For those who said t-shirts are done, there was no sign of the trend going anywhere or the new crops of t-shirt designers who were looking for buyers to give them a break.  The most interesting part were the designers who didn’t have booths, but stalked out buyers in the multiple rows of aisles shoving look books, wearing samples or straight up DeBo-ing (I mean like De-Bo from Friday) their way into conversation. Some were lucky, and some came out looking like clowns.

(who knows what she’s selling at MAGIC?; image courtesy Zex Sports)

S.L.A.T.E (SELECT.LIFESTYLE.APPAREL.TREND.EMERGENCE.)
But, overall my first experience was a good one.  The set-up of S.L.A.T.E was quite chic in uniform white booths that allowed canvases for designers to put their own spin on things.  Don’t get me wrong, the giants like Obey and Schmack had their shop set up like fort knox, no one was going to knock them off without a buyer hook up, but it did provide others a chance to really express the direction of their lines.

I browsed the aisles and only a handful of brands really jumped out at me. I was impressed by In4mation. The spring line brings back classic champion styled hoodies in muted colors and the windbreaker jackets were pretty cool.  Reminds me of the cool shit you find at Coat of Arms in the lower east side. I was happy not to see the overly graphic aesthetic common to streetwear, but a grown up beyond the gimmick approach to the collection. I also like the polo shirts and women’s plaid deconstructed jackets…I may end up buying one.

I gotta shout out Fi-Hi for the illest backpacks and handbags with built-in ipod speakers.  The shiny black leather backpack with gold piping was ridicules.  Shit combined the necessity and functionality of a hot bag, and bringing the world closer to your tunes.  I don’t know how that’s gonna fly in nyc on the subway system, but when chillin’ with your friends, you can easily put ‘em on to the latest sounds you downloaded online.

Another was Subscript, the streetwear focused collection of Triple 5 Soul.  The shorts were in cool plaids and the yoke details on the bum really stood out against the rest.  Again, a fresh approach to streetwear without losing its street cred, but not banking on the gimmicks like others.  By the way, has anyone see the alter ego anywhere?

(Mos Def spinnin’ at SLATE with Asher Roth and DJ Don Cannon in the background; image courtesy Zex Sports)

Project
I had no idea Project could be so good!  I guess when Magic is your only competition, it’s the crème de la crème in gaudy Vegas.  My time was limited and my vendors kept pulling me in, showing me what I already saw in NYC and set up appts for September, I was able to peep kicks from Alessandro de Aqua. Man, I knew designer collections like Pierre Hardy, Gucci and Kris Van Ashe were jumping in the sneaker game, but to see a booth at Project… I lost mad respect for them, not to mention the patent leather metallic kicks are soooo last season.  I did enjoy kicking it with Greg and Greg from Gourmet.  I was asked nicely asked not to post the pictures of the new kicks, but I love the style of their updated canvas shoe.  The clae, wallabies combination in cool colors caught my attention and forced me to send an email!  Mad love to the Gourmet team and BPMW!

(registration at Project is a Bee-atch)

ENK Vegas
This is a tough one.  ENK definitely has shit locked down in NYC with Coterie, Intermezzo and Accessories Circuit, but not sure how it stood up to Project.  Showing a day earlier than Project, the scene was dead.  I had more than enough time to catch up with the reps of the News Showroom, Hatch, People’s Revolution and Jarbo without interrupting a sale.  The venue reminded me of a wedding hall with very ugly fixtures, ugly beige walls with cheap stained rugs.  The rooms were cut up and merchandised rather ubiquitous, metal racks positioned awkwardly in the middle of the room with little aisle space.  The big wigs (Rag & Bone and Hatch) had their own conference room that didn’t promote buying.  I guess I’m used to seeing these brands in really cool showrooms, but the vibe just left me not thinking of festive holiday and resort get-a-ways, but a get out of here and view in NYC to restore your faith in fashion.

It’s that time of year again, FASHION WEEEK!!!! But before I hound the IMG and all the PR firms for my goddamned ticket, I’m going to VEGAS!!! Out of all the trade shows I’ve participated around the world, never have I experienced MAGIC from the city of lights. I’m about to pop my cherry, Sin City awaits in my first trip ever to the desert.

It’s about the Magic, Project, Slate and ENK shows. I’m scouring the market for special finds, pieces that will jump out at you, the consumer, who desperately needs a fix in this weak ass economy. Something of value, that will make your stomach do flip-flops if you don’t own it. I, the Latina Fashionista am on a hunt and I’ve already started searching.

For starters, it’s all about the jewelry. I’ve been watching the ultra chic jewelry collection Fetty by Greenpoint-based designer Justin Tratner. The front man to the garage glam band Semi Precious Weapons and accidental jewelry designer took his love for the rocky hard knock blocks of NYC and for diamond engagement rings to create this edgy, hard, sweet and semi precious collection. With rock diamond pendant, diamond encrusted guns and hearts, and brail diamond bracelets I’m thirsty to see what’s next for spring ‘09. You can find the collection at Barney’s or the lower priced, Fame line at karmaloop.com. Debuting at ENK Vegas at the Venetian Hotel.

I’m also checking out D.A.T.E., the new lifestyle shoe that debuted at NYC’s ENK Blue Show. Four friends from Italy reunited in London and created shoes that contour to their lifestyle. Most def for et setters, businessmen, and those that like to play hard. The updated boat shoe with tassels is definitely street-gone-sophisticated-stupid, but never forgot where he came from. Check it out at ENK Vegas, tell Mark the Latina Fashionista sent you.

But one of my stops has to be the Project Show. I was told it’s actually worth walking, unlike its New York step cousin. I’m happy to revisit Amivectio, the new love child of designer Hector Estrada, this collection is the grown man in Triko’s life. He’s sophisticated, almost completely made of organic Pima cotton, but with a swagger of international confidence, much of the way Estrada lives his life. “I’ve grown up, I’ve seen the world and that’s what this new collection is about” he tells me at his first trade show, NYC’s Cargo. And full of swagger it is with unstructured bomber cardigans, polos and fashion forward crissed-crossed swooping yoke. It’s the birth of another dream that will take the industry to the next level.

Hip Hop is Dead…

But it wasn’t this past Saturday during the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival at the Empire Fulton – Ferry State Park. On one of the most beautiful days of this rain-filled NYC summer, Hip Hop was alive with performances from KRS One, Keith Murry, Buck Shot, Mickey Factz and true Hip Hop up-and-comers. But before any artist hit the stage, the gifting suite sponsored by Yume greeted each artist with an original creation: a recycled plastic messenger bag filled with all types of goodies!

Inside were Table Turn watches from FluD, t-shirts from Kiser, 1Soul and Yote City. Artist were ushered to the “big red chair” for a photo opt (expect a coffee table book of all photos to appear exclusively at Yume) and served Red Bull, given complimentary massages, Play Station 3 battles and live screen-printing t-shirts. While waiting for the massages and photos, many browsed the additional t-shirts on the rack. Everyone and their mothers were there to greet the artists: Brooklyn’s one and only The Wagon Boutique, press, industry heads and most importantly, me! Special thanks to Doug from FluD watches and the Yume team for making it happen.

by Aisha Gomez, the Latina Fashionista

Do you remember Graffiti being plastered all over NYC back in the day? Not just tagging and weak-ass vandalism, but the art of Graffiti that you’d catch on the trains going home or the handball courts around the way? Whatever happened to graf culture?

I remember the guys from the block taking the valves off Aqua Net hairspray aerosol cans to acquire a larger, smoother spray mist when tagging up on Wade Junior High on Morris Avenue in the Bronx. It was such an accomplishment, to tag their names and have all the kids admire the craftsmanship and to have the cojones to deface school property. That is until the cops or school officials figured out who was who and suspensions, probations and all sorts of goodies were handed out. That was back in 88’, before New York and other cities that had issues with graffiti artists tagging up on subways and other properties started buckling down hard on these “defacing criminals”. Since then Graffiti has been absent from the NYC landscape.

That is until now…Tattoot, the new backpack and messenger bag collection that vows “graffiti is OUTLAWED no more!”, was formed by art curators David Ben David and Eddie Shabot. They put together their love of graffiti and street art and are rewriting the rules to provide outlets for graffiti artists around the world. The collection consist of cool backpacks with pockets to hold books, markers, spray paint as well as messenger bags that function as laptop bags. Be sure to pick up your work of art at www.tatootbags.com or Dr. Jays starting mid July.

It’s that time of the market when we’re done with Fall Ready To Wear and we all start getting ready for the mens shows. Regardless of season or styles, nothing is better than attending a fashion show. I was cordially invited to Gen Art’s Styles 2008. What makes this show special is that this year marks the 10th anniversary of Gen Art and it’s hosted by none more fashionable than Mr. Robert Verdi.

For those unfamiliar with Gen Art, it’s a platform for emerging designers, filmmakers and artists with stages in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco. The committee distributed over $35,000 in awards and introduced designers to major industry heads. Many have used Gen Art as a launch pad to their success in fashion; think Peter Som, Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor…just to name a few.

I found many young, talented designers for clothing and accessories. I remember trooping to the Lower East Side way back when, up a fourth floor walk up to see emerging shoe designer Alejandro Igelmo and later to see his designs at Gen Art. I get all giggly when I find a collection that’s unique, non-commercial and hasn’t been tainted by the industry.

Although Alejandro didn’t win Accessories Designer that year (2006) he did go into Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Holt Renfrew (courtesy of moi). But no need to stroke my ego on just doing my job, I’m here to congratulate those winners who competed against 850 finalists from over 35 countries and were chosen by some of the best in the industry: Michael Fink (Saks Fifth Avenue), Victoria Bartlett, Carlos Falchi, Douglass Hannant, Mark Ecko and Alexis Bittar who started his company by selling jewelry on the streets of NYC. Much love and congratulations from Americanisado!

Yujin Song- Ready to Wear

Timothy Franklin - Menswear

Ninaki – Jewelry/Accessories

Maria Potesta- Avant Garde

Jolibe- Vision Award for Radiance