Capsule NY Mens Tradeshow | Day 1 | 1/18/2010 3:57pm – closing
Locations
Angel Orensanz Foundation
172 Norfolk St.
The Puck Building
295 Lafayette Ave.
Today marks my second trip to Angel Orensanz for the world renown menswear trade show known as Capsule. This go-round I am joined by fellow snob, Ian—who, arrived late due to traffic on the FDR. As I sit in the Magazine Lounge section of the church—yes, this trade show is set up in a church—I reflect on all the time and resources that each brand puts into this two day event. The hourless and thankless attention to detail that probably goes unnoticed by the casual visitor is what makes fashion one of the best and worst professions to rely on for a paycheck. On one side you create art that niche and mass audiences alike embrace and cherish for eternity. On the other side you create egotisitical waste that become synonymous with fads and (insert disparaging remark). The four floors of Angel Orensanz are packed with brands that attract legions of web fans on online forums such as, Styleforum.net, Hypebeast.com, and Superfuture.com/Supertalk. Each representative of the brand is tasked with telling a story, inspiring on-lookers, and hopefully convincing a buyer or store rep to sign up for an account to carry merchandise. Many of the attendees today are like me, Macbook on lap, mobile device in hand, and water courtesy of Ty Nant Spring Water on our side, most likely letting (or preparing to let) the world know about the brands that caught their attention and hopefully their wallet.
After a day spent in the heart of Capsule (both the Angel Orensanz and The Puck Building locations) I can honestly walk away with a smile, for the presentation was second to none. Everything down from the Escalade—that transported guests to and from the two locations—to the complimentary Surface, OWN, and Fader magazines—that were readily available—kept my attention on the business of style, not fashion. While I understand fashion is the reason that each brand will have a new collection each season, I’m elated to know that a few brands will maintain the spirit of their founders and their inspirations in each piece that is here—and soon to come.
Please enjoy photos of our experience at the first day of the highly anticipated two-day event. Take note of the brands featured in our photos, they were our favorites. Check back next week when Nick will grace us with a glimpse into his experience at day 2 of Capsule NY.
Special thanks to James of Theblacknoveau.com for showing me how to access the free wifi at the Angel Orensanz Foundation location.
Photos: Kenji
