Community over competition

Last week, we kicked off trade show season with a trip to New York City for the Designer Forum in New York, hosted by the Custom Tailor and Designer Association.

Fabric houses, manufacturers, and a small handful of brands take over hotel suites, while custom clothiers from across the country gather to see new fabrications, review models, and reconnect with the people who shape this industry. Years ago, while working for another boutique, I attended large trade shows at the Javits Center, events geared toward small shops, filled with ready-to-wear product you could walk in and buy off the rack.

The Designer Forum is different. DFNY is built specifically for custom clothiers. Most of the attendees sell exclusively custom clothing. Some have brick-and-mortar shops. Others work entirely on the road. What unites everyone in the room is a shared commitment to fit, craft, and building garments one person at a time.

What I love most about this show is the camaraderie. Most of us do not need to be there. New fabrics are not released every week. Most models do not change dramatically year to year. We show up anyway. We show up to be part of a community. We attend keynotes, sit and talk without agendas, share stories, challenges, and small wins. It is one of the rare spaces where growing your business feels less like competition and more like collective progress.

I’m most excited about our expansion of womenswear. We are partnering with a new fabric house: Carnet. Their fabrics will really expand our possibilities.

Community over competition.