Fashion week may be over in New York but for local fashionistas like myself, it's only getting started. Pull out the credit cards because distributors are selling garments to your favorite retail stores straight from the runway.
Courtesy of the ENK shows, the Fashion Coterie was held February 21-23, 2010 at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan and I was one of the lucky people to attend the three-day event (courtesy of my internship at Ihlabela Inc.). Coterie, an annual trade show held at the Jarvits Center features the latest collections from labels such as BCBG, Alice + Olivia and Badgley Mischka. Unlike the runway shows at Bryant Park, you can actually touch the clothes and try on the garments; the only catch: it's not opened to the public. Since distributors showcase new collections to participating retailers; it's all about business and boy do they mean it.
Just about every label imaginable was at the Javits Center this week. I got to view the Fall collection of "Elizabeth and James," a high end label by the Olsen Twins and got a glimpse of "The City" star Whitney Port who was there to showcase her new collection for her clothing line "Whitney Eve." Ever since announcing via Twitter.com that she'd be attending the coterie, tons of attendees wanted to get a glimpse of the soon to be 25-year-old designer. Port even filmed segments of her MTV reality show "The City" during the event. Behind the cameras and sound crew she is actually a pretty down to earth chick.
I admire Port for her efforts in the fashion field. Despite landing a spot on "The Hills" when she was twenty and growing up in an affluent household, she's had her share of crappy jobs in the fashion field. She's worked for Teen Vogue, People's Revolution and Diane von Furstenberg. Girl's got a pretty impressive resume to only be mid way through her twenties. Her collection was impressive, well-constructive and very cohesive for a two-year-old label. Granted the powder pink floral tank and high-wasted tye-dye shorts on her display aren't my taste of clothing choices; the collection is wearable and I can see tons of teenage girls begging their moms to buy it for them.
It was nice for a change to see the business side of a world that many mistaken to be shallow and narrow-minded. Coterie is for the distributors and less about the fashionistas. No fashion experience is necessary to trail into the trade show and the dress code isn't a big factor either. As I panicked to find the perfect outfit after finding out I'd be attending, I was in utter shock when I saw some of the people behind the biggest names in fashion dressing as I would dress on my way to the grocery store. I guess here it’s about what you like instead of what do you think others will like.Despite everyone’s choices of clothing, the most beneficial part of the three days at coterie is the incredible selection of clothes you’re able to get at wholesale price. Since it is an event for distributors to sell their products to buyers for store, attendees can reap the benefits of getting a piece of the fall collections for nearly 50% of the retail value. You bet others alongside I, took advantage of this offer. My roommates were green with envy when I arrived home with a
"Members Only" leather jacket and a fringed "Alice + Olivia" skirt for under $200 bucks. Their eyes widened when I told them they have to wait until August to get theirs. It was great to buy something in season for about the same price I would have payed on sale out of season.
There's not too many chances were your given a pass to one of the most exclusive trade shows in New York City and so if ever given the opportunity just go without question; even if you're not the fashion type. We all like clothes. We all need them and we all wouldn’t mind paying less money for them either.
No comments:
Post a Comment