For the past two weeks New York City has been focused on menswear. Men’s Fashion Week ran last week and after a mere two-day break, the summer 2017 editions of the menswear trade shows were held and concluded when MAN ended its three-day run yesterday afternoon. This is our rundown of all the major events that occurred in Manhattan during Men’s Market.
Project/MRket
UBM’s sibling menswear trade shows Project and MRket were once again held side by side in the Javits Center and ran from Sunday to Tuesday. Many exhibitors said that Sunday, an especially warm and sunny weekend day, was “painfully slow” but were pleased when traffic picked up on the remaining two days.
The shows again featured special sections such as Vanguards Gallery (new and emerging brands) at MRket and The Tents at Project, an area dedicated to luxury and designer labels. A relaunched one, Blue @ Project, a section at the front of the show dedicated to premium denim and featuring 15 labels including 7 for All Mankind, DL 1961, Mavi, Joe’s Jeans, Hudson and others. Several of them, including 7 for All Mankind and Hudson, were still showing fall and holiday merchandise and said they would debut spring 2018 next month in Las Vegas.
Fashionwise there weren’t any significant new trends on display for the most part. Key looks continued to be colored denim and chinos (Gilded Age, Fidelity, Raleigh, Flag & Anthem), retro-looking faded and lightweight denim (Baldwin, Joe’s Jeans, Fidelity) and destroyed or repurposed jeans (Paris X Project, Robin’s Jean, Gilded Age).
Here are some of our favorite finds there:
Best summer jeans: Joes’s Jeans and Fidelity
Faded, soft and comfortable, the lightweight models offered by these two brands are perfect for a relaxed look on a summer day.
Best ocean-themed collection: Loft 604/Cesarani
Sea creatures from an orca and stingray to a jellyfish and a puffer fish boldly adorn the sweaters and shirts from this Canadian brand for spring.
Best super affordable line: Flag & Anthem
This recently born full collection offers five-pockets in three fits that retail for $69 each.
Best European exports: Serge Blanco, Paris X Project and Knowledge Cotton Apparel
France’s Serge Blanco showed a gorgeous collection of quality sportswear separates while Gallic brand Paris X Project created buzz with its destroyed jeans and streetwear-inspired outwear. Returning to the show, Denmark’s Knowledge Cotton Apparel again proved that eco-friendly clothing can also look cool.
Quirkiest prints: Oxford Lads
This New York based shirt line wowed once again with its highly original prints that included flamingos, cats and surreal animals meet sci-fi combinations.
Also interesting:
For more information on trade shows check out DFV Group’s expocheck.com.
