Category: Fashion

What’s the Most Important Factor When Buying a Fashion Product?–Fresh Results from Label Networks’ 2012 Spring Youth Culture Study

chart for shopping story_200

Fashion is full of ironies especially when it comes to American youth culture fashion movements. In this story, from our Spring Youth Culture Study 2012, we take a look at how this marketplace has changed their preferences for why they buy what they buy and how this is impacting fashion as a whole.

Amazon’s Move Into Fashion Marks the New Gorilla In the Room

amazon_200

The Amazon Clothing Store marks yet another move in the direction of fashion’s online destination, and it has created a huge sense of concern in the industry. First, as the 5th largest most-visited site (after Facebook) it’s got a following, whether people actually buy there or not. Among youth culture today, Amazon is synonymous for […]

Volcom Lay-offs Due to Difficult Retail Environment

Volcom_200

In a difficult economy, Friday’s are the days to watch as bad news usually hits at the end of week, particularly when it comes to lay-offs. Last Friday on March 30, there was preliminary news from friends who work at Volcom that lay-offs were coming. No one knew exactly what the details were—if the lay-offs […]

H&M to Launch New Retail Chain

HM_200

Despite the high costs of cotton which have effected many fashion retailers in the past year, Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M reported banner 1st quarter sales up 13% and for the month of March—even better. But the big news is their recent announcement for launching another retail chain in 2013. Here’s the latest from Karl-Johan Persson, […]

Retail Round-Up: American Apparel Gets $80 Million Dollar Backer; PacSun’s Bleak Forecast; H&M On the Rise

AA_200

The beleaguered PacSun continues to forecast losses into 2012, indicating a hard hit for the action sports-based retail chain which is hoping to recreate a more fashionable presence in the new year. As we’ve noted based on our Youth Culture Studies data, various action sports-based brands and extending lifestyle apparel and footwear brands have fallen […]

John Varvatos Fashion Designer to Rockers and Converse Collab Man Finally Disengages with VF Corp Onto Lion Capital

john_varvatos-200

Today, March 8, 2012, VF Corp announced that Lion Capital would be acquiring majority ownership in John Varvatos Enterprises, with Varvatos retaining an ownership position and title of Chairman and Creative Chief Officer. John Varvatos comes up in youth culture fashion not only for his reputation for creating rock-influenced designs, and his cool collaboration with […]

Born In the USA—From American Flags to Stripes, Military, and Camo, the Theme for Fall 2012 Is Catching On Globally

winged_sneaks_200

From the broad spectrum of fashion runway shows to trade shows (even SXSW just announced that Bruce Springsteen is the keynote speaker), “Born in the USA” is a movement gaining moment, but not just in the USA. Done fashionably from Japanese designers showcasing in Nick Wooster’s masterpiece exhibition at Project, to European brands like Two […]

MAGIC, S.L.A.T.E., Street, Workroom, Project, Pool, (capsule)—Label Networks’ Review of America’s Largest Fashion Trade Show Scene and Where Trends Are Headed

2flags_200

 Story and Photos by Kathleen Gasperini and Tom Wallace The flurry of fashion trade shows in Las Vegas from February 12-15, 2012 bring with them a diverse angle of what’s taking shape in fashion from a wide spectrum of genres particularly in the United States. While we mostly concentrate on youth culture influences, including streetwear, […]

Billabong’s Partial Sell of Nixon Generates $285 Million Towards Debt Payment—Plus, The Changing Tide of Action Sports

SURPLUS_SKATEBOARDMAG.indd

Hours after posting the initial story about the potential Billabong takeover, last night came more news as Billabong and Nixon announced the partial sale, or 48.5% of Nixon, to Trilantic Capital Partners (not to be confused with Texas Pacific Group which put in a bid earlier in the morning for Billabong for $766 million). The […]

MAGIC China—Sign of the Times as Fashion Brands Seek New Markets, Plus Youth Culture China Trends from Label Networks

Qzone_peeps_200-150x150

While MAGIC fashion trade show and all of the surrounding shows in Vegas from February 12-15, 2012 bring out some of the best in new fashion brands, buyers and trends, one aspect that has quickly caused a ripple effect actually came from Sourcing and the seminar “China, the Dragon in Transition: Sourcing From and Selling […]