New Products and Trends at Capsule
The Capsule trade show lured buyers to The Venetian’s fifth floor Feb. 15–16. The show, which started as a menswear show and continues to dedicate 60 percent of its exhibition space to men’s offerings, grew to approximately 200 brands, said Minya Quirk, Capsule’s co-founder. Attendance, too, was up from the August show in Las Vegas, Quirk said.
Featuring an eclectic mix of domestic and international brands from Japan and Scandinavia, Capsule exhibitors included Cast of Vices, Trovata, Penny Stock, BillyKirk, Warriors of Radness, Stuuml;ssy Deluxe, Sophomore, Rogan, Remi Relief, Johnny Love and Jack Spade.
Chris Dennler, the designer behind the Rxmance line of Los Angeles–based graphic T-shirts, debuted Rxmance Workwear, a new collection of Americana styles that include sweatshirts cut from patterns from the 1960s and long-sleeve pocket T-shirts. “We did very well,” Dennler reported. “It was the busiest I’ve been in a long time.”
Derek Buse of Riviera Club, a Santa Barbara, Calif.–based menswear label, reported a mellow, Fall-focused show, but he said that is one of the perks of Capsule. “It’s nice to have time to catch up with [retailers] in a less hectic environment,” he said. The brand, which, for the first time, added heavy outerwear to its Fall mix, reported its best-selling item proved to be sweaters. “Shawl collars, basic crews—they all did well.”
American Rag buyer James Hammonds noted that the prevailing menswear trend at Capsule and other Vegas shows was “mountain man”—plaids, workwear-inspired garments and rugged styles in slim silhouettes.—Erin Barajas
