Events · Est. 1972
Trunk shows& fabric events
A few times a year, far more cloth comes through the door than we could ever hold in stock. If you’re ordering custom, come then.
Trunk shows bring expanded cloth ranges and mill representatives to The Man’s Shop in Arlington, Texas. You can order made to measure any day of the year, but during a trunk show the choice is considerably wider. Join the newsletter to hear dates, and book ahead — appointments fill.
Why come to one
More cloth than we can hold
A shop can only stock so many swatch books. During a trunk show, a mill or maker brings their full range, which means options you will not see on an ordinary Tuesday.
If you already know you want a custom garment, timing your order to a trunk show costs nothing and widens the choice enormously. Seasonal cloths, limited runs, and heavier or lighter weights that we would not normally carry all appear.
It is also the best day of the year to learn about cloth, because the person who represents the mill is standing there and will happily talk about it for as long as you like.
What to expect
On the day
- Expanded range
- Considerably more cloth than we hold day to day, including seasonal and limited pieces.
- Mill representatives
- Often present, and worth talking to. They know their cloth in a level of detail no shop can match.
- Ordering
- Full made to measure, ordered on the day. Timeline is the usual four to six weeks from your appointment.
- Appointments
- Recommended rather than required. These days fill, and an appointment means unhurried time with the full range.
- Dates
- Announced through the newsletter and Instagram. Ask us in the shop and we will tell you what is coming.
Getting the most from one
Three suggestions
Book ahead
An hour of unhurried time with the full range is a very different experience from twenty minutes between other appointments.
Know the gap
Come with a sense of what your wardrobe is missing. The choice is wide enough that a plan helps more than usual.
Get measured first
If you have never been measured here, come in beforehand. Then the trunk show day is entirely about cloth.
Common questions
Trunk shows, answered
What is a trunk show?
A trunk show is an event where a mill or maker brings their full cloth range to the shop, well beyond what we hold day to day. You can see and handle far more options than usual and order made to measure from any of them.
Do I need to attend a trunk show to order custom?
No. Made to measure is available every day we are open. A trunk show simply widens the choice considerably, so if you are already planning a custom garment it is worth timing your order to one.
How do I find out about upcoming trunk shows?
Through our newsletter and Instagram, or by asking in the shop. Dates vary through the year and are set by the mills and makers rather than by us.
Do I need an appointment for a trunk show?
Recommended rather than required. These days fill up, and an appointment means unhurried time with the full range rather than a rushed twenty minutes.
Is a trunk show more expensive?
No. Pricing follows the cloth as it always does, and a trunk show simply gives you more cloth to choose from. Some ranges include pieces at the higher end, but so does any ordinary day.
How long does a garment ordered at a trunk show take?
The usual four to six weeks from your appointment, the same as any made-to-measure order. You collect it here and adjustments are handled in-house.
Dates via newsletter
Don’t miss the next one
Ask us what’s coming, or sign up and we’ll tell you.
100 S. West Street, Arlington, Texas 76010
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm · Closed Sunday
(817) 265-1116