Footwear break-throughs in style are not always easy to come by, but when we checked out Rubber Duck, the footwear brand created by Eik Braun Ottosen from Copenhagen, we knew we’d found something original, and at the same time, rather funny. Jim Shuben, formerly from WESC and now with Rubber Duck, explained that Eik was a young designer of footwear who had created a sensation in Europe with the launch of his latest styles: a combination of a sneaker, Ugg boot, in Bathing Ape-type patent-leather bright colors, including the uber-hip metallics of gold, silver and Star Wars storm-trooper white.
Author: Kathleen Gasperini
Alphanumeric Re-Launches Bringing Back Classic Aesthetics Style a Decade Later -Label Networks TV Captures the Interview from the Originators
10 years ago the brand Alphanumeric was among the leading-edge brands in the then emerging category of street fashion for men. A decade later, founders Mirko Mangum who runs the UNIV in Encinitas, and Alyasha Owerka-Moore, founder of the denim label FiberOps, have re-grouped with their team and brought life back to the legendary Alphanumeric brand. We caught up with the 4 leaders of the re-launched Alphanumeric premiering at Agenda Fashion Trade Show last month in San Diego in the only non-descript booth (no sign overhead) -another key aspect of their underground brand messaging.
WeSC, the Street-Contemporary Fashion Brand from Sweden, Featured Top Activists’ Artists in an Well-Curated Art Show at Robert Bergman Gallery Attracting a Who’s-Who List of Street Artists, Action Sports Industry, and Press
We Are the Superlative Conspiracy (WeSC) is a fast-emerging street fashion apparel brand with collections ranging from denim, dresses, tops, button-downs, jackets, and unique accessories -including designer headphones -which may well be accounted for by their reputation for creative grassroots marketing and branding campaigns. On March 1st, following the opening day of the new street and contemporary fashion trade show Class (see next story for details), WeSC launched an exhibition of the artwork created by the artists from their flock of “We Activists” -someone that is extremely good at what they do (but not necessarily famous) and chosen by WeSC to represent the brand in their own way–in a well-curated art show at Bergamot Station at the Robert Bergman Gallery in Santa Monica, CA.
Shanghai Brand Eno Among New Crop of Top Women’s Contemporary Streetwear Brands from China Taking Local Inspiration to New Levels Introducing Americans to Original Apparel
When we first met Lin Lin from the brand Eno in 2007 at United Fashion Trade Show, we were intrigued by her passion for her home city of Shanghai and the inspiration taken from her country when it came to the emerging China youth and street culture scenes, including rise of indie bands, social networks, and corresponding lifestyle apparel. We met up with Lin Lin and her partner Yvette again at MAGIC in the South Hall last month where they represented not only one of the few women’s contemporary streetwear brands in the area (despite the growing marketplace), but also were the only ones from Shanghai–a burgeoning hotspot of designers and rockers inspired by street culture.
Elmer Ave.’s”A Night of Tragic Emotions” Fashion Show Reveals How the Brand Stays One Step Ahead with High-end, Deconstructed Menswear with a Rock %u2018n Roll Edge
The Elmer Ave. fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios was one of the most highly anticipated shows of LA Fashion Week, particularly by those of us interested in what’s coming next from street and music-inspired apparel. The 4 owners, Collin Pulsipher, Jonny Day, Ward Robinson, and Sean Murphy have been at the cutting-edge of creating high-end menswear with a rocker aesthetics since 2002, and very much like the owners themselves, each collection has inspired a fair amount of wannabes trying to achieve the “Elmer Ave.” style that is uniquely it’s own.
Street Fashion Meets Art at the Premiere of THELABELLAB Exhibition at Crewest Gallery Featuring Cardboard Robot, Miss Wax, Andrew Hanson, Original Hip-Hop Chocolate
Fashion art have always maintained an intertwined relationship, particularly when it comes to street fashion and graffiti art. On March 15th during the wrap-up of a busy LA Fashion Week, Label Networks debuted its first LABELLAB EXHIBITION at Crewest Gallery in downtown Los Angeles featuring live fashion art installations created by THELABELLAB members’ Cardboard Robot, Andrew Hanson, Miss Wax, and Original Hip-Hop Chocolate. The Exhibition marked the first live incarnation for emerging street fashion brands to depict their independent style through artistic installations in a unique gallery in downtown Los Angeles.
Leroy Jenkin’s Continues to Push Trends in New Directions for Progressive Street Fashion with a Mix-up of Woven Shirts, Collegiate-Inspired Jackets, Fitted Caps in Florals Resulting in a Unique Sports Art-Inspired Collection
Ron Upperman from Leroy Jenkins is an inspirational person in progressive street fashion because he comes from a unique crossover background of educational training in animation and fine arts, as well as sports. As an athlete playing baseball all the way through college, not to mention playing basketball and football, his influences, along with his partner, have resulted in making their fashion brand Leroy Jenkins, a stand-out when it comes to overall results.
Designers & Agents in Los Angeles Fashion District Attracts Top Denim Labels Contemporary Designers with Crowd that Indicates West Coast is Leading Trends in Many Aspects of Cutting-edge Fashion
Designers & Agents is a show that takes place in what’s called Fashion Corner in downtown Los Angeles between 9th Street and South Los Angeles St. at the intersection of several buildings including the New Mart, Cooper Building, Lady Liberty, and California Mart–all filled with designer showrooms and contemporary brands ranging from top denim labels, to eco-friendly fashion, footwear, and accessories. Each season, Designers & Agents show takes over the 8th floor of the Cooper Building with a clean and inspiring presentation of select brands from nearby showrooms that come to showcase their collections that has over the years, attracted buyers from around the world.
Good Charlotte Members with LA Artist Tal Cooperman Launch DCMA Collective Featuring Designs from Select Street Graffiti Artists, with Music-Inspired Sneaker Line
DCMA collective is a music and art-inspired streetwear brand launched by Good Charlotte members Joel and Benji Madden, along with their brother Josh, and LA-based artist Tal Cooperman. In an interview at Agenda Trade Show in San Diego with Tal, Label Networks TV was able to get the scoop on the new brand, collective, and now, retail space called DCMA located in the heart of Hollywood.
Ecomm Store The Buyble by Rule of Next Launches with”New York State of Mind” Theme Changing the Concept of What’s Possible in an Online Store Street Fashion Experience
Online retail is clearly the wave of the future, but it takes creating an underground movement with a solid database to start a truly credible ecommerce following, not to mention a select grouping of key brands, excellent backend system that can handle commerce, and of course, a connection to the street fashion scene itself. So when Robert Rosenthal, owner of the contemporary street fashion chain called Next out of Cleveland, decided to expand his well-established brick %u2018n mortar stores’ shopping experiences online, he sought for a unique solution that matched his progressive retail aesthetics, which is where Jay Yoo comes in.