NEW YORK — Ports 1961 put men’s wear in the spotlight during New York Fashion Week for women.
The Italian brand converted its men’s and women’s store in the Meatpacking District into the company’s first stand-alone men’s unit in the U.S., and planned to host a cocktail party Monday night to highlight the move and showcase the first men’s wear collection by new creative director Milan Vukmirovic.
In a walk-through of the 2,000-square-foot store Monday, the designer’s hip street-style aesthetic — a blend of traditional and modern elements — was on full view. “It’s difficult to find clothes for men,” he said. “Whenever you do larger sizes, the volume and cut get [distorted], so one of my first missions was to create a line [that reflects] how I dress.”
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That includes his take on the Ports 1961 signature white shirt, which he offers up in 10 styles, as well as a patriotic red, white and blue toggle coat, bomber jackets and two-tone pants. The store also showcased an assortment of small leather goods with Vukmirovic’s distinct camouflage pattern, which in this case is the shape of a playful star on everything from backpacks to iPhone cases.
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Vukmirovic, whose experience includes editor, photographer, buyer at Colette and designer for Jil Sander, is also a social media star. And the sweatshirts he created with the “Follow me #” were for sale at the store and can be customized with the wearer’s individual Instagram handle within five days.
“There’s so much potential in men’s wear today,” he said. “So we’re trying to find the right mix. Men used to be afraid of fashion when they saw an 18-year-old on the runway in things they’ll never be able to fit into. But the rise of street style has changed things a lot. They realize real men can look cool, have fun wearing fashion and not be boring.”
Instead, fashion today, he believes, is marked by a strong blend of “streetwear, sportswear and high fashion.”
Vukmirovic’s distinct take on fashion is reflected in the design of the store, which includes a couch with a marble-inspired print, midcentury modern furniture, marble accents and industrial metal fixtures. There’s a wall filled with vinyl records, one-of-a-kind skateboards crafted out of marble, and toys designed by Hong Kong figurine artist Michael Lau.
In May, Ports 1961 opened its first men’s-only store in Hong Kong. The store in Paris at Rue Saint Honoré is being converted into a women’s-only unit, the designer said, a move the company is making to allow each of its creative directors — Natasa Cagalj is the designer of its women’s line — their own environment.
Vukmirovic said the brand is looking for space in Paris for a separate men’s store, as well as for space in Milan.
The brand has four stores: Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Shanghai.