by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
KARO Swimwear and its designer Kasia Roginska have had plenty of success selling garments online and in her home in Berlin, Conn. where she kept her showroom space.
But the line, which has been featured in Miami Fashion Week and the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, is going brick and mortar by opening up in a new space in downtown Hartford.
The storefront at 241 Asylum St. eventually will feature several vendors. KARO became the first to arrive. Roginska celebrated the opening with a reception and a fashion show at the space.
The commercial space on Asylum Street is the brainchild of Keith Warner.
“I met Keith Werner in the spring of this year,” said Roginska. “Keith like the idea of KARO and I needed change in direction to move forward. I felt stuck a little.”
“Yes, I have a great product now what to do with it,” said Roginska. “Swimwear is a cut throat industry and Connecticut is not (typically home to) a year round swimwear business.”
“So after of weeks of talking with Keith, he showed me the space and offered to (let me) do pop up events, trunk shows etc.,” said Roginska
Eventually, Roginska said Warner proposed establishing an “upscale general store… a place to shop and hang out also.”
The space is now dubbed TS Trading Post.
With the new space, Roginska said KARO is expanding into outerwear and wraps that can be used as scarves or sarongs.
“I’m so excited to have my products where people can see and touch,” said Roginska. “It’s a big step forward.”
TS Trading Post does not have a set date for opening on a Monday through Sunday basis yet. KARO will be open, however, at the space on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.