California Apparel News

The Feb. 16–18 run of Capsule at The Venetian in Las Vegas got off to a good start with exhibitors reporting a strong turnout from domestic and international retailers shopping the men’s and women’s contemporary apparel and accessories collections at the show.

Tina Ye, national agent with the True Collaborative Fashion showroom, which has locations in Portland, Ore., and the Cooper Design Space, said she met with buyers from Japan and Korea at the show.

“It’s been very busy,” she said. “We’re happy.”

True Collaborative Fashion was showing several West Coast lines, including Portland-based Nau, Bridge & Burn and Prairie Underground and San Francisco–based Curator. The company also showed accessories by the Little River Sock Mill in Fort Wayne, Ala.

Many of the showroom’s clients had a strong holiday, Ye said, adding that many buyers were open to try new lines.

“I feel like people are taking risks,” she said.

Daniel Torjman, designer and creative director of Toronto-based menswear 18 Waits, said he was getting a “great response” from buyers at the Las Vegas show. (The company also shows at Capsule in New York and Paris.)

“Every show, we always see existing customers, and we always find new,” said David Morton, 18 Waits’ marketing director. “It gets better and better.”

Torjman and Morton said some retailers are still playing it safe while others are open to taking some risks with their buying.

“It depends on the store,” Torjman said, adding, “But the collection is very wearable.”

Buyers were responding well to the company’s suiting pieces as well as its new line of handmade hats.