Monthly Archives

March 2008

Alexander McQueen Puma Sneakers

Alexander McQueen Puma SneakersCheck out the Alexander McQueen Puma Spring 2008 footwear collection and the Alexander McQueen Bones Installation, inspired by the skeletal structure and the backbone. PUMA BLACK STORE shopping event and Alexander McQueen BONES installation Saturday March 29th  1pm-5pm

George Clooney Clothing?

George Clooney Clothing? ARE HOAXS THE NEW FAKES?

“HOAX COUTURE: April Fool’s Day is still a week away, but someone in Italy (where they don’t even have April Fool’s Day) must have been in the mood for a prank. A mysterious firm sent out an e-mail Monday proclaiming that George Clooney was launching a men’s and women’s fashion brand. Problem is, “this is a hoax,” said Clooney.

“I have no connection whatsoever with any clothing line bearing my name, and more specifically, GC Exclusive by George Clooney.”

The e-mail had been dispatched by Mass Media Distribution LLC, and was full of red flags. It appeared to be translated poorly from Italian, and stated the collection would be launched with a fashion show at the Westin Palace in Milan — not exactly the normal place in the Italian fashion capital for a show. No date or time was given for the supposed launch, but the e-mail noted that Clooney would be present. “Invitation open to all journalists and TV,” it stated. “Invited? Only important people and celebrities.”

Clooney isn’t the only celeb said to be doing a fashion line. Recently news emerged that Katie Holmes was going to be designing a collection for Giorgio Armani. The designer vehemently denied the rumor.”

7 For All Mankind confront counterfeitors!

7 For All Mankind confront counterfeitors!7 FOR ALL MANKIND carry the torch for premium denim and prove the exclusive denim industry has a bright future. Following the efforts by Red Monkey Company to battle fakes, 7 FOR ALL MANKIND provide the following indispensable information:

The 7 For All Mankind trademark is a registered trademark throughout the world. The use of that trademark without permission is considered counterfeiting and warrants legal action.

Counterfeiting is an enormous problem affecting the world, and we are doing all we can to help to contain it. Many people do not understand the global ramifications of counterfeiting, or what they are really buying when purchasing any counterfeit goods. The impact that counterfeiting has on our economy is tremendous. Because of the manufacturing, sale and distribution of counterfeit goods, millions upon millions of dollars in legitimate revenue are lost, as well as tens of thousands of jobs. This lost revenue results in fewer hospitals and schools being built as well as fewer police officers, firemen etc. being hired to protect the public. Lost jobs are the result of honest intellectual property owners having to cut back on their staff due to decreased sales and the destruction of the reputation of a brand. When a consumer purchases a defective counterfeit good, they don’t blame the counterfeiter, they blame the brand. Counterfeiters are not small time crooks who are making a few measly dollars. They are thieves who are stealing huge amounts of money from the community, consumers and corporations.

Counterfeiting has been called the “drug trade of the 21st century.” With the relatively low risk of prosecution and the enormous amounts of money being taken in, counterfeiting has become a cash cow for members of organized crime. The manufacturers of counterfeit goods do not pay taxes; do not pay fair wages or benefits to their employees. They frequently use child labor and have been known to fund terrorism and other crimes.

When a consumer purchases a pair of counterfeit 7 For All Mankind jeans from a street vendor, website or unlicensed wholesaler, they are often dealing directly with a person who has been involved in numerous serious criminal activities. When people decide to host a “jean” party in their home, it usually consists of the host or hostess purchasing a large amount of product from unlicensed wholesalers who often come to the home, or require a shipping address to distribute the counterfeit goods. These hosts must realize that when doing so, they are allowing people with criminal records into their lives and homes, granting access to their valuables and their families! Remember, while it is not illegal to purchase counterfeit goods, it IS illegal to distribute, making the host of the party eligible for prosecution.

7 For All Mankind is extremely dedicated to helping fight the crime of counterfeiting. Our legal team works closely with US Customs and law enforcement in order in insure that counterfeit goods never make it to their planned destination. We work with these agencies to make sure that whenever counterfeit goods are spotted, the counterfeiters are arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We rely heavily upon our loyal customers to help us put an end to this illegal activity.

For more information regarding this serious matter, please visit the following links: www.iacc.org

If you would like to submit information on a suspected seller of counterfeit 7 For All Mankind products, please click here to complete our counterfeit reporting document. Completed documents can be faxed to 7 For All Mankind at 646.839.5434 or email completed documents to counterfeits@7forallmankind.com.

Jimmy Choo, the next step!

Jimmy Choo, the next step! Following the recent brand takeover, Jimmy Choo is out to move beyond footwear and leather goods.

“We’re going to continue developing this company independently. There is still potential for growth.”said Robert Bensoussan, Jimmy Choo

The company, acquired earlier this week by the private equity firm TowerBrook Capital Partners LP, will unveil a full eyewear line by the end of the year and plans to launch its first fragrance in 2008. The next question is can we expected a Jimmy Choo menswear line and perhaps even a denim collection?

Ksubi Relaunch

Ksubi Relaunch‘MINI BUGER’ & ‘PICKLE’, 2008
KSUBI

In the ‘The Bombed Mache’, a backyard mortuary of disposable needs stands ‘Mini Burger’ & ‘Pickle’. The four-metre high sculpture comprises of two 1972 used Austin Mini cars, two Austin Mini car bonnets, five car tyres and truck tyre.

Created by the ksubi collective, the sculpture was built as a reaction to the disposability of used cars and car parts, and how they can be made into useful things like hamburgers. ‘Mini Burger’ & ‘Pickle’ stands in courtyard of ksubi’s Melbourne store, the same site where infamous ‘Sign of the Times’ sculpture once stood, before stolen and destroyed late last year.

The sculpture was created for the ‘High Art’ event, a multi-venue exhibition on High Street, Armadale during the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (3rd – 9th March, 2008).

ksubi’s signature tongue-in-cheek style, imbued with irony, has elevated the brand to “cult” status, and assisted in gaining global recognition for its clothing and aesthetic.

March 2008, for the first time in its eight-year history, ksubi will relaunch its online store.

A juxtaposition of complexity and simplicity, the site manifests a non-directional and straightforward search engine design format, complete with keyword searches and pop-up windows.

The decision to promote and make available ksubi product online was encouraged by demand, and gives an incisive visual narrative into the brand’s history, projects, collections, as well as stockists and distributors. Most significantly, classic ksubi—from denim, fashion, eyewear, books and limited editions objects, can now be purchased online.

PURE BOSS Aftershave

PURE BOSS AftershaveWould you hire or fire the team that wrote the marketing for BOSS’ new scent PURE BOSS?

“The new men’s fragrance from BOSS fuses the energy of a successful man with the pure, unstoppable thrust of a cascading waterfall. BOSS PURE is an aquatic scent with a cool, fresh note and a masculine elegance, created for ambitious men who seek ever-new challanges and embody clarity and drive.”

Green Fashion + NOHARM Clothing

Green Fashion + NOHARM Clothing“Research and Markets” just published a report covering the latest of green textiles and apparel. According to Research and Markets “green fashion” is the way forward and the future for the industry is looking very rosie.

Going green is still a hot news item and environmental issues are being addressed. Research and Markets reports it’s a shame recycling activity remains at a low level for economic and quality reasons. Retailers do try by promoting recycling schemes, and voluntarily attaching “eco-labels” to garments to give environmental information. Research and Markets points out, these labels shows us varying levels of success in the marketplace, and they focus on different aspects. Varying from “best practice” in manufacturing to a single aspect of an item such as its environmental or social attributes.

Markets and Research mentions other initiatives, which aim to encourage safe and eco-friendly chemical production such as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). In the USA the Toxic Substances Control Act (TCSA) enables the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to track industrial chemicals produced in or imported into the country.

The production of organic cotton growing quickly, but unfortunately only covers small fraction of the global cotton output. There is hope says Markets and Research report, as organic cotton is being adopted by high profile companies such as C&A, Coop, Nike, Wal-Mart, and Woolworths. The report concludes its research by naming brands and manufacturing companies that are pursuing environmentally friendly strategies such as NOHARM, American Apparel, Gap, Interface, Patagonia, and Wal-Mart in the USA.

D&G Shoes Limited Edition

D&G Trainers Limited Edition Dolce & Gabbana presents for Spring/Summer 2008 an exclusive line of men’s shoes, created in a limited edition of only 5000 pairs worldwide. Each individual pair comes with a unique number stamped on the back of the shoe. The sense of exclusivity is enhanced by a repeated embossed leather logo and a signature three-colour flag in gold, silver and bronze.

Acne Jeans + Gentleman’s Jeans

Acne Jeans + Gentleman’s JeansThe Gentleman’s Jeans is a pair of blue, elegant jeans, created for a mature man of work and leisure. The jeans has been designed by Gert Jonkers and Jop van Bennekom from Fantastic Man together with Creative Director Jonny Johansson at Acne, in a style that has been seen before on our fathers and uncles, but now updated and made wonderful for today. The Gentleman’s Jeans is available in a limited edition at Colette in Paris, in selected Acne Studios and at the Acne Store

Sugar Cane Jeans, The Eco Answer?

Sugar Cane Jeans, The Eco Answer?ECO-TIPS FOR JEANS

Sugar Cane Jeans, the original environmentally progressive brand is perhaps the answer to the denim woes highlighted by UNEP? 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) presents an innovative ad to sensitize young people to climate change through… their jeans!

Paris, France – March 2008 – Among the sustainability challenges that affect our planet, climate change is clearly the most urgent one. Scientific evidence has made it clear that global warming is caused by human activities and notably by our consumption patterns. 

Young and old, we are all concerned. Young people are notably keen to take meaningful actions, but what can they do? Through an entertaining approach with its TV spot “Eco-tips for jeans ” UNEP aims to focus on, what is for many of them, one of their favorite pastimes: fashion in general and “their jeans” in particular.

Today, many in the fashion sector are concerned by their impacts on the environment, due to the exploitation of raw materials, the production, the transport and the generation of waste. However, the life cycle analysis[1] of a pair of jeans shows that the main environmental impact occurs during its use phase[2]. Therefore, the number of times jeans are worn before being washed, the washing temperature, the use of detergents, the machine-drying and the ironing constitute many crucial steps. We also shouldn’t forget that a well maintained garment will last longer, thus generating less waste!

Building upon these findings, the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (UNEP DTIE) decided to produce a TV spot, unique in its message and its approach. It features a couple dancing Tecktonik – a trendy movement in France, which is currently spreading in many countries – in a typical urban environment. Split-screens, powerful messages, catchy music (“Am I wrong” from Etienne de Crécy) aim to sensitize young people to ecological tips in an original way. “We wanted to find a way to make our environmental messages more accessible to young people. Hence our decision to present something positive and engaging that will hopefully prompt young people to take action rather than leaving them feeling helpless”, states Mr. Robert Bisset, Head of Communications at UNEP DTIE.

Clear, concise and relevant tips are highlighted throughout the TV spot: wear your jeans at least 3 times, wash them in cold water, don’t use the dryer, forget the iron, it is 5 times less wasted energy! As the UNEP slogan says: “The world is your home. Look after it.”

Luciano Carvari Footwear

Luciano Carvari Footwear“Flora – Amore” – the new collection of footwear from Luciano Carvari for season spring- years 2008. Perhaps something is lost in translation but as they say an image speaks a thousand words and that is true for “Flora-Amore” who created this image campaign for the Luciano Carvari footwear brand.
Luciano Carvari Footwear

Sir Paul Smith

Sir Paul SmithSir Paul Smith, says:

1.
One of the biggest mistakes men make is wearing T-shirts. I understand why you’d want to wear them, especially if you’re a single man. There’s no ironing. But most guys need to have a collar around their neck for height.
2.
If you’re in doubt about how to wear your hair, get a non-haircut: a relatively short, nondescript one. If you try for stylish hair, you can make horrible mistakes.
3.
Women should always be entertained. My wife hates it when men at a dinner party lean in front of her or behind her and have a conversation as if she doesn’t exist.
4.
If you’re going to a formal event, you have to dress correctly. But if you get there and realize people aren’t wearing bow ties, you can put yours in your pocket.
5.
On a young guy, two days of not shaving looks very cool. But as you get older, it looks like you’re trying too hard, especially when you’re going gray. A proper beard is fine.
6.
In London, we’re not so passionate about how we look, as opposed to the Italians, who are very self-conscious. We’re not stylish dressers, but we’re good on ideas and on freethinking.
7.
You can learn from people who dress in an interesting way, like Daniel Day-Lewis. You can see him on his motorbike in jeans, a checked shirt, and a leather jacket. And other times he’ll have on a custom-made Scottish-plaid suit.
8.
Generally speaking, I wear a suit every day, because my suits are custom-made. They are comfortable. They move with me.
9.
I don’t have a BlackBerry. I carry a notepad and a pencil—and I don’t use a mobile. I’ve reluctantly moved to a digital camera, but only because they make them so nice and small now that they don’t spoil the line of your suit.
10.
I’m very happy if a man smells like himself. But if he does wear a scent, it shouldn’t be too attention seeking. The people on the other side of the office shouldn’t be able to smell you.

Gucci Clothing No.1 Fashion Brand

Gucci Clothing No.1 Fashion Brand According to The Nielsen Company’s online survey, Italian fashion giant Gucci is the most coveted luxury brand in the world. One in five consumers said they would buy Gucci products if money was not an issue, according to a survey of 25,000 online consumers in more than 48 countries. In a similar survey published two years ago, Gucci shared first place with Giorgio Armani, which has now slipped to No 4 in the current global survey, Nielsen said.

“In the past two years, Gucci has managed to maintain and even increase its brand equity in a very competitive and fickle industry,” said Patrick Dodd, Nielsen’s President of Europe in a statement. “They have achieved this by consistently embedding their core brand values in all their branded products, which range from perfume and sunglasses to accessories, jewelry, handbags and ready-to-wear.”

Gucci, which is owned by French retail company PPR SA, was turned around in the mid-1990s by former executives Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole, who made its bamboo-handled bags, horse-bit motifs and double-G logos trendy and profitable.Some of the strongest responses came from India and the United Arab Emirates, where 41 percent and 37 percent of consumers, respectively, said they would choose Gucci over 24 other labels from their own country.Consumers in North America were the least interested in luxury brands, with 35 percent saying they would not buy any luxury brands even if money were no object.

The Nielsen Company is the world’s leading provider of marketing information, audience measurement, and business media products and services. Headquartered in New York, USA and Haarlem, The Netherlands, Nielsen operates in more than 100 countries.