Our data doesn’t lie yet no matter how many times we’ve pointed out the sneaker market potential of females in youth culture, more than once we’ve heard brand managers and marketing execs state they’re “just not targeting there.” “There” being females into sneaks. Even brands that rank higher among females as a preferred footwear brand […]
Agenda Fashion Trade Show finished up on Saturday January 26, with a successful vibe and energy from its expanded 3-day concept that had many in street fashion thinking that there is hope in this troubled retailer landscape. While the show was smaller this time around, which according to director Aaron Levant was also an intentional move to keep quality high, the show floor was continuously busy with orders being written despite the doomsday economy we’re all now facing. Here’s a quick overview of highlights, but stay tuned for in-depth interviews from Label Networks TV with brands including 10 Deep, ALife, The Museum Group, Aaron from Agenda, Livity, Altamont, Akomplice, Miss Wax, Nikita, Creative Recreation, Cardboard Robot, Hellz Bellz, DCMA Collective, GRN Apple Tree, Keep, Jeepney, Mishka, Beautiful Decay, Obey, In4mation, and WESC.
Smack in the middle of an economic landscape that has torn retailers apart and sunk galleries into oblivion, up pops Swiv Tackle Circus in Oceanside, CA, a gritty little beach community on the northern edge of San Diego and an outpost for skaters, surfers, and artists. As original as its name, Swiv Tackle Circus has redefined what it means to be a retail store, gallery, and community gathering space. Known as a “gallertique” as in part boutique and part gallery, the 3,500 square-foot space owned by Shaney Jo Darden and Jeff Black, and managed with partners Desiree Dawn Kuhn and Kirsten Kuhn, gives new meaning and hope to the concept of having a business and artistic gathering space that pushes forward creativity and new ideas, rather than constricts life based on outside forces of bad economics. The concept is the epitome of DIY in that it’s so CYOO (create your own oasis).
The footwear market, especially Sneaker Culture, is fickle, cultish, and fundamental -all aspects that breed new trends and subcultures constantly. While some brands may not have a sneaker line, the results here are still important to understand in terms of the general landscape of preferences, styles, and shopping patterns of this marketplace, particularly the explosion of footwear sales from online retailers. In addition, to many people within this age demographic, their footwear, particularly sneakers, can be their entire “outfit” because such emphasis is placed on their kicks -especially if they’re coveted LTD (limited edition) finds.
When Project Fashion Trade Show was bought by Advanstar, owners of MAGIC and Pool a couple of years ago, many people wondered if this show could maintain is aesthetic edge, beauty, and most importantly, attraction to top denim brands, premium street, and contemporary. Fortunately, as we walked the halls February 13-15 in Las Vegas, it’s clear that not only has the show stepped-up its program, but continues to attract scores of buyers looking for leading-edge brands.