What we saw at the menswear tradeshows in NYC
Field Notes of our favorite brands and products at the Welcome Edition show.
A few hours after attending and seeing the Welcome Editions show, I found myself at the Man/Woman show. The biggest difference was that by this point, I was an expert on what to ask, I was severely dehydrated, and I was regretting not wearing more comfortable shoes.
You’d think that after having just seen dozens of brands I’d be ready to call it in, but there were some brands at this show that I had been waiting all day to see and boyyyyy was the wait worth it. Lots of incoming heat from some of my favorite brands.
Lets jump in.
Norse Projects
I’d be lying if I said I wasn't (mostly) looking forward to what’s dropping from Norse, and after having spent some time looking through and trying things on, it solidified everything I like about the brand.
The Paraboot collabs always go hard, but this upcoming one with the softest deerskin is to die for, and I for one will be waiting anxiously for the drop. Their outerwear was super, super strong and there’s one tan trench-esque coat that I’ve thought about nearly every day since.
In terms of brands that can offer a full closet look covering every article of clothing, Norse might be one of the best at making cohesive collections that work together with themselves and with whatever you already own in your closet.
I also want to shout out that their selection is big-boy friendly; being 6’3” and well past 200 pounds, some brands really struggle to size things properly.
I was really pleased to see that everything they put out comes with sizes that fit dudes that might be a bit taller or wider. Good looks.
Craighill
We’re clearly clothing-focused, but it’s been fun to tap into additional ‘things’ we enjoy as well; mugs, candles, scents, books, etc. — Craighill fits into this world perfectly.
I am a proud owner of their first version of the card holder but was really stoked to see the second version out, and with some great tweaks to make it function better. Their wine opener looks confusing at first glance but is actually super easy to use, and their lighter is dangerously fun to play with.
The rest of their selection includes money clips, scissors, rulers, and more. These are things you’d really enjoy owning but also things you could gift to anyone and have them really appreciate it.
Paraboot
I have a real allegiance to Paraboot. I appreciate that they always keep a line of consistent silhouettes and colorways while also experimenting with new, often really funky materials. This time around, I was shown a few newer models, like the brown moc toe shoe with the chunky sole, along with some new updates to fan favorites, like the green nubuck Clusaz shown here.
I’d keep an eye out for their different versions of moccasins & boat shoes. Some funky pony hair pairs, along with super lightweight, flexible soles that would be great for a day out at the beach, the bar, or whatever.
The most shocking thing I saw though was…
Is the double monk strap coming back with a thick rubber sole??? Brought me back to the sartorial era of menswear I walked into over a decade ago…
Big Rock Candy Mountaineering
BRCM is one of my favorite brands at the moment, putting out everything you need to go camping for the weekend knowing that you still look good enough to pull up to a diner on the way home.
I like that nothing here is boxed in to being so hiking-inspired that you can’t wear it in the city, and yet it’s built well enough that you can thrash it with the elements and it’ll hold up.
I love how they use color too. As someone who mostly wears all black, I was really into the blues and golds and purples, all reminiscent of early 00’s outdoorsy catalogs.
Might surprise myself this year and pick up a pair of their gold Scampwalker boots, or a baby blue jacket for the fall. Who knows!
Sabah
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Sabah, but I’d never seen them in person, and I actually really like them.
They feel almost like a toned-down, simple Belgian loafer, if that makes sense? Something you can slip on and head out without thinking too much that still looks and feels good enough whoever you might be.
Personally, I prefer their slimmer model with a thin leather sole. Sleek and simple and infinitely usable. Really pleasantly surprised by them and their history.
Everyday Mountaineering
The only thing stranger than seeing a brand put out technical outdoorsy garments, knit sweaters, and different variations of a chore coat at the same time is seeing a brand do all that and do it really, really well.
I fell in love with a few different pieces I saw that day, but I mostly ended up finding a new brand that really excites me.
I didn't get pics here, but their shorts and pants are actually really incredible and worth looking into. They’ve got a magnetic buckle system that is both efficient and really fun to mess with. I’d say try to see if you can find a store that stocks them near you because their stuff is really worth checking out in person if you can.
Imogene + Willie
Imogene + Willie is yet another brand that’s been on my radar for years, and I’ve just never gotten around to checking them out, which is really unfortunate because I am the sort of consumer they’re creating for.
I know that their denim is very well respected, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they’re making everything in the USA, mostly through some really great partnerships that you can read more about here.
I’m not a ‘made in the USA means it’s the best’ type of person, but I can respect when a company is committed to making clothing here, knowing well that it would be easier to offload some of the process overseas.
Big winners here were obviously the denim line, but the shorts above and their jackets should not be slept on. Truly thankful to have gotten to experience them firsthand.
Manresa
Ending my round-up with Manresa, one of the most interesting brands I got to see. We got to talk with them a few years ago and it’s really cool to see their growth and evolution since then.
Product-wise, they might have shown up with the least amount of product but their reasoning was intentional: downsizing the line to be able to make things to a higher standard in their own factories. That’s huge.
I don’t think it’s wrong to produce huge collections, but I was reminded of my interview with Paynter a while back, and how they spoke about the strengths in keeping product lines small and tight.
Now Manresa is producing a bit more than Paynter is, but they’re doing much less than everyone else around them, and doing it with an almost-obsessive level of dedication to those products.
I appreciate that they’ve found a way to pause, refocus, and push out the best version of their products yet.
They just dropped jeans, flannels and restocked their white t-shirts, but stay tuned as some fan favorites make their return this winter, including the iconic Bitner coat.
Two shows down, and I feel like I’m a pro at this.
Thanks to the MAN/WOMAN team for putting together such a great mix of brands under one roof, and shoutout to my second shooter, David, for keeping me focused that whole day.