“I’m a commercial artist. I think things are going so well because I’m not afraid to do things that are commercial.” And therein lies the success of Kim Jones. His Dior men’s fall collection shown last Tuesday was highly anticipated by me and my fashion cohorts as soon as the collab with Shawn Stussy was announced. (more…)
Continuing my discourse on how skate-y, hypebeast-y brands are winning at retail, here’s a quick look at Champion’s recently opened NYC store. The Soho store is banking on a storytelling approach, enlightening younger customers to Champion’s 100-year sports heritage with display cases of archive pieces and flagging up its signature innovations such as ‘Reverse Weave’ sweatshirts. (more…)
The skatewear industry is one of the few niches managing to circumnavigate the plummeting shifting bricks and mortar retail landscape. Last weekend I went to Soho’s Brewer Street to witness the annual pop-up tour from Basement Approved, an online streetwear community that has evolved into a 360 proposition of physical merch, parties and pop-ups. Outside the appointed retail unit, a small gathering of scruffy-beautiful skate kids milled about guzzling Red Stripe and doing whatever young people do on their phones these days. (more…)
“In 2018, we need more than just classical notions around what constitutes culture to show where we are today. Sneakers, records skateboards, T-shirts — all these everyday items first appropriated by brands like Supreme and now, in turn, being appropriated by high culture, music and fashion players — are becoming major social markers. (more…)
