Despite the unusual cold, fashion buyers, designers, and writers made the trip to check out MAN/WOMAN’s men’s fashion trade show this weekend.
For the last five years, MAN/WOMAN has been putting on expertly curated men’s and women’s fashion trade shows in both New York and Paris. This weekend’s event event took place in a two-story building at the edge of the trendy Marais neighborhood, between the third and eleventh arrondissements. Viewers floated in and out leisurely while upbeat music filled the bright, open showroom.
Judging by commonalities in each collection, we’ll be seeing a lot of textured clothing in stores this fall. Thick corduroy and chunky knits permeated most of the collections, in muted neutrals and even some pastels. Streetwear doesn’t seem to be going anywhere either, with several brands emulating the edgy-minimalist style popularized in past seasons by labels like Vetements and VFiles.
It wasn’t all neutrals, though. Playful pops of color and texture speckled most collections. At Stockholm label HOPE, neutral basics were interspersed with bright neons, fun prints, and even the occasional metallic anorak. Swedish footwear brand ATP put a twist on its minimalist sandals by incorporating geometric cutouts and faux python print.
In addition to new collections, some established brands had brought new ventures to the show. Stutterheim, a Swedish label known for its classic raincoats available in every shade of the pastel rainbow, has recently expanded into small-scale artisan knitwear. The new project, called John Sterner, sources wool from the Swedish island of Öland, and features hand knit sweaters and wool socks. The new endeavor exemplifies founder Alexander Stutterheim’s penchant for creating high-quality and artisanal sartorial basics.
This wasn’t the only international vision manifested at the MAN show. Litoral, a Portuguese label, takes inspiration from its coastal roots to produce a collection equally suited for going out to lunch and captaining a ship. At Aymara, Sven Van Gucht and Yannina Esquivias brought Belgian design to a Peruvian knitting factory, the result of which is a is a baby-soft line of unique knitwear. The diverse nature of these brands seems to exemplify the ethos of the entire show. MAN/WOMAN has worked to curate a selection of international brands not just for their aesthetic appeal, but also for the richness of their vision and unique approach they take to design and craftsmanship.
On Wednesday night, Man New York celebrated its AW17 collection at The Blond downtown. Held from 10pm to late, The Blond was packed throughout the night with good vibes and a celebratory atmosphere. MAN and WOMAN shows are dedicated to building a well-edited community of brands from around the globe, each with their own unique identity and determined purpose; all together offering an unparalleled industry perspective. The upscale bar was filled with a diverse crowd of fashion enthusiasts, each group with their individual style and aesthetic. The scene was filled with music from previous decades by special guest DJs.
Tristen Yang contributed reporting.
