Maison Martin Margiela for H&M Set to Drop

So the collaboration between Maison Martin Margiela and H&M is set to drop in November and I am wondering if I will wait in line for this collaboration like I did for the Versace for H&M collaboration. Some of the pieces look quite eccentric, at least for the ladies but the men's wear is contemporary enough for me dawn a few pieces. 

Here, I have posted a couple of pieces I am interested in. Trying to get my grown and sexy on, with this sheep faux coat. The best thing I like about these collaboration is the garments are inexpensive, its affordable. Hopefully, there not a long line Roseville, like the one I had to stay in Orlando for.  For whatever it is worth, I am on it.  

For more information and a look at their woman's line click, here.

Laduma Ngxokolo and The Influx Of Contemporary African Fashion.

Coincidently, staying on the topic of all things fashionable coming out of South Africa. By means of a 419 blog I posted which was liked and reposted by someone who loves of Ghana, I happened to tumble upon this hat designed by Laduma Ngxokolo, a dope South African textile designer. Laduma is embracing traditional African patterns, inspired by the Xhosa culture and transcribing them onto knit ware, creating his own contemporary culturally infused look.  His patterns are vibrant with color and dripping with an ethic flare and his process has him winning all sorts of awards and design competitions.   

It seems like African inspired patterns is slowly but surely being embrace by the fashionable mainstream and westernized worlds. Already we’ve seen an influx of mud cloth accessories and garments in department stores such as Urbran Outfitters.  Not to mention, musician such Jay-Z and Pusha T, Yasin Bey (Mos Def) embracing Afrocentric accra inspired high end street ware brand like Ale et Ange, pronounced ah-LAY ay ahnj, founded by some African Americans (First generation Africans in America). Hat below. 

Nonetheless, the continent of Africa and its designers, are making room for themselves in the fashion world, as they rightfully should. Traditional African attire has always been colorful, vibrant and unique. I have been so lucky to be born within a rich Nigerian culture, allowing me to be apart of textiles and patterns first hand. Now all I am waiting for is full western embrace, more contemporary infusion and longevity. I do not want this to be just the flavor of the month or season.

Check out this video of  Laduma Ngxokolo speaking, at last years Design Indaba 2011. You can also check out his website. 

I just appreciate how we can inspired and be inspired any and everything. Let our african history, roots, and culture, style be preserved and modernized to suit our fashionable taste. 

On another tip, I do wonder, strictly, as a freelance marketer, master in business holder, future retail apparel entrepreneur; are these knit selling well in South Africa. What other markets is he in. I'm sweating just viewing his knit ware lines.

The Most Fashionable Prisoner's Number

Apparently, it is never too late to step into the wonderful world of fashion. Well, it is never too late to use your name for the sake of fashion that is. Especially, if your name is one of the most recognizable names around world but in this case it is the most recognizable prisoner number.  In recent news, South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela will be debuting his clothing line at 46664 pronounced ‘four, double six, six four’ at New York fashion week. The number 46664 was Nelson Mandela’s prisoner number when he was jailed on Robben Island, which is off the coast Cape Town, South Africa in 1964. Now, he has decided to use it for social change and awareness through fashion.

Maison Martin Margiela with H&M

As I have grown older the thrills and excitements for everything fashion has subsided a bit. Initially, I was all about the label, brand and maybe even endorsements however, I have matured a little in style. My maturity could be by default. Meaning, because of my own personal recession brought on by being a full time student. I have now been forced to change my spending habits. Therefore, until I get out of this personal recession I will buy clothing apparel and shoes based on the price being just right, other wise known as the “sale”. Furthermore, I am trying immerse myself in the axiom that, “the clothes do not make man”. Instead, I want to be the man that makes the clothes and sells them. Nevertheless, I still have my days in which the occasional fashionable thrill may rear its hyped head.

Here, the fashion thrill comes by way of the recent announcement that Swedish fast fashion company H&M holiday will be collaborating with high-end French fashion house Maison Martin Margiela. I love the fashion pairing of low-priced fast fashion meets prestige and couture. On June 12^th, Maison Martin Margiela confirmed that they would be collaborating with H&M and releasing the line November 15^th, 2012 for the holiday shopping season.

The Tale of Two Investors: The Business Plan Part Deux

In my last post I discussed the importance of a business plan from two expert angles, Kevin Ryan founder of Gilt Groupe and Daymond John founder of FUBU.  I mentioned that I found it ironic that two different men with two entirely different backgrounds both became financially successful using different methodologies they learned from their education or lack there of. As they progress in the business world their standpoints or views on writing and reviewing business plans changed. I stated that I had agreed with their take and opinions but it seems it is best to find some sort of middle ground. I came down to the conclusion that it is best to write up a business plan but also it is best to know your market.

The Tale of Two Investors: The Business Plan

Kevin Ryan is the founder and CEO of Gilt Groupe, a fancy, one stop internet shop that offers over 3.5 million members elegant merchandise, stylish fashions, home decor, delicatessen food. They also have Jetsetter.com that offers discounted but luxurious travel to places like treehouse hotels in Kenya or iceberg hotels in Europe and activities like white water rafting in the Colorado. He is an angel investor in Theladders.com. Not to mention, the founder of a network of affiliated Internet companies, one of which is The business Insider under the AlleyCorp and he is the chairman. Kevin is a Yale graduate and has a MBA from INSEAD. Given his economic and business mindset Kevin Furthermore, he doesn’t particularly believe in writing business plan and for good reason. He acknowledges his way of thinking is flipped. Kevin basically feels if you know your business or market you do not need to develop a business plan for it.  Kevin Ryan further explains that everybody has an idea, so it is about your execution of the idea that creates success.  Essentially nothing is new under the sun. He explains before Google exploded on the Internet search engine front there were several other search engines. They had to execute that idea differently. Kevin likes to focus on the employee development and the constant execution of idea. If the execution of an idea needs to be modified then modify it. He feels it’s about recognizing that you have a good idea; whether is it a specific enough market and having good people behind you. He eschews business plans that just focus on the financials and fails to tackle the in outs of the specific market.

Karmaloop Hype

In 2000, Greg Selkoe, a young Bostonian with an undergraduate degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, launches an online streetwear store named Karmaloop.com amidst the dot.com bust but survives the crisis in epic fashion (pun intended). The Karmaloop hype is based upon the company striving to bring their consumers a plethora of the freshest, trendiest streetwear brands and styles. A decade and some change later, the company has grown tremendously. According to Alexa.com, Karmaloop has over 4.5 million unique visitors monthly and is ranked the 1,450th most visited website in the US.