After an 18-month hiatus, the MAGIC and Coterie trade shows returned to New York’s Jacob K. Javits Center for in-person events from Sept. 19 to 21. At both trade shows, new exhibitors and emerging labels made their debuts, while established designers unveiled new collections.
Across ready-to-wear and accessories brands’ spring collections, feminine styles, vibrant colors, playful prints, and intriguing silhouettes stood out and signified the seasonal message of optimism.
Here, WWD highlights women’s RTW and accessories brands from the New York Coterie and MAGIC shows.
Coterie Highlights
Brand: Charo Ruiz
Designer: Charo Ruiz
Backstory: Charo Ruiz, the daughter and granddaughter of dressmakers, grew up in Seville among fabrics and patterns. She began her career as a model in Barcelona during the late ’70s and eventually settled in Ibiza to start her own collection, which launched in 1989.
Geared to the girl with a Mediterranean vibe, the collection highlights artists and uses different prints. Comprised mostly of dresses, the line began selling on the beach and today sells such retailers as Net-a-porter, Intermix, Shopbop, Revolve and Forward. Her son and daughter, Pablo and Paloma, run the company, which is still based in Ibiza.
Key styles: Cotton voile lace trim dresses; romantic and cute lace cover-ups and caftans that go from beach to dinner; cotton voile and guipur embroidered detailing crop tops; tops with guipur paneling and delicate straps; peasant-cut cotton voile long skirts.
Retail price: $300 to $750.
Brand: Blanca
Founder/Designer: Ana Piteira
Backstory: “Launched as part of the growing Reliquia [Collective] family, Blanca serves as a clothing offering to complete the look,” the Sydney-based brand told WWD.
“The overarching aesthetic is derived from a meeting of vintage and modern style — looks seen on Paris and Milan’s streets.” The label produces a limited number of pieces per style while offering a robust assortment of “wardrobe basics,” for seamless, everyday wear. Additionally, the brand stands to offer fashions that are, “timeless, iconic, comfortable and transitional.”
Key styles: Oversize button-down cotton shirts and shirtdresses, such as the pinstriped, color-blocked “Benny,” the short-sleeve “Cairo” and monochromatic “Cruz” shirts, paired back with matching “Lars” cotton shorts. Styled with a mix of fluid dresses (the gingham “Fennie” dresses), boxy suiting and colorful knits.
Retail price: $150 to $350.
Brand: CeliaB
Designer: Celia Bernardo
Backstory: Bernardo, who loves vibrant color and art, previously worked in Shanghai for seven years before starting her own online shop. She was wearing one of her dresses in Milan and someone from Moda Operandi saw it and she got her first order.
Based in Olviedo, Spain, her dresses are whimsical and always feature color. She works with artists in designing her prints and retail accounts include Neiman Marcus, Canary, Tootsies, and Shopbop.
Key styles: Ruffled cap-sleeve dress with lots of details; shoulder tie colorful printed dress; the wrap puff-sleeve dress.
Retail price: $300 to $500
Brand: St. Cloud
Designer: Design Team
Backstory: Emerging knitwear label St. Cloud was founded in 2018 in Melbourne, Australia, with the aim to “bring a mix of interesting, statement knit designs,” to customers’ wardrobes each season, the brand commented.
The brand’s close connections with global yarn mills enable them to use a wide range of yarn blends, resulting in fashions that play on texture, stitch, and color. “St. Cloud knitwear is all about the detail — each season you will find a small key signature detail in our collection.”
Key styles: Premium knits are key to the brand, as seem in the longline knit “Porsha” polos, the sleeveless “Maxine” dress with V-shaped stripes, space dye mock-neck knits, and midi polo knits. The brand also offers feminine wardrobing ranging from lightweight suiting to silky separates.
Retail price: $150 to $350.
MAGIC Highlights
Brand: Camper Footwear
Designer: Design team
Backstory: The Mallorca, Spain-based brand was founded in 1975. Today, there are more than 40 brick-and-mortar stores in approximately 400 countries, as well as e-commerce and wholesale businesses.
Key styles: The brand sells fashion sneakers and sandals, as well as boots and platform footwear for men, women, and children. There is also a small selection of accessories.