We're known in Downtown Sioux Falls and beyond for our unique clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories, and it's the relationships with our amazing brands that help us curate that collection. When we go to market in the spring and fall, we get to chat with our vendors face to face and check out their lineups for the new season. 

Our fall market experience in Chicago gave us loads of ideas and inspiration that we can't wait to bring to our customers. Read on for highlights from our trip to Chicago. 

Q: How was the trip to market? 

A: It was quick, but we got a lot accomplished. When we go in February or March, we do some orders for fall. But going in August and shopping for fall, we're ordering what we're seeing right now. I love to keep our eye on what brands are doing with new trends and see what's out there. 

Q: Did anything surprise you? 

A: I do a lot of research into emerging trends, so I don't think I was really surprised by anything, but it is fun to see how brands are reflecting trending styles in the looks they're already known for. 

Lysse, for example, is a great brand we carry that specializes in office wear. We saw how they are incorporating barrel jeans, which is a big trend right now, into their workwear pants. I did not expect that! It was fun to see them dip their toes into a look that in a way that's still very true to them as a brand. 

Q: Any favorite brands, interactions or experiences to share? 

A: It's just so fun, and we love to go. It's always fun to see the people who we've known and worked with for years and years, even before I started, and keep growing those relationships. And we're building new relationships too. 

There were a couple of the brands that really stood out to me. One of my favorites, Mucros Weavers, a beautiful brand of plaid outerwear and accessories from Ireland, those vendors were really special to connect with. You could tell the passion and excitement that goes into their work.

Q: How does it elevate shopping at Threads, knowing that you are meeting with vendors and seeing trends up close as you make decisions about what to bring to the store? 

A: It helps to go see the brands and meet them, and better understand their products and how they are made. Hearing vendors talk about what they visualized when making certain items and how they style things, that's always valuable to know. 

These trips also help us find new brands for the store - and we did find a few that we're really excited to bring in. One brand, Little Journeys, features items that are all hand-knit in Peru. So we obviously got to see and touch their product, which makes such a big difference for all items, but then we also got to hear their backstory.

We got to know where things are made and see behind the scenes. Sometimes the stories of the people who make these products and how the brands developed, these are things you don't understand just by looking at a screen. It's a really special experience.

Q: How do you know what to look for at market? 

A: We're always open to feedback. When I go to market twice a year, it's really fun for me to take cues from  the feedback our customers have shared. Then I can specifically seek those things out because, of course, we want to make customers happy. 

For example, we're bringing in a great line of basics, Bread & Boxers. They feel great and fit great - staples that you can have in your closet forever. And that came from hearing people repeatedly ask for something, a need in the store that we were missing. 

Q: How can shoppers share that feedback with you? 

A: If there are brands or styles that Threads shoppers love and want to see that we don't carry, things that we are missing out on, sometimes that's best communicated in the store in real time. We are also always asking feedback on our social media, too, and checking our messages. But if you're in the store, I am all ears on the sales floor. 

Check out what's new for fall at Threads in the store Monday - Saturday or anytime on our website.