Top industry experts to present at this first-of-its-kind fashion series at Toronto International Centre. © ATSC

The Canadian fashion, apparel and retail community will have a first-of-its-kind opportunity to learn about the latest trends and insights in marketing, costing, sourcing, sustainability and running a fashion business from some of the industry’s top experts next week, as they come together for a unique Fashion Lab conference series being launched at the Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada (ATSC) show.

Canada’s leading apparel sourcing event, ATSC – which takes place from 19-21 August at the Toronto International Centre – announced the launch of this second conference track in addition to the show’s popular international seminar series, following the successful introduction of the Fashion Lab at its sister show, Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami, in May.

Curated by Frances Harder, owner of Los Angeles-based Fashion For Profit Consulting, and produced by TopTenWholesale.com and Manufacturer.com, the Fashion Lab is being launched to give a boost to SMEs, designers, independent retailers, entrepreneurs, students and microbrands looking to succeed in Canada’s thriving apparel and textiles sector.

Focus on education

“Education has always been a core focus of the ATS trade shows, yet we found that there was a need to cater to up-and-coming designers, buyers and brands in addition to established industry players – something most trade fairs fail to do,” said Jason Prescott, CEO of JP Communications, producer of the show. “The Fashion Lab fills this important industry gap by offering guidance and inspiration on how to succeed in today’s rapidly-evolving retail and production landscape.”

ATSC features 500 international apparel and textile exhibits. © ATSC

Featuring 500 international apparel and textile exhibits, and dozens of conference sessions, ATSC provides an unprecedented industry platform for sourcing, networking and education. Since the event’s inception in Toronto in 2016, ATS trade shows – which now also take place in Montreal and Miami, with a new ATS show making a debut in Berlin, Germany in September – have drawn tens of thousands of visitors.

Trending Fashion Lab talks

According to Harder, “attendees at the Fashion Lab sessions will hear from some of the industry’s top local, national and international experts about the latest fashion industry trends, the challenges today’s designers, brands and retailers face and how to overcome them, and the evolving shopping preferences of today’s consumers.”

Fashion Lab presenters will provide unique insight into topics such as how to successfully launch a fashion line, tips and tricks to drive website traffic and boost online sales, emerging technologies that change the way consumers interact with brands, strategies and tactics for e-commerce, new digital shopping channels, experiential retail, sustainable solutions, the critical role of social media in the world of fashion, how to successfully working with a manufacturer and best advice to cost merchandise for maximum sales success.

Speakers include fashion experts such as:

• Former DKNY and Adidas Head of Licensing Sal Khokhar, CEO of Kollective Moda
• Sought-after fashion business and career coach Christine Daal
• Leading fashion consultant Anna Livermore
• Popular trend and style forecaster Cynthia Florek of The Trend Office
• Author, educator and Fashion for Profit president Frances Harder
• Facebook ads expert Kevin Moore
• Top branding and fashion lawyer Ashlee Froese

Latest fashions to hit the runway

On 20 August, ATSC will showcase international brands, collections from top Canadian students, and the latest garment trends from exhibitors in a show-stopping fashion extravaganza.

Event visitors will have unique opportunity to see the latest creations by local talent – such as Farley Chatto, Rhowan James, Dorian Who, Christopher Paunil and JmTrends – as well as trending global designers. International talent includes top designers from South Asia – whose creations will be featured in the show’s India and Bangladesh Pavilions – as well as the latest fashions from eight of China’s top brands, featured in the show’s Brand China AVENUE section: Veralba, Sanyi, Rebody, Jilier, HODO, Bosideng, Aparso and Aiyimei.

www.appareltextilesourcing.com