Tag: Trends

Longboard Skateboarding and What It Means for the Future of the Sport—Fresh Data from Label Networks’ Spring Youth Culture Study 2012

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Skateboarding has splintered into a variety of subcultures over the past 10 years and among the most interesting is the development of longboard skateboarding. The resistance to longboard skateboarding among core shops and skaters as a credible genre flies in the face of the fact that it’s popular. In this story, we take a look […]

SkullCandy’s Annual Report, the Volcom/Roc Nation Logo Infringement, and Where Things Are Headed in Designer Headphones

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On March 23, 2012, SkullCandy released their latest financials with some interesting results that also say a great deal about the designer headphone industry, where music’s headed in terms of listening devices, and the challenges the industry as a whole has in the coming year. First, SkullCandy increased net sales from $9.1 million in 2006 […]

Fixie/Urban Cycling Sportswear Continues to Gain Traction, Now with Levi’s Latest

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Jumping into the growing lifestyle marketplace of urban cycling/Fixie gearheads, Levi Strauss continues to push their denim and non-denim NanoSphere collection structured and made specifically for the urban rider. The launch for summer has been met with solid reviews mainly because the fabrics which are both denim and non-denim are quite functional for urban cycling […]

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

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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 […]

Girls Got Kicks—And What’s Up with the Sneaker Freaker Female Marketplace

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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 […]

Backpacks and Shoulder Bags Trends Move Towards Heritage Returning to Craftsmanship with Nostalgic Vibe

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Backpacks in the traditional sense are getting a make-over these days as new “heritage” brands and streetwear are turning to creating their own versions of this key utilitarian accessory. No longer the territory of a monopolized few, the standard schoolyard Jansport, or even super-techy versions with built-in music listening device pockets and secret headphone holes, […]

Culture Jamming Round-up: The Red Ball Project by Kurt Perschke, and Manifest Destiny by Mark Reigelman

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The crossover of street art into inspiring creative advertising is a subculture we define as culture jamming and one that not only provides a sense of relief and humor to the trials of everyday life, but clever ways of reusing urban public spaces to be seen in completely different ways. One of our favorites currently […]

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

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 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

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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

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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 […]