Author: Kathleen Gasperini

Japan’s Retail Warrior Uniqlo Steps-up Its Digital Shopping Integration on Its Way to Becoming”The New Gap but Different” -Label Networks Profile Data on the Store/Retailer Quantifies How Success Came to Be

It’s not unusual that the highly popular store and brand Uniqlo, originally out of Japan and now quickly taking over key cities as most-liked shopping destination among 13-30-year-olds in North America, would work fast in creating a digital lifestyle and shopping experience for the brand overall.

Music and What Drives Trends

As we move into summer music festival and tour season, we plan on running a series of stories that have to do with music including specific bands to note in terms of trendsetting styles and influences, and the correlations that result from music in youth culture markets in North America, Europe, Japan, and China. To start, we wanted to provide a quantitative report that shows just how powerful the correlation is between music and youth culture markets.

Online Shopping Pattern Changes among American Youth Culture Reveal New Patterns, Opportunities, Insight on Where Things are Headed Next

Despite the shape of the economy today, shopping patterns online among 13-25-year-olds in North America are on the rise among specific demographics, as revealed in Label Networks upcoming Global Youth Culture Spring Study 2008, to be released next month. In this story, we concentrate on one segment from a series of questions about online preferences, habits, and purchasing patterns based on the question, “Compared with 6 months ago, how frequently are you shopping online?”

Cool to Do Lo-Fi: The Resurgence of Low-Tech Clean in Upper Street Fashion Styles Stirs Outerwear Industry Back to Classics for Winter 2008-09

Coming from a winter sports background where outwear styles and textiles continue to move in more technical, waterproof directions, it was quite refreshing to come across a growing subculture in winter fashion that’s completely Lo-Fi and Low-Tech as seen for example, with the comeback of Marlene pants and revival of Woolrich Woolen Mills from various designers.

Spain”Cred-Report” Part 1 Provides Street-Level Insight on Top Fashion Accessory Trends to Expect this Season from New Bohemia to Theme Parties, Denim, Vintage, a Nod to Travel

Each year, Label Networks includes “Cred Reports” with our data analysis which provides additional qualitative research to give insight into leading-edge trends that are popular or gaining popularity in each country or specific city.

Coachella Music Arts Festival Kicks-off Summer Styles with a Nod to Retro, Rave, Boho, Bathing Suits, Unofficially Making It THE Place to Spot Upcoming Summer Trend-Part 1

As the first festival of the summer circuit, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival produced by Goldenvoice, which took place last weekend April 25-27 in the blazing sun on the polo fields of Indio near Palm Desert, has become the unofficial kick-off point to summer season fashion.

Europe Japan’s Fast-Fashion Invasion is Redefining American Retail; Label Networks Delivers Data the Scoop on H&M, Uniqlo, Target, American Apparel, Forever 21, Others

Fast-fashion retail, also known as disposable fashion, is a concept that many believe originally came from Japan -the land of fast-shoppers and the fastest-changing trends. What it means is when a retailer can provide stylish clothing that’s completely trendy, delivered to the consumer fast and at relatively inexpensive prices, then change up their entire inventory, with fresh new styles within the timeframe of about 2 weeks.

Summer Footwear Fashion Trends: Cool Highlights from Diverse Styles Already Making Their Way Out of the Closet Indicate an Exceptionally Fun Season to Come

This summer, the footwear styles are going to be eclectic, and in a good way. While flip-flips and sneaks will be prevalent, young people are going for it when it comes to fashionable feet in the heat in terms of colors, styles, and mash-ups.

Face-paint Completes New Rave-Hippy Looks Already Topping Upcoming Summer Styles in North America and Europe as the Mash-up of Make-up Paint Take on New Meaning

The revival of using face paint or arm paint to accentuate one’s look has reached new heights as we move into the summer festival and music tour season. Already seen at several different events, ranging from outdoor festivals to intimate theatres and music showcases in North America and Europe, the use of face paint as a form of expression has hit the street fashion scene big time.

%u201CWhich phone features are most important to you?” -Label Networks’ Fresh Data on Cell Phone Culture and Youth Markets Tells a New Story on What’s Hot and Why

When looking at cell phone culture as it pertains to young people, you can determine where technology communication patterns are headed to next, how much influence other “phone-intensive” cultures such as Japan, have on today’s youth marketplace.