welcome
EAT. DRINK. MEET. REPEAT. A taste of the NEW Cleveland greeted our Apparel Forum colleagues as Kilgore Trout hosted the nation’s top clothing retailers.
“A
RE WE REALLY IN CLEVELAND?” was the surprised exclamation
we heard more than once as we led our colleagues on a whirlwind tour of the city. From the magnificent homes of South Park and Shaker Boulevard, through the lively Little Italy, past the new Farshid Moussavi-designed MOCA Cleveland and Uptown district, and to our final destination—Zack Bruell’s L’Albatros—our fellow Apparel Forum members continually had their Pantharella socks knocked off by the energy of the new Cleveland. These retailers hail from some of the nation’s great cities: Seattle, Denver, Dallas, New Orleans, San Francisco, Greenwich and others—and they know a vibrant city when they see one. Twice a year, we all get together to coordinate group merchandise purchases both in the U.S. and in Europe, share our best practices, review fashion trends, and discuss economic impacts on our industry. We provide one another an ad hoc advisory board, and together we publish this magazine. By collaborating, we are all able to provide our clients greater service and better value. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Collaboration has been an essential element in the comeback of our city as well. And many of you, our clients, have played important roles in the rebirth of Cleveland, whether at University Circle, one of our world-class hospital campuses, the rising Medical Mart, the Flats East Bank, the Horseshoe Casino, or the new Eaton headquarters taking shape just around the corner from our store. The renewed energy of the city is palpable, as is the energy of spring in store at Kilgore Trout. This season, we’ll collaborate with Polo Ralph Lauren, presenting the venerable designer’s collection of premiere classics, an edition of the iconic brand specifically for stores like Kilgore Trout—timeless and authentic, with superb attention to fabrics, craftsmanship and detail. Also new is PT01 Pantaloni Torino, the Italian line of hip, cool
trousers in khakis and colors with tailor-made quality and great treatments, and the inaugural collection of Gramercy Foundry, a new collection of shirts, knits, pants and jackets that promises “forged textiles and engineered styles.” Also new is Massimo Alba, with an Italian casual-chic style “designed to embrace the wearer.” Alba’s knitwear is woven and item-dyed in traditional workshops all over Italy, and his linen/cotton jackets wear with effortless nonchalance. Also with a foundation in traditional Italian design, our first collection from Roda uses time-honored techniques to craft gentlemen’s accessories of true luxury. For women, Andrea welcomes Es’ Givien, an eco-friendly jersey and knitwear line made entirely in Italy of natural fabrics, knitted and dyed with processes that respect the environment. Designed by a collaborative of three sisters in Verona (Gaia, Vivilla and Nives), every garment contains a printed message, hidden but within reach, a thought for the wearer alone linked to the theme of the season’s collection. Closer to home, Clover Canyon is designed and produced in Los Angeles, and reflects the joyful, eclectic spirit of California with vivid prints and streamlined silhouettes. We also launched Joseph, a clothing line with a cult following in Europe but little known here, and Dannijo, one of the hottest collections of necklaces, collars and jewelry on the planet. If you haven’t checked out all that’s new and vibrant in our city, a good place to start is the extraordinary new Museum of Contemporary Art in the Uptown District. Right now, we’re offering our customers complimentary museum admission for two. Stop by soon and ask for your pass. And if you spend $500 you’ll also receive a $100 gift certificate to a Zack Bruell restaurant, where your socks are certain to be knocked off, too. Happy spring! Wally Naymon, shopkeeper