Manhattan’s Little Italy of Fashion

Manhattan’s Little Italy of Fashion. Carson Street Clothiers/New York

The store exudes masculinity without losing itself in clichés. Two former lawyers - who do not only share ex

quisite taste, but also a rather unusual hobby - have entered the fashion industry successfully. Text: Petrina Engelke. Photos: Carson Street Clothiers

Bravado - this single word characterises the style of Carson Street Clothiers. The term positions itself somewhere between bravery and boastfulness, dresses a mixture of daredevil and bully, and is - disregarding the word’s origin - definitely Italian in this store. “Italians are loud and proud”, says Brian Trunzo while highlighting what’s so special about Italian menswear. “And we”, the son of an immigrant from Calabria continues, “have the manufacturing know-how to make the world’s most aspirational, creative, and beautiful garments.” This passion for fine materials and the willingness to take a small risk are not only reflected in Carson Street’s Italian men’s brands. Alongside Missoni and Barena, one can also find brands such as Greg Lauren and Jil Sander. Furthermore, the store has always had its own private label. “We believed that, in order to set ourselves apart from other retailers, we would need to hone our point of view with our own product”, Trunzo says.

Fashion Consciousness Seeks Kindred Spirits

The ubiquitous US crude brick wall is daubed in white at Carson Street. Coarse wood is lacquered, while industrial metal has been mounted subtly with bolts. This is not a nostalgic Americana, but a place that breathes fashion consciousness and attracts kindred

From hedge fund lawyers to shopkeepers - Brian Trunzo dresses lawyers and other office goers in style.

spirits. Therefore it comes as no surprise that one will often see people discussing fashion issues in the sitting area with magazines and books. Some customers can be spotted waiting for their measurements to be taken with beer in hand. The store not only offers ready-made fashion; alterations are free of charge (as is the beer, by the way). Nothing in this store yells out “Experience!”, but a visit turns into one all the same. This is, however, not a coincidence. “I went from being a hedge fund lawyer to owning a retail store”, Trunzo explains. He met Matt Breen at law school and the two soon started thinking about a joint business venture. At that time, Trunzo also maintained his hobby on the side: his “Nice Try, Bro” blog. In this blog, he mocked fashion blunders pointedly. “If something was deserving of having fun pointed at in my old blog, well, it just didn’t deserve to be on the shelves of our store (and vice versa)”, he says in retrospect.

From Snappy Blogger to Store Owner with Bravado

His scathing comments are how he made valuable contacts: “If I took pictures of myself wearing garbage products given to me for free by awful contemporary brands while holding ice cream cones and jumping off street curbs, then I’m sure I would never have developed a serious platform off of which I could attempt to establish a business.” Trunzo has moved on from the world of blogs. That was long ago and today he dismisses it as a mere hobby. Nevertheless, the intransigence of the past defines the store concept. As an entrepreneur, he sees more clearly what can mislead a fashion enthusiast online: the filter bubble. “Not everything you see in the ‘blogosphere’ has mass appeal”, he warns. Countless insiders may rave about a niche product, but it will ultimately only be appreciated by like-minded people. “What appeals to the upper echelon of society might not translate into sales in a retail operation that is open to the masses.” Such findings do not detract from the aforementioned bravado. For instance, the store’s website displays the current weather conditions. “We figure that anyone visiting our site will eventually set it as the homepage and thus would want to the see the weather first thing in the morning.”

Carson Street Clothiers

63 Crosby St., New York, NY 10012 Telephone +1 212 925 2627 www.carsonstreetclothiers.com Opening: March 2013 Owners: Matt Breen, Brian Trunzo Employees: 8 Sales area: 185 sqm (2,000 square feet) Brands for men: Massimo Alba, AMI, Jil Sander, Greg Lauren, Lemaire, Tomas Maier, Missoni, Visvim, and others Accessories brands: Blind Barber, Joya Studio, Lovat and Green, Mismo, Saphir, and others Shoe brands: Number 288, Visvim, Want Les Essentiels de la Vie, and others

Carson Street Clothiers is defined by elegantly pepped up industrial chic. A lounge corner en- sures that the store is a meeting point for kindred spirits.