Tranoï prepares for New York edition

By

Jean-Paul Leroy

Published
Sep 23, 2014

On the eve of Paris fashion week and the accompanying trade shows, Tranoï, the most important, has confirmed an edition to be held in New York in February 2015.

Evidently, the trade show will be held from February 21 - 23, at the same time as other shows planned to be held in New York. The dates will come just after the American fashion week, while in Paris, Tranoï is held at the same time as catwalk shows. The New York model thus separates fashion week (fashion shows) from market week (trade shows), the latter taking place a few days after the former. 

The organizers of Tranoï have selected a location not far from the Javits Center, home to the trade show Coterie, which is organized by ENK International. The event will be held at The Tunnel, which sprawls over 22,000 square feet and is located on 11th Avenue, between 27th and 28th Street in Chelsea. 

Certain French industry insiders are familiar with The Tunnel, as it was there that Prêt-à-Porter Paris organized the exhibition The Train. For those interested in the ambiance and architecture, the locale lives up to the kinds of upscale atmospheres generally sought out by Tranoï, with one end offering a unique view of the Hudson.  

Tranoï is aiming for 80 exhibitors for this first edition, which the show hopes will be internationally oriented with Europeans, Asians and of course Americans. 

Admittedly, as Tranoï’s artistic director Armand Hadida points out, many of these potential exhibitors are already in New York at the time of the trade shows, but they’re scattered. Tranoï aims to bring the kind of thing they are familiar with in Paris to New York.

Nevertheless, the French organizers emphasize the humility that they have adopted for this first edition. "We won’t be there to teach anyone anything,” said David Hadida, director of Tranoï. “We’re only there to lend our expertise and our outlook.” 

Tranoï's arrival in New York coincides with the ever-greater appeal of the city and American in general in terms of the fashion business. Reed, the American organizer of shows such as Capsule, has also announced the launch of a show in New York from February 22 - 24, featuring so-called contemporary brands. 

The resilience of the American economy and the unfettered dynamism of America’s largest city seems to shine at a time when Europe is struggling to recover and when Asia is still looking toward other models.