NEW YORK MARKET WEEK: ACCESSORIES MAKE THE MAN
From backpacks to bracelets, kitschy gifts to fashionable coolers: men’s accessories were everywhere during New York market week. As A.K. Rikks told MR fashion director William Buckley in our upcoming August issue, “Accessories are interesting because they’re now regarded as an essential part of an outfit—a bracelet that matches the look, a pocket square instead of a tie, a seasonal bag—we have to offer complete outfits with accessories and not any accessory will do.” Look out for that story in MR’s August issue, but until then, here are some of my favorite accessories brands from the trade shows.
Hats
Satya Twena: My favorite collection this season was Satya Twena, a beautiful and unique headwear line, made in New York out of the Makins Hat factory. Retails range from $180 to $600.
Grooming
Walton Wood Farm (Men Don’t Stink): Created by Peter and Leslie Scott, Men Don’t Stink is a brand that was founded on their Canadian farm as a way to “supplement cash crops by creating products that fit outside the agricultural envelope.” Outside of that agricultural envelope includes alcohol-free colognes (made from avocado, hemp seed and shea butter), beard balms and bath salts.
Redbeard Brand: Redbeard brand was founded two years after Zeb and his wife Lauren were experimenting with making natural soap. They could never get a good lather from most all-natural ingredients until they tried adding Zeb’s homebrewed beer (which makes a surprisingly nice lather). Redbeard brand is available in 40 retail accounts (mostly barber, mercantile and growler shops), but they’re trying to break into menswear stores. The brand offers other grooming products such as beard oil and a body wash is in the works.
Bags and Small Leather Goods
Uri Minkoff: Rebranded as Uri Minkoff (formerly Ben Minkoff) for fall 2015 after the brother and CEO of famed women’s designer, Rebecca Minkoff. The collection is priced in the same vein as the women’s line (backpacks below are $295 retail) and sells at stores such as East Dane, Saks and Nordstrom.
La Joie: This leather accessories brand is only a year old and based out of Montreal. Some collection highlights include leather wallets ($40 to $100 retail) and passport covers ($45 to $67 retail).
Gifts
Sovaro: Launched July 1, 2015, Sovaro makes cork insulated coolers. Insulation is made from the bark of an oak tree (a natural insulator from forest fires), allowing for longer ice retention. It also blocks the sun. It’s a fully functional fashion accessory with a luxurious aesthetic created by two former Home Depot buyers for “boats, beaches and backyards.” Retails range from $429/$549/$749 depending on size but all have a tall interior height to hold liquor, wine and Prosecco bottles.
Owen & Fred: This gifts and accessories brand launched three years ago as a direct-to-consumer business, but opened up wholesale about a year ago. Now they sell to stores like Nordstrom and have even collaborated with Target. Highlights include a quirky items like a “Hey Handsome” dopp kit and “You earned it” bottle openers. Everything in the collection is made in the U.S.
Vifa: These portable Danish speaker systems are designed with style in mind. Wireless speakers come in great colors and become beautiful home goods that will add a nice touch (and sound) to your store’s visual merchandising. Retails range from $49, $99 up to $1,699 depending on size.
Jewelry and Watches
Degs & Sal: Launched three years ago, Degs & Sal now sells to Hudson’s Bay, Odin and Atrium. Retails range, but made-in-America bracelets in gold are about $155 and sterling silver about $110.
Ace: Ace is a jewelry collection handmade in Japan from sterling silver, gold and rose gold.
Sunglasses
Sunday Somewhere: Sunday Somewhere is an Australian brand that offers an 150-piece collection of sunglasses and opticals from $250 to $290 retail. The brand is sold at stores like Dryden Kreps, Odin and Bodega.
Inari: Inari was launched in 2013 by Inari Tuchiya. The collection is made in Japan and retails for about $250. What makes it special is the glasses’ scratch-proof lenses.
Pocket Squares
Pocket Square Clothing: Pocket Square Clothing is a collection of neckwear ($56 retail), pocket squares ($26 retail), and lapel pins. The fabrics they use for their neckwear and pocket squares are made from vibrant prints and sell to about 90 retailers including Ron Herman and Wildfang.
