Subfusco: A Look At The Australian Label
July 31, 2007
Subfusco is an Australian label offering a signature look with a European edge attuned to the young male spirit.
Their street smart aesthetic combines confidence with charisma through comfortable pieces that move from day to night.
Subfusco derives from a latin word pertaining to deviated colour. The clothing provides confidence, attitude and pride allowing one to engage in their own style. One of the main inspirations behind the Australian label is sub-cultures and social scenes.
Directional designs with attention to detail and fine quality textiles define the brand which consists of hand made tailored jackets, slim fit trousers, fitted dress shirts, tees and denim.
(More photos after the jump.) Read more
Movers & Shakers: Gap Hires New CEO
July 31, 2007
The San Francisco-based retailer, Gap Inc., has named Glenn Murphy as the companies new CEO.
DNR reports that the former Canadian drugstore-chain executive is expected to start this week and earn a base salary of $1.5 million. Though Murphy has no fashion experience, he has a history of, “impressive results in reinvigorating retailers and brands.”
The Gap better hope this will fix their woes of late. The retailer has not been doing well the past few seasons, as competition form fast-fashion retailers like Japan’s Uniqlo and Sweden’s H&M increases.
The Gap hired designer Patrick Robinson as executive vice president of design, as we reported earlier.
[Earlier]
Gap Names New CEO [DNR]
Please. Stop.
July 31, 2007
Crocs are apparently doing extremely well, which puts us at a loss.
These. “Shoes”. Are. Ugly.
We don’t know who’s buying them…oh…wait. And with that, these shoes need to die a quick and painful death.
The shock-and-awe of seeing them in actual use…by functioning adults…is not to be excused.
The only people wearing these should be under the age of five.
Crocs Stock Gets a Kick From Profits [NYDN]
Nike Pulls All Vick Product
July 31, 2007
Nike has suspended it’s contract with beleaguered quarterback Michael Vick.
This comes after earlier news that Nike had delayed the launch of Vick’s ‘Zoom Vick V’ shoe (seen below).
Without deciding on a complete termination, Nike has decided to withhold contract pay. The company will also pull all Michael Vick merchandise from Nike-owned retail outlets.
Vick was indicted amid charges of animal fighting.
Nike released a statement saying:
“Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. However, we do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen in the United States, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship.”
Nike Pulls Vick Product After Dog-Fighting Indictment [DNR]
Top Trends For Spring 2008 From Project New York
July 31, 2007
The key spring ‘08 trends from the Project Tradeshow New York are:
- COLORED DENIM-brightly colored jeans, unexpected colors in slim silhouettes
- MID-RANGE BLUE DENIM- clean, classic true blues come back after the dark denim craze of past seasons
- JEAN SHORTS-cutoff jeans make a comeback, this time with a slim-fit to modernize it
- ABOVE-THE-KNEE SHORTS- shorter inseams with a sport look to contrast the market flood of below-the-knee cargo shorts
- LUXE ACTIVEWEAR- sweats go up-scale with patch, print and embroidery detailing
- LONG-LENGTH TOPS- the waistline is extended to the hips with tunic length tops
- TECHNICAL FABRICS- appear to be going nowhere fast; jackets and coats get updated with these modern fabrics
Source: The July 30, 2007 issue of DNR
Uniqlo Opens Global Flagship In London
July 31, 2007
Fast fashion retailer Uniqlo is set to open a global flagship store in London’s Oxford Street this fall. Following on from the global flagship store opened in New York’s Soho last November, the London Oxford Street store will offer an even more sophisticated level of products, store operation, service and creativity.
The store will be located at 311 Oxford Street and is expected to further increase the Uniqlo brand in Europe.
At 2,300 square feet, the London global flagship will allow the retailer to focus on their exciting F/W ‘07 collection. Key focus will be on the increasingly sophisticated cashmere range, and premium denim items. There will also be special T-shirts which incorporate the London T-shirt trends.
Uniqlo is looking to make the store an excellent shopping experience for customers from the UK, Europe and beyond. If it’s anything like the New York global flagship, they will.
Uniqlo
311 Oxford Street,
London W1C 2HP
England
Don’t Buy That Denim Off The Street
July 31, 2007
In New York, someone is always hustling something. One particular hustle of late has been premium denim brands for drastically reduced prices. Just remember that you get what you pay for. IN most cases these of not the real cheap but poorly made cheap knock-offs, about as authentic as a Louis Vuitton in Chinatown.
DNR has a article about the “denim watchdogs” that go after these street peddlers, web site sellers and denim parties pushers. Most of the jeans at denim parties are known for being fake.
You can’t imitate quality and when people buy the counterfeit jeans they won’t look anything like the real deal. They are not constructed with the same standards and will not fall right or fit well.
The article is worth a read to understand what to look for and what to avoid.
The Denim Watchdogs [DNR]
Umbro Drops Kim Jones Apparel
July 31, 2007
The brand ‘Umbro by Kim Jones‘ is dropping apparel, choosing to focus on footwear and accessories, according to DNR.The brand is a collaboration between Umbro International and designer Kim Jones. The brand has built a cult following in the luxury streetwear market in it’s nine seasons of existence. It has allowed the soccer brand to branch out and gain new consumers with the fashionable audience.
By dropping the apparel, the brand can focus on UBKJ footwear which has been a solid performer.
For spring 2008 the footwear line will “offer 22 styles that fuse iconic athletic looks with directional street flavor.”
Umbro Squashes Kim Jones Apparel [DNR]
Haute Quote of the Day
July 31, 2007
“Create your own visual style… let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.”
–Orson Welles
Going To The Extreme In Mens Trousers
July 30, 2007
The New York Times has focused on the extremes that men’s pants are taking. More men are embracing the drain-pipe silhouette of Hedi Slimane and cropped trousers of Thom Browne.
Bill Cunningham reports, “Others adhere to that totally opposite look, oversize jeans belted dangerously low. Bermuda shorts for business, an idea born of the un-air-conditioned 1950s, are back. Do-it-yourselfers are rolling their pants above high sneakers. But the majority of men remain firmly belted, with cuffs brushing their shoes.”
On The Street-Extremes [NYT]
Delta Line of Watches Emerges From Wired
July 30, 2007
These two watches are the latest pair from Japanese watch-makers of Wired. The pair called Delta will range from $229-$280 and be available mid to late August.
A clean-cut look is achieved through the multi-faceted crystal glass.
Zozo via Format Magazine
Luke 1977 Lauches New Website
July 30, 2007
We recently came across a brand that is getting us hooked.
‘Luke 1977‘ is a brand that can be found only in select stores and has a tight distribution policy. The UK-based brand has an edgy, detailed yet practical take on contemporary menswear.
The designer behind the label, referred to on the site simply as ‘Luke’ attending Central Saint Martins College of Fashion. There he attended a 3 year specialist menswear design degree program.
His fascination of traditional tailoring techniques is mixed with modern edge in his collections. The brand designs for a consumer who is “a modern lad, a gentleman, a working class hero & a bit of a rogue”.
The brand ranges from denim, knitwear, shirting, outerwear and jerseys. A watch collection is also set to debut.
The website has been recently updated and includes an online magazine that you can actually flip through and is a great example of a brand with an innovative website.
The looks are individual, unique and quite exhaustive. We will be keeping tabs on this brand in the future and expect to be hearing more about it.
Luke 1977 [website]
(More photos after the jump.) Read more
Super’s Retro Transparent Sunglasses
July 30, 2007
The new sunglasses at Italian brand Super are quite interesting.
These retro-looking sunglasses are hand made in Italy with Zeiss lenses.
They feature a range of colors with the transparent looking the best.
You can find more here.
Rittenhouse & Mackintosh Collaboration
July 30, 2007
Rittenhouse has entered a collaboration with Mackintosh of Scotland to create jackets that celebrate each company.The men’s and women’s jackets for Fall/Winter 2007 are available in navy or fawn. Mackintosh provides the traditional, rubberized cotton trench style and Rittenhouse adds their signature ‘checkers’ to a removable wool liner.
“We only wanted to accentuate the strengths of the two brands and marry them without interfering with any of the characteristics of each,” the pair says.
Rittenhouse x Mackintosh Trench Coat [Coolhunting]
AG Opens New Store Location
July 30, 2007
AG Adriano Goldschmied is opening a second location in L.A.
AG Adriano Goldschmied is a premium maker of denim formed in 2000. Located at 329 North Beverly Drive, the 4,000 sq. ft. store will house alot more than just denim. The brands recent offerings include cashmere cardigans($325), jackets made with Italian leather($975) and cotton blazers($275).
The brand will also unveil a new vintage wash that make jeans have an aged look to them.
The brand recently made news with AG For Entourage, a line inspired by characters from the hit HBO series.
AG Adriano Goldschmied
329 North Beverly Drive
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 275-2621
AG Adriano Goldschmied [website]
Rockers NYC in Swagger Flagships
July 30, 2007
Rockers NYC has announced an exclusive deal.
The brand will now be sold exclusively in Japan in the Swagger flagship stores.
Also, a first look at some of Rockers NYC and Swagger Fall 2007 items are available.
Stussy x Wired h
July 30, 2007
WIRED h and Stussy have created their first collaboration.
The two watches are available in black or chrome and have a prominent dial and include detailing down to the logograph stamped on the inside buckle.
With unique form the stainless steel watches are going for about $387. The dial is reverse liquid crystal with black base.
They can be found at Wired h. (More photos after the jump.) Read more
Movers & Shakers: Michael Bastian Joins Bill Blass As Creative Director
July 30, 2007
Designer Michael Bastian is joining Bill Blass Ltd. as menswear creative director. This is a position that hasn’t been at the label for two decades.
DNR reports that the move is part of an effort by NexCen Brands Inc to, “relaunch men’s sportswear and tailored clothing for fall 2008.”
NexCen bought the label at the end of last year.
Bastian, who is former fashion director of chic department store Bergdorf Goodman, will head design of, “all licensed and wholly owned men’s wear categories, which will later include fragrance.”
“People forget he was the first to do a lot of things,” Bastian said. “He was first to have a men’s runway show. The first to have a designer shop-in-shop, at Bonwit Teller. He had the first designer fragrance for men in America. But there’s been a huge gap since it ceased to be a collection business coming directly from his vision.”
“Men’s in general is a growth market now,” he said. “More guys are interested in clothes and dressing up. So this is the perfect time to bring this back.”
The designer will also continue to design for his own eponymous label.