The 2018 Apparel & Accessories Market, held from October 24-27, 2018 at the Market Center, Texas, strongly indicated regional variations in consumer tastes with many brands adapting their offerings to local tastes. There was a lot of demand for waffle knits by Vining at the event. Its popcorn sweaters – the pullovers as well as the cardigans – were also popular. Women’s casualwear brand Fiore witnessed a lot of popularity for its fuzzy sweaters besides velvet tube tops, teddy coats and flared pants.

Be Stage, a Los Angeles-based label specialising in US-made fashions for the larger ladies, offers striped shirts with added details like pockets and sparkles. It shirts are available in big floral prints in plus as well as regular sizes. Regional differences in size and fit were also seen as factors to bear in mind, with Sam Um, a Sales manager with Entro, an LA-based wholesaler of contemporary women's clothing, noting that the biggest difference is in sizing. While Southern people really love flowy, comfortable styles, New York customers like more fitted, business-like stuff; things that are not as colorful, nor as bright.

While views on regional variations differed and many had conflicting opinions on coming trends, majority of exhibitors reported that sales were sluggish at best. Indeed, the event was seen by many as a particularly low watermark for the sector, a situation exacerbated by the fact that its scheduling makes it rather too late for autumn/winter styles and too early for spring/summer collections.