Posted on January 28 2018
As the new goods for spring start to hit the shelves at H+A, we jetted off to NYC to take a peek at what’s coming for fall/winter 2018. Twice a year we make the journey east to hand pick the best of the best from our favorite suppliers, perhaps discovering someone new that fits the mold. After landing and getting situated at our hotel, we ventured off to grab a quick bite at a cozy little bar named The Spaniard that we wished we had in our own back yard. A few drinks and some light bites kept the jetlag at bay for a bit, but that oh so early 5am flight finally caught up to us and we were through, but fully ready for the upcoming show day.
Day 1 of the show started with a great cup of coffee and snacks from the Jolly Goat, a tiny little shop nestled amongst the touristy chaos of mid-town. Grabbing our umbrellas, we then trudged across soggy streets to pier 94 and into the show where we bumped into our local friends at Good + Well Supply Co. For first timers with extreme jetlag from the redeye, their space was tip top and the scents they create via candles, sprays, soaps and others are always best in class. Directly across from them, the good folks at Craighill had some great new items and colors added to their line of accessories, expanding their range of fun one-of-a-kind gifts. Not to be outdone, our friends at Ace & Everett also upped the color game of their made in USA socks with some new combinations for Fall along with Spring options that we were able to hand pick on site. If you haven’t dropped by to pick up a pair yet, you’re missing out! They are some of the best feeling socks we’ve tried. We wrapped up our accessory quest by taking in the expanded range of ties and pocket squares from PSC along with an AWESOME new glove company you’ll see this Fall. We’ll keep that one (along with a few others) secret-ish for now and you’ll thank us later.
Moving on from accessories to clothing, our first stop was with what we feel are the BEST jeans on the planet. Kato’s jeans are made with a 4-way stretch 10.5oz selvedge denim so comfortable that Anthony has 4 pairs and his eye on 2 more in the new blue and gray versions. They’ve also added some great new shirts and jackets with the same level of detail we’ve come to know and love from them.
Not to be outdone, our favorite UK maker, Kestin Hare, had a bevy of incredible new shirts and coats that add a little different take on the usual, utilizing great cuts and interesting patterns. All while remaining an easy and comfortable fit.
Our last stop at this show was at our newest addition to the H+A shirting range, 18 Waits out of Toronto. As expected, the amazing patterns they created are the perfect statement pieces for your wardrobe. Drop in this spring to see our first selection from them for summer, we’re super excited to have them be part of the expanded H+A lineup.
With one show down and one to go, the rain done and temps in the 60’s, we ditched our umbrellas to walk downtown. We took in sights via the Highline park in parts eventually ending up in SoHo and into show #2. First up, was Jungmaven, who’s hemp T’s and tops are not only comfortable, but eco-friendly as well. With a laid back surf inspired vibe, they fit right in with our PNW way of life. Bouncing from T’s to outerwear, we spent some time with our favorite Japanese brand, Still By Hand. We absolutely love their take on modern jackets, sweaters and shirts, each bringing a fresh take on the basics we’ve come to know and love of their products. Our day ended at longtime favorite Corridor, who always makes it challenging for us to pick our mix of shirts because there’s so much good stuff to choose from. No matter hat we bring in from them, its nearly always gone that week!
Exhausted from the day, we dropped into The Dutch for dinner, where great food and a lively atmosphere closed out a phenomenal day.
Of course, no trip to Manhattan would be complete without a day to wander. With temps now in the 30’s (yes, a 30 degree drop!), coffee stops were planned out in advance to ensure we were caffeinated and warm. A few highlights included Four Five, Irving Farm Roasters, Ground Support and of course Rapha NYC.
Taking in all the boujee high end retail of SoHo is fun for us, finding inspiration in spots and sideways glances in others, but always adding ideas to our retail hopper. Tucked among the fashion houses was a store called Blue in Green that we somehow missed all these years. With a great selection of denim and clothing form around the globe, their fashion game was on point. Always happy to talk biz and share stories with good people in our industry. To wrap it all up, of course no day of gallivanting around the city is complete without dinner. A cozy little spot in SoHo called Chalk Point Kitchen, with old skool hip hop in the background, great food on the table and awesome folks on staff made it the perfect end to our trip.
Yet another buying odyssey in the books. Each one better than the last. 4+ years into this adventure, we’ve come to know our suppliers well and really appreciate the care they put into what they do. Its truly a labor of love for each and every one of them. We hope this translates well to our shop at Hammer+Awl and gives you a little something different with each piece you buy from us.
Thanks for reading!
Cheers,
Erin and Anthony
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