PROJECt fw26/27: dIscovery, dialogue, and the future of men's fashion
This season, PROJECT once again brought the global fashion community together for a marketplace where commerce, creativity, and culture intersect. Retailers, brands, and industry professionals returned to the Las Vegas event to discover emerging labels, explore new collections, and build relationships. Key menswear categories included streetwear, sportswear, outerwear, and a new section centered around suiting – PROJECT Classic as well as meaningful education sessions and inspiring art-driven activations.
inspiring activations
GOLF IS GROWING
As highlighted in a recent Forbes Business article, ‘Non-Golf’ Brands Get Into Golf Apparel, From Blue Jeans To Betting, “There were more U.S. rounds of golf played in 2023 than any other year in history, and 2024 thus far is running ahead of that pace. On top of that, the recent societal shift toward more casual and/or athletic lifestyle apparel makes golf gear an increasingly versatile option, whether on the golf course, at work, or out on the town.” As golf rapidly evolves into one of the fastest-growing categories in menswear, PROJECT responded with the return of GOLF STORE presented by Gwop Meet, a dedicated section highlighting the intersection of sport, lifestyle, and contemporary design. The brainchild of Troy Aguila, founder of Gwop Meet, and David Strong, owner of STORE, the activations quickly became a favorite amongst retailers and brands alike. This season’s edit showcased how golf style is moving beyond rigid tradition toward heritage-informed design with an edgy twist, featuring brands such as Breezy Golf, HEAD Golf, Psycho Bunny, Truwear, and more.
Published March 2026
NeW to the neighborhood: project Classic
work hard, play hard
Street style photographers captured the individuality of the PROJECT community as retailers, designers, and creators expressed their personal style across the show floor. From tailored classics to experimental silhouettes, the diversity of looks reflected the evolving nature of contemporary fashion. (For more inspo check out Fashion by Informa's Street Style photography from New York, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks.)
To Attend
ReGISTER HERE
FW26/27 Footwear Buyer's Guide
Designed for men’s and women’s footwear buyers, this product-forward guide simplifies the season’s key themes into a focused checklist of must-have silhouettes, standout colors, and detail updates shaping the market.
Read Now
FW26/27 Menswear Buyer's Guide
This guide delivers a concise checklist of must-have items, merchandising notes, assortment strategies, and more to help menswear buyers stay ahead of seasonal trends.
Read Now
Inside PROJECT FW26/27
PROJECT is back in Las Vegas for another exciting event. Read on to discover the best brands from new to established, local to global, to appeal to your consumer.
READ NOW
Related Content
GLOBAL TEXTILES
This season, The Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporter Association invited guests to their custom-built lounge, transporting you into the world of Turkish textiles and high level Türkish clothing. Visitors gained inspiration, connected with new brands, and discussed trade and exports with top Turkish textile exporters. ITKIB even had their own espresso bar, fueling attendees at the event.
Beyond the marketplace, PROJECT’s on-site Education + Experiences provided a platform for thought leadership and industry dialogue. Panels and discussions brought together designers, founders, and industry experts to explore the forces shaping fashion today.
Men’s retail continues to evolve as new consumer behaviors, and business models reshape the landscape. In The Future of Men’s Retail: New Consumers, New Business Models, New Opportunities, Kwassi Byll-Cataria, Co-Owner of Moda 404, and Robert Rosenthal, Owner of Xhibition, shared insights on what’s changing across the retail ecosystem and where the next opportunities lie for brands and buyers. Moderated by Anthony Mastracci, Senior Commerce Editor at Men’s Journal, the discussion explored how retailers are adapting to shifting consumer expectations while navigating new strategies for growth in the menswear market.
As consumer behavior continues to shift, understanding what drives purchasing decisions has never been more important for retailers. Inspired by the newest 2026 US Fashion Consumer Outlook Report, the session Fit, Value, Impact: Understanding 2026’s Consumer Priorities, Courtney Hazirjian, Head of Creative Marketing & Insights at Fashion by Informa, and Abeni Watts, Content Marketing Manager, Insights at Fashion by Informa, unpacked the three key factors shaping fashion consumption today. The session explored how retailers can leverage these insights to refine buying strategies, manage inventory more effectively, and ultimately drive stronger sales in an evolving market.
Forecasting the seasons ahead remains essential for retailers preparing future assortments. In the FW26/27 Men's Buyers Guide: from Culture to the Selling Floor, presented by Future Snoops, Michael Leahy, Menswear Trendcaster at Future Snoops, delivered an in-depth presentation connecting cultural signals to actionable buying strategies. The session explored key influences shaping the FW26/27 Menswear Market, highlighting must-have items across apparel, footwear, and accessories, along with seasonal graphics, print applications, and color direction to help retailers refine their product mix and merchandising approach for the season ahead.
From Fairway to Everyday: The Golf Lifestyle Evolution explored the continued rise of golf as a lifestyle category extending beyond the course. Industry leaders discussed the latest market developments, emerging brand partnerships, and strategies for retailers looking to expand their golf lifestyle assortments while building long-term customer loyalty in a competitive market. Panelists included Anthony Wagner, Owner of Fiori Golf; Daniella Rosa, Founder of Aiea Golf; and Jennifer Morton, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM), with Troy Aguila, Founder of Gwop Meet, serving as moderator.
Licensing continues to be a powerful growth strategy for brands when structured correctly. In the panel Building Licensing Deals at Scale: What to Negotiate, What to Protect, What to Walk Away From, industry leaders unpacked the realities of building successful licensing partnerships, from royalty structures and distribution rights to creative control and exit clauses. Panelists Mike Cherman, Founder + Creative Director of Market Studios; Alex James, Co-Founder + Director of PLEASURES; and Mikey Nemitz, Founder of Any Means Necessary, joined Steve Trayner, President of Sales at CFL, who moderated the conversation, to share firsthand insights into what separates scalable licensing deals from costly mistakes.
Through informative, thought-provoking education programming, PROJECT continues to position itself as a hub where the fashion community gathers not only to do business, but to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry.
industry insight
The PROJECT Party at Omnia Nightclub was an opportunity for brands, retailers, and industry leaders to connect naturally, and get excited for the weekend of business ahead. This season’s special guest performance was by world-renowned Steve Aoki.
In an increasingly digital world, the opportunity to experience collections in person and build relationships face-to-face remains invaluable, something PROJECT continues to foster as a platform where the people and ideas moving fashion forward, come together. The momentum from the FW 26/27 edition now sets the stage for the next event, where the global fashion community will gather once again to discover what’s next.
Ready to experience PROJECT firsthand? Register to attend the next edition and discover why PROJECT continues to be a leading destination for brands, retailers, and industry professionals shaping the future of fashion.
To Exhibit
APPLY HERE
Retailers, brands, and industry leaders gathered at PROJECT in Las Vegas for a dynamic marketplace defined by discovery, connection, and forward-thinking dialogue. This is our official round up of this season’s highlights.
ART AND SOUND IGNITE THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Between visiting booths and building industry connections, on-site activations added moments of inspiration throughout the event. Artist @sunflowerman returned with a live painting activation alongside the “PROJECT MENS” Life Sized Lego Wall, inviting artists to engage with and experience art in real time. Meanwhile, #PROJECTsound brought the spirit of art and fashion to life with all-day-long DJ sets by BLK. ID Twins, creating an energetic backdrop for shopping and discovery.
The heart of PROJECT is an assortment of menswear categories designed to encourage product exploration
and discovery. PROJECT organizes brands into curated
environments across categories including sportswear, denim, accessories, and elevated streetwear.
The newest addition is PROJECT Classic, a section that showcases the resurgence of classic menswear – suiting and tailoring brought to life with established brands and ones that are re-imagining the industry. Here, retailers and industry leaders browsed suits, tuxedos, outerwear, and footwear from brands like Barabas, Braveman, Bonafini Brands, Cigar Couture, Marina Imports, and more.
incubator program: fashion's future
Supporting the next generation of designers remains a core focus for PROJECT. Each season, PROJECT presents its new cohort of the Incubator Program at the event, an initiative centered around inclusion, equity, and allyship for talented designers of color and Black-owned brands.
PROJECT’s cohort this season includes Risky Rewards, Diallo, BRUXE, AJABENG, and Malak Wear all of which tap into themes of sportwear and nostalgia, with a streetwear influence.
The Incubator Program provides a platform for emerging brands to connect with retailers and industry leaders, and in turn, brings an always-innovative spirit to PROJECT.
capturing the look
