CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Every year as the summer draws to a close, the Westport buying team finishes another round of travel between the major men's clothing trade shows. MRket New York, The Chicago Collective, and The Magic Marketplace in Las Vegas are the biggest expositions in the menswear industry – where all of the new ideas in men's dress and casual clothing are presented for the upcoming season. These shows are where Westport's buyers view each brand's line, and make initial merchandise assortment plans for the catalog and website.
MRket New York is held at the sprawling Javits convention center at the western edge of Manhattan's Garment District, and The Chicago Collective is held at the historic Merchandise Mart in the city's downtown loop. Here, hundreds of clothing companies catering to every style, price-tier, and demographic have booths set up along the seemingly endless rows of walkways on the show floor.
Westport's buyers work long days at these conventions. It takes time to consider the vast array of product choices laid out before them, and select only the best and most relevant garments for their customers. Planning the show schedule requires a healthy balance between setting appointments with established, trusted vendors and scouting for new brands that could bring fresh ideas to Westport's collection. "We're always looking to supplement our proven core items with newer, more unique products. We're constantly in search of new designers and styles from around the world to bring our customers something truly special," says Tom Altieri, a senior Westport executive.
Among the various sub-sections of the MRket New York floor is an area dedicated exclusively to Italian brands and manufacturers. Walking through the Italia section is a remarkable breath of fresh air. The booths here contain smaller, more curated collections that come with higher average prices, but are made with quality materials and the legendary Italian workmanship that's renowned around the world. Going from booth to booth, you can hear the animated salespeople chat in Italian and seamlessly switch to English as they greet you to talk about their lines. And in the center of the entire section, you'll find a cart set up that'll serve you Italian-style espresso, cappuccino, or macchiato – all for free. Not a bad diversion from the busy workday.
The fashion industry prepares for months ahead of the expected launch of a new season's collection. Retailers like Westport start featuring their very first spring collections around mid-February, when winter is almost over and enough time has passed since the annual Holiday shopping frenzy. This is the same merchandise that the buyers viewed and selected at the trade shows in July and August – about 7 months prior. At the shows, clothing brands have already designed and prepared samples for the majority of their spring and summer collections, and are ready to show them to retailers. What this means is that most manufacturers are about a year ahead of the market in terms of predicting trends and consumer preferences. Managing this kind of timeline is no easy feat, but it's what keeps the industry moving forward in the most efficient and customer-centric manner possible.
Westport works to provide high-caliber, stylistically relevant, and aesthetically appealing menswear for big and tall customers with discerning tastes. Whether their preferences are more conservative and traditional, more modern and unrestrained, or anything in between – we take care of our customers and make them look great. Westport's Fall 2017 collection is now live. See it now at www.westportbigandtall.com and sign up for our free catalog today.
About Westport Big & Tall
Our mission is a commitment to quality. Our goal is to provide our customers with the quality and style that they deserve. This sets Westport apart and allows our customers to enjoy a shopping experience they cannot find anywhere else. Our unending search for the best means that there are always unique exclusive offerings.
Media Contact: BOB BEAUSOLEIL, Westport Big & Tall, 203-454-9945, bbeausoleil@westportbigtall.com
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SOURCE Westport Big & Tall
