California Apparel News

LAS VEGAS—Traffic at the inaugural MRket menswearshow, which ran Feb. 10–13 at The Venetian hotel, opened with strong traffic and held fairly steady through the show, which caters to sellers of better men’s apparel and accessories.

Because most of the exhibitors deal in European merchandise, exhibitors were realizing the repercussions of the weakened U.S. dollar against the euro. That meant higher prices. Vendors are also dealing with a struggling U.S. economy.

This end of the market is usually somewhat immune to such factors, but the effects are being felt in some sectors, according to vendors. Francesco Montagner of New York– based Cantoni USA Inc. said prices for his Italian goods are up about 10 percent.

“It’s still been good for us. They are just buying less quantities,” he said. Most of the interest for Cantoni was for Reporter jackets, coats and, to a lesser degree, suits, Montagner said.

Many European brands are making up for the decreased U.S. business by selling into emerging markets such as Russia, China and Dubai, he added.

Allan Goldberg, a rep for leading shirtmaker RobertGraham, said the weaknesses in the U.S. market are regionally based.

“The resort areas like the Southeast are still strong, while the Midwest’s buyers are more price-conscious,” he said.

The company is known for its array of colorful casual and dress shirts. “We’re still doing fine because the buyers are putting their money into where they’re making money, and that’s with vendors like us,” Goldberg said. “We’ve been receiving a strong reorder business.”

Buyers also appear to be looking for alternatives to pricehiked European brands, said J.C. Cerrillo of Chula Vista, Calif.–based Continental Leather, known for its handmade leather jackets, belts and shirts.

“They’re looking for items, and that helps us,” he said, noting that the company’s antique-finish jackets with artisan detailing have been a draw. “The buyers are cautious, but at the same time, they’re motivated to bring something new to the sales floor and get a little adventurous.”

Buyer Kevin Scott of Baltimore-based Benedetto’s said finding those items is not easy.

“Business is up and down right now, so you have to get those strong items on your floor, but searching for them is making it extra tough,” he said, adding that his buyers searched every show venue selling menswear in Las Vegas.

Luis Pedrosa of Victorville, Calif.–based Takumi thinks his company can be one of the answers for retailers right now as it sells Japanese-made dress shirts woven on an antique shuttle loom.

“We made them using European bespoke tailoring. The canvas collars are rolled by hand. The cotton is woven in Japan,” he explained. The shirts, retail priced at $100 to $134, are featured in stripes and dots and come in American fits.

While some said the show, which is now operated by the publishers of MR magazine, is returning to its dressier luxury roots, reps from more-casual lines such as Los Angeles–based XCVIMENS said they were getting lots of interest at the show.

“The caliber of stores here is exactly why we want to be here,” said XCVI MENS rep Jodie Vanderhoof, who noted that even high-end stores were picking up the company’s micro-Modal T-shirts for $31. Vanderhoof said the company’s business is up 30 percent.

Show director Lizette Chin considered the inaugural event successful, noting that more than 2,000 buyers filed into the show on the first day. About 160 vendors exhibited, and she expects that number to go up to 250 at the August show.

“We want this to be the best show possible,” she said. —Robert McAllister