Big Bang Theory, both in the 2013 collection from Mystery House. And in the Brasilia Room, Party King had just the duds needed to dress up as PSY of “Gangnam Style” fame.
Two new exhibitors with vintage roots in the costume trade were also at the show. Goddessey, with a booth in the main hall, and Costume Culture, in the Brasilia Room, are companies led by two sisters whose parents ran the venerable Franco company, which was founded in 1910. But the new companies are on opposite ends of the East Coast, with Goddessey in Florida and Costume Culture based in Franco’s home state of New York. Michelle of Costume Culture took time to chat and show off her favorite new costume, a gold and black flapper dress inspired by the fashions of the 1920s.
Clubwear also saw some updates this year, as several companies expanded on last year’s trend of bright neon colors and made them glow in the dark. At the Espiral booth, models stepped into a chamber illuminated by a blacklight to show off the bright colors. And bright matching footwear could be found at Reflection Shoes.
Baci Lingerie also had a major presence at the show, unveiling the new Dreams 2 collection at the trade show. In addition to adding new styles to the Dreams bedroom costume line, it also expanded the company’s size offerings, with all 12 styles available in plus sizes.
Baci also led the trend this year of men’s underwear, with the debut of the Envy line. The line features trendy styles for the fashion-forward man. The initial release features 55 styles, including briefs, thongs, boxer briefs, mesh briefs, tank tops, mesh tanks, and many more.
The softer side of the trade show also featured cosmetics to compliment the lingerie and costume collections. Cailyn, a cosmetic and skin care company based in Los Angeles, had several items for buyers in their booth, but the most attention was focused on the gel eyeliner the company created a few years ago. With new colors, including jewel tones with glitter, the gel eyeliner is smudgeproof and waterproof. The brush is built-in to the lid and can create a fine line or a wider application. Once the gel sets, it doesn’t flake or smear.
Other interesting accessories could be found at the Tyes by Tara booth. The designer’s body jewelry comes in a variety of styles: Niptyes (for nipples), Clityes (which clip onto the clitoral hood), Get Waistyed (which wrap around the hips) and Foot Fetish anklets. She also offers garters and feather rings that are suitable for a bachelorette party.
Veteran exhibitors, of course, also had many new things to offer, including Shirley of Hollywood, which showcased a new collection of boxed lingerie. And in the serene confines of the Fantasy Lingerie exhibit space, set up like a boutique, rep Primrose Boon introduced the Vixen line, coming in May and June. The bright clubwear line is for customers who want to bring out their sexiest side, she explained. Other lines appeal to different moods—“Lingerie is about emotion,” she explained. The Pure line is innocent enough to make an appearance in the bridal bed, whereas the Tease light lets the wearer get her flirt on. And Curves—the plus-size line—accentuates the most rounded figures.
Even with so many return exhibitors—including exhibitors as diverse as Magic Silk, Seven ’til Midnight, Dreamgirl, Daisy Corset, and Hilary’s Vanity—there were new faces at ILS this year. Evil Angel, a company known for traditionally creating harder-edge gonzo adult movies, is looking to branch out and expand its brand with a new clothing line.
Evil by Ricky Carrefero unofficially launched at the International Lingerie Show, which took place April 8-10 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
“We are not officially out there yet,” explained John Stagliano, owner of Evil Angel. “We are still looking to see what works and what doesn’t.”
The clothing line is a collaboration between Stagliano and artist Carrefero, who is a longtime fan of Stagliano’s directorial work as Buttman.
“Ricky had sent me some of his artwork from years ago to publish in the Buttman Magazine,” Stagliano said. “He later had some of the artwork put onto T-shirts and it caught my interest.”
The line currently features T-shirts for men and women, tank tops, leggings and camel-toe panties and more with various designs of women that look as if they are tattooed onto the fabric.
Stagliano said a formal launch will be scheduled in a month or two once the final details on what to include are decided.
The Buttman director is also known for his Fashionistas movies, which spawned a line of fetish products with the same name that was on view over at the Icon Brands booth, across the room. The attractive glass butt plugs, whips, candle holders and other accessories would look striking with a number of fetish-driven lingerie lines, but what really stood out as a natural fit was the lingerie of Patrice Catanzaro. With shiny surfaces, lots of metal, lacing, grommets, zippers, straps and thigh-high boots, the styles were some of the most sensual on the show floor. It wasn’t Catanzaro’s first showing at ILS, but it’s still a fresh and exciting line.
Brand spanking new and looking for distributors and reps is Obsessive, a line of intimate wear manufactured in Poland and distributed in Europe—including France, where its manager is based. He noted that the line was looking for a “logistician” to bring the brand to North America. “We need to have our products in the territory,” he said.
Another first-time exhibitor was millinery designer Louisa Voisine, whose stunning hats came in three varieties: styles for Halloween, going to the opera and attending the Kentucky Derby. (Last year, in fact, her designs won an award and are on exhibit at the derby grounds in Kentucky.)
Few fashion statements, however, were more gracious than the metal and lace masks from Luna Veneziana, which were seen in September at the AVN Novelty Expo. Company man Daniele Droghetti confided that the masks would be coming soon to the Baci family, and would be distributed by Xgen Products—making it much easier to obtain these intricate Italian-made accessories. They’ll pair well with Baci’s classic styles, which are also available through Xgen. The U.S. company has definitely carved out a niche in the accessories market with body jewelry, wigs, faux nails and lashes, and hosiery from the Lapdance Lingerie line of clubwear.
