Hi All,
How are you? I’m hoping you're doing well and are happy. I’m happy to see the recent rains, and am enjoying at least a few days of cooler temps. It’s hard to believe it’s the middle of August!
I’ve also been enjoying this August because I’ve been able to return (masked-up) to markets! I spent the first part of this week in Chicago, at the Collective. The Collective is a men’s market held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. (It’s a magnificent building in its own right — check it out here.) It was so good to reconnect with rep friends and fellow retailers. Just to be able to touch fabrics and see styles in person was so terrific! This market was for Spring and Summer 2022. I really liked some of my old stalwarts like Alan Paine, Parajumpers, Holebrook and Grayers. The newer adds such as Relwen, Faherty, White Sands and Crossley looked great too. I also discovered a few new potential vendors. More to come about them, as I decide which lines will make the Brightwater cut. It was a great market! Besides, Chicago is such a great city to enjoy! (We had dinner at an old favorite: Frontera Grill. It’s Rick Bayliss’ first James-Beard-Award-winning restaurant. If you haven’t been, you owe it to yourself to go!)
I’m (also) excited to see the middle of August because that means the next season—of clothing anyway—is upon us. We’ve started to receive the first few touches of fall merchandise and the switch from summer to autumn in Brightwater has started. I’m pretty lucky that I work with companies that have wonderfully established manufacturing and shipping relationships, so I feel we’ll be in good shape with receiving fall apparel for ladies and gents. If you're out and about this weekend, swing by, say hi, and peruse the start of what I believe will be a pretty great Fall Collection!
Let’s continue to stay safe, take care, be kind, and remember to smile!
Lots of love,
- Bill
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