The Chicago Collective has become a premier trade show in the menswear business. It may seem odd that a team based in the fashion capital of New York City would travel to Chicago for a major portion of our buying — but the truth is, the Collective offers something unmatched: 746 curated brands under one (very large) roof. Even the Italian Trade Commission sends 62 of its finest.
That’s a lot to take in over just a few days.
At Rothmans, we pride ourselves on being hands-on and ever-present in our stores.
To make that possible, we need the efficiency a show like this delivers. Yes, we have dedicated NYC and Italy appointments with key partners like Canali, Corneliani, Jack Victor, and Faherty. But the Collective is where we pull it all together. Over four days in early August, we pack in about 40 appointments, using any spare time to scout new talent and weigh the price-to-value ratio of potential partners. Our vendor roster is famously tough to crack, but we’re always looking for the next great designer. And with 1,800 buyers in attendance, the show doubles as a hub for swapping insights and spotting trends with other fashion minds.
We’ll admit it — we love efficiency, and that’s why we love the Chicago Collective. It’s beautifully run, highly productive, and set in a city that knows how to host a great dinner (and pour a great drink). For four days, the roles reverse — instead of catering to our clients, we get to be the client.
And we enjoy every minute of it.
