Indie Menswear Show Capsule Debuts in New York

New York–based public-relations agency Brand Pimps & Media Whores debuted an invitation-only menswear show called Capsule July 23–24 at a performing- arts space at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Center on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

According to BPMW principal Edina Sultanik Silver, emerging menswear brands exhibited at the show, and more than 700 people attended, including buyers from Villains in San Francisco and Fred Segal and Legion, both based in Los Angeles.

The 3-year-old BPMW agency felt that no trade show specifically catered to independent menswear brands and started making serious plans to produce the show in March. Silver and co-principals Deirdre Maloney and Minya Quirk also assembled an advisory board of more than 25 industry executives to counsel the show.

The trade show’s Web site listed industry advisors including Alison Ross, a men’s contemporary buyer from Saks Fifth Avenue, and Kevin Harter, Bloomingdale’s men’s fashion director.

Cynthia Bitton called the Capsule show a breath of fresh air. Bitton attended the show with her husband, Ilan Bitton, who owns the menswear store Legion.

“Capsule had the best brands and a hip, young, stylish crowd there. It felt alive compared to other shows,” Cynthia Bitton said.

Among the brands exhibiting at Capsule were Mike & Chris, Barking Irons, B. Son, Fremont, Josh Podoll, Apolis Activism, Baxter of California, Mosely Tribes, Paul Smith Eyewear, Cassette and Junk de Luxe.

There will be another Capsule show, Silver said. The next one will be scheduled in January, although no dates have been set and no venue has been secured. She said she intends for Capsule to be a biannual event, and her company is considering producing the show in other cities. For more information about Capsule, visit www.capsuleshow.com. —Andrew Asch