why is The Clothing Show so terrible?

This past weekend I had a booth at The Clothing Show, something I’ve done twice a year for the past five years. The show has been getting worse and worse every time, and I am scratching my head trying to figure out why.

To break it down for you, all you thousands of people who are reading this, who were also not there- The Clothing Show is an event in Toronto where clothing, accessory and streetwear designers, showrooms, vintage dealers, and other *randoms* can get a booth  for a nominal fee(read, less expensive than other similar venues) to sell their wares.

Five years ago, The Clothing Show was like a mall on boxing day. Seriously! I remember the first time I did it, remarking to my boothmate, “Holy Shit! This Mo-Fo is bizzeeee”  But, the attendance has dwindled noticeably every show since. I have sold more and more every time I do the show, which is why I keep doing it. I also love being able to experience first hand who appreciates my line, to see what they like and don’t like. For instance, this past show, everyone was all over a few pieces from my fall 08 line. Maybe I am ahead of the curve, or maybe they liked the price tag, which was below cost for me.  I’ve learned- people are willing to take a chance on something out of the ordinary if the price is right.

This is what I’ve come up with, to make The Clothing Show better! Because it has such potential!

- The organizers need to edit. The show would improve 10 fold if it was juried. At last falls Clothing Show there were more than one booth selling sheets. Sheets! What the hell does that have to do with fashion? And at this show, there was someone selling blenders. The only relation I can come up with between small kitchen appliances and fashion is. . . I got nothing. What is wrong with this picture?

-Way too many booths selling pashminas. How depressing to be selling $10 pashminas, and competing against 12 other booths trying to do the same. Same goes for cheap Made In China garbage.

-Advertising. There were more than a few moments of standing around with other booth holders, arms crossed, lamenting the suckage, trying to figure out why there were no people at the show- contrary to the fact that the organizers had advertised like never before. I think their advertising is way too general. They need to focus on the deals. The average Clothing Show shopper is only looking for deals, that’s the nature. So why not advertise that way? Every local designer in the house is practically giving their goods away at wholesale, or below.

-Where are all the locavores? Most modern folk are adept in preaching their personal standards of only shopping local- but where were they this past weekend? At least 100 of the 300 booths present were Made in Toronto designers. The advertising should reflect this, do the locavores just not know that it’s a one stop shop for eternal salvation in the 100km radius heaven?

-On that note, the public needs to be educated on what it costs to make clothing in Canada. If it’s say, a cute dress, and it costs less than $100, and you’re buying it from a local designer- that is a serious deal. Exclamation point.  All people involved in the creation of said dress are probably making minimum wage.

-There were so many unique and wonderful things for sale at The Clothing Show, made by the people that were hanging around all weekend in their booths, and I am not sure if they are getting the props they deserve. Has fashion become so uncherishable?  I am all for buying less and appreciating more, so why not patronize a venue that may surprise, delight, inspire you?  Maybe it will be worth something someday, after you’ve had your fill. This time in our lives will be history someday, afterall.

Thank you to all the women who stopped in at my booth, tried something on, talked to me about my work. I loved being there, it was exciting and interesting and I will do it again.

In September, I hope to see you there!