The men’s trade show calendar continues to contract.
Both Project and the Society for International Menswear shows will not be held in January. That leaves MAN and New York’s Best Menswear Show at the Park Lane Hotel as the remaining traditional trade shows in the city for the fall 2024 season.
Even before the pandemic, the trade show industry had been dealing with a changing dynamic for their services. But once the health crisis caused them to put their shows on hiatus, brands and retailers found other ways to connect, either virtually or in the showrooms. Add to that the popularity of the Chicago Collective and the situation worsened for competitors.
As a result, Project decided not to return to its space at Iron23 in the Flatiron District and Society has been shuttered completely. A spokesperson from Informa Markets Fashion, owner of Project, told WWD: “Project will be showing up in New York with a new concept for 2024. Project will create an intimate and curated moment during men’s market week that will strengthen relationships and open conversations that create new ideas and opportunities in the menswear community.” The trade show operator declined to provide further details at this point, saying plans were still being worked out.
Coleman McCartan, who had operated the Society show for Wainscot Media, said the decision to abandon the show after three seasons was because “there were just not enough retailers.” He speculated that the show, which held its first two editions at the Metropolitan Pavilion and its final one at the former Brooks Brothers space on Madison Avenue, had been overshadowed by the Chicago Collective, which is easier and less expensive for both manufacturers and retailers to attend.
But apparently MAN and New York’s Best Menswear Show are still moving ahead with events in January. MAN’s dates, according to its website, are slated for Jan. 23 to 25 and the show is historically held at Spring Studios, while New York’s Best Menswear Show is scheduled for Jan. 21 to 23.
