Milan & Berlin Fashion Week 2011

MILAN

Being passionate about fashion is an understatement for the Milanese. Upon landing and entering the terminal you can see they would rather go naked than be seen in last seasons collections. We discovered Italian etiquette within minutes too,concerning coffee in this instance; stand and hurry the hell up. Perfectly groomed with immaculate detail and an edgy exterior is how to best describe the Milanese. We were very jealous.

Milan Fashion Week is special. Beside the wonderful grace of the city and its people, it finds the balance of being London without the crap. Its expensive but endearing because everywhere you stop to drink/eat is so beautiful (even the central McDonald's has a Prada and LouisVuitton beside it). You become wrapped up in the scene immediately.

The real reason we had arrived in Milan was for the inauguration of the new Avista Showrooms located in the the lower South West side of the City. Our new European agents Acrex have recently opened the showroom to be the most innovative multi-label showroom in all of Milan, if not Italy. We sit beside some of the finest up coming and established brands currently available. Nicole Fahri's choice and commitment to the Avista showroom demonstrates the purse strings yet the team at Acrex believe passionately in long term growth and development from campaign to campaign which is why we said yes.

The ANW AW2011 collection looks stunning in the midst of some incredible brands. The finish of the showroom with its bar/lounge area and touch screen collection visuals makes this a buyers heaven. Fingers crossed the campaign reflects this with the immense hard work that went into ensuring the showroom and the collection was 100%.

The Avista Showrooms have a fantastic new site where ANW features in their AW11 campaign videos. The link is:

http://www.avistashowroom.com/sito/home.html

BERLIN

When you mention Berlin people tend to follow with 'has the best night life in Europe'. With time restrictions we didn't manage to explore much, however the focus for this trip was the Bread and Butter trade show which sees all the top brands from around the world under one roof. The venue is the magnificent Airport Berlin - Tempelhof. During the Second World War Tempelhof was a major logistical centre for all things in the sky. The building is stunning; a huge mile long hanger which acts perfectly in holding every major brand in the world for three days in mid January.

Inside the Hanger

Registration Zone

B&B is many things but in essence the show offers a panoramic view of the entire portfolio of brands, which are presenting collections, visions and highlights in the industry. And Now Wee was a visitor this year so not presenting but watch this space. Meeting and speaking with other brands is important. The amazing walk away feeling is the under lying respect that each brand has for one another. Each is exploring their own journey of innovative and design.  

Mercedes Cat Walk  

Ambassadors House 

Point Square

Berlin is an incredible city and ANW sees a future in Germany's Capital. As this B&B adventure came to an end it definitely marked the start of something small but very special for the brand going forward.

 

http://www.avistashowroom.com/sito/home.html

FASHION-STYLIST.NET INTERVIEW

We were recently interviewed by Rebekah Roy who to put it lightly, and very modestly, is one of London’s top stylists. Just by scratching the surface you quickly discover she has dressed the likes of The Feeling, Kate Nash and Billy Idol to name but a few. Her client list reads Visa, Nintendo, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Harrods, Virgin whilst also finding time for her column in Drappers. Did we mention she is the in-house editor for Fashion.Music.Style magazine? Rebekah popped to the stall and we got chatting. For the full interview see the link to the website:

 

http://www.fashion-stylist.net/blog/2011/01/10/an-interview-with-menswear-label-and-now-wee/

 

AND NOW WEE SIGN DEAL WITH ACREX ITALIA

After many weeks of negotiations we can finally share the news of our new agency contract with Acrex Italia. Unfortunately we can’t lay out the specifics for legal reasons, you would fall asleep anyway, but in brief Acrex will represent ANW throughout Europe for the next two seasons. Our AW 2011 collection will feature in their Milan and Antwerp showrooms and begin expanding the brand across the continent.  We will be sitting beside brands such as Nicole Fahri, Ai Ai Ai and Forrest & Bob. The Avista Showrooms (Milan) website will be finished in the next few weeks along with the Fashion Island showrooms in Antwerp are already displaying forefront brands such as Cheap Monday and Denham:

http://www.avistashowroom.com/

www.fashionisland.be

 

The deal is significant in building growth for the future and ensuring ANW can be readily available in a variety of special places across Europe. Thank you for the hard work at both ends to make this happen.

 

LAYERING

 

With the festivities behind there are still some things to try as we enter the next decade. We take a look at the layering options for the modern day man facing the second half of winter.

 

Correct ways of layering is often over complicated. When you strip it back (pun:sorry) it serves as a practical function, which as the street etiquette boys of New York’s Bronx adequately phrase; ‘shields you from the frigid weather’. They go on to state ‘the trick to mastering the art of layering is to consider colour, cut and silhouettes that look keen to the eye…it’s a natural progression…the thinnest garments should be closest to your body with the thicker pieces layered over those….’  

For some of you this is common sense but we have been amazed throughout the recent cold snap at how wrong certain gentlemen are getting this. So in an attempt to develop one of our foremost values we have gathered a few ideas concerning layering that may inspire you whilst we wait for mid April.

 

Rolled sleeves

 

The Look: A 5 second task that offers an entirely comprehensive new look and statement.

The Reality: Rolling ones sleeves isn’t just for manual activities. It demonstrates a good eye and subtle taste so don’t be afraid to complete 2-3 rolls, anymore kills the look and often hinders practical day to day functions by becoming too tight. If you’re ambitious why not try with thicker wool based garment.

 

Thin Layers

 

The Look: Subtle two layered visions. Often dependant on how cold the location is.

The Reality: Length and visibility is essential. Never tuck and allow the first thin layer to drop below the thicker protective layer(s).

 

Going Oversized

 

The Look: Knitwear should be oversized to allow for layering. ANW knitwear is designed to be oversized in certain areas to allow for this. Subsequently if you are used to tighter knitwear go a size down than normal for ANW. For the ambitious amongst you, layer up two or three times over to feel the benefits.

The Reality: Larger than normal knitwear is an expression of freedom. Lost Sunday afternoons after a piping hot shower is entirely appropriate with an abundance of layers.

 

SIGN UPs

 

To all of our current customers we are asking for a little New Year help with our email sign up campaign. It takes under 30 seconds to complete via the bottom of every page at andnowwee.com.

The contribution can be as small as asking just one family / friend member to sign up.