The strains of the economy mixed with an entrepreneurial spirit and the durability of eco-fashions at a trio of trade shows at the Terminal Warehouse on Manhattan’s West Side. Vendors said traffic at the shows, which took place Sept. 20 to 22, ran hot and cold. But there were hints that business was on a bit of an upswing. International brands were well represented at The Train, which included The Box showcase for accessories, and Rendez-Vous. The eco-centric Now Showcase featured local companies.
Muriel Piaser, exhibitions director at The Train, said vendors at the show tended toward one of two broad stylistic camps. Some were playing off of “very romantic” vintage motifs with flowing layers updated with modern fabrics. The rest trended toward a more forward leaning “science fiction” look that, for instance, used laser-cutting techniques to create a very structured look. Chicago-based Denise Robinson, designer and owner of Neesh by D.A.R., was at Train waving the updated-vintage standard with layered looks made of stretch fabrics. Robinson said she used to produce in China, but moved production to factories in Chicago and Los Angeles. The move gave her a better handle on production and made more sense for the size of her orders.
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Business had been tough for the last couple of years, but Robinson said retailers were starting to feel better and were reordering looks for fall.
At Now Showcase, Kizzy Knight, owner of Jai, which is produced in New York, was selling her “playfully regal” and earth-friendly looks for wholesale prices ranging from $30 to $230. She saw an opening in the downturn and launched her line last year.
“When things are falling apart, there’s so much room for fresh things in the market,” Knight said.
Bonnie Chapin, owner of the Abagail Rose boutique in Piermont, N.Y., was looking to go green, preferably with dresses featuring small floral prints. But the move toward environmentally friendly fashion was not necessarily an effort to improve sales or margins at the business she’s run for 24 years.
“I’m trying to be a little more responsible,” she said.
Chapin acknowledged that business had been “a struggle” lately, but that it picked up modestly in early September.