Kith. Fall 2019 - New York Fashion Week

 

(Images from the designer and the public domain. Credited to the photographer/company where applicable: Gorunway.com)

Thrift store looks are opening up as the main trend for 2020, which is interesting I have been covering its emergence as a trend since 2017, for all of its particulars in relation to market details there is no much really grand about the thrift shop styles or trends of mix and match.  Its been done before.  But, the difference in relation to mid 90's second hand styles, which originated from the grudge music scene of the early 90's (that borrowed from the late 1970's punk scenes of London and NYC), is the incorporating of a more stylized version of sportswear.  That was the tail end of grunge with its street wear elements.  Which, as an overall trend, works due to one thing; it isn't exclusively affordable (yet).  It is still consumption orientated, hence most thrift shops now running their business within the corporate or equivalent metric sales systems – that didn't exist over twenty years ago.  The post graduates are buying designer brands, say a single piece and mixing with what they find in thrift store for between $10 and $20+, they have become savvy as consumers, but not defined by any counter culture trend.  Which simply does not exist in tandem with aesthetics at this point time in history.  They are too busy reworking 80's 90's so called fashion risqué, whilst embracing 1950s nuclear family part 2 values.  It is just fashion intermixed with identifying with social cues, with an interesting take on the said era's.  Everyone is an entrepreneur. 

However the problem with reworking and repricing fashion markets, particularly with first hand looks and second hand styles, is the costing.  Fast Fashion can undercut everyone, including Thrift shops.  Designers exclusively looking at the 2nd hand styles as cue for new markets may find the reality fatal in a materialistic sense, unless the Chinese buyers snap up the whole thrift shop look.  And they may soon, at some point, with their credit cards, maybe starting to run a little dry.  Which may undo the thrift styles as a markable and high price trend. 

Ronnie Fieg knows footwear, Queens born New York City local.  Astute, worked with early collaborations with Asics, who as a sportswear company is always on the look out for newer players, designing the Gel Lyte IIIs series, in 2011 he opened his first shop called Kith NYC, stockpiling all the collaborative plays that he has made with Converse, Saucony and more importantly New Balance – as the brand sells extremely well into both American and Japanese markets.  All and all Fieg's success is set within the street wise knowledge and his shrewed business like dealings. Always offer sweeteners, to which he did with his Fall 2019 show, offering a bottle of Tequila (Blanco) to the special guests attending.  With the 'Kith' branding in association with Mexican Tequila giant Don Julio. 

Kith's Fall 2019 for New York Fashion Week is a massive collection at 95 pieces, all, as mentioned, resembles the ensemble of Thrift shop styles.