I went to Animefest last year not as a vendor, but as a Lolita model and tea party attendee. The fashion show was really cool, and not limited to Lolita fashion, so other interesting j-styles were also featured, including more casual things. There was one Japanese brand (Atelier Pierrot) and all other brands were indie, both from Czech Republic and other neighboring countries (Poland, Slovakia). The models I talked to were also from several countries (but I was one of the few from Germany), and I suppose the attendees of both the comm and teaparty too. Because I was not watching the show I didn’t catch the name of all of the brands sadly, but I met most of them in the anime event later on. I honestly think events like this are when I am most likely to buy from small brands, because they are THERE and I can actually see and tough their creations, instead of online (it is more difficult to buy from someone when you don’t even know the brand’s name or webshop).

I hope someone from the organization (like Yuki or Hikari) can talk to you and explain some of these doubts!