http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/fashion/mens-style/steven-alan-menswear-shopping.html 2016-10-03 18:41:49 Steven Alan’s Goals: Subtlety and Quality After more than 20 years in fashion, he has become the world’s friendly neighborhood designer and shopkeeper. === In the 22 years since he opened his first store, the designer and retailer What challenges are you facing these days? The cycle of product is really fast. You’ve got fast fashion, you’ve got stores that are racing to sell things before they’re marked down, you have direct-to-consumer brands — that all didn’t really exist when I started out. To me, it always goes back to product: How do we elevate the product instead of creating a cheaper product? I think about it more like a technology company, in a certain sense. As the technology gets better and better, the price doesn’t necessarily go higher and higher. You don’t just carry No one does everything great, and I want the experience for the customer coming in to be as good as it possibly can be. I don’t think there should be compromises just because I make something. I don’t have to be everything to everyone. How important is the internet for your business? It’s essential not just for e-commerce but for our retail presence, because everyone is going into the store and then looking at their phones, ordering from their phones. You’re dealing with customers wherever they want to shop, and it should be a seamless experience. Apple is a great example of that: Going into an Apple store or going online, it’s almost the same. How do you feel about the current state of men’s wear? I’m optimistic. Guys are more and more interested in buying something that’s well made. It’s not just a button-down shirt, it’s not just a T-shirt. People are getting more sophisticated as to what a quality garment is. They’re recognizing the subtleties.