Footwear break-throughs in style are not always easy to come by, but when we checked out Rubber Duck, the footwear brand created by Eik Braun Ottosen from Copenhagen, we knew we’d found something original, and at the same time, rather funny. Jim Shuben, formerly from WESC and now with Rubber Duck, explained that Eik was a young designer of footwear who had created a sensation in Europe with the launch of his latest styles: a combination of a sneaker, Ugg boot, in Bathing Ape-type patent-leather bright colors, including the uber-hip metallics of gold, silver and Star Wars storm-trooper white.
Tag: sneaker
Agenda Trade Show Offers Tighter, Smaller Show, But Delivers Top Brands Trends in Street Fashion and Action Sports Crossover
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.
Trade Show News: Compass Gives Upscale Sneaker Footwear Brands a New Show; MAGIC to Launch ECOllection; Bread & Butter BarcelonaAttracting More Core American StreetFashion Brands
Given that sneaker culture and footwear in general is such a vital part of fashion particularly when it comes to street and contemporary fashion, it’s amazing to us that the old-school trade show, WSA, hasn’t gotten a facelift in years. Now, however, it’s got competition: Compass is the new directional trade show for high-end sneakers and top tier footwear created by BPMW, the founders of another very cool, intimate trade show in NYC called Capsule.
Top Sneaker Brands Changing Landscape of the Sneaker-Freaker Scene for 2008 Indicate Excellent Opps for New Brands on the Edge; Challenges for Others
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.
Sneak Peak at Sneaker Culture Trends from Label Networks’ Capacity-Crowd Presentation at MAGIC Provides Insight on Why the Marketplace Continues to Rock Fashion
Project Inspires Beauty in the Concept of Trade Shows While Providing a Business Platform for Leading Brands Retailers in Denim, Contemporary, Premium Street, Accessorie-Label Networks Bi-Annual Trade Show Review from Spring, 2008
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.