By Sharon Feiereisen

Can’t afford to show in the tents? Designer & Agents is an independent and international showcase for over 1,000 collections and thousands of retailers. The trade show, which is pre-edited, art-directed, and merchandised, takes place in Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, and London, and occurs 12 times a year.

Designers & Agents was founded in 1997 in Los Angeles by Barbara Kramer and Ed Mandelbaum as a result of their mutual desire to create a niche trade show for young designers to show their works without getting lost in a massive show.

Designer & Agents as experienced incredibly fast growth since its inception -- their biannual show in Los Angeles grew from 12 exhibitors to over 400 exhibitors this past year when a lifestyle component was added to the show that includes soft furnishings, gifts, and book producers. 

Showcasing designers include alice + olivia, Diabless, Chaiken, charlotte ronson, Jill Stuart, and Nicole Fahri.