Author: Tom Wallace

Kmart Launches”Boarding” Apparel Line, Pissing-off Action Sports Industry in Their Attempt to Become the New Target/Wal-Mart, Cool-Shop-Discount-Destination

Not to be outdone by Target’s new collection from Shaun White, Laird Hamilton’s with Steve and Berry’s, nor Wal-Mart distributing OP, Kmart has announced a sort of soft launch of their new action sports inspired collection called “Boarding” to be released in 100 “strategically located” stores this summer (and a possible roll-out to another 1,400 later in the year). While the name is obviously boring, what’s interesting is that the Boarding logo looks like a mash-up between Quiksilver and Rip Curl.

Youth Culture and the Power of Politicians, Plus Top Humanitarian and Environmental Heroes and What That Means for Future Forecasts

The perception of politics and “leaders” has changed in America and elsewhere around the world when it comes to youth culture. Label Networks’ fresh data reveals latest shifts in perceptions of politics, government, humanitarian and environmental leaders.

London%u201CCred-Report” Part 2 Provides Street-Level Insight on Top Social Activities, Entertainment, Trends Taking Placeamong New Subcultures Across the City

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. The Cred Reports are written by Label Networks in-field researchers and reporters as well as top young people who can see the state of trends within their country or city from a broad and insider perspective. These Cred Reports provide a unique addition to the quantitative data results and Macro Trend Editorial Summaries in our overall country studies. In this week’s story, we take a look at the Social Activities section of the London Cred Report for 2008.

Summer Tours Sponsorship Round-Up: Vans Warped Tour, Rockstar Energy Mayhem, Projekt Revolution, Rock the Bells VI, Download, Detour, Hootenanny, Lollapalooza

Busy summer music tour season ramps up with bands and sponsors in various North American multi-band, multi-stage tours featuring unique packages to attract specific audiences. Here’s the round-up.

H&M’s Path of Intercontinental Domination: European American Youth Markets Preferences for the Store/Brand Make H&M the Company to Watch

Taking a look back at 4 years of consumer data regarding H&M from Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and the United States, the “H&M Profile Report 2008” delivers insight into how this fast-fashion retailer captures the marketplace. Key resource for anyone hoping to move global yet maintain cred in niche markets.

Bread & Butter Barcelona Delivers Fresh Alternatives to Traditional Fashion Trade Fair-Fresh Reports from Denim Base, Urban Superior, Sport & Street, Fashion Now, and The Source

Bread & Butter Barcelona is the leading-edge fashion trade show when it comes to the industries of denim, street fashion, urban superior, and sports styles. This week, we deliver fresh news from the show, including updates from the denim conference in the Source area, and runway shows from G-Star and Desigual.

Street Art Round-up 2008

Banksy Tears Through the South; Sao Paolo Graffiti Artists Commissioned For London’s Tate While Own Art Back Home Gets the Cover-up; Paris’ colette Revamped and Offers Collabs at NYC Gap with Andre; Swoon Disembarks Another Art Raft But This Time Down the Hudson

Bread & Butter Barcelona Wrap-up Report Shows Why this International Trade Fair Continues to Blow Doors on Expectations, Raising the Bar on What’s Possible

Bread & Butter Barcelona warp-up report from Label Networks indicates that while attendance was down, it’s still the leading show for European industries of denim, street fashion, urban superior, and sports styles.

Skate Study House Premieres Innovative Skate Deck Furniture at Sneaker Boutique Blends at Famous 4th Street Gap in Downtown LA

Recycled skateboard decks mixed with modern architectural designs have made the Skate Study House collection a show unto itself.

Volcom Buys It’s Japanese Distributor, Plus How the Street Fashion Scene Differs in Japan vs. USA

Japan continues be a hotbed target for Volcom as they continue to move internationally, however as we’ve studied, the street fashion scene, especially in Tokyo, is far different than what you’ll find anywhere else.