Fashion

Project NY to return to physical format in July


New York City’s tradeshow circuit is slowly returning. Project New
York is making a welcome return to the schedule after cancelling due
to the surge in the Omicron COVID-19 variant last winter. Now, the
annual tradeshow is set to return from July 18 to 19 at Iron 23.
Edwina Kulego, vice president of international and business
development at Project New York, spoke with FashionUnited about the
show’s return, how the organization is working to keep attendees safe
from COVID-19, and how tradeshows have changed as we fight to emerge
from the pandemic.

What was the demand to bring back Project in-person?

We recognize that there’s importance in having a dedicated menswear
event in NYC, especially after our 2-year hiatus. From both the brand
and retail sides, we’ve had many requests to return to in-person
shows. In terms of location, NYC is imperative not only for our U.S.
brands, but from an international perspective as well. We want to
replace traditional events with a fresh approach and spark new ideas
and dialog within our community of top designers, buyers, innovators
and industry tastemakers. Brands and retailers alike are wanting to
connect in-person to network and speak about the challenges and trends
shaping the next wave of fashion for seasons to come.

What guidelines are being set up to ensure attendee safety?

Safety at our events is always at the forefront of our mind. We always
adhere to city guidelines and protocols. At our events, we have
enhanced cleaning, provide masks, have sanitizer stations and beyond.

What’s been the response from buyers and retailers?

The response has been very positive. The desire to discover new and
emerging brands is strong, both U.S.-based and international. There’s
something about touching and seeing the products in-person that was
missed. Since the pandemic, the community has asked us to come back,
and we are listening. Our event format is a new strategy based on what
our customers are asking for. They understand that the industry is
changing (because of COVID) and with that change comes opportunity.
Project NY addresses the needs of both our brands and buying
communities, and we choose the central location to make attendance
easier for all who come.

How large is this upcoming show expected to be compared to past shows?

This is a curated, intimate event featuring about 60 brands across a
wide range of categories. In the past, we’ve covered all men’s
categories and levels of distribution, but now we see that our
customers want more curated offerings on relevant brands and new,
emerging designers and trends across apparel, footwear, and other
accessories. Retailer registration to-date has been very positive,
with a larger department store representation this season.

How has the trade show circuit changed since COVID-19?

We’ve seen the appetite for trade shows heightened as our customers
are looking to return to in-person events, with being able to touch
and feel the collections, discovering new brands, and overall
networking/connecting with one another. Shows now, more than ever,
need to be more than just buying and selling. It needs to be an
opportunity to get like-minded fashion folks together to connect,
innovate, and create. It is no longer a one size fits all strategy; we
need to focus on the different needs for each category of business. We
need to focus on helping businesses via omni-channel approach,
creating content opportunities, business resources, and support on
match making. There is also a major focus on supporting minority
brands through IMFC and sustainability of course as the new
generations are demanding it.

How did postponing last season help better prepare you for this upcoming season?

For the upcoming season, we’re able to accommodate more retailers and
international brands who were not able to attend in the past due to
travel restrictions. We feel confident in our ability to deliver a
safe event for our customers. With the postponement, we’ve also been
able to speak to our showing brands and buyers to create an experience
they fully believe in and are excited for.

What’s been the most difficult part of organizing an in-person show again?

As a team, we’re being flexible in our approach knowing that Covid
creates an always-changing situation, so it’s about staying nimble,
never knowing what may happen. That said, we’ve been organizing
in-person events for many years and as such, have the tools and
resources to bring them back in an impactful way. Navigating Covid
restrictions and guidelines have been a challenge for all in-person
events, but with our ability to provide safety and expected great
turnout, we’re thrilled to have our communities of brands and buyers
come together.

What are you all doing to attract international buyers again?

We are lucky to have a retail relation team to focus on both domestic
and international retail attendance. We have hired men’s industry
influencer Mordechai Rubinstein to specifically support getting all
the best top stores globally to our menswear events. As many travel
bans have now been lifted, we have seen a great interest from our
international brands and buyers to come to the U.S. for all Project
events. We are so grateful for that. I was also able to travel again
to Europe to discover new brands and cultivate new relationships with
brands who we think would attract everyone who attends our shows. They
have missed our shows, our community and are excited to be back. There
is nothing like being face to face.

What are the advantages you all see to aligning closer to the other
men’s market shows?

Our shows are all about community over competition. As all we want to
do is make it easier for the buyers who may cross shop multiple
categories, we want to always work together to do what is right for
the industry. Gone are the days where we can try to stand alone as
competitors. We need to all be working together to do what is best for
our customers. That is real progress. Any of the old school mentality
will only hurt what is best for the business at large. We take an
inclusive, customer-led approach.

Why was Iron 23 selected as the location?

It is a totally new concept for us, it allows for a more intimate,
curated experience which is what we want for our New York events
moving forward. It allows more interaction, more curation, more
networking, and it is modernizing the evolution of our NY event into
our new normal which is fully different from the past. Having a
central location is key for us and we feel that this stunning new
venue will only continue to elevate our customer’s experience.

Why did Project decide to expand to include gender fluid brands?

Project has always been an event that showcases the most prominent and
contemporary brands in our industry. Our aim is to always serve our
retailers with inclusive fashion that is outside of the norm. Gender
fluidity in fashion is not new, and we don’t see it as a “trend” –
it’s who we are and have always been, which we see demand for with our
customers. We always want to make sure we are listening to the
industry and addressing what will soon be a very normal part of
fashion. We stand for inclusivity, diversity, equality, and we will
support the designers who are taking risks, creating for the future,
and allowing fashion to be a way of self-expression. While traditional
menswear will always be here, we are focusing on what is now and
future for the fashion industry.

AUTHOR: Kristopher Fraser

PLEASE Publish a copy of this story as non-featured on UK, IN, NZ, IE



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.