NEW YORK — The Train is picking up steam.
Begun last September, The Train was back at the Terminal Stores in West Chelsea with 70 apparel, footwear and accessories vendors, an increase of 10 from the previous event. The show ran Saturday through Tuesday and attracted 2,377 visitors.
Secrets of Charm, a collection of jersey knit tops, skirts and dresses, exhibited at The Train for the first time. Estee and Sharon Elkayam launched the collection in January 2004. The sisters are no strangers to the fashion business: Estee spent several years in wholesale and marketing for several luxury brands such as Calvin Klein and Barbara Bui. Sharon worked at Ralph Lauren as a designer in both women’s and men’s denim and wovens for Blue Label, RRL and Rugby.
Estee thought the quality of retailers visiting the show was of a high caliber. “I’ve found that, when it comes to retailers in attendance, it’s more about quality, not quantity,” said Estee Elkayam. “Here, you don’t have to do any business that you don’t want to do. I’m not sure that’s the case at the other shows.”
The collection, which wholesales from $95 to $120, is named after an etiquette book from the Fifties. Key pieces for fall-winter include an Art Deco-inspired print top, gold jersey knit dress and a red jersey knit top with a silk charmeuse tie in the back.
Barry Hedvat, owner and buyer for the specialty boutique Variazioni, said the number of European brands was what brought him to the show.
“I was really impressed by the show,” Hedvat said. “I like to work with European companies, so I’m always looking out for them.”
Hedvat, who owns six Variazioni boutiques throughout New York, recently opened a shop at 2395 Broadway at 88th Street here. For this specific location, he’s seeking strictly European vendors. At The Train, he signed two French accounts: Papagena, an accessories company, and Eunhwa, a women’s apparel line.
“They’re both beautiful lines and their pieces are very young and trendy,” he said.
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Mischa Woeste, designer and owner of the Smeilinener’s collection based in Berlin, said that, while there was a lot of interest expressed in her line, not many orders were placed.
“When I walk around New York in my clothes, I get a great response,” she said. “But I think retailers want to know that you’re reliable and feel like you can produce before they place orders here.”
Woeste’s collection incorporates fabrics from Spain, Austria, Japan and Italy, among other countries. The wholesale price range is between $200 and $500.
Louise Reichmann, buyer for Harvey Nichols in London, said she believes The Train had a great environment and interesting mix of merchandise.
“I didn’t pick up anything for this season, but I applaud it,” Reichmann said. “It’s nothing like the other shows, which can get competitive. I think it’s great to have an additional place for these vendors to show.”