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.

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.

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.

Fashion Analytics, Digital Linguistic and Kinectic Scanning

As I pursue an entrepreneurial dream to open a retail boutique somewhere in California I often contemplate, strategize and methodically plan ideas in which to incorporate technology into the business idea in order to generate a buzz or I guess "disrupt fashion". Here, I am thinking about web 3.0, phone apps and interactive website/blog. However, I may have been thinking too small based on what I recently read on Forbes online.

Fast to Fashion

I recently read yet another article discussing the “fast fashion” boom within the world and how fast fashion companies have double their global footprint.  However, this Reuters’ article written by consumer retail reporter Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Analysis: Retailers play catch-up in fashion speed race, goes more in depth on the tactics and strategies of the fast fashion company. 

Methods of retail fashion distributions are changing amidst fast fashion competitors.  Traditional fashion retailers now have to play catch up to Europe and Japanese based retailers that are either cheaper, trendier or both.  Essentially, companies such as the Gap Inc., American Eagle Outfitters and Macy's Inc. now have to place smaller orders in more factories in order to have a quick turnaround in order to get new designs and colors to the cheap, picky, young shopper faster.

Urban Outfitters Is Slipping, Falling. But Can They Get Up?

So I recently read Urban Outfitters (URBN.O) was a little down on its luck. According to Bloomberg, their shares are down 27 percent this year, the largest drop among U.S. specialty apparel retailers. Gasp! Will URBN be able to rebound from their recent decline in sales?  I personally believe they can if they do these three little things. Hire new talent, collaborate, and stay clear of the Ambercrombiesque type publicity (diversify). As Jezebel noted, their board members are old, averaging around 50 and are predominately White men, who may be slightly behind the trends I’m guessing, a pinch maybe. Let’s face it, URBN.O CEO Richard Hayne, is no longer hip or a hippie nor is he an Urban Outfitter but a multi-billionaire, ‘mom and apple pie conservative’. The company is slowly reflecting their company president's political affiliation. Urban Outfitter may be losing their cool. You're not cool if your insensitive to Native Americans, steals designers' jewelry concepts, your boardroom is not diverse and you do not support Gay rights. Miley Cyrus is not a fan.

AAFA vs Counterfeiters

     Piracy, counterfeiting or bootlegging can be an annoying eyesore and headache in fashion retailing. Growing up, working as a urban clothing sales associate or as a sneaker head, urban fashionista or a plain old brand loyalist, I often despised the consumer who participated in the purchasing of fake apparel because these consumers adamantly believe that the product that they were wearing was not a fake. Sorry, but you have been hoodwinked and bamboozled. I understand the feeling of wanting to belong or don the latest fashions. It feels good to be in the ‘in crowd' sometimes, doesn’t it?  However, I am not always a fan of the, 'fake it till you make it' plan. In some regards, I am purest when it comes to fashion, sneakers and style. If I can afford brand, I will purchase the brand. If I cannot afford it then I can wait till I can afford it but never will I wear pirated or counterfeit shoes or apparel because I can be a clothing snob or brand slave at times. Not to mention, I may be fooling others but I am not fooling myself. 

To assist apparel and footwear companies in fighting the good fight against counterfeiters, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), provides members and visitors a like with an anti-counterfeiting coalition issue tool kit. In conjunction with the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) of which AAFA is an active member, released recommended steps companies can use in order to protect their supply chains from counterfeiters. As mentioned on AAFA’s webpage, CACP partnered with U.S. Chamber of Commerce and provided companies with a tool kit that, “[C]ontains best practice[sic] guidelines and seven case studies of companies that devised and implemented aggressive techniques to fight counterfeiting and piracy and protects themselves and their customers”.

Back to The Future 2, the Nike Air Mags and Parkinson's

Nostalgia and clairvoyant marketing genius is what drives the new Nike Air Mags back to the future from the past and now, towards the present. I remember watching Back to the Future 2 in 80’s for the first time, as a little kid and seeing Michael J Fox’s character, Marty McFly, put on these space-age Nike’s that automatically self lace. Then to top it off, Marty hops on the Barbie Mattel pink hover board with the Nike swoosh on those kicks looking, so nice, white and crisp. I couldn’t wait for year 2015, so I can cop this hi-tech super high top Air Force One, which allows me to be lazy and not tie my own shoe. It may be better that I don’t ever get them probably end up co-dependent and fat like human sin Wall-E. Anyway, that was then this is now.

It’s 2011 and you can feel it in the Nike air, the future is upon us. Sort of, there may not be hover boards or flying Deloreans but Nike may be gearing up for a strategic three-year marketing campaign of futuristic proportions. Starting with an excellent marketing angle. Earlier this month, Nike and Michael J. Fox teamed up on a special project to help raise funds for The Michael J. Fox’s Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Nike released 1500 pairs of the Nike Air Mags through Nike’s Ebay and the first pair sold for a whopping $37, 500. Now with all the shoes currently sold out and the only available pairs, are selling on Ebay by those who initially bought it, most likely in bulk and are now reselling it for a possible profit.

Supposedly, they will be re-released in 2015, possibly with the power lacing technology. I have my finger crossed. Honestly, if I could afford to buy this shoe I would have bought the shoe but only a pair where the funds directly went to Fox’s Parkinson foundation. Frankly, besides, Muhammad Ali, Micheal J. Fox was one of the first people to educate me on the disease and making it prevalent in my life.  I would feel quite content dropping $6,000, if I knew the money was it going to the research of Parkinson disease. Now, this is of course if my income could sustain such a purchase or should I say donation. Let’s face it, Nike, has the perfect spokesperson and sponsor in MJ. Fox. Marty and Doc is all the endorsement I need to be once again reminiscent of my childhood wants, needs and fantasy. The sneaker head, Back to the Future fan boy and MJF fan would have coughed up six racks on racks on racks.

With musicians, artists, sneaker stores and sneaker heads drooling for these Limited Edition Nike Air Mags, there is no possible way Nike won’t re-release these iconic shoes, $299.99 is my guess. Ouch! Nike has given us a glimpse of their future, now only if they powered laced and came with one these cool accessories.