Bigger Project, More Retailers
Exhibitors and buyers reported a strong Project show during its Aug. 17–19 run at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Project continued to attract a high caliber of buyer, exhibitors reported. Spotted on the show floor were buyers from American Rag, Ron Herman, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and more.
Joel Knoernschild, co-founder and creative director of the Los Angeles–based Creative Growth for Everybody collection, brought his brand to Project for the first time and reported a successful show. “It was a busy show. Most of our accounts see us at our showroom, The News, but Project is a great opportunity to showcase the brand in a way that allows us to tell the story,” he said. The collection, which features T-shirts and other fashion basics, is a collaboration with Creative Growth, the oldest and largest disabled-artist organization in the world, based in Oakland, Calif.
Laurel Berman, designer and founder of the Los Angeles–based Black Halo contemporary brand, also reported a strong show. “In general, it was a little slow, but all the shows aren’t what they used to be. If you have a good line, then people are still buying,” she said. “Right now it is important not to miss an opportunity to meet with buyers and make a sale. Every dollar counts.”
Taking risks on trends is also a thing of the past, Berman said. Buyers came to Project wanting to buy more of what is currently selling, she said. To accommodate that, Berman brought Immediates through 12/15 deliveries. Immediates accounted for one-third of all sales at Project.
Show organizers looked for ways to add interest to the show floor, including Project 10, a new stage to “support emerging brands that we feel are influencing the advanced contemporary market through creativity, passion, and, first and foremost, individualism,” Toumanova said. Going forward, each season show organizers will select 10 brands and one cause and will “showcase them in a democratic environment, devoid of walls, of barriers, to not only foster connectivity but collaboration, social awareness, and, most importantly, a sense that we are all in this together.” This year’s Project 10 brands were Nortwick, Idol Radec, Farm Tactics, Brooklyn Circus, Klaxon Howl, Taylor Stitch, Matt Singer, Taylor Supply, Men vs. Machine and Ken Diamond.—Erin Barajas
