Why We Built FLAIR — And Why the Apparel Industry Needs It Now

FLAIR wasn’t built in a boardroom. It wasn’t an idea sketched out on a whiteboard or brainstormed by a distant planning committee. It came from conversations—real ones—with the people who actually keep this industry moving. For the past 18 months, we’ve been talking to retailers, brands, and independent reps—especially across the Midwest. Some of those conversations happened over the phone. Others happened in back offices, showrooms, small regional shows, or over coffee in airport terminals. The message was consistent: the current model wasn’t working.Retailers told us they wanted to see product in person, but the cost and time involved in traveling to the legacy shows didn’t always make sense. Reps told us they were crisscrossing the region attending dozens of small shows each season, each one more fragmented than the last. And brands—many of them looking to grow—were asking where the next great market opportunity would be.The common thread was clear: the Midwest needed a better way to do business. Not more shows—a better one.That’s why we built FLAIR.

A Smarter Hub for the Midwest

FLAIR is a curated fashion trade show taking place July 20–22, 2025, in Rosemont, Illinois. It’s one show floor, designed for business. No split halls, no distractions—just a space where brands and buyers can connect face-to-face and focus on what matters.We chose Rosemont because it makes sense. It’s minutes from O’Hare International Airport. It’s surrounded by hotels and restaurants. And it’s drivable for thousands of stores across the Midwest. We didn’t build FLAIR to be flashy. We built it to be functional.The categories are sharp and relevant: Trend, Young Contemporary, Modern Sportswear, Denim, Accessories, Outerwear, and more. But what really sets it apart is how it works. The timing makes sense. The layout is simple. And the entire show is shaped around the way people in this region actually buy and sell.

Listening First

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that this industry doesn’t need more noise. It needs platforms that listen.FLAIR is the result of listening—to the boutiques who said they needed something closer, to the reps who were exhausted by the grind of fragmented shows, to the brands who wanted to expand into a region with real growth potential.As a family-run business that started as manufacturers and became trade show producers nearly 15 years ago, we’ve always approached this industry from the ground up. We know what it’s like to work a market, to chase down orders, and to build relationships one season at a time. That’s shaped how we built FLAIR—through phone calls, not focus groups. Real conversations, not surveys. Because when your livelihood depends on getting it right, you stay close to the people who make this industry work.We didn’t build FLAIR to compete with the coasts or replicate the legacy shows. We built it to serve the center—to create something stable, smart, and strong for the region that’s home to nearly one in four apparel retailers in the country.

Just the Beginning

This isn’t just a trade show. It’s a reset. A re-centering of how fashion business can be done in the Midwest.It’s built to reconnect the people who still believe in walking a floor, shaking hands, and filling order books in person. And it’s just the beginning.If you’re a brand, a rep, or a retailer looking for something better—we hope you’ll be part of what we’re building.FLAIR takes place July 20–22, 2025, in Rosemont, IL.

Learn more at flairmarkets.com