NY Market Week: prints and patterns
A few clear trends for spring ’14 emerged at the shows during New York market week. First on my list: the infusion of prints and patterns into all categories. When buying this trend, be sure to pick styles that merchandise nicely together (prints on prints will be important for the fashion-forward customer), and mix in some solid washed-out colors or muted tones to add balance to your assortment. Below are a few of my favorite printed looks from MRket, Capsule, Liberty and Project.
Well Bred: This Minnesota-based footwear company manufactures everything in the U.S. The Aztec Oxford (pictured on the right) is a limited-edition style made from Pendleton wool fabric ($445 retail). Well Bred is sold at stores like United Arrows in Japan and Martinpatrick3 in Minneapolis.
Barque: Barque designer Gilbert Chen is injecting more color into this season’s collection. Pictured is a short-sleeved printed woven for $125 retail.
Hadleigh’s: Husband and wife team Ed and Gable Shaikh launched Hadleigh’s in 2009. The footwear collection retails from $695 to $895 at stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Scoop.
Michael’s: This is a new brand of made in the U.S. swimwear and linen shirts. Swim trunks are made of Italian fabrics and retail for $98. Most styles are available in 14 to 16 different colorways.
Post Imperial: In its second season, Post Imperial is a collection of pocket squares and ties made from fabric hand-dyed in Nigeria. Ties and are available in two edge styles: hand-rolled ($140 retail) or frayed ($155 retail).
Manebi: A unisex shoe collection; espadrille styles retail from $70 to $150.
Stolen Girlfriends Club: This New Zealand-based contemporary brand is now represented by Idiel Showroom. The concept for spring 2014 is “Pineapples and Checks.” Woven shirts (like the one above) retail from $80 to $100, jackets are around $400 retail.
Herschel Supply Co.: This brand is growing quickly and expanding their assortment even more for spring. “Bad Hills Workshop” is their latest higher-priced offering ($200 to $300), targeting better stores; the luggage offering will also be expanded for spring (four-wheel rollers retail for $189).
Komono is a Belgium-based brand of unisex eyewear and watches. This season’s watch collection features a print series from $60 to $100 retail. And while the brand is newer to U.S., it’s already sold at retailers like Need Supply Co., Aloha Sunday and Nordstrom.
Richer Poorer: Colored socks are where it’s at for spring ’14 and Richer Poorer has a ton of options from $12 to $24 retail.
Fresh Paint: A new shorts brand under the Perry Ellis International umbrella. Styles are double garment dyed and available in two lengths (6 and 9 inches) for $68 and $78 retail.