Tradeshow Recap: ENK International's Circuit/Intermezzo

by The Daily Front Row

(NEW YORK) Pier 92 and 94 in New York City were packed to the max this season for ENK International’s latest installment of Circuit/Intermezzo with thousands of international retailers like Holt Renfrew, Anthropologie, Gilt Groupe, Intermix, Barneys New York, Beams, Bloomingdale’s, and Selfridges perusing the aisles and shopping more than 900 brands. Haute highlights from the event included Alice & Olivia, Erin Fetherston, Current/Elliott, Alexis Bittar, Erickson Beamon, L.A.M.B., Rebecca Minkoff, Nikki Rich, CP Shades, D-ID, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Yoana Baraschi, Rachel Pally, Vita Fede, Rovi Moss, Versus, Frankie B., Kaj, Iradj Moini, 3×1, Morrissey, Obakki, Vince, Janine Payer, sunglasses from Lanvin and Givenchy, and of course, Hunter Bell, the adorbs winner of Fashion Star who was there to show her line, Hunter Dixon.

In addition to covetable wares, ENK International continues to live up to its reputation for a seamless shopping experience, providing attendees with tunes curated by Curasi Media, a 24-hour concierge hotline, organic snacks and juices from THE SQUEEZE, fresh yogurt from Pinkberry, and complimentary, health-conscious lunches. And if that wasn’t enough to whet your palette, exhibitors too crazed to leave their posts were able to get meals delivered. Now, onto the booths!

 

Alexander Atkins, Camille K.

What was the inspiration for the collection? 
Designer Carla Labat was inspired by a few key motifs and findings from the Marché aux Puces in Paris. Each piece reflects history while capturing the spirit of today.

Describe your brand in one sentence.
Camille K is a luxury costume-jewelry collection that’s inspired by vintage treasures and is designed for the modern woman.

If you could choose anyone, who would be the face of Camille K’s ad campaign?
Tilda Swinton because of her diversity and incredible elegance! 

What are your price points?
Camille K pieces range anywhere from $100 (for smaller rings and earrings) to a few thousand for custom-designed couture pieces. 

Tell us about your packaging!
We LOVE our packaging! The boxes accompany all couture items and are made in France by the same packagers of Lanvin! 

Name three stores you would love to sell to.
Neiman Marcus, Wendy Foster in Santa Barbara, and Ikram.

Background, please!
Jewelry designer Carla Labat began her love affair with France as a student in 1977 and formally declared it in 1985 when she married a Frenchman. An early career in theater and dance combined with a refined appreciation for 18th century costuming has served as a great influence.

Fast forward five years
Who knows! All we can say is we’ll stay inspired and still love a good Vodka martini!

 

George Chatzipanagiotis, Izmaylova

What’s the inspiration behind the collection?
Dark romance. The idea was to play with the mysterious, rich shade of black through the use of numerous textures from silk duchess and silk chiffon to leather and velvet. We offset the darkness with a pop of red, the color of romance!

Describe the brand.
IZMAYLOVA London is a unique, concept luxury fashion brand for women with all collections handmade in England. The key to the brand’s phenomenal success is simply great product, people, and passion.

What does Izmaylova mean?
The name IZMAYLOVA is the surname of the brand co-founder Antonina Izmaylova-Gam and originates from the era of imperial Russia with Princess Avdotya Izmaylova. 
 
Who would you choose to be the face of an “Izmaylova” ad campaign?
My first thought would be Charlize Theron.

You’ve got a great celebrity following…
Yes, Kelly Rowland, Eva Longoria, Lana Del Rey, Ashlee Simpson, Olivia Munn, Nicole Scherzinger, and Ashley Benson to name but a few.
 
What stores have you seen at the show?
A wide section ranging from independent boutiques to department stores.

What’s your background?
The designer duo behind IZMAYLOVA London consists of Nathanael Gam and Antonina Izmaylova-Gam. Prior to launching IZMAYLOVA, London College of Fashion alumni Nathanael worked with the British Fashion Council organizer of London Fashion Week and the British Fashion Awards. He’s also played an instrumental role in launching what is now known as the London ShowROOMs. Meanwhile, Antonina graduated from the renowned Central Saint Martins College of Arts in London.

What may surprise us about your brand?
The IZMAYLOVA London philosophy centers on creating and producing directional, design-led womenswear. IZMAYLOVA London prides itself with an uncompromising commitment to delivering innovative, original products, combining exceptional design, quality, and value. All pieces are handmade in England. 

Any plans to do a men’s collection?
The idea has crossed our mind!

Was this your first time showing in the U.S.?
The United States is a very special market for us, and the collection has received an incredibly positive response. We have a great fan base here and look forward to seeing more American women dressed in IZMAYLOVA London!


Hunter Bell, Hunter Dixon

What is the inspiration behind the collection?
Holiday 2013 was inspired from the wood burning fires and cool starry nights ringing in the New Year at San Ysidro Ranch. This collection has a wide variety of styles for the holiday season! 

Describe the collection in one sentence.
Southern girl with a New York state of mind. 

Tell us all about your stint on Fashion Star!
Fashion Star was the most incredible experience of my life! I was challenged beyond my range to grow and learn about myself as a designer and as a person. I came back from filming Fashion Star convinced of the vision for my brand and company. 

Who would you choose to be the face of an ad campaign for Hunter Dixon?
Sienna Miller or Kate Bosworth.

What are three stores you would love to sell to?
Shopbop.com, Bergdorf Goodman, and Intermix.

What may surprise us about your brand?  
Everything is manufactured in the garment district with love from a very small dedicated team. 

What’s the craziest thing that happened to you since filming Fashion Star?
Being recognized on the street as I’m buying coffee!

 

Allen Dushi, J.A.C.H.S. Girlfriend
Why did you decide to launch a women’s line?
We launched JACHS Girlfriend simply out of demand. A couple of buyers from department stores called and said that girls were going into the men’s section and buying our shirts and wanted to know if we had anything to offer them. We knew it was time to bring JACHS to the women’s market. JACHS needed a girlfriend. 

Describe the brand in one sentence.
We’re obsessed with looking back in American history and finding styling and details that can apply to today’s fashion.

Congratulations on the new West Village store!
Our goal has always been to be a lifestyle brand. We keep adding categories so that we can dress ourselves from head to toe, and the store is where our vision can come together. We have been building, tearing down, and playing with a proto store in our showroom in Tribeca for the last year. Once we signed our lease we were able to do construction and open the doors in 10 days. The store is 75 percent JACHS and 25 percent “made in USA” brands that complement our style in categories that we do not yet offer.

What couple would you choose to star in a “JACHS & JACHS Girlfriend” ad campaign?
An entrepreneurial couple who work with their hands would be ideal. Real people whose story we could tell and whose lifestyle fits our clothing. No celebrities or models!

What new stores have you seen at the show?
Bloomingdale’s just received their first shipment of JACHS Girlfriend two weeks ago.

Name three retailers you would love to sell to.
Neiman Marcus, Free People, and Anthropologie.

What did you do before JACHS?
This is my first job. I graduated from Tulane University in 2009 with a finance degree. Before I even started looking for jobs my uncle Hayati, who is the owner, came to me and said that he just started a company and that I should come work for him. I was the third employee. 

Fast forward five years…
We want more JACHS stores. We’re in every good retailer that sells at our price point. While we are trying to increase our presence inside these stores with more categories and better pop, the biggest opportunity for us is to go direct to the consumer.

Any plans to launch a JACHS Kid’s collection?
Absolutely! We are launching Lil’ JACHS in Spring 2014. It’s a 50-piece boys collection to kick-off.

 

Jill Haber, Jill Haber Designs

What inspired you to design your own handbag line?
I’ve loved handbags since my grandmother shared her collection of exotic skin bags with me. That also was the beginning of my love affair with vintage pieces. My vintage handbags are the inspiration of the silhouettes in my collection. It’s an homage to the glamour and styles that those bags convey.

Describe your customer in one sentence.
She’s confident and relevant, and trend aware but never trend driven. 

What has the response to the collection been so far?
Overwhelming! It’s clear that my collection is fresh, modern, and fills a void in the market. 

Name three retailers you would love to sell to.
Ikram, Bergdorf Goodman, and Five Story. 

Who should be the face of Jill Haber Designs’ ad campaign?  
The Duchess of Cambridge.  

What are your price points?
The opening price is $765. 

Your collection is made right here in NYC!
My name is on every piece, so I wanted to insure that the craftsmanship and materials used are the finest. I needed to be involved at every level. My team and I travel the world to handpick the most beautiful skins and leathers. My hardware is handcrafted exclusively for Jill Haber. I’m fortunate to have found artisans here in New York City who can masterfully make each piece by hand.  It’s more costly, but I believe it’s worth it. 

You’re a native New Yorker. What’s your favorite restaurant here?
That’s a loaded question! My husband owns the Esquared hospitality group which has many great restaurants. I think BLT Fish is my favorite. It’s pretty, and the food is amazing. 

Where do you see the collection in five years?  
The Jill Haber collection will be an international brand setting the standard of modern luxury for women. 

 

Geraldine Morley, Mods and Rockers

What’s the inspiration?
The name comes from the two British subculture groups of the ‘60s: the mods and the rockers. We’re aiming to combine the edge of the rockers with the sophistication of the mods in fun and hip cocktail bags that are couture quality. We take inspiration from music and art, glam and punk rock, and pop and op art. This season our inspiration is punk baroque. 

What are your price points?
The line retails for $495 to $2,495.

Who would you choose to be the face of a Mods and Rockers ad campaign?  
Rooney Mara.

Name three retailers you would love to sell to.
Dover Street Market. Since we’re New York-based, we’re personally thrilled they are opening a store in New York soon. 

What’s your background?
Mods & Rockers was established by Geraldine Morley and Yana Ostrova. We met while working together for six years as the creative director and design director of Judith Leiber. When we left Leiber, we started a consulting company and worked with many brands developing handbags.  

Who would your dream collaboration be with?
We would have loved to have been able to collaborate with Isabella Blow. We’re big fans of her style.
 

Suzi Roher, Suzi Roher

What’s the inspiration behind the collection?

This season is all about clean and sophisticated lines with an emphasis on the waist. At the moment, gold is shining through, as well as feminine inspirations from the styles of the ‘40s to ‘60s.

You recently expanded to pants and tops. What’s the response been like?

The response has been very encouraging! We’re making fashion-forward clothes with an emphasis on interesting details and the best fit. Retailers who are ready to step away from the same old boring pant that has been in fashion for four years are thrilled. Our fit is fantastic as we are using all techno and stretch fabrics. Our tops were runaway best sellers! We also started an incredible high quality scarf line out of Italy.

We love that Suzi Roher is a family run business. How’s the team set up?
My husband, Michael, oversees the business side of things, and he is also an extremely talented photographer. He looks after all the PR, all the photography, all the digital scarf work, the website, media communications, and more! He is a very busy guy. My daughter, Samantha, is looking after the clothing production. She is also involved in customer service and is an excellent salesperson. My son, Alex, has been looking after customer service, but he will be leaving us at the end of the summer to go to medical school.

What stores have you seen at the show?
We saw great stores like Frances Kahn, On My Own, K. Renne, Elegance by Edythe, and many other excellent retailers who have all cultivated a strong following for our brand.

What are your hottest sellers?
For apparel, our best sellers are “Isabelle” and “Stevie,” our t-shirt. In scarves, our best sellers are the patterned scarves, with “Feathers” coming in at number one.

Who should be the face of your brand?
The first person that comes to mind is Heidi Klum. She has a fantastic sense of style, is incredibly graceful, and always looks amazing. Plus, she already wears our belts!

What would surprise us about Suzi Roher?
Everything we make is handmade in our studio with Italian hardware and leather. We make something from nothing. In our minds we are not making belts. We’re making jewelry for the waist.

 

John Lankshear, SW3 UK

What’s the inspiration behind the collection?
“London Cool” with influences of the swinging sixties and early seventies. A running theme in the collection is effortless and sexy, boho chic! 

Describe the brand in one sentence.
A beautifully crafted sportswear collection that is based on classic silhouettes with the perfect blending of modern and throwback influences! 

What does the name SW3 stand for?
SW3 is the London zip code for Chelsea – the home of King’s Road and Knightsbridge. Bespoke is an homage to the exquisite London tailoring that we aspire to in our jackets and pants. 

Who would you choose to be the face of a “SW3” ad campaign?
The British born, but Los Angeles-based founders Julia Chase (creative director) and John Lankshear (president). 

What stores have you seen at the show?
At Intermezzo, we have seen many of our loyal East Coast specialty stores, including Gus Mayer in Alabama, Vie in St Louis, Alene Too in Boca, Portobello Road in Boston, Jody G in Virginia, and Voce in Lexington. We also saw Neiman’s CUSP and SAKS.

Name three retailers you would love to sell to.
Bergdorf Goodman has seen and liked the collection the past two seasons, but is finding it hard to bring in new labels. We’d also like to sell to Harvey Nichols and Selfridges in London. 

What may surprise us about your brand?
We began as a tiny start-up two years ago, and have been picked up by over 400 boutiques. 

Fast forward five years…
We want to be on the radar screen of fashion shoppers, in over 600 specialty stores, over 10 SW3 branded retail stores, and have a significant presence in the major department stores.

 

Robin Chretien, Robin’s Jean

What’s the inspiration behind the collection
?
There are a lot of reptile treatments and finishes, great new denim washes like Thunder and Salt, and fashion forward silhouettes that are skinny with a motorcycle cut.

Describe the brand in one sentence.
Robin’s Jean represents my passion for riding motorcycles and vintage cars, combined with my passion for denim, and my love for America. 

Tell us briefly about your history.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1996 from France, and it was my lifelong dream to come to the U.S. and to design denim. I have been involved in some of the best denim companies in L.A. and eventually, in 2005, I decided to start my own company.

You have quite a collection of vintage rides.
My collection of cars and motorcycles has grown over the years, I have a few classic cars and lots of motorcycles. I love Harley Davidson and Indian bikes the most. Robin’s Jean is inspired by my love of the open road, the bygone era of Hollywood glamour with silver screen icons like Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, Marilyn Monroe, and my love of Native American culture and spirit. 

Any more retail stores on the horizon?
I’m opening two new stores in 2013: Robin’s Jean Laguna Beach and Robin’s Jean Ibiza.

 

Carmen Reed, Theodora and Callum

What stores have you seen at the show?
Some of our top accounts including Henri Bendel, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom but we’ve also seen some smaller, niche stores. 

What’s the inspiration this season?
Each Theodora & Callum collection is inspired by world travels and far-off locales. 

Describe the brand in one sentence.
Born out of a love for collecting beautiful things from all over the world, Theodora & Callum is an accessories-based line featuring scarves, jewelry, dresses, tops, pants, and caftans inspired by world travels. 

Who should be the face of an ad campaign for Theodora & Callum?
Ali McGraw, Brigitte Bardot, Kate Moss, Blake Lively, and Kerry Washington are just a few of our muses. 

Who is Theodora & Callum?
Theodora & Callum is named for our co-founders’ children. Theodora, age 6, is Stefani Greenfield’s daughter and Callum, age 4, is Desiree’s son. 

What may surprise us about your brand?
We are only 2 years old! 

Fast forward five years…
We plan on continuing to grow organically and expanding into new categories, like kid’s, home, and swim.

 

Walter Baker, W118 by Walter Baker

What’s the inspiration behind the collection?
The holiday collection inspiration is baroque classic but worn in an updated way, like in fun sequin sweatshirts and leopard prints done in scuba fabrics.

Describe the brand in one sentence.  
High fashion at an affordable price for the confident stylish girl!
 
What does the name W118 stand for?
W is for Walter and 118 has 2 meanings. The garment center zip code is 10018 and the number 18 is good luck in Judaism.
 
Who would you choose to be the face of a “W118” ad campaign?
The cast of HBO “Girls.”
 
What may surprise us about your brand?
That it’s been around for 20 years.
 
Fast forward five years…
To have a true full lifestyle brand, expand the accessories into shoes, sunglasses, and even home goods!
 
Any plans to do a men’s collection?
Definitely would be amazing. Stay tuned…

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