Want more trunk shows in the Pacific North West?

[Bennosuke]

Hello all,

I am new to Styleforum but have been a consistent member over on Ask Andy (you can find me as Benno). I recently posted the following, and was recommended to post the same here, for its "much larger and more active user base". Anyways, we'll see how this goes and maybe I will become a "permanent fixture" here as well:

So I'm going out of a limb on this one and I'm sorry if this post won't apply to a whole lot of members!

I was speaking to a bespoke tailor during a recent trip I took, and was talking about how very few artisans do trunk shows (suits, shoes, ect.) come to the American Pacific North West, where I live, thus requiring trips to Los Angeles, San Francisco or some other farther but more popular cities in America. They thought this was very interesting and mentioned that it could be a potential business opportunity, assuming there was enough of a market.

Now I suspect that there may be less men and women "dressing up" in the Pacific North West, which tends to be a rather casual part of America in genera. But there is also a lot of tech and business people. I selfishly figured that if I could show that there was some interest, it may be possible to help convince them and maybe other traveling artisans to come to Portland, Seattle or maybe even Vancouver.

I acknowledge that there are a handful of bespoke artisans here, and I am one hundred and ten percent in favor of supporting them, and go out of my way to do so. And there are a very few MTM or even bespoke trunk shows that DO come out to one or another city in the PNW. That said, would it really hurt to have more options?

So with all that rambling, how about a show of hands? Would anyone be interested in patronizing more bespoke or MTM traveling artisans if they came out to the Pacific North West?

 

[numberniner]

Hello all,

I am new to Styleforum but have been a consistent member over on Ask Andy (you can find me as Benno). I recently posted the following, and was recommended to post the same here, for its "much larger and more active user base". Anyways, we'll see how this goes and maybe I will become a "permanent fixture" here as well:

Is there any where I can contact you regarding this? I have some ideas, I totally agree with everything you said.

Trunk shows are a hassle, brands tend to stick to markets they know are a proven success. Unless some fancy hotel or something throws an offer they cannot resist, most will be comfortable with the repetitive trips.

There’s a ton of money in the places you named, you mentioned that perhaps the audience isn’t there. In my opinion I believe that although it may be less than somewhere like LA, they may be excited by the new prospect of such experience.

It’s certainly worth a try

 

[Bennosuke]

Feel free to PM me I guess.

 

[LinePlaneVolume]

Late response but I'm in the PNW and interested in learning more about this. It's a style wasteland up here.

 

[Bennosuke]

My hope was that with enough replies (maybe more will come?), it would be possible to show artisans that it would be worth coming up this way. What specifically would you be interested in? Bespoke shoe makers, british tailors, italian tailors ect?

 

[LinePlaneVolume]

@Bennosuke - Cursorily, all of the above. I currently still do mostly off of the rack British and Italian stuff but am looking to start doing some bespoke/tailored pieces. The only caveat being that I'm mostly into minimal jackets and trousers that are more workwear inspired. I'd like more control over the fabrics and fits. All that being said, I also need a few classic suits.

 

[Bennosuke]

I think most bespoke (and MTM) makers these days are pretty used to making safari and chore jackets as part of their repertoire, though I am sure there are some makers that do it more than others.

 

[reallymemorable]

We have a growing audience for our trunk show calendar: https://www.trunkville.com/

It's 100% free --- doing this as a hobby. We'd love to have more shows in PNW. Would love to connect with makers doing shows there and promote them.

 

[Bennosuke]

We have a growing audience for our trunk show calendar: https://www.trunkville.com/

It's 100% free --- doing this as a hobby. We'd love to have more shows in PNW. Would love to connect with makers doing shows there and promote them.

I'd make sure to differentiate which locations Stefano Bemer is going with and without Eric Jensen. I believe for example that only Eric is going to Houston, and for example, won't be in Vancouver.

I know because I was trying to get him to come to Vancouver, because that would be an easier trip for me in the PNW ... and am instead seeing him in Houston.

 

[reallymemorable]

I'd make sure to differentiate which locations Stefano Bemer is going with and without Eric Jensen. I believe for example that only Eric is going to Houston, and for example, won't be in Vancouver.

I know because I was trying to get him to come to Vancouver, because that would be an easier trip for me in the PNW ... and am instead seeing him in Houston.

All the info is provided directly by the makers — I don’t write it

 

[Bennosuke]

It looks like that is delineated on their website: https://stefanobemer.com/blogs/news...w8iP6aSrZTZzzt_Jo97Mgq7HXVL45fZus2q0z7Tej77EU

 

[Melloyello]

So with all that rambling, how about a show of hands? Would anyone be interested in patronizing more bespoke or MTM traveling artisans if they came out to the Pacific North West?

I'm not sure if this is something that you're still considering, but I'm in the Portland area and would love to see more trunk shows, I wouldn't mind if it was not MTM folks either, just people familiar with brands sizing. I'm unfortunately somewhat big footed and boned so in many RTW shoes and clothes I'm right on the edge of their largest sizes, or they stop making half size shoes so I have to choose between too loose or too tight. The more I have gotten to care about what I wear and how I look in my outfits, the more I notice that many brands are unsuccessful in grading edge cases as well, which has made MTM something I've been leaning into. I like LinePlaneVolume tend to the more workwear/casual daily wear, but am slowly adding more refined clothing each year.