VEGAS MRKET SS16: DIRECTOR’S CUT
In all my seasons of Vegas MRket, the creative concepts of this one out-did all seasons past. Repeating Michael Macko’s Art vision that we saw in New York, the Artist-inspired installations, all perfectly attired in Macko’s Picks from the brands in Vanguards Gallery, seemed somehow super-sized in the Sands Convention Center.
At the back of the space, an innovative activation called The Lawn offered a whimsical slice of summer, with lawn games including giant chess, Jenga, and cornhole. Coast Life featured a curation of brands that embody an effortless, adventurous summer, like Southern Proper, Johnnie O, and Avanti, complete with beach cabanas. But (and I’m sure taco fanatics like me will agree) the jewel in the MRket show crown (besides the world-class apparel and accessories, of course) was the Food Truck Festival, set in the show’s center with four trucks: Philly sandwiches, Asian satay, Italian pasta, and…Tacos – something for everyone, an attitude that echoed across the show floor with its vast variety of brands.
Stetson
Celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, there may be none with such strong brand recognition as Stetson. To honor the milestone, Stetson revived some of its most popular styles since the brand’s inception.
John Peter
Made in Italy but with British sensibilities, the John Peter collection was broad, expertly merchandised into four color stories, and the tailoring looked like it’d be right at home in the forests of Balmoral.
Johnston Murphy
Founded in New Jersey in 1890, Johnston and Murphy are celebrating their 125th Anniversary this year, and displayed some of the most finely crafted footwear in Vegas this season.
PVH
Leading the men’s shirt game by miles, PVH displayed some of their latest advances in shirting, with new innovations to make shirts perform as well as the most high-performance active wear.
Loft604 / Cesarani
The knits in both of the collections were so strong. The color details were bright, but softened by the base neutrals.
Ted Baker
Ted Baker continues to shine with suiting for that guy who’s all about the details: contrast stitch and felt collars, patterned linings, and the leather goods are outstanding.
Ibiza
Ibiza has really stepped up to the soft coat plate, and while they continue to excel in traditional suiting, their bold steps forward in both fit and fabric position them comfortably alongside other more hyped up labels.
Cake For Monarchs
Based in LA, Cake for Monarchs was founded by Sergio Munoz-Azuela to address what he perceived as an over-abundance of black in the market. Offering colorful basics, and shirting with light-hearted motifs, the brand is new to market and looking good.
Lanier Clothing
While Lanier produces the tailored clothing for a stable of brands including Dockers, Geoffrey Beane, and Kenneth Cole, their most impressive collection is for Ben Sherman, recently acquired by Marquee Brands. What the future holds for the license is to be seen, but for me, Lanier produces product that captures the values of the Ben Sherman brand perfectly.
