Trendscaping: A Free Resource For Innovative Ideas and Trends on Food and Fashion.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Custom preppy
By Shannon Kelly
Preppy's infiltrating mainstream with smart tailoring (J.Crew), seemingly essential plaids (punk to classic), and wearable androgynous variations (Boy by Band of Outsiders) on the old sophisticated themes.
It was only a matter of time until nautical got back into the game. Classic retailers are hoping to get a little bump from new interest in what's old. Unfortunately, it seems that some brands have one foot in and one foot out of innovation.
Take Timberland. They've taking a cue from Nike iD, by offering customizable colors on their classic boat shoes but the hues seem far too conservative (these combinations push the creative envelope) for the fashion forward shopper.
On the other side of the customer spectrum, the innovation of customization and monogramming does not translate with their core audience who is seeking durable leather mainstream footwear.
Made from compostable potato starch bioplastic, the Spud Raincoat by Equilicuá might be less fashionable than eventually delicious. A concealed packet of Mediterranean seeds within the coat will be nourished by the jacket material as it biodegrades.
Additionally, the environmentally-friendly jacket uses cute graphics to educate the wearer (and passers by) that the eco-product can be planted in the ground to grow potatoes once discarded.
When I'm not obsessively checking UPS tracking on my new iPhone 3G S- I'll be reading, following and loving these stories. Enjoy!
FOOD - Historically solid brands hold stead in consumers minds with chocolate brands rating No. 1 & No. 2 brand equity. - Minnesota Department of Health reporting 6 cases of E. coli O157:H7 linked to eating raw Nestle’s Toll House brand cookie dough.- Blackberry is poised to be the recession flavor trend of the moment (local, seasonal, healthful). - Our favorite ballerina's taken two cooking internships this summer and is blogging about it. - These lovely delicate porcelain treats never melt and are totally non fattening!
The Conran Shop has announced plans to introduce a lower-priced range called Well Considered in an attempt to introduce new potential customers to the brand who might have perceived it as too expensive, reports Retail Week. The range, which includes 90 pieces ranging from £9.99 for a set of bowls to a £995 sofa, will be launched in August. No word if the line will be available at the New York store on 59th Street.
We think the Well Considered is a logical step for the retailer who, as they plan for expansion, will find more competition from Target, Crate & Barrel's CB2 range & Pottery Barn's West Elm brands. Conran Shop managing director Nick Moore describes the range as “affordable quality” and said he expected products to be used for spare rooms and second homes, or bought by parents furnishing their children’s university bedrooms.
In other Conran news, the retailer also plans to pilot a concession model at La Rinascente’s store in Milan, run by former Selfridges chief Vittorio Radice. The concession model will include predominantly non-furniture ranges in a the 1,100 sq. foot space and will open by the end of next month.
Comme des Garçons' will launch a limited-edition 'BLACK' pop-up store, full Bearbrick/Medicom pieces and Comme classics, in NYC for 2 weeks starting on June 22nd. The assortment is designer Rei Kawakubo's response to the recession and will coencide with the special BLACK window display in the prime corner spot at Barneys. We certainly praise the pop-up retail concept for bringing some excitement into the retail scene but are beginning to wonder if they are special anymore now that Target and Gap are in the game.
Attention retailers: just cause you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD. Make sure your brand is truly delivering something special or else this marketing tactic will quickly over-stay it's welcome.
We love Q-Pot jewel treasures from Japan (slightly different selection than what is available at MOMA). Adorable. Chic. Affordable. If jewelry is not your thing- check out the chocolate iPhone case. Visit the online shop here.
Charming tailor of "sartorial spendor" Duncan Quinn in NoLita focusing on bespoke suites and ready-to-wear men's apparel. These photos don't do the the store justice but trust me it's well worth checking out as an example of a brand clearly defining a market opportunity and delivering on the brand promise with excellent customer service and experiential retailing. In a sea of knock-offs and me-too retailing, Duncan Quinn stands out.
Yves Saint Laurent has launched their first Eco Label entitled ‘New Vintage’ at Barney's. The capsule collection consists of apparel made from fabric recycled from the YSL archives and built into some of their most memorable designs.
We think more designers and retailers should go back to the archives. Take a hint from Resurrection or YSL and create something we'll covet.
While I'm not a fan of Judith Leiber, I have to give that lady credit for building a cult brand and being inventive. Take this crystal beaded asparagus minaudiere with metallic leather lining and chain shoulder strap available on Glit Group $2,298.00 (originally $4600).
It's hilariously over-the-top eccentric & we love it! A food & fashion lover has to get it. And if you do purchase it-- we'll post a photo of you with said bag.
Behold, Selfridges 100th anniversary! Oxford Street’s Concept Store that been transformed in to a yellow pop-up shop for the month of May. Amazing and inventive selection of LTO products to commemorate the department store's bday including iconic food items like: Johnny Walker special edition of its Black Label whiskey, Green and Black’s chocolate, Coco-Cola & Absolut Vodka plus a huge assortment of irresistibly yellow fashion accessories.
Check out Refreshing Retail, for more interior merchandising & product photos. We also love this video, by jaimelondonboy, of the store's interior elevator display- which is very similar to one we saw in the Honolulu, HI Neiman Marcus last summer.
Another example of branded collaborations between a food and fashion. This limited collection between Supreme & Budweiserhas sell out written all over it consists of t-shirts, bags, as well as caps.
Unfortunately, the designs don't feel unique enough to merit much hype & the full all-over print pieces seem like a desperate attempt by Bud to gain brand awareness in a niche market.
Available in-store and online Thursday, June 11th. Available in Japan on Saturday, June 13th.
Target formally announced a partnership with DailyCandy.com, the email newsletter and Web site owned by cable operator Comcast. The newly-formed advertising and marketing partnership called Red Hot Shop will feature up-and-coming designers, articles and artwork compiled by DailyCandy editors within an online boutique on Target's website. In return, Target will pay to advertise itself on DailyCandy. No launch date has been released.
LOVE magazine (which we LOVE LOVE LOVE) is reporting that Angela Hill, formerly the manager/buyer of books at Dover Street and Colette, will be opening a pop-up shop at St. Martins lane in London.
So we did some digging and here's the skinny... The IDEA Books Pop-Up Shop will be open June 1st to August 29th featuring an assortment of archive magazines and books including: Avant Mode, 19 and Ritz, inspirational craft books; Housebuilding for Children, The Canoe Book and Underground Interiors, experimental architecture of Archigram and Site, design by Alchimia and Memphis and classic photography of David Hamilton, Sarah Moon, James Wedge and Deborah Turbeville.
Best of all, Angela Hill’s IDEA Books Pop-up shop will be complimented with afternoon tea served daily from 2.30pm-5.30pm in Asia de Cuba.
IDEA Books Pop-Up Bookstore, The Front Room, St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St. Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4HX.
Passionate about understanding consumer culture, I founded IN YOUR HEAD consultancy to transform my knowledge of marketing, innovation and merchandising into strategies for retail, food & lifestyle industries. My Trendscaping blog includes selections of current globetrotting and trend hunting adventures.
