It’s being dubbed the first-ever Dallas Fashion Week (Jan. 21-27), which consists of five apparel and accessories shows running in succession to create an efficient, affordable, and effective way to shop head-to-toe fashions in one location: the Dallas Market Center. There’s Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market and KidsWorld (Jan. 21-24), WESA (Western) and AETA (English) shows (Jan. 22-25), and Dallas Men’s Show (Jan. 25-27).
“Dallas Market Center is the largest head-to-toe fashion marketplace in the U.S. and offers the most complete and comprehensive range of apparel, accessories, and footwear plus aligned categories like gifting,” says Jill Cunningham, senior vice president of leasing, apparel, and accessories for Dallas Market Center. “Offering an unmatched mix of merchandise helps retailers create a lifestyle experience that will attract new customers and keep their inventories fresh.” She adds, “Buyers can choose their own journey and mix up their merchandise with a selection of product and styles for women, men, and kids’ as well as Western and English.”
The one-stop shopping, Cunningham says, is a key point of differentiation from other trade events. In addition, no other show offers the breadth and depth of Western fashions. “Dallas is the largest Western marketplace in the world, which we’ve expanded with new Western and English permanent showrooms on the 10th floor,” she says, noting that exhibitors include Tecovas and Ariat. “This new neighborhood of Western and English is a compliment to the existing full floor of Western showrooms on the 14th floor.”
Then there’s Dallas as a draw. The mecca of Western fashion was recently voted in a Gallup poll as the “safest big city.” It also has two international airports within 25 minutes of the center and is renowned as a vibrant hub of food, arts, and architecture. Plus, there’s the show’s earlier timing. “January is the ideal time for buyers to get an early start on the latest footwear styles for the upcoming season,” Cunningham says. “Exhibitors will benefit from the influx of buyers eager to write orders for the newest styles to start the year strong.”
Cunningham expects a “huge” attendance. “Retailers are very excited about five markets happening in succession, and exhibitors are thrilled at the unique opportunity to connect with a new buyer base,” she says. “Dallas has had tremendous momentum in recent years, and our goal is to bring that energy into 2025 for this special, never-done-before Dallas Fashion Week that will welcome attendees from coast to coast.”
