ICON STUDIOS: MORE THAN A SHOWROOM

There are numerous multi-brand showrooms in NYC, but few with a mission statement as powerful as Tom Ott’s for Icon Studios. “We’re creating an elevated multi-brand showcase for men’s and women’s apparel,” says Ott, who was for many years the highly respected menswear VP/GMM at Saks Fifth Ave. “Part showroom, part agent, part designer/merchandiser, our creative team does whatever it takes to offer the right goods at the right price to the right stores. We’re set up to serve both e-comm and brick-and-mortar, but what really sets us apart is our decades of wholesale and retail experience, our exclusive access to manufacturing and mills, our deep connections to key retail executives, and our understanding of customer needs.”

Among their menswear offerings for 2024, North Sails is a value-priced sportswear collection designed in Milan; key pieces include quintessential polos ($100 suggested retail), cool swimwear in both volleyball and boardshort lengths ($85), great tees ($50) and some well-styled outerwear pieces. The brand has intentionally limited distribution, selling in a few dozen specialty stores and Nordstrom.

Rudsak is a French Canadian outerwear brand that stands out from other Canadian labels for its distinctive fabrics, shape-enhancing aesthetic, and prices on the opening side of luxury.

Borsalino is world-renowned as maker of the world’s finest hats, crafted in Italy just outside Torino. With headwear the 2024 accessory of the season for both spring/summer and fall/winter, this is a must-see collection. Editor’s note: I love the classic felt fedoras, the summer straw collection (crafted in Italy, straw from Ecuador) and the bucket hats for young guys.

Not to be overlooked, Scotch&Soda has been reinvented with a focus on contemporary tailored clothing. It’s a cool, sophisticated collection of suits and separates at suggested retails from $595 to $895. Lots of flair and details including side vents, undercollar embroidery, and a unique ampersand logo on the lapel.

Sharing his insights on the overall state of business, Ott talks about our post-Covid retail world. “With Covid came a lot of cutting at the top executive level so a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge has been lost. Without training and development programs, too few department store buyers these days are merchants. The first thing they ask is how much, which is why the seasoned specialty merchants have been gaining ground. Few department store buyers grasp the difference between buying for in-store and buying for e-comm: the adjacencies, assortment planning, merchandising by category vs. by brand. We can assist both retailers and brands with this challenge: we’re set up to drop ship for e-comm and can advise on many aspects of the business.”

Ott believes that all stores should take the time to develop e-comm to broaden their reach geographically. For more info: tom@iconluxurygroup.com.

Photo, above: The talented team at Icon Studios; Meyer Edery, Herbie Missry, Joe Edery, Tom Ott, Attilio Bonasera and Jenna Fitzgerald.