The Girls from California Waves |
SurfExpo 2005
Orlando, Florida
The best of resort and surf wear was on display at Orlando's Convention Center this month. SurfExpo 2005 brought together the leisure industries largest manufacturers and retailers in a grand spectacle of colorful exhibitions. On display was everything from sandals to sarongs and tankinis to bikinis as well as surfing and skate board industry apparel and accessories.
Purchasers from around the world were treated to a continuous stream of fashion shows with sales representatives answering questions on their newest lines of fashion. Models kept busy changing their outfits and standing before customers all day.
Karen Foreman from Point Conception shows
Nicole Figueroa the Kechika swimwear line |
With models sashaying along the runway, sales representatives would announce what they were wearing and supplement their comments with hand held displays showing other color combinations and available accents. According to industry experts, hot items for 2005 are polka-dots and brightly colored swimwear and casual wear as well as elegant swimwear jewelry and accessories.
Vendor booths were dressed in exotic themes such as beach huts and tiki bars. Others were like closed movie sets with theatrical props and attractive models luring buyers to come in. Once inside, the buyers would be asked to have a seat and enjoy the show.
Skateboarders fly high |
With one of the larger booths, California Waves had a beach bar theme that was very popular. Their booth tempted you to sit down and relax. Michael Tyler Coulter from California Waves describes what a typical buyer seller session is like. " When the buyer sits down we have the models showing our swimwear in the same order as in our catalogs… In this way the buyer just has to flip the pages of our catalogs to see what they can mix and match and the options that are available for each line." He goes on to say that California Wave is a great way for models to launch their careers. E! TV reporter and popular swimsuit model, Brook Burke, got her start as one of their models, he said.
At the perimeter of the expo, there were scheduled runway shows throughout the day but the real crowd pleasers were the skating rinks. Two large skateboard rinks were packed with skateboard enthusiasts most of the days. Professional skateboarders held exhibitions shows and contests were held for cash and prizes. Another popular draw was a surfboard designer who brought in his mobile studio. Visitors stood outside and watched as he scrapped and painted raw materials into competition level surfboards through a large window.
While SurfExpo creates a significant economic impact to area hotels and attractions, it also provides a much-needed forum for prominent national board sports athletes and their fans. Of course it doesn't hurt that everywhere you look there are beautiful models clad in hot bikini and sexy resort wear.
The SurfExpo combines leisure fashion and board sports for the longest-running trade show in the industry (28 years). - The Art News Network - Photography by VIPImageStudios
Rampage Swimwear |
California Waves |
Gypsy Swimwear |
Chica Rica Swimwear |
Billabong | |
