It’s trade show season and within the next 4 weeks, the Label Networks team will be covering the Snow Sports Industry of America Trade Show (SIA), Bread & Butter in Barcelona, Action Sports Retailer Trade Show (ASR), MAGIC International Fashion Trade Show, Agenda, Project, Pool, Outdoor Retailer (OR), Bread & Butter Kraftwerk-Berlin, the Sundance Film Festival, and  New York Fashion Week!

Each season, we try and cover a mix of reviews, from overall show pieces, to in-depth interviews, reviews, and new this year, we’re adding more video. However there are a couple of things that stand-out about upcoming trade show season (other than of course, The Label Lab Exhibition of Global Streetwear Trends in the South Hall at MAGIC) that should be pointed out and that’s the addition of The Yard at SIA and the efforts ASR is putting in towards making their show green, including highlighting brands who showcase green apparel.

The Yard at SIA January 22-25 (like the GoldBox Mission at ASR), is intended to be a space for new up-and-coming brands within the SIA show that represent the lifestyle of snowboarding and action sports, which usually means it’s a must-see area to review. The Yard will be a two-story area, including a VIP lounge with massage areas, sponsored by The Block Hotel (themed-room hotel in Tahoe owned by snowboarders), Frank 151 Magazine which will probably provide an urban vibe of sorts, video gaming lounge, daily DJ sessions, artwork to be auctioned off to benefit Boarding for Breast Cancer, plus of course, new brands. While most people probably don’t recognize the names of these brands now, it’s worth noting because one day most likely, you will have heard of them, including 661, Aegix Performance Apparel, Anakie, Dropzone, Fabel, Forecast Snowboards, Freestyle Audio, Ghettoslider Inc, Guru, Heelside, Kave Industries, Learn To Freeride, Lernair, Lifepod, Liquid Mountain, Mathmatics Snowboards, Monument Snowboards, Omatic Snowboards, RAFAGALT, Shoeboard, Smokin' Snowboard, Snowboard Revolution, Southshore Soldiers, Techrider AS, Throe Clothing, Topper Crown Industrial, Tyrant Snowboards, VCAN Sports, and Venture Snowboards. To us, The Yard actually sounds reminiscent to how the snowboard-side of SIA used to be in early ‘90’s. Let’s see if they can re-capture the magic.

The following weekend January 25-27 in San Diego, ASR has dedicated efforts to making the show as green as possible adding steps towards making it a fully wind energy powered event. This may be a first for sporting and apparel trade shows, and it definitely provides a benchmark for others to follow, i.e., ISPO in Munich, Surf Expo in Florida, and SIA in Vegas. Plans for ASR going green include fully wind energy power, expanded recycling efforts sponsored by OP, the ASR Line Up printed on recycled paper, recycled paper badges printed with soy ink, recycled show bags, and recycled aisle carpet.

“ASR’s program was created 3-years ago out of the need to increase sustainability within our event and the action sports industry as a whole. With a commitment from some ASR exhibitors and vendors to join the effort, Green Steps is a growing success,” says Andy Tompkins, ASR Show Director. “We’re proud to continue putting on a 100% wind powered event. Wind is a clean power alternative that helps protect the oceans, mountains and forests, vital parts of our customer’s lifestyle.”
 
ASR has partnered with 3 Phases Energy, a company that provides renewable energy services for businesses, utilities, governments and institutions. Within the recycled walls at ASR, brands are working hard to create products that are more earth friendly, while staying trend savvy. Action sports’ most established names including Quiksilver, Volcom, Etnies, Roxy, IPath, Planet Earth and Element among others will be expanding organic and sustainable product lines for fall 2007. Many who had introduced limited sustainable lines focused mostly on organic cotton tees for spring 2007, will introduce wider selections of denim, knits, wovens, footwear and accessories at the January event. From these lines, most brands are donating 1-3% back to environmental causes.

In addition, Satori Movement and Hippy Tree, which can be found it ASR’s Goldbox Mission, presented by Boost Mobile, are two new ASR brands that have an eco-friendly twist. The men’s line Satori Movement features mostly hemp fabrics, while the women’s Satori Divine is comprised of all bamboo and organic-cotton materials. Finally, keep an eye out for products from Reef, Billabong, Nixon, Electric and DaKine benefiting the Surfrider Foundation through the newly launched project BLUE. Surfrider will receive $2 from the sale of every BLUE product.