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Tag: STREETWEAR

  • Palace Streetwear Breaks Into Mainland China with a Stylish Shanghai Store Debut

    Palace Streetwear Breaks Into Mainland China with a Stylish Shanghai Store Debut

    British streetwear brand, Palace, is set to inaugurate its first independent retail store in Mainland China, within the historic district of Zhangyuan in Shanghai.

    The store, which opens its doors to the public this Friday, draws inspiration from the traditional elements of Yuyuan Garden. It incorporates features reminiscent of the garden’s ponds, pavilions, and meandering paths. In an effort to maintain the authenticity and historic charm of the locale, the original facade of the garden has been preserved. The store’s entrance is marked by Palace’s iconic, mirrored tri-ferg logo suspended above it. The logo, a creation of Fergus Purcell, takes its cues from the Penrose Triangle, a work of Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd. The logo’s placement creates an illusion of angling downward from the building’s roofline.

    A Timely Debut

    Gareth Skewis, the founder of Palace, expressed that his frequent visits to China over the past two decades gave him the conviction that the time was right for the brand to make its debut in Mainland China. Skewis pointed out that the present cultural milieu, particularly the state of skateboarding and the contemporary youth culture in China, factored into his decision.

    The interior of the store is a showcase of architectural elegance with limestone and stone tile finishes. It also flaunts LED columns and accents of gold and red, a nod to traditional Chinese rituals. The store’s design incorporates a pavilion-like structure at its heart, thus extending the garden concept throughout the space.

    A Special Collection Launch

    To celebrate the store’s grand opening, Palace will introduce a Shanghai-exclusive capsule collection. The collection includes an array of items such as biker jackets, sports jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, and accessories. The products are branded with a playful ‘Shang-Hi’ logo and a waving hand motif.

    Questions & Answers

    Where is Palace’s first independent store in Mainland China located?
    The store is located in the historic district of Zhangyuan in Shanghai.

    What is the design concept of the store?
    The store’s design draws inspiration from the traditional elements of Yuyuan Garden, with features reminiscent of the garden’s ponds, pavilions, and meandering paths integrated into the store’s layout.

    What special launch is coinciding with the store’s opening?
    To mark the store’s opening, Palace will introduce a Shanghai-exclusive capsule collection, featuring items like biker jackets, sports jerseys, hoodies, T-shirts, and accessories branded with a ‘Shang-Hi’ logo and a waving hand motif.

  • Billionaire Boys Club And Tuborg Debut Music-inspired Streetwear Collection In China

    Billionaire Boys Club And Tuborg Debut Music-inspired Streetwear Collection In China

    Esteemed New York-based streetwear label, Billionaire Boys Club (BBC), has announced a unique partnership with the noteworthy Dutch lager brand, Tuborg, to launch an exclusive limited-edition collection.

    The collaboration will be introduced to China via dedicated pop-up stores in the cities of Guizhou and Zhengzhou. Under the compelling theme “Live a Billion Lives Again,” the pop-ups will provide a first-hand look at this much-anticipated collection.

    Billionaire Boys Club, co-founded by globally recognized artist and singer, Pharrell Williams, has cultivated a reputation for its luxury streetwear pieces that are deeply influenced by music. The new capsule collection features an exciting range of products that showcase this unique music-inspired aesthetic including graphic T-shirts, caps, keychains, and playing cards that channel the essence of urban street art.

    Jeff Chong, a leading executive of international premium brands at Carlsberg Asia, the parent company of Tuborg, acknowledged the significance of the collaboration. According to him, the partnership underscores Tuborg’s ongoing commitment to music culture and its aspiration to resonate with a younger demographic of consumers.

    Chong further emphasized, “This collaboration reflects the shared vision and synergy between two brands that genuinely connect with the spirit of youth.”

    Tuborg has confirmed plans to expand the launch of the capsule collection to other Asian markets. At the same time, BBC has committed to promoting the line on a global scale through its extensive retail network in the United States.

    Questions & Answers

    Who are the collaborators for the exclusive capsule collection?
    Billionaire Boys Club, a New York streetwear label, and Tuborg, a Dutch lager brand, are the collaborators for this collection.

    Where will the collaboration debut, and what is the theme of the launch?
    The collaboration will debut in China through pop-up stores in Guizhou and Zhengzhou, under the theme “Live a Billion Lives Again.”

    What does the capsule collection include?
    The collection includes products like graphic T-shirts, caps, keychains, and street art-inspired playing cards.

  • Puma launches crossover with Chinese streetwear brand Attempt

    Puma launches crossover with Chinese streetwear brand Attempt

    Puma has collaborated with Chinese streetwear brand Attempt to launch a “hacking the archive”-themed range.

    The Puma x Attempt Collection offers a selection of footwear, apparel, and accessories, featuring both classic Puma style and Attempt’s signature minimalist and functional designs.

    “The designs feature deconstructed elements with technical designs and the tonal color palette comes alive with bold color pops, resulting in a collection that is fresh, unexpected, and raw,” the company described.

    The collection also offers a mix of Puma footwear, including the RS-2K, Oslo Pro, and Style Rider. The apparel range features five tees and outerwear items for the warmer months. The accessories range consists of a crossbody bag and a cap.

    Founded in 2015, Attempt is known for its casual clothing featuring minimalist aesthetics with functionality and fresh styling.

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  • Champion lifting off with sustainable streetwear collection

    Champion lifting off with sustainable streetwear collection

    Athletic apparel brand Champion is to launch a sustainable streetwear collection Re:Bound next month.

    Champion’s Re:Bound Collection will feature a streetwear line made from recycled Reverse Weave fabric, normally discarded during production. According to the company, 45 percent of pre-consumer recycled cotton has been turned into high-quality apparel products for the range.

    The manufacturing process involves three stages: Rescue Waste, Recycle and Rope Dye.

    As part of the launch, Champion invited two Australian influencers and up-cyclers, Philip O’Donahoo and Jaida The Creator, to star in a promotion campaign.

    “Pioneering products is our legacy. Protecting the planet is our long game,” the company said in a statement. “Re:Bound is our first step, and we’re just getting started.”

    The Re:Bound collection is scheduled to launch on August 4.

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  • Luxury streetwear label Opening Ceremony to close all stores

    Luxury streetwear label Opening Ceremony to close all stores

    Luxury retailer Opening Ceremony will shutter its entire store network this year.

    The store closures follow the brand’s sale to streetwear brands conglomerate New Guards Group. Boutiques in Japan, New York and Los Angeles will close down permanently as the firm transitions to become a brand only rather than a retail operator.

    “It’s incredibly emotional for us to announce today that we will be closing our Opening Ceremony retail locations sometime in 2020,” wrote founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon on the brand’s social media page. “We’ve made a decision to focus on growing Opening Ceremony collection and brand with our new partners, New Guards Group, and expand the designs of Opening Ceremony. Our brand takes the beautiful spirit of experimentation, fun, and collaboration embodied in our stores and imbues this energy into the clothing we make.

    “We know our decision may surprise you, and it may be interpreted in many different ways. Ultimately, in this time of immense change in the way that people shop, we still believe in the power of passionate and unique retail. But we also believe in the necessity for change, reflection, and an opportunity to refresh.

    “We are stepping back from multi-brand retail, for a moment, so we can come back with an experience that is just as inspiring, filled with love and relevant for the years ahead as Opening Ceremony has been,” they said.

    Opening Ceremony stores previously carried multiple fashion brands and had a reputation as a somewhat offbeat industry player.

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  • Japanese streetwear brand íxi:z to make a comeback

    Japanese streetwear brand íxi:z to make a comeback

    Eighties-era Japanese streetwear brand íxi:z (pronounced ick-sees) is making a second debut in Singapore.

    Four decades after its initial launch in the region, Íxi:z is opening a retail store this month at Mandarin Gallery, with an official launch event planned for early next year.

    Those who grew up in the 80s may remember Íxi:z as a brand that encompassed everything from bomber jackets to wallets and pencil cases. At the height of Íxi:z fever the brand had a hardcore following of streetwear enthusiasts who until this day share brand memorabilia and show off their now-vintage items to fellow fans online.

    Thirty years on, grand plans have been drawn up to restore Íxi:z to its former glory and establish it as a premier Japanese streetwear brand for discerning teenagers and young adults.

    Featuring designs from its halcyon days along with newer, never-before-seen collections, Íxi:z will open its doors at Mandarin Gallery on December 14.

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  • Chinese Streetwear brand INXX Expands

    Chinese Streetwear brand INXX Expands

    Chinese streetwear brand INXX is officially launching its US e-commerce site.

    “We want to open up to a broader market and develop more forward-looking and global design paths while forming our own symbols,” said co-founder Henry Mao.

    Targeting global youth, INXX achieved US$3.5 million in sales on China’s 2018 Single’s Day and is now setting sights on the major fashions of worldwide street trends. By keeping roots in its blended Asian streetwear background, the brand has been able to forge a strong identity while growing into new markets.

    INXX made its 2018 debut with a presentation on Vfiles. In its showcase at New York Fashion Week SS19, INXX blended craftsmanship with an underground urban street aesthetic, mixing surreal grungy graphics and a strong focus on design detail to achieve “a look without boundaries”.

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  • Heron Preston makes debut in Hong Kong

    Heron Preston makes debut in Hong Kong

    U.S. brand Heron Preston which, as Vogue defines it, finds the interface of luxury and streetwear has arrived in Hong Kong. The New York-based designer announced on Instagram that his Hong Kong debut also served as Heron Preston’s first-ever storefront anywhere.

    “I can’t believe I started hand printing t-shirts in San Francisco and now I’m here. I want to thank my amazing team for the love and support!” he said.

    Located on Paterson Street, Fashion Walk, in the city’s Causeway Bay area, the new Heron Preston store was designed by the contemporary designer too.

    Inside, Hong Kong shoppers are greeted by industrial interior fixtures such as steel shelving, painted wooden crates and licks of safety orange throughout.

    An emerald green chair is set up in the centre of the shop next to the concrete sales counter. The light is bright and remainder of the store minimal in design, allowing the Heron Preston collections to speak.

    Offering a full selection of the designer’s wares, clothes are displayed hanging from the racks, with accessories kept under the glass shelf of a table and hosted on shelves.

    Marking the store opening, Heron Preston has teamed up with fellow American and sportswear heavyweight Nike for a limited edition eyewear collection.

    Dubbed “Nike Tailwind HP Sunglasses”, the glasses are lightweight and wrap-around style, the frames mimicking the brand’s innovative rubber ventilation. The collection comes with interchangeable lenses too.

    A standout piece is the Nike MAX Optics glass, which comes with an anti-fog Flying Lens setting.

    The collection dropped worldwide November 29 and is available at Nike store and Heron Preston sales points.

  • Hip-Hop’s influence on the booming Chinese streetwear market

    Hip-Hop’s influence on the booming Chinese streetwear market

    In less than 6 months, hip-hop and associated visual representations exploded into mainstream Chinese consciousness.

    Launched in the summer of 2017, “The Rap of China,” adapted from a similar Korean show saw its first season episodes viewed more than 3 billion times on the iQiyi streaming platform.

    Featuring superstar Wu Yifan, it sparked not only widespread interest in rap music, but also fueled a hip-hop-influenced, high-end streetwear obsession among Chinese youth, led by distinctive brands such as Supreme, Off-White and Vetements.

    Chinese millennials number more than 400 million and they are increasingly demanding more niche, high-end brands that simultaneously offer the comfort of logos, however discreet, while also giving young people space to differentiate themselves from previous generations.

    “I think after consuming high-end fashion brands for a long time, [traditional luxury brands] weren’t making an offering that people like, so I think brands that knew how to capture that internet generation, the millennials, are doing very well. At the core of that consuming is just wanting to feel that they belong to something,” explains Kevin Poon, who co-founded Hong Kong-based streetwear brand Clot alongside friend, actor and rapper Edison Chen in 2003.

    According to figures from Tmall, China’s largest B2C e-commerce platform, streetwear growth last year was 60 percent higher than average apparel category growth, with popular brands on the site including Aape, the youth-centered, price-conscious offshoot of Japanese brand A Bathing Ape, and British brand Superdry. Tmall’s most popular streetwear sub-categories are sneakers and hoodies.

    A report released in March from OFashion and Nielsen showed growth of streetwear consumption in China from 2015 to 2017 at 3.7 times higher than non-streetwear apparel, reaching 62 percent last year, compared with 2016.

    This intersection between hip-hop culture, street fashion, tough guy attitudes and adjacent markers of a rebel attitude, such as tattoos, is familiar over the world.

    While hip-hop from the US has been bootlegged and passed around a small underground fan base in China since the 1990s, the mainstream movement and fashion associations now connected with the genre comes from Korea.

    Following increased attention from censors, a more sanitized mainstream version of rap music, without swearing, political messaging, drug references and misogyny is now prevalent in advertising and social media and the rise of streetwear in China looks set to continue.

    SEE ALSO: FASHION ASIA HONG KONG, wrap-up and interview : Sustainable fashion: high end vs. high street.

    For brands looking to tap into these trends by partnering with associated influencers, Michael Norris, research manager at Resonance China’s consumer insights, naming and brand strategy team, Smart, says the safest bet will be to look behind the scenes, rather than affiliating with performers necessarily.

    “If they are a producer [or] a clothing designer, I would have very little hesitation in partnering with these creatives who are on the front lines of these subcultures [because] they can be a great ally to brands,” he says.

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  • LVMH invests into Stadium Goods

    LVMH invests into Stadium Goods

    LVMH, the parent company of brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior and CÉLINE, announced plans for its Luxury Ventures initiative in 2017 with the aim of acquiring minority stakes in emerging luxury brands.

    The latest brand to get backing from the programme is New York’s Stadium Goods.

    As far as streetwear connoisseurs are concerned, New York City’s Stadium Goods is the pinnacle in the sneaker world.

    Details on what role LVMH Luxury Ventures will take in the reseller are unclear, although it is rumored that this backing could allow Stadium Goods to expand. The store — which is the location for most Sneaker Shopping episodes — has been open for just over two years and the team behind have previously said about potential plans to move into merch and open a second physical location.

    Back in 2017, prior to LVMH’s backing, Stadium Goods raised $4.6 million USD in equity funding and was predicted to gross more than $100 million USD in 2017.

  • Top 10 streetwear retailers

    Top 10 streetwear retailers

    This year was an exceptional one for independent luxury stores and the biggest names were at the top of their game, creatively outdoing one another each step of the way.

    Most notably, with streetwear strongly part of the high-fashion vernacular nowadays, it is no longer a surprise to see shops place astronomically-priced brands next to mid-range streetwear labels.

    It all comes down to a careful curation and not only did some of our favorite spots refine their stock list but they also went a step above by delivering exciting activations and must-have collaborations.

    Whether it was a pop-up shop partnership with a music artist, an in-store art installation or a well-aligned product collaborations, it was evident that the most focused boutiques had the goal in mind to bring hordes of customers through their doors. While selling out product was a plus side to it all, the more important factor was continuing to bolster their reputation as elite purveyors of quality goods. And for some, especially the names we have listed below, they continued to make their mark with class and an undying commitment to their customer base.

    These are the top 10 retailers of 2017, in no particular order.

    1. Maxfield LA
    Los Angeles’s Maxfield and Maxfield Gallery crushed the competition in terms of pop-up installations. They were already a cut above the rest when they partnered up with Vetements in January for a Dry Cleaning-themed space, then Fear of God followed suit as well as a team-up with music acts such as Daft Punk and Guns N’ Roses. Needless to say, Maxfield was the king of pop-ups in 2017.

    2. colette
    It will be hard to see colette go as it closes its doors this December. Despite this, the iconic French retailer continued to show love for indie labels possessing great potential. Considered as “the trendiest store in the world,” colette brought us a slew of special activations and collabs this year including a Balenciaga takeover, a Chanel partnership that produced one of the most coveted Pharrell adidas Hu NMDs ever made and a Saint Laurent pop-up for its grand and final opus.

    3. KM20
    Olga Karput is a true visionary and her newly-opened mega store, KM20 in Moscow, has without a doubt cemented the city and the country of Russia as a true force in fashion. It’s an outpost for the coolest of the cool with the likes of Gosha, Virgil and Heron having had a helping hand in putting it on the map. But with Olga’s continued focus, KM20 is poised to make some even bigger waves this upcoming year.

    4. Dover Street Market London
    No other retailer in the world can add whimsy and wonder to a shopping experience quite like Dover Street Market. Its London flagship had a monumental 2017 spearheading a number of collabs ahead of its competitors. The brand forges on as a formidable name in fashion and this year was just another impressive milestone for its creators Rei Kawakubo and Adrian Joffe.

    5. KITH Manhattan
    Ronnie Fieg had another big year with the grand opening of the new Manhattan KITH store in Soho. In addition to his long list of collaborations in 2017, Fieg also brought something new to his shop’s latest outpost — an art gallery in partnership with friend and collaborator Daniel Arsham. KITH’s name continues to expand globally but Fieg’s quest for domination will always be rooted in this particular New York location.

    6. HAVEN
    HAVEN was another store that relocated and reopened — it’s now a bigger and brighter space located at 190 Richmond Street East in Toronto. HAVEN’s rep has always preceded itself as a first-rate curator of fine Japanese streetwear and sneakers. Now, it has an even better outpost to house these hard-to-find gems. In addition to celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, HAVEN also debuted an in-house line of garments and accessories.

    7. SSENSE
    SSENSE has firmly established itself as a top online shopping destination. The retailer does have an outpost in Montreal but most of its efforts are dedicated towards its web presence. With that said, much praise should be given to how SSENSE has transformed itself to become a triple threat in 2017, as a quality online shop, a cutting edge brick and mortar space and a must-read editorial site, all this thanks to founder Rami Atallah and 032c’s Joerg Koch.

    8. END.
    Online and offline shoppers will always be lucky to have END. The U.K. shop, which also has a newly-opened Glasgow outpost, had a massive 2017 with its unforgettable sneaker and fashion collaborations. END.’s brand list continues to grow and more careful consideration is being taken to assure customers not only get the best products but the finest service, whether that’s fast shipping times or the not-to-be-missed discount codes and sales.

    9. Slam Jam Socialism
    Globally, Slam Jam has defined the cool allure of streetwear for decades. 2017 brought the brand plenty of collaborations with some of the industry’s most respected brands, like 032c, NEIGHBORHOOD and Carhartt WIP. It also upped its editorial game through behind-the-scene stories and interviews alongside important street culture figures. SJS’s stock lineup remains healthy and its special events continue to give strength to the surrounding community.

    10. GR8 Tokyo
    Japan has always been at the forefront of streetwear and GR8 is one of the retailers in Tokyo making some groundbreaking moves. For one, its brand list is made up of all the who’s who in streetwear today. There’s a progressive mindset to the curation and it trickles down to the shop’s ultra-hip brand identity and special store activations. 2017 was a breakout year for GR8 and it’s an establishment worth paying attention to in 2018.

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  • Japanese multi-brand ‘Atmos’ to enter Korean market

    Japanese multi-brand ‘Atmos’ to enter Korean market

    Japanese’s famous multi-brand ‘Atmos’ opened its first store in Korea.

    Atmos is a fashion multi-brand store currently running 30 outlets in Japan. Seoul is its second overseas store after New York. Atmos is Tokyo’s iconic street boutique established in 2000.

    It is the first shopping destination for footwear brands because of its ability to catch the latest trends and spread them in the market. Currently, it distributes a wide range of products, however street and sportswear are its core business.

    Atmos is mainly dealing with limited edition products of famous brands such as Nike, it is mainly leading in the shoe market.

    What is unique is that Atmos employees work as designers and collaborate with brands to develop collaborative products as limited editions.

    Currently, there are more than 30 stores in Japan, one in New York and the other in Seoul. Annual sales are around 150 billion won and it is 5 billion won per store.

    Starting with the first store in Apgujeong, Seoul, Atmos plans to open stores in key areas such as Daegu, Busan, and Gwangju. It aims to build seven to eight stores more within 2 years.

    Atmos is very popular among Japanese sneaker enthusiasts, so a good response in Korea is expected as well. It will be a space where you can see products that you could not easily see in Korea.

    Meanwhile, US street sensibility lifestyle brand ASICS Tiger released ‘GREEN CAMO’ and ‘GORE-TEX’ which are collaboration products with Atmos.

    As a leading brand of youth culture, Asics Tiger’s both products are expected to kickoff a hipsterism mania which values personalities rather than fashion.

    ASICS Tiger x atmos Collaboration ‘GREEN CAMO’ and ‘GORE-TEX’ products is available at the recently opened ‘Atmos Seoul Flagship Store’.