Uniqlo HeatTech 2009 "Japan to world"
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This video introduce "Uniqlo HeatTech 2009". In this video, we can see uniqlo's HeatTech provide all of temperature depend on indiviual country.
I wanna to say we have to apply the clothes for the world.
이 비디오는 "유니클로 히트텍 2009"를 소개하는 영상이다. 이 비디오에서 우리는 유니클로 히트텍이 모든 국가의 각가의 온도에 맞추어 기능성을 발휘함을 알 수 있다.
바로, 난 이러한 것이 우리가 전 세계를 위해 제공해야 할 옷이라 생각한다.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Retail's 100th BIG Show
Retail's BIG Show is celebrating 100 years of retail leadership this January 2011.
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Reference to notice the retail's big show.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Will shoppers bear Vuitton's arrogance? : Agree this opinion
12-20-2010 17:07
Will shoppers bear Vuitton's arrogance?
A male staff member stands at the entrance of the Louis Vuitton boutique at Lotte Avenuel, downtown Seoul. A Louis Vuitton staff member usually asks customers to wait in line before allowing entrance to the store, even if there are not many customers inside. / Korea Times photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia
French luxury brand insists even one customer stand in line
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
At any given time of the day, there are sure to be people waiting in line outside the Louis Vuitton boutique at Lotte Avenuel, downtown Seoul.
What are these people waiting for? Is there a sale? Are limited edition accessories being launched? Or perhaps a new collection is making its debut?
No to all of the above, these people are just waiting to be allowed inside.
To the uninitiated, it sounds positively bizarre to queue up just to enter a store that is not even having a sale. But apparently, restricting access to a store creates an impression among consumers that there is something inside that makes it worth lining up for. It seems a line outside a store does not serve as a deterrent, but on the contrary, it just seems to attract even more customers.
The Louis Vuitton store has the same collection of handbags, clothes, shoes and accessories that are sold around the world, whether it is in Seoul, Tokyo, New York, London or Paris.
The French luxury brand, owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, is considered the world’s most powerful luxury brand in a 2010 study by Millward Brown Optimor. Its brand value is estimated at $19.78 billion.
The highly covetable handbags, with its iconic monogram canvas with quatrefoils, flowers and interlocking LV logo, are undoubtedly expensive, ranging from $700 to upwards of $3,000.
But few realize that the average markup on a luxury bag is ten to 12 times the production cost, as former Newsweek journalist Dana Thomas said in her 2007 book ``Deluxe.’’ In particular, Thomas cited Louis Vuitton as having the highest markup among luxury brands _ up to 13 times the production cost. This basically means a Louis Vuitton canvas tote bag that retails for $3,000 actually cost only around $230 to make.
This reporter visited several Louis Vuitton shops, both at department and duty-free stores, in Seoul to find out what the fuss is all about.
Louis Vuitton at Lotte
There are two Louis Vuitton stores in Lotte Town ― one is a two-level boutique at Lotte Avenuel and another is located at the Lotte Duty Free store.
This reporter paid a visit to the Louis Vuitton boutique at Lotte Avenuel on a weekday morning, hoping to avoid the long lines that are usually seen on weekends.
Surprisingly, there was still a line at the door. A sign, written in four languages, read: ``For your comfortable shopping, please wait for a little while.’’
A staff member directed me to stand behind two Japanese tourists. Figuring the waiting time could not be that long with only two people in front, this reporter decided to wait.
A peek inside the spacious and well-lit store showed there were not really a lot of customers, maybe six or seven. It seems customers were being made to wait so that a sales associate can provide a one-on-one service.
After five minutes, the two Japanese women were ushered inside, but not this reporter. A staff member handed a plastic covered Louis Vuitton pamphlet featuring the winter collection, perhaps to pass the time more quickly.
Just as this reporter was about to ditch the line and walk over to the Chanel store across the hall, finally after a total of 10 minutes of waiting, the store staff graciously allowed entry into the boutique.
A sales associate immediately handed over his calling card and asked what particular item is of interest. At the glass-topped counter, he put on gloves before handling a burgundy-colored Vernis long wallet priced at 925,000 won.
However, he looked distracted and started chatting with his co-worker, leaving this reporter with the wallet. This is not exactly the kind of exceptional one-on-one service that Louis Vuitton boasts of. Perhaps he realized that this customer was merely window-shopping, and not actually planning to buy anything.
The same kind of cold customer service was also apparent at the Louis Vuitton boutique at the Lotte Duty Free located on the 9th and 10th floors of Lotte Department Store. There was a short line, but it moved much more quickly perhaps because of the presence of more staff and a smaller space. On weekends, there are even longer queues.
The Louis Vuitton shop looks noticeably smaller because it is in a temporary location, and expansion is on-going. There weren’t a lot of handbags on display, so customers were given a thick catalog to browse through.
This particular shop reportedly chalks up $8 million in sales a month, due in large part to Japanese and Chinese tourists. With that kind of sales numbers, one would expect extremely good service right? But unfortunately, it seems like the Louis Vuitton duty free store is just simply focused on sales, and not much on service.
An unsmiling female sales associate perfunctorily attended to this reporter, who inquired about the Vernis long wallet. One got the feeling that the sales associate was impatient with the questions, but voluntarily brought out the wallet in four different colors.
The price of the wallet was 800,000 won, around 125,000 won cheaper than the price quoted at the Louis Vuitton boutique at Avenuel. Perhaps the lower prices at duty free stores mean lower quality of service?
Different locations, same concept
Louis Vuitton boutiques all over the world do not really have any distinctive qualities. Once you’ve been to one, you have been to all of them.
But perhaps the quality of service differs, depending on the location. The Louis Vuitton store at the posh Shinsegae Main Store has the same policy of limiting the number of people at the store at any given time, but there do not seem to be any lines on weekdays.
Maybe because there are fewer customers, the staff seem friendlier even window-shoppers like this reporter. The shop seemed relatively quieter than its counterpart in Lotte, allowing customers to spend as much time as they want inside the store.
There are also no lines at the free-standing Louis Vuitton flagship store in Cheongdam-dong. One can freely go inside the store and check out the full Louis Vuitton collection from shoes to trunks.
As a luxury brand, Louis Vuitton holds the promise of not just exceptional craftsmanship, but excellent customer service. If someone is buying (or at least thinking of buying) a 2 million won handbag, then Louis Vuitton should lavish attention and respect on that customer.
If one is not, or does not look like, a big spender, it seems Louis Vuitton staff members just give cold and perfunctory service. There is a feeling that unless one buys something, one is not quite welcome inside a Louis Vuitton boutique.
소비자들은 루이비통의 오만을 참아 낼 것인가?
하루 중 어느 때든 서울 롯데 백화점의 루이비통 매장 밖에는 사람들이 북새통을 이루고 있다.
이 사람들은 무엇을 위해 기다리고 있는가? 세일을 하고 있나? 한정판 액세서리를 런칭 했나? 아니면 새로운 컬렉션을 선보이나?
위의 내용과는 아무런 관계없이 이들은 단지 매장에 들어가기 위해 기다리고 있는 것이다.
특별한 지식이 없는 한, 세일도 하지 않는 매장에 단지 들어 가기 위해 줄을 서고 있는 것은 꽤나 유별나게 들릴 것이다. 그러나 분명히 매장의 접근을 제한하는 것은 고객들 사이에서 줄을 스는 것이 가치가 있을 만한 무엇인가가 안에 있을 것이라는 인상을 남긴다. 매장 밖에 줄을 서있는 것은 제지 효과를 내기는커녕 좀 더 많은 고객들을 끌어 당기는 것 같다.
루이비통 매장은 똑 같은 컬렉션의 핸드백, 옷, 신발 그리고 액세서리를 서울 뿐만 아니라 전세계 매장에서 팔고 있다.
LVMH 모엣 헤네시가 소유한 이 프랑스 명품은 2010년 세계에서 가장 영향력이는 명품으로 선정 됐으며, 이 브랜드의 가치는 197억 8천 달러로 측정 된다.
모두가 탐내는 상징적인 모노그램 캔버스 천에 네 잎사귀, 꽃 그리고 LV로고가 연결된 핸드백은 700달러부터 3000달러를 호가할 정도로 비싸다.
그러나 뉴스위크의 전 저널리스트 데이나 토마스가 2007년 그녀의 책 “럭셔리 그 유혹과 사치의 비밀”에서는 루이비통은 명품들 중 가장 높은 13배이상의 가격 인상을 한다고 했다. 이는 3000달러의 루이비통 토트백이 사실은 230달러 밖에 하지 않는 다는 의미다.
소공동 롯데 백화점 본점에는 두 개의 루이비통 매장이 있다. 2층의 롯데 백화점 명품관 과 면세점에 있다.
나는 주말에 종종 보았던 줄을 피해 평일의 이른 아침 롯데 명품관의 루이비통 매장을 방문했다.
놀랍게도, 문 앞에 사람들은 여전히 줄을 서있었다. 그리고 4개의 언어로 “편안한 쇼핑을 위해 조금만 기다려 주세요” 라고 쓰여있었다.
살짝 훔쳐 본 안의 풍경은 넓고 환한 매장에 6-7명의 고객뿐 이였다. 고객들을 밖에서 기다리게 하는 것은 판매원들의 일대일 서비스를 제공하기 위함인 거 같았다.
10분을 기다리고 나서야 매장 안으로 들어 갈 수 있었다.
판매원은 즉시 명함을 건네며 특별히 관심 있는 품목이 있냐며 물어보았다. 그는 92만 5000원의 자줏빛 적색의 베르니 장 지갑을 꺼내기 전 장갑을 꼈다.
그러나 그 판매원은 지갑을 보여 꺼내 주고서는 다른 직원과 이야기를 나누기 시작했다. 이것은 절대로 루이비통이 내세울 만한 일대일 서비스는 아니 였다. 아마도 그 직원은 내가 단지 구경하로 온 것이지, 실제로 물건을 사러 온 것은 아니라고 생각했던 것 같다.
이 같은 냉대는 롯데 면세점의 루이비통 매장에서도 확연히 들어 났다.
이 루이비통 매장은 확장공사로 인한 일시적인 매장이기에 눈에 띄게 작았다. 많은 가방이 전시 되어 있지 않았기에, 고객들은 두꺼운 책자를 받았다.
이 매장은 많은 일본과 중국 관광객들로 인해 한 달에 800만불 이상의 매출을 기록한다. 그러나 면세점은 단지 판매의 초점을 두기 때문에 서비스는 좋지 않았다.
면세점 지갑의 가격은 명품 관에 비해 약 450000원 가량 쌌다. 하지만 조금 더 싼 가격 이기에 서비스의 질도 낮아 져야 할까?
루이비통 매장의 질은 전세계적으로 별반 다를 게 없다.
하지만 서비스의 질은 매장에 따라 다른 것 같다. 신세계 매장도 같은 방침을 따르고 있지만 평일에는 줄이 없다.
아마 고객들이 적기에 매장 직원들이 구경만 하러 온 사람들에게도 친절함을 잃지 않는 것 같다.
명품으로써 루이비통은 훌륭한 제품을 보여주는 것도 중요하지만 고객서비스도 신경써야만 할 것이다.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
Will shoppers bear Vuitton's arrogance?
A male staff member stands at the entrance of the Louis Vuitton boutique at Lotte Avenuel, downtown Seoul. A Louis Vuitton staff member usually asks customers to wait in line before allowing entrance to the store, even if there are not many customers inside. / Korea Times photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia
French luxury brand insists even one customer stand in line
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
At any given time of the day, there are sure to be people waiting in line outside the Louis Vuitton boutique at Lotte Avenuel, downtown Seoul.
What are these people waiting for? Is there a sale? Are limited edition accessories being launched? Or perhaps a new collection is making its debut?
No to all of the above, these people are just waiting to be allowed inside.
To the uninitiated, it sounds positively bizarre to queue up just to enter a store that is not even having a sale. But apparently, restricting access to a store creates an impression among consumers that there is something inside that makes it worth lining up for. It seems a line outside a store does not serve as a deterrent, but on the contrary, it just seems to attract even more customers.
The Louis Vuitton store has the same collection of handbags, clothes, shoes and accessories that are sold around the world, whether it is in Seoul, Tokyo, New York, London or Paris.
The French luxury brand, owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, is considered the world’s most powerful luxury brand in a 2010 study by Millward Brown Optimor. Its brand value is estimated at $19.78 billion.
The highly covetable handbags, with its iconic monogram canvas with quatrefoils, flowers and interlocking LV logo, are undoubtedly expensive, ranging from $700 to upwards of $3,000.
But few realize that the average markup on a luxury bag is ten to 12 times the production cost, as former Newsweek journalist Dana Thomas said in her 2007 book ``Deluxe.’’ In particular, Thomas cited Louis Vuitton as having the highest markup among luxury brands _ up to 13 times the production cost. This basically means a Louis Vuitton canvas tote bag that retails for $3,000 actually cost only around $230 to make.
This reporter visited several Louis Vuitton shops, both at department and duty-free stores, in Seoul to find out what the fuss is all about.
Louis Vuitton at Lotte
There are two Louis Vuitton stores in Lotte Town ― one is a two-level boutique at Lotte Avenuel and another is located at the Lotte Duty Free store.
This reporter paid a visit to the Louis Vuitton boutique at Lotte Avenuel on a weekday morning, hoping to avoid the long lines that are usually seen on weekends.
Surprisingly, there was still a line at the door. A sign, written in four languages, read: ``For your comfortable shopping, please wait for a little while.’’
A staff member directed me to stand behind two Japanese tourists. Figuring the waiting time could not be that long with only two people in front, this reporter decided to wait.
A peek inside the spacious and well-lit store showed there were not really a lot of customers, maybe six or seven. It seems customers were being made to wait so that a sales associate can provide a one-on-one service.
After five minutes, the two Japanese women were ushered inside, but not this reporter. A staff member handed a plastic covered Louis Vuitton pamphlet featuring the winter collection, perhaps to pass the time more quickly.
Just as this reporter was about to ditch the line and walk over to the Chanel store across the hall, finally after a total of 10 minutes of waiting, the store staff graciously allowed entry into the boutique.
A sales associate immediately handed over his calling card and asked what particular item is of interest. At the glass-topped counter, he put on gloves before handling a burgundy-colored Vernis long wallet priced at 925,000 won.
However, he looked distracted and started chatting with his co-worker, leaving this reporter with the wallet. This is not exactly the kind of exceptional one-on-one service that Louis Vuitton boasts of. Perhaps he realized that this customer was merely window-shopping, and not actually planning to buy anything.
The same kind of cold customer service was also apparent at the Louis Vuitton boutique at the Lotte Duty Free located on the 9th and 10th floors of Lotte Department Store. There was a short line, but it moved much more quickly perhaps because of the presence of more staff and a smaller space. On weekends, there are even longer queues.
The Louis Vuitton shop looks noticeably smaller because it is in a temporary location, and expansion is on-going. There weren’t a lot of handbags on display, so customers were given a thick catalog to browse through.
This particular shop reportedly chalks up $8 million in sales a month, due in large part to Japanese and Chinese tourists. With that kind of sales numbers, one would expect extremely good service right? But unfortunately, it seems like the Louis Vuitton duty free store is just simply focused on sales, and not much on service.
An unsmiling female sales associate perfunctorily attended to this reporter, who inquired about the Vernis long wallet. One got the feeling that the sales associate was impatient with the questions, but voluntarily brought out the wallet in four different colors.
The price of the wallet was 800,000 won, around 125,000 won cheaper than the price quoted at the Louis Vuitton boutique at Avenuel. Perhaps the lower prices at duty free stores mean lower quality of service?
Different locations, same concept
Louis Vuitton boutiques all over the world do not really have any distinctive qualities. Once you’ve been to one, you have been to all of them.
But perhaps the quality of service differs, depending on the location. The Louis Vuitton store at the posh Shinsegae Main Store has the same policy of limiting the number of people at the store at any given time, but there do not seem to be any lines on weekdays.
Maybe because there are fewer customers, the staff seem friendlier even window-shoppers like this reporter. The shop seemed relatively quieter than its counterpart in Lotte, allowing customers to spend as much time as they want inside the store.
There are also no lines at the free-standing Louis Vuitton flagship store in Cheongdam-dong. One can freely go inside the store and check out the full Louis Vuitton collection from shoes to trunks.
As a luxury brand, Louis Vuitton holds the promise of not just exceptional craftsmanship, but excellent customer service. If someone is buying (or at least thinking of buying) a 2 million won handbag, then Louis Vuitton should lavish attention and respect on that customer.
If one is not, or does not look like, a big spender, it seems Louis Vuitton staff members just give cold and perfunctory service. There is a feeling that unless one buys something, one is not quite welcome inside a Louis Vuitton boutique.
소비자들은 루이비통의 오만을 참아 낼 것인가?
하루 중 어느 때든 서울 롯데 백화점의 루이비통 매장 밖에는 사람들이 북새통을 이루고 있다.
이 사람들은 무엇을 위해 기다리고 있는가? 세일을 하고 있나? 한정판 액세서리를 런칭 했나? 아니면 새로운 컬렉션을 선보이나?
위의 내용과는 아무런 관계없이 이들은 단지 매장에 들어가기 위해 기다리고 있는 것이다.
특별한 지식이 없는 한, 세일도 하지 않는 매장에 단지 들어 가기 위해 줄을 서고 있는 것은 꽤나 유별나게 들릴 것이다. 그러나 분명히 매장의 접근을 제한하는 것은 고객들 사이에서 줄을 스는 것이 가치가 있을 만한 무엇인가가 안에 있을 것이라는 인상을 남긴다. 매장 밖에 줄을 서있는 것은 제지 효과를 내기는커녕 좀 더 많은 고객들을 끌어 당기는 것 같다.
루이비통 매장은 똑 같은 컬렉션의 핸드백, 옷, 신발 그리고 액세서리를 서울 뿐만 아니라 전세계 매장에서 팔고 있다.
LVMH 모엣 헤네시가 소유한 이 프랑스 명품은 2010년 세계에서 가장 영향력이는 명품으로 선정 됐으며, 이 브랜드의 가치는 197억 8천 달러로 측정 된다.
모두가 탐내는 상징적인 모노그램 캔버스 천에 네 잎사귀, 꽃 그리고 LV로고가 연결된 핸드백은 700달러부터 3000달러를 호가할 정도로 비싸다.
그러나 뉴스위크의 전 저널리스트 데이나 토마스가 2007년 그녀의 책 “럭셔리 그 유혹과 사치의 비밀”에서는 루이비통은 명품들 중 가장 높은 13배이상의 가격 인상을 한다고 했다. 이는 3000달러의 루이비통 토트백이 사실은 230달러 밖에 하지 않는 다는 의미다.
소공동 롯데 백화점 본점에는 두 개의 루이비통 매장이 있다. 2층의 롯데 백화점 명품관 과 면세점에 있다.
나는 주말에 종종 보았던 줄을 피해 평일의 이른 아침 롯데 명품관의 루이비통 매장을 방문했다.
놀랍게도, 문 앞에 사람들은 여전히 줄을 서있었다. 그리고 4개의 언어로 “편안한 쇼핑을 위해 조금만 기다려 주세요” 라고 쓰여있었다.
살짝 훔쳐 본 안의 풍경은 넓고 환한 매장에 6-7명의 고객뿐 이였다. 고객들을 밖에서 기다리게 하는 것은 판매원들의 일대일 서비스를 제공하기 위함인 거 같았다.
10분을 기다리고 나서야 매장 안으로 들어 갈 수 있었다.
판매원은 즉시 명함을 건네며 특별히 관심 있는 품목이 있냐며 물어보았다. 그는 92만 5000원의 자줏빛 적색의 베르니 장 지갑을 꺼내기 전 장갑을 꼈다.
그러나 그 판매원은 지갑을 보여 꺼내 주고서는 다른 직원과 이야기를 나누기 시작했다. 이것은 절대로 루이비통이 내세울 만한 일대일 서비스는 아니 였다. 아마도 그 직원은 내가 단지 구경하로 온 것이지, 실제로 물건을 사러 온 것은 아니라고 생각했던 것 같다.
이 같은 냉대는 롯데 면세점의 루이비통 매장에서도 확연히 들어 났다.
이 루이비통 매장은 확장공사로 인한 일시적인 매장이기에 눈에 띄게 작았다. 많은 가방이 전시 되어 있지 않았기에, 고객들은 두꺼운 책자를 받았다.
이 매장은 많은 일본과 중국 관광객들로 인해 한 달에 800만불 이상의 매출을 기록한다. 그러나 면세점은 단지 판매의 초점을 두기 때문에 서비스는 좋지 않았다.
면세점 지갑의 가격은 명품 관에 비해 약 450000원 가량 쌌다. 하지만 조금 더 싼 가격 이기에 서비스의 질도 낮아 져야 할까?
루이비통 매장의 질은 전세계적으로 별반 다를 게 없다.
하지만 서비스의 질은 매장에 따라 다른 것 같다. 신세계 매장도 같은 방침을 따르고 있지만 평일에는 줄이 없다.
아마 고객들이 적기에 매장 직원들이 구경만 하러 온 사람들에게도 친절함을 잃지 않는 것 같다.
명품으로써 루이비통은 훌륭한 제품을 보여주는 것도 중요하지만 고객서비스도 신경써야만 할 것이다.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
Monday, December 20, 2010
Cisco Big Idea Session on the Future of Retail at NRF 2011: Retail industry development video
Cisco Big Idea Session on the Future of Retail at NRF 2011
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I studied in my school interactive design. In this season, I could understand this study to apply retail industry. As a matter of fact, retail service is very important in fashion industry.
Especially, Korea fashion industry extremely is related to department store. Korea don't have many realistic fashion plaza and mall. This is very limited.(If you want to have reference, please refer "Time square by Sinsaegae)". So department stores(e.g. Lotte, Sinsaegae, Hyundai and Galleria) always have outstanding retail service and competitive system. Surely many Korean brand try to go on innovative retail system. But this is limitative.
Anyway, this video introduce many innovative skill. We must notice and recognize technology trend. So I post this video. Have a good reference!
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
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I studied in my school interactive design. In this season, I could understand this study to apply retail industry. As a matter of fact, retail service is very important in fashion industry.
Especially, Korea fashion industry extremely is related to department store. Korea don't have many realistic fashion plaza and mall. This is very limited.(If you want to have reference, please refer "Time square by Sinsaegae)". So department stores(e.g. Lotte, Sinsaegae, Hyundai and Galleria) always have outstanding retail service and competitive system. Surely many Korean brand try to go on innovative retail system. But this is limitative.
Anyway, this video introduce many innovative skill. We must notice and recognize technology trend. So I post this video. Have a good reference!
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Monday, December 13, 2010
Tom Ford Likes Us Nude
Tom Ford Likes Us Nude
Posted by Veronica ValterDecember 10th, 2010Share | Fashion designer Tom Ford has recently said people look better nude, without all those straps and elastic squeezing.
He said:
You know, most people actually look better nude. We are all one harmonious colour, with a symmetry and an innate elegance. Fat women almost always look better without the constraint and lumpy pinching of clothes, all the straps and elastic squeezing and sucking.”
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Do you more like nude than clothes?
Posted by Veronica ValterDecember 10th, 2010Share | Fashion designer Tom Ford has recently said people look better nude, without all those straps and elastic squeezing.
He said:
You know, most people actually look better nude. We are all one harmonious colour, with a symmetry and an innate elegance. Fat women almost always look better without the constraint and lumpy pinching of clothes, all the straps and elastic squeezing and sucking.”
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Do you more like nude than clothes?
Sector Snap: American Eagle, Abercrombie upgraded
The Associated Press December 6, 2010, 12:44PM ET text size: TT
Sector Snap: American Eagle, Abercrombie upgraded
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NEW YORK
Teen retailers Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. may see their businesses improve next year, helped by better economic conditions and "favorable fashion trends, a Goldman Sachs analyst said Monday.
The analyst, Michelle Tan, raised both retailers' ratings, adding Abercrombie & Fitch to Goldman's "Conviction Buy" list from "Buy" and boosting American Eagle to "Buy" from "Neutral."
She said teen unemployment may be waning, with improvements seen in each of the past three months. More teens working could mean more money for retailers that target the demographic.
Tan also said in a client note that Pittsburgh-based American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch, which is based in New Albany, Ohio, could also capitalize if there is a shift to more classic, casual teen clothes.
"After 3.5 years where edgier trends like dresses and skinny jeans hurt Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle, we see early signs that the cycle may move back in their favor," she said.
Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch gained 15 cents to $56.30 in afternoon trading. The stock hit a 52-week high of $57.06 earlier in the session. American Eagle's stock climbed 23 cents to $16.01.
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I really agree this article's special point like 'cycle may move back in their favor'. Like this article's point out, dresses and skinny jeans hurt Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle. But as you know, many fashion people gradually have tired of hot trend (it always change very fluently).
So we must know this. Trend always change. So we must prepare and notice change cycle.
Sector Snap: American Eagle, Abercrombie upgraded
Story Tools
order a reprint
digg this
save to del.icio.us
NEW YORK
Teen retailers Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. may see their businesses improve next year, helped by better economic conditions and "favorable fashion trends, a Goldman Sachs analyst said Monday.
The analyst, Michelle Tan, raised both retailers' ratings, adding Abercrombie & Fitch to Goldman's "Conviction Buy" list from "Buy" and boosting American Eagle to "Buy" from "Neutral."
She said teen unemployment may be waning, with improvements seen in each of the past three months. More teens working could mean more money for retailers that target the demographic.
Tan also said in a client note that Pittsburgh-based American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch, which is based in New Albany, Ohio, could also capitalize if there is a shift to more classic, casual teen clothes.
"After 3.5 years where edgier trends like dresses and skinny jeans hurt Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle, we see early signs that the cycle may move back in their favor," she said.
Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch gained 15 cents to $56.30 in afternoon trading. The stock hit a 52-week high of $57.06 earlier in the session. American Eagle's stock climbed 23 cents to $16.01.
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I really agree this article's special point like 'cycle may move back in their favor'. Like this article's point out, dresses and skinny jeans hurt Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle. But as you know, many fashion people gradually have tired of hot trend (it always change very fluently).
So we must know this. Trend always change. So we must prepare and notice change cycle.
Modernism's root, Rene Descartes
He is perhaps best known for the philosophical statement "Cogito ergo sum" (French: Je pense, donc je suis; English: I think, therefore I am; or I am thinking, therefore I exist or I do think, therefore I do exist), found in part IV of Discourse on the Method (1637 – written in French but with inclusion of "Cogito ergo sum") and §7 of part I of Principles of Philosophy (1644 – written in Latin).
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I think that his mention like "I think, therefore I am" is very importatnt to understanad modernism. Frankly, I didn't know specially modernism. But when I look for some books about modernism for my class, I can refer one book which name is '20c culture map' by written Cody choi. In this book, he said Descartes's mention and philisophy is representative modernism spirit. So I am concerned about him.
The following to read this book, I can acquire one map to teach, direct and distinguish 20c culture. Of course, I cannot have great skill to distinguish 20c new culture. But I can acquire a little discerning eye.
If you want to understand and to acquire 20c culture for just understanding. I want to recommend this "MAP" for you.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Friday, December 10, 2010
Zeitgeist 2010: Year in Review
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When coming final month in one year, Google always provide very interseting something, this is Zeitgeist.
When I see these issue, I think that it is similar like memory. So I can assure someone see this video, he can memorize a lot of things about this year's issue. I want to recommend this video.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Monday, December 6, 2010
11st(Korea online shopping mall by SK telecom) is conquering Social commerce.
11st(Korea online shopping mall by SK telecom) is conquering Social commerce.
Last Friday(2010-12-03), I received one mail which was shown one coupon about 'Club monaco's 50% sales ticket by coupang(쿠팡). Becuase recently I addressed my mobile number and e-mail address to receive sale information and coupon. They always provide many industy's sales coupon in daily. It's very useful and good for me. Especially they gave me the coupon about restaurant, spa, furniture, performance and travel in Korea.(If you live or travel korea, I recommend this system. site: http://coupang.com/)
Anyway, this apperal coupon is very dynamic and shocking information. I always think about new fashion industry with social commerce model. When I saw this coupon, this is very ideal for fashion. Because i think that if someone receive this coupon, he can receive this and also he can go to shop or he can visit brand site. It's very interactive marketing. Sooo Cooool!
Suddenly Korea's IT industy is very developed by Korean people. Also as you know, globalization and technology must have interactive system.So Korean's technology fashion industry always develop very fast with good network system. Anyway in this marketing, I can realize new role model. This is good information.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Anyway, this apperal coupon is very dynamic and shocking information. I always think about new fashion industry with social commerce model. When I saw this coupon, this is very ideal for fashion. Because i think that if someone receive this coupon, he can receive this and also he can go to shop or he can visit brand site. It's very interactive marketing. Sooo Cooool!
Suddenly Korea's IT industy is very developed by Korean people. Also as you know, globalization and technology must have interactive system.So Korean's technology fashion industry always develop very fast with good network system. Anyway in this marketing, I can realize new role model. This is good information.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Beats by Dr.Dre launching show
In Korea, 'Beats by Dr.Dre' of headphone brand had launching show at EDEN of Korea's club in Oct.14.2010. For this event a lot of celebrities visited to see and assisted show by DJ, eventing.
Over the years, many product brands had many event like DJ show, party. But this event is propriate to with this headphone. Lately many korea star like G-dragon, TaeHwan Park, etc used this headphone in private or commercial.
When I heard this headphone's sounds, frankly I don't know this sounds effect. Truely I don't know very well about sound's detail. In other ways, I cannot account for this sounds like specialist. But I could realize this sound is very clear and pulls my heart string. Also I like a little this product's red point is very cute and impressive.
Anyway, I want to have this sounds why I want to listen more clear sounds than white earphone.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Friday, December 3, 2010
Jack Spade Backpack
Jack Spade Backpack
"Confession time: We don't always practice what we preach at GQ. As often as we tell guys to 'graduate' to a briefcase, we're having a hard time kicking the hands-free habit. I'm hooked on this superdurable backpack from Jack Spade. Looks good, works better."—Adam Rapoport, GQ style editor
$175, jackspade.com
Read More http://www.gq.com/cars-gear/gear-and-gadgets/201012/best-stuff-2010#ixzz16y7vWbp5
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Last time, I found out very good bag brand which is 'Jack spade'. Frankly, You can easily find similar like Jack Spade design product. But this brand has many secret. In other words, I think they take care of bag's basic function and design. This concept make a difference. Surely, In some ways this brand concept make dangerous situation. But as you know, if we meet crisis in market we must find the solution in basic.
Anyway their concept made many hit item like waxwear briefcase, computer bags, remakable leather bags and others. Also gq's style tips editor sometimes introduced this brand item in gq magazine. In there I could find out good brand.
As expected they also made very unique backpack. I want to introduce this item for many people.
Your Seamless, Hand-Tooled Cash-Stash
Your Seamless, Hand-Tooled Cash-Stash
Maxx & Unicorn Co. Wallets
Where should a man put his money these days? There are the hoarders schlepping receipt-stuffed tri-folds and the ascetics preaching the virtues of a streamlined clip. This pistol-stamped alternative is the perfect compromise. It's handcrafted in Brooklyn from a single piece of folded leather, which keeps things superslim with no stitches to bust. And if you do decide to stuff it, the leather will mold to your load over time.
$80, hickorees.com
Read More http://www.gq.com/cars-gear/gear-and-gadgets/201012/best-stuff-2010#ixzz16y5uHdTd
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When I saw this style wallet, I think this item will be very popular to many men. This style is very unique and chic. And Cash-Stash's function is useful.
I can assure that best item is always make boom. So this item will make boom.
by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
D.GNAK by KANG.D with yoongarden
Not long ago, he had his collection in Seoul Fashionweek. In there he showed theme about 'worker holic'. He want to provide some convenient, useful, and functional look for many modern people(worker). I can discover very useful style in his collection which is especially convenient and basic in office.
Anyway, I had interview with DongJun, Kang. I felt he is very manish. Surely he is male. But as you know, some men designer look like female(just my think). Interesting, he said to me his fasthion definition is ignorance. Because when he doesn't know anything, he can challenge. So, I can find his attention which can try manything in this situation and he always try to work like his first time.
Final, I could have many great time. Also I heard that he will sell his clothes in England fashion market. I think many english people like his clothes owing to his manish. Sure he never show just manish. My attention is not tough. Because his clothes have many color.
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by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Ilmostreet pop-up store in Sinsadong's at Tom's diner
Cheil Industries's designers online store 'Ilmostreet' will open popup store in sinsadong, Seoul. Especially, previous Ilmostreet's pop-up store led a lot of populatiry by many designer's product and event. Also I went store to buy designer product.
This shop has some merit because online store cannot see their product in real. But this provide real product in offline and we can see many brand product at once. If you go this store, you can see nearly 20 brand at once in one spot.
This will open at 2010-12-4(Sat) in sinsadong's tom's diner. I want to recommend this shop for many fashionista. Thank you.
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by yoongarden
yoongarden@gmail.com
http://www.yoongarden.com/
Monday, November 29, 2010
(NEWS) Who Are They, Indeed - WHO.A.U launching news in New York
Front Row
Who Are They, IndeedBy ERIC WILSON
Published: May 19, 2010
LinkedinDiggMixxMySpaceYahoo! BuzzPermalink. THE latest teen-fashion-focused store to set up shop on the block of 34th Street east of Macy’s, the one that is quickly becoming Manhattan’s version of the Mall at Short Hills, is called WHO.A.U. That’s text-ese for “who are you?” — which is surely what a lot of people must be thinking when they see a giant stuffed bear wearing patchwork madras shorts in the window.
Chamber Images
BEAR GRIP? Another retailer tries to grab the teenage shopper.
Inside, there are witty logo T-shirts, loose cargo pants, bright ruffled tops, denim miniskirts and sweatshirts bearing the legend “California Dream, 1849.”
Perhaps it is fitting to associate the year of the Gold Rush with WHO.A.U. It is a new retail chain dreamed up by a South Korean clothing conglomerate that seeks to sell California-casual sportswear in an environment that looks and sounds, with earsplitting dance anthems, exactly like the inside of a Hollister. The prices of several items, like men’s jeans for $59.50 and women’s denim hot shorts for $39.50 and T-shirts for $24.50 are identical to those at Hollister.
The owners must have sensed there was gold in them thar’ hoodies.
WHO.A.U. was started 10 years ago by E.Land Group, which makes clothing under 90 labels sold in hundreds of stores in South Korea and China and has sales of about $6 billion. Its first store in the United States opened in 2007 at the Stamford Town Center in Connecticut, followed by a second at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J. But the company had been quiet about its plans until opening its Manhattan store last week.
“You need a lot of courage to cross over from the East to the West,” said Daniel Pang, the North American president of WHO.A.U.
While sales have been slower than expected, Mr. Pang said there is an opportunity for a new brand that comes up with just the right look to catch on with kids today. “Teenagers are funny,” he said. “They all want to be different, but they don’t want to be alienated from their peer group.”
To that end, almost everything about WHO.A.U., from the name to the styles on the floor, he said, has been tested in market studies and focus groups to determine just what that fickle target audience wants.
Hmm. That could explain the similarities to Hollister.
A version of this article appeared in print on May 20, 2010, on page E4 of the New York edition.
Who Are They, IndeedBy ERIC WILSON
Published: May 19, 2010
LinkedinDiggMixxMySpaceYahoo! BuzzPermalink. THE latest teen-fashion-focused store to set up shop on the block of 34th Street east of Macy’s, the one that is quickly becoming Manhattan’s version of the Mall at Short Hills, is called WHO.A.U. That’s text-ese for “who are you?” — which is surely what a lot of people must be thinking when they see a giant stuffed bear wearing patchwork madras shorts in the window.
BEAR GRIP? Another retailer tries to grab the teenage shopper.
Inside, there are witty logo T-shirts, loose cargo pants, bright ruffled tops, denim miniskirts and sweatshirts bearing the legend “California Dream, 1849.”
Perhaps it is fitting to associate the year of the Gold Rush with WHO.A.U. It is a new retail chain dreamed up by a South Korean clothing conglomerate that seeks to sell California-casual sportswear in an environment that looks and sounds, with earsplitting dance anthems, exactly like the inside of a Hollister. The prices of several items, like men’s jeans for $59.50 and women’s denim hot shorts for $39.50 and T-shirts for $24.50 are identical to those at Hollister.
The owners must have sensed there was gold in them thar’ hoodies.
WHO.A.U. was started 10 years ago by E.Land Group, which makes clothing under 90 labels sold in hundreds of stores in South Korea and China and has sales of about $6 billion. Its first store in the United States opened in 2007 at the Stamford Town Center in Connecticut, followed by a second at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J. But the company had been quiet about its plans until opening its Manhattan store last week.
“You need a lot of courage to cross over from the East to the West,” said Daniel Pang, the North American president of WHO.A.U.
While sales have been slower than expected, Mr. Pang said there is an opportunity for a new brand that comes up with just the right look to catch on with kids today. “Teenagers are funny,” he said. “They all want to be different, but they don’t want to be alienated from their peer group.”
To that end, almost everything about WHO.A.U., from the name to the styles on the floor, he said, has been tested in market studies and focus groups to determine just what that fickle target audience wants.
Hmm. That could explain the similarities to Hollister.
A version of this article appeared in print on May 20, 2010, on page E4 of the New York edition.
(News) China's luxury market can be tough to crack
News
China's luxury market can be tough to crack
Thu, Jun 11 13:39 PM EDT
By Astrid Wendlandt and Marie-Louise Gumuchian
PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - China may become the world's biggest luxury market in some years but cultural challenges to win customers' hearts for certain types of products remain, industry executives said this week.
Champagne house Taittinger said it could make high-end sparkling wine in China but the market was not ready for it yet, while Lamborghini said the country's tradition of luxury chauffeurs, bigger than sports driving, made expansion there a challenge.
Jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels, owned by Richemont (CFR.VX), found it tough to get its brand message across, while watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier worried about finding the right partners.
"The specific challenge about China is finding a Chinese company you can trust and who understands the luxury business," the luxury watchmaker's Chief Executive Jean-Marc Jacot said.
Taittinger said there were many places in China where it could consider making high quality sparkling wine -- champagne can only be made in the northern French region -- but Chinese palates were not accustomed yet to the pricey tipple.
"It is probably a bit early," Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger said. "There is not a strong (high-end) wine culture there yet."
Hermes, whose chic handbags are hand made in France, would consider making goods in China if it could find artisans to make original items, but said it suffered from counterfeiting there. "Our image is strongly damaged by counterfeits. That is why we are fighting it like hell," CEO Patrick Thomas said. "When they (in China) see a counterfeit, they think it is genuine."
Counterfeits cost luxury groups hundreds of millions of euros in lost sales every year and imitations are becoming increasingly refined and sophisticated.
"The challenge in China is being able to explain to 1.3 billion people what your brand is about," said Van Cleef & Arpels Chief Executive Stanislas de Quercize.
While the number of high-net worth individuals in China is set to continue to rise steadily, the bulk of the country's population cannot afford upmarket Western brands.
"SO MANY CHINESE"
But luxury groups agree that China, where consumers are very brand-conscious, will soon become the industry's No. 1 market and this year will be one of the few emerging markets to enjoy growth.
"China will be one (of), if not the most important market in the middle, long run," Scilla Huang Sun, who runs a $30 million luxury fund for Julius Baer, said. "Chinese will not buy the very high end, like the Russians, but there are so many Chinese ... (They) save a lot and it's a huge country."
Earlier this month, Bernstein said its proprietary survey of Chinese luxury retailers suggested "demand resilience through the first and second quarter of 2009, most notably for mega-brands with high brand recognition."
China has become the number one market for LVMH's (LVMH.PA) Hennessy cognac and the world's second largest for its fashion and leather goods maker Louis Vuitton.
For Lamborghini, it will overtake Italy as the second biggest market behind the United States in three to five years.
"They love what is coming out of Europe. What is European is something they want to possess," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said.
Watchmaker Hublot, in China since January, plans to open 10 shops there by end-2009. By 2012, it would like to see China its third or fourth market after United States, Europe and Japan. "I think there are a lot of people who comment on China as being pictured as the biggest premium market because they see the growth from a very tiny base to a very large base," said Tom Purces, CEO of British luxury car firm Rolls Royce.
"We went from a handful of cars in China to over 100 cars there last year. That's immense in a very short period ... but I don't believe that that growth will be sustained at that level."
(Editing by Rupert Winchester)
China's luxury market can be tough to crack
Thu, Jun 11 13:39 PM EDT
By Astrid Wendlandt and Marie-Louise Gumuchian
PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - China may become the world's biggest luxury market in some years but cultural challenges to win customers' hearts for certain types of products remain, industry executives said this week.
Champagne house Taittinger said it could make high-end sparkling wine in China but the market was not ready for it yet, while Lamborghini said the country's tradition of luxury chauffeurs, bigger than sports driving, made expansion there a challenge.
Jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels, owned by Richemont (CFR.VX), found it tough to get its brand message across, while watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier worried about finding the right partners.
"The specific challenge about China is finding a Chinese company you can trust and who understands the luxury business," the luxury watchmaker's Chief Executive Jean-Marc Jacot said.
Taittinger said there were many places in China where it could consider making high quality sparkling wine -- champagne can only be made in the northern French region -- but Chinese palates were not accustomed yet to the pricey tipple.
"It is probably a bit early," Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger said. "There is not a strong (high-end) wine culture there yet."
Hermes, whose chic handbags are hand made in France, would consider making goods in China if it could find artisans to make original items, but said it suffered from counterfeiting there. "Our image is strongly damaged by counterfeits. That is why we are fighting it like hell," CEO Patrick Thomas said. "When they (in China) see a counterfeit, they think it is genuine."
Counterfeits cost luxury groups hundreds of millions of euros in lost sales every year and imitations are becoming increasingly refined and sophisticated.
"The challenge in China is being able to explain to 1.3 billion people what your brand is about," said Van Cleef & Arpels Chief Executive Stanislas de Quercize.
While the number of high-net worth individuals in China is set to continue to rise steadily, the bulk of the country's population cannot afford upmarket Western brands.
"SO MANY CHINESE"
But luxury groups agree that China, where consumers are very brand-conscious, will soon become the industry's No. 1 market and this year will be one of the few emerging markets to enjoy growth.
"China will be one (of), if not the most important market in the middle, long run," Scilla Huang Sun, who runs a $30 million luxury fund for Julius Baer, said. "Chinese will not buy the very high end, like the Russians, but there are so many Chinese ... (They) save a lot and it's a huge country."
Earlier this month, Bernstein said its proprietary survey of Chinese luxury retailers suggested "demand resilience through the first and second quarter of 2009, most notably for mega-brands with high brand recognition."
China has become the number one market for LVMH's (LVMH.PA) Hennessy cognac and the world's second largest for its fashion and leather goods maker Louis Vuitton.
For Lamborghini, it will overtake Italy as the second biggest market behind the United States in three to five years.
"They love what is coming out of Europe. What is European is something they want to possess," CEO Stephan Winkelmann said.
Watchmaker Hublot, in China since January, plans to open 10 shops there by end-2009. By 2012, it would like to see China its third or fourth market after United States, Europe and Japan. "I think there are a lot of people who comment on China as being pictured as the biggest premium market because they see the growth from a very tiny base to a very large base," said Tom Purces, CEO of British luxury car firm Rolls Royce.
"We went from a handful of cars in China to over 100 cars there last year. That's immense in a very short period ... but I don't believe that that growth will be sustained at that level."
(Editing by Rupert Winchester)
Gary Card at Levi's Regent Street Store - New Levi's Store VMD
Gary Card at Levi's Regent Street Store
Denim elves and polka dots dominate the jean giant's central London shop window, as crafted by interior design maverick Gary Card
“I wanted the place to evoke the feeling of childhood”, says set designer Gary Card of the giant denim polka dot maze that he has just installed in Levi’s Regent Street store’s window. The Christmas labyrinth that’s complete with intricate shelves, a small house and a set of denim elves is Card’s yet another venture into large-scale design, following a successful collaboration with London’s new retail concept LN-CC, and a series of installations in Loewe’s windows. Dazed sat him down for a little chat.
Dazed Digital: What was the concept behind the installation?
Gary Card: When we first discussed the collaboration, Levi’s said they wanted to create a Christmas display, but one that wouldn’t necessarily be shouting Christmas. That’s when the polka dot fabric first came into picture. It’s one of Levi’s signature prints this year and I love that it’s so reminiscent of snow! So we wanted to create something that would evoke childhood memories of searching and discovering, without having obvious symbols such as Santa or the Christmas tree. At the same time, we introduced elements such as the polka dots and denim elves, which are very reminiscent of Christmas.
DD: How long have you been working on the project?
Gary Card: About six weeks – from the ideas stage to the final product. We produced five scaled models. They were literally a reproduction of what you see in the store. It’s the first time I presented a scaled model to the client and I think I will be making them more often. Sketches are great, but scaled models really give you the feeling of what it would be like to be in the actual space.
DD: What kind of feelings were you hoping to provoke with the maze?
Gary Card: The idea of curiosity. A little bit of discovery. It should be charming, because charm is the main thing about Christmas, really. It also had to be cool. I love the idea of having a playground, because, again, it brings back those childhood memories. The treatment of colours was very important too. It would have been really easy to bring in colours such as the signature Levi’s red, but I wanted to keep it cold inside.
DD: Can you tell us a bit about the craftsmanship behind the installation?
Gary Card: I was very excited about working with the Levi's denim, I wanted to make a denim environment, I love material-led projects, ideas that are dictated and driven by one defining factor, I really like restriction in a brief, in a way it's easier to work with, worst thing in for me is a client saying, 'do whatever you like'. Denim is very hands-on and tactile, but also tough and resilient, perfect for stretching over the shapes, very much like making a canvas. I loved the colour too, it feels cold, totally fits the festive vibe.
DD: What was the most difficult aspect of planning and carrying out?
Gary Card: The most difficult part was managing the gallery space, how do make a set piece that the viewer can explore and hang out in without blocking the main walk ways into the store, that was very tricky. it's great for me if you get lost in my 'denim fun house' but not so great for Levi's if you get so lost you can't find the actual shop, so that was a very big consideration.
DD: Tell us something funny about the Christmas denim elves....
Gary Card: The funniest thing is coming up, we are going to be in the space making them during next week, doing a kind of denim elf making master class! 'elves making elves' I'm calling it - it's going to be hilarious...
DD: How would you describe the Levi's Christmas window?
Gary Card: It started life as a kind of 'bauhaus' concept, I was interested the relationship between very simple shapes and negative space, however it very quickly turned into a set for a mental kids TV show! But that was cool, I totally embraced that, it's supposed to be fun, at one point I really wanted to call it Polka Dot Playground, I think that's the essence of the project!
Gary Card's Christmas window can be seen now and until after Christmas at the Levi's store, 174- 176 Regent Street, London.
To celebrate their Christmas window, Levi's is offering you the chance to win one of the elves that Gary Card will be making live at the Regent Street store. To find out when Card will be making his in store appearances, keep an eye on www.facebook.com/levisuk
Photos by Tom Bunning
Text by Kasia Bobula
--
In his Visual Merchandising, I saw the new christmas's inspiration which say christmas's atmosphere by very simple dot printing. Sometimes, I always think that we must find inspiration or idea in basic. But he thought about christmas very differently.
Also, his VMD led levi's style with christmas. As you know a lot of people want to have special or limited levi's product. When they notice something is limited, many people almost response very easily.
I think this VMD is limited and unique display. And we can feel christmas's atmosphere. So I really want to visit this shop in London.
Denim elves and polka dots dominate the jean giant's central London shop window, as crafted by interior design maverick Gary Card
“I wanted the place to evoke the feeling of childhood”, says set designer Gary Card of the giant denim polka dot maze that he has just installed in Levi’s Regent Street store’s window. The Christmas labyrinth that’s complete with intricate shelves, a small house and a set of denim elves is Card’s yet another venture into large-scale design, following a successful collaboration with London’s new retail concept LN-CC, and a series of installations in Loewe’s windows. Dazed sat him down for a little chat.
Dazed Digital: What was the concept behind the installation?
Gary Card: When we first discussed the collaboration, Levi’s said they wanted to create a Christmas display, but one that wouldn’t necessarily be shouting Christmas. That’s when the polka dot fabric first came into picture. It’s one of Levi’s signature prints this year and I love that it’s so reminiscent of snow! So we wanted to create something that would evoke childhood memories of searching and discovering, without having obvious symbols such as Santa or the Christmas tree. At the same time, we introduced elements such as the polka dots and denim elves, which are very reminiscent of Christmas.
DD: How long have you been working on the project?
Gary Card: About six weeks – from the ideas stage to the final product. We produced five scaled models. They were literally a reproduction of what you see in the store. It’s the first time I presented a scaled model to the client and I think I will be making them more often. Sketches are great, but scaled models really give you the feeling of what it would be like to be in the actual space.
DD: What kind of feelings were you hoping to provoke with the maze?
Gary Card: The idea of curiosity. A little bit of discovery. It should be charming, because charm is the main thing about Christmas, really. It also had to be cool. I love the idea of having a playground, because, again, it brings back those childhood memories. The treatment of colours was very important too. It would have been really easy to bring in colours such as the signature Levi’s red, but I wanted to keep it cold inside.
DD: Can you tell us a bit about the craftsmanship behind the installation?
Gary Card: I was very excited about working with the Levi's denim, I wanted to make a denim environment, I love material-led projects, ideas that are dictated and driven by one defining factor, I really like restriction in a brief, in a way it's easier to work with, worst thing in for me is a client saying, 'do whatever you like'. Denim is very hands-on and tactile, but also tough and resilient, perfect for stretching over the shapes, very much like making a canvas. I loved the colour too, it feels cold, totally fits the festive vibe.
DD: What was the most difficult aspect of planning and carrying out?
Gary Card: The most difficult part was managing the gallery space, how do make a set piece that the viewer can explore and hang out in without blocking the main walk ways into the store, that was very tricky. it's great for me if you get lost in my 'denim fun house' but not so great for Levi's if you get so lost you can't find the actual shop, so that was a very big consideration.
DD: Tell us something funny about the Christmas denim elves....
Gary Card: The funniest thing is coming up, we are going to be in the space making them during next week, doing a kind of denim elf making master class! 'elves making elves' I'm calling it - it's going to be hilarious...
DD: How would you describe the Levi's Christmas window?
Gary Card: It started life as a kind of 'bauhaus' concept, I was interested the relationship between very simple shapes and negative space, however it very quickly turned into a set for a mental kids TV show! But that was cool, I totally embraced that, it's supposed to be fun, at one point I really wanted to call it Polka Dot Playground, I think that's the essence of the project!
Gary Card's Christmas window can be seen now and until after Christmas at the Levi's store, 174- 176 Regent Street, London.
To celebrate their Christmas window, Levi's is offering you the chance to win one of the elves that Gary Card will be making live at the Regent Street store. To find out when Card will be making his in store appearances, keep an eye on www.facebook.com/levisuk
Photos by Tom Bunning
Text by Kasia Bobula
--
In his Visual Merchandising, I saw the new christmas's inspiration which say christmas's atmosphere by very simple dot printing. Sometimes, I always think that we must find inspiration or idea in basic. But he thought about christmas very differently.
Also, his VMD led levi's style with christmas. As you know a lot of people want to have special or limited levi's product. When they notice something is limited, many people almost response very easily.
I think this VMD is limited and unique display. And we can feel christmas's atmosphere. So I really want to visit this shop in London.
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