Page 72 - AVN November 2017

FEATURE
FEATURE | By Sherri L. Shaulis
BACK FOR SECONDS
Altitude Intimates Show returns to Vegas
THE FALL EDITION OF THE ALTITUDE INTIMATES SHOW kicked off
its two-day run September 25 at its new host hotel, Paris
Hotel and Casino.
products companies housed in the same room.
at a trade show, with Gregg Homme, Andrew Christian
and Male Power among the exhibitors. Even Xgen Products
announced a new collection of D.C. super hero-themed
briefs and boxer briefs, featuring the logos and color
schemes of Batman, Superman and The Flash.
creative director, and Sales Director Mimi Aguilar explained
T
The new location saw lingerie exhibitors and pleasure
Men’s fashions received a bit more attention than usual
In the Gregg Homme booth, Eric Boisvert, owner and
that the men’s sector of lingerie is a growing market, and
that niche fetish items are helping drive that growth.
“The trend right now is to be fetishy, and people are
exploring and expressing that through the fetish fashion
industry,” Boisvert said.
Aguilar noted that many designers, even in the men’s
fashion sector, have always had edgier designs, but
previously they catered more to the gay man.
“Now, all types of men are willing to try new things,” she
72 | AVN.com | 11.17
THE TREND RIGHT NOW IS TO BE FETISHY, AND
PEOPLE ARE EXPLORING AND EXPRESSING THAT
THROUGH THE FETISH FASHION INDUSTRY
— ERIC BOISVERT, GREGG HOMME
said. “Nobody’s afraid to try new things now, and it’s helping the market.”
Andrew Christian is a men’s underwear brand that primarily caters to gay men, but company reps
Christopher Yoo and Chris Sapienza said straight men are becoming more aware of the brand and what it
has to offer.
This season, Yoo said, mesh pieces and prints are doing well for the company, as are edgier pieces
including singlets and harnesses.
Yoo noted that social media and the internet are making items more accessible to mainstream
consumers, who no longer must enter an adult store to try lingerie for men, making them a little more
apt to try something new. He and Sapienza also said men are starting to care more about what they are
wearing underneath their clothes, too, helping drive market growth.
“Within the gay market, men have always cared about how their underwear looks and feels and how it
appeals,” Yoo said.
“Men are starting to create their outfit from the inside out, focusing on the underwear first,” Sapienza
said.