Good news for swimwear manufacturers and brands that create anything with LYCRA as owner INVISTA announced last week the launch of a bio-derived spandex. The spandex fiber will come from a renewable source, dextrose, which comes from corn. According to Sustainable Brands, INVISTA, which also produces the COOLMAX®, CORDURA®, STAINMASTER®, ANTRON®, THERMOCOOL® and THERMOLITE® brands, […]
As activewear, particularly yogawear, continues to grow among a new generation keen on yoga and wearing sustainable brands, more brands are entering this space and doing well. PrAna, a leader in lifestyle activewear, yogawear, and sustainability, announced on April 29, 2014, the acquisition by Columbia Sportswear Company for $190 million. Columbia, which also owns Mountain […]
Cross Company, the big giant retailer out of Japan, has plans to challenge with likes of fast-fashion players such as Uniqlo and H&M. But the twist? Sourcing it all from ethical products and creating entirely eco-friendly fashion. According to a series of reports from Japan, as well as the Business of Fashion, the plan is […]
Story and Photos by Tom Wallace and Kathleen Gasperini The big question is why is the outdoor lifestyle becoming more popular? The jam-packed Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2014 from January 21-24, 2014, in Salt Lake City, UT, was energetic, inspirational, a networking hub, and business-central for a marketplace that seems less effected by the economic […]
Story and Photos by Kathleen Gasperini and Tom Wallace From July 10-11, 2013 Agenda NYC at 82 Mercer Street transforms this hipster part of SoHo into a gathering of the tribes for industry players in streetwear, urbanwear, and skate-inspired footwear and apparel. It’s also home to creative wearable technologies such as Beats by Dre, G-Shock, […]
The Street Issue theme of Antidote magazine’s latest upcoming issue provides a unique look at how the streets of urban landscapes and the people in various environments continue to inspire art, photography and fashion these days. With the explosion of streetwear blogs, streetart Tumblr’s and any number of designer blogs, sites, and lookbooks, fashion […]
Uniqlo continues to capture the youth culture marketplace, especially in Asia as the largest apparel retailer in the region. In Tokyo where the brand is headquartered, their recent financial reports from March 2013 noted that same-store sales increased by 23.1%. In addition, total sales including online sales increased by 22.9%. Uniqlo is also continuing its […]
More brands are moving in the direction of creating sustainable products, as they should be. Not only is it important for the environment and to reduce effects on global warming, among many other things, but today’s there’s an entirely new generation that looks to the “green history” of a product before purchasing. In our Sustainability […]
Label Networks presented to an engaging audience at the Outdoor Retailer trade show on January 24, 2013 in Salt Lake City who came to see the latest results, insights, and forecasts on what’s shaping youth culture markets from a perspective on environmental issues, sustainability, humanitarian concerns, and DIY solutions. In this story, we take a […]
It’s no wonder that this latest collaboration has been turning heads in streetwear circles and the blogasphere. The British iconic punk rock boot, Dr. Marten’s latest collaboration with the ultimate Americana brand Woolen Mills Pendleton with a Native-American inspired fabric, is a hot item for guys and girls this winter. While we don’t usually report […]