Author: Kathleen Gasperini

Music and Youth Culture Report: The Ultimate Crossover Platform from Communication, Sports, Technology, and Fashion

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This week’s fresh report from Label Networks’ latest presentation is regarding youth culture and what’s changed in terms of major influences of music on today’s marketplace. There are many things going on in a variety of genres of music today that pertain to youth culture, from action sports to streetewear and fashion as a whole–from […]

Hurley/Nike Pull-out of U.S. Open of Surf Sponsorship for 2013 and Future—Pushing for Greater Connection to Youth Culture

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When Shop-Eat-Surf scooped Transworld Business yesterday on the big action sports news that Hurley, and therefore Nike, decided to no longer sponsor the mega-surf event, the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, CA, the responses to answers were of course remarkably similar. But there’s more beneath the surface. In the Shop-Eat-Surf story, Tiffany Montgomery […]

Tom Sims, Legendary Snowboard and Skateboard Pioneer, Passes Away at 61

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On Wednesday night, September 12, 2012, legendary snowboarding and skateboarding pioneer Tom Sims passed away from cardiac arrest at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, CA. He was 61. Tom Sims was known for many things including the inventor of the snowboard on the West Coast when he built his “skiboard” in 1963. He later went on […]

Capsule Vegas Brings High-end Heritage, Surf, Adventure, and Denim to the Forefront

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Capsule is a trade show that continues to have a strong following among brands that could loosely be classified as upper urbanwear, or high-end contemporary from a wide range of locations ranging from northern Europe to Japan to the USA. During the trade show season earlier this month, Capsule’s Vegas show featured a unique selection […]

Pool Fashion Trade Show Offers Mix of Retro Styles, Mod-Neon, Edgy T-shirt Graphics, Latest Accessories, Eco Brands, and Excellent Cash and Carry

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Photos by Tom Wallace. Once considered the bastion child of Magic trade shows, Pool Trade Show which took place at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas August 20-23, 2012 still keeps its cool mainly because of the eclectic mix of brands that are represented. Despite being right next to the behemoth of Street, S.L.A.T.E., and growing […]

Project/reed Installation at S.L.A.T.E. Delivers Snapshop of Most Coveted Collabs in Street Culture

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Project and S.L.A.T.E. fashion trade shows August 20-24 in Las Vegas also offered a variety of inspiring installations and creative areas where attendees could pick up on why certain trends were blossoming compared with others and where the inspirations were originating. From the perspective of youth culture and street, one such prolific area was the […]

Magic, S.L.A.T.E, Street, Workroom, and Project Fashion Trade Shows Illustrate Dichotomy of Styles from Americana, Vintage, Heritage, to Prep Pastels, Neon Ravewear, Skate Influences, and Distinct Denim

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Story and Photos by Kathleen Gasperini and Tom Wallace From August 20-24, 2012, Las Vegas, NV becomes the hotbed for fashion industry players as thousands of fashionistas, buyers, retailers, and media gather from every genre of fashion, footwear, and accessories within the global landscape. Despite the lingering economic global hardship, it was clear that orders […]

The New Tribes of Skateboarding: A Fractured Industry Opens Doors to New Styles, Brands, and Streetwear Crossovers in the State of Skate

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With more than 350 people packing the Mandalay Bay conference room for Label Networks presentation “Action Sports and Streetwear: Youth Culture Influences Creating New Platforms Across Industries” at MAGIC/S.L.A.T.E./Project fashion trade shows on August 20, 2012, it confirmed that there are many brands and retailers with questions and ideas about the changing state of action […]

Upcoming MAGIC and Project Highlights: Nudie’s RePairReDuseReUse; Made for Good’s Collective on Giving; Sourcing’s Made in America = The New Black; S.L.A.T.E’s New Brands; Project 10; Pool’s Coolness; Capsule’s ATL—Above Tree Line

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From August 20-24, 2012, fashion players from around the world descend on Las Vegas for the multi-conglomeration of fashion trade shows that cover every type of fashion, accessories, footwear, and sourcing available in the world. For Label Networks, we’re proud to be a presenter at the shows, which annually prove to be highly anticipated with […]

Project OR’s Winning Upscale Cycle Design Among Growing Trends in Urban Riding Fashion

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Upscale urban cycling, fixie, and cruiser sportswear continues to gain traction as a growing movement among  those choosing bikes for  transportation and thus creating the need for savvy cycle-wear. The movement has been growing in various niche industries, especially in boutique bike stores, but when Levi Strauss launched their NanoSphere Commuter collection structured and made […]