CONTEMPORARY: A FASHION FLASHBACK
Byline: Anne D’Innocenzio
NEW YORK — Get out those granny glasses with the blue lenses.
Mod is making a comeback, and contemporary designers are playing it to the hilt with psychedelic colors, vinyl, plastic and snakeskin.
They’re also getting into the high tech scene, with nylon vests in abstract prints.
But there’s a tamer side. Corduroy, which used to be so drab, now appears to be heating up among the contemporary bunch.
“I love all this disco, flashy stuff,” said Betsey Johnson, who is showing boot pants in liquid foil and silver tank tops as well as polyester jersey dresses. It’s all part of the Seventies, and I am into reviving that stuff.”
Her palette includes lime green and hot pink. She is also showing what she calls her “meat and potatoes” fashions, which include her signature crepe de chine dresses.
Laundry by Shelli Segal is pushing head-to-toe unicolor dressing, in black, white and brown. Designs include slim pants and hip-huggers in matte jersey and vinyl, shrunken mock turtlenecks in high tech knits and Ultrasuede dresses, according to designer Shelli Segal.
“It is all part of this good taste/bad taste thing that’s going on in fashion,” she said.
Soda Blue, a division of Hugunot Clothing Ltd., is offering vintage Hawaiian prints in tops, dresses and wrap skirts for summer.
Its transition collection includes brights like orange and lilac.
“The prints are very Sixties-inspired,” said Lawrence Kaplan, president. “We have designs that just feature one big flower.”
Willi Wear is counting on corduroy.
“It’s going to be hot,” said Michael Shulman, design director. Willi Wear features corduroy in flat-front and traditional pleated pants.
It is offering blazers, jackets, skirts and pants in wool twill and mohair. The firm also has a techno group, which includes nylon designs like ski-inspired down-filled jackets.
“There is all this influence from Prada and CourrAges,” said Shulman.
Sentimental Exclusive Designs, which offers clubwear for the in-crowd, is showing lots of stretch vinyl halter tops and hip-hugger pants in yellow, pink, black and white, according to Sam Michael Hourani, president.
“We are mixing the vinyl with shiny satin,” he said.
Looks include animal prints and snakeskin. A three-piece set includes a motorcycle jacket, bustier and flared skirt, all in clear plastic.
B-Real is moving away from the shiny look and going after nylon and Lycra spandex in such neon colors as lime, orange and lilac.
“I’m tired of all that shine,” said Sean Roo, president, whose spring/summer collection includes wide-leg and capri pants as well as button-down shirts, in polyester knitwear. “For the shirts, we are showing very weird psychedelic prints.”
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Absolute Lee-Global Wear
Acappella
Action Wear USA Inc.
Adini
Allen Allen, USA
Anna-Bella Designs
Atelier Inc.
B-Real
Baggu T’s at Creative Concepts
Basement Clothing USA Inc.
Ben & Elle
Betsey Johnson
Bila
Bisou-Bisou
Brannan Apparel Group
Brave Heart
Canyon Inc.
Casabawa Imports (USA) Inc.
Carole Katz
Charta/Dena
Ci Sono
Co & Eddy — by Summit Ridge
Cotton Emporium
Cristina Dioguardi — Beyond Threads
Cut Loose
Cute Options
David Dart
David People/Aprido
Depart at Creative Concepts
Derek Andrew Inc.
Desire-Kamellia
Diva
Dress To Kill
Durham Road
Dylan Crews
Easyriders
Edan Productions
Endeavor Trading Inc.
Enoshi Knitwear
Exotic Collection
Dixietex International, Inc. FX Trends
Faliz Inc. dba “Atria” — “Sexia”
Fang
Fredini
GDS Sigi Inc.
Gail Garner Designs
Globe Trotter
Gypsy
H2O Generation
India Trade Promotion Organization
Indigo Hand
International Trends Inc.
Iris Preis
JK Int’l/Casual Studio
Jeannie Nitro
Jenn Evans
Johnny Was
Kanxio-Front First Designs Inc.
Karavan
Karen Kane Inc.
Kelby’z African Elegance
Kembali
Kenar
Kiko/Laissez Faire
Kusandi-New York
L. Bates
L.N. Gododia & Sons (P) Ltd.
L.W. Sin-Sations
LBL Apparel
La Sara, A Division of Rajco Int’l
LaBoo
Lady-John Inc.
Laundry by Shelli Segal
Lauren K. Design Inc.
Legends by Sunisha
Longhouse Fashion Inc.
Love Tent
Lua
Lutar International
M&S Collections Inc.
MC Squared Sports-wear Inc.
M. Kalan at Creative Concepts
Mamo Howell Inc.
Mannequines
Masquerade Apparel
Mesmerize By Kamikam
Mia & Co.
Mica
Momentum/Moe
N.E. Wear
Nathany
Nativewear Designs
New Options
Nicolini
No Saint
Olive
Omaha Clothing
On Your Back
One Way Design Ltd.
Only In USA
Outer Limits
PJLA
P&S Fashion
Painted Pony Clothing
Pandora Casuals
Papy Boez
Pawan Enterprises
Performance Sport
Pinky West/Encore
Poleci
Pondicherri
Purrr Co.
Quickreflex
RIX
RagNet
Rampage Clothing Co.
Ravia
Regent Impex Inc.
Regine
Rem Garson
Remake
Romeo Romeo/Georgie Porgie
Sam Hilu’s Primitive Arts Inc.
San Francisco City Lights
Sangam
Sentimental Exclusive Designs
Shanghai C&C Garment USA Inc.
Showmart/Joes/NC Love/Danielle Dahan
Silk by JCE
Soda Blu
Sparkling Int’l Inc.
St. Maarten Accessories
Stamp Clothing
State of the Art
Sterling Styles Inc.
Steven Mark
Streets Ahead
THM/Scarlet O
Tag Rag
Tanin
Taraliya
Team Tactics/Level 99
Tessuto
Tianello Inc.
Todd Thompson
Touch Me Fashion
Trnka
UBU by YB Noral
URU by Kristine St. Rrik
Usindo
Willi Wear
Worlds Apart
Xpose’/Leather Xpose’
Zashi
Zioni