See U Soon Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift was photographed wearing See U Soon yesterday leaving a photoshoot at Milk Studios in NYC!  The pop superstar kept a low profile in her Wool Bordeaux Coat (SKU 5261093) from the French label.

Here is a more clear image of the wool coat.

Learn more about Taylor Swift (don't pretend you don't already know everything about her; we know you love her as much as we do).

Amazon Private Label Fashion

Is it true that Amazon is pushing forward to expand a private label apparel program?

Amazon has reportedly launched seven private label fashion brands and up to 1,800 new products ranging from men's suits to women's accessories to children's clothing.  Its own trademarked brands include Franklin & Freeman, Franklin Tailored, North Eleven, Scout + Ro and Society New York.

Engadget reported, “Trademark searches reveal that Amazon owns the trademarks on the brands, and it recently posted job listings hinting that it may start its own clothing line.” View the entire Engadget Amazons Private Label Fashion article. 

It has been reported that Amazon makes a higher profit on apparel then on electronics.  However, only approximately 15 percent of Amazon's active customers ever buy clothing and accessories on the site.  Clearly Amazon wants to increase the amount of fashion sold on the site.

The Engadget article also mentions that Amazon has “partnered with fashion brands like LaCoste, Camper and DKNYC. However, the company's VP of fashion, Jeff Yurcisin, said at a retail clothing show last year that "when we see gaps, when certain brands have actually decided for their own reasons not to sell with us, our customer still wants a product like that."  For that point of view, we'd expect many of Amazon's private label products to be in the same style as certain name brands.”

It appears that Amazon hasn't promoted the apparel venture as of yet.  Most likely they are getting organized more before official marketing campaigns launch (if any).

Amazon has also been scooping up online fashion stores, like ShopBop, MyHabit, and EastDane.

How will the Amazon private label fashion growth impact the apparel industry?

Learn more about private label apparel in our terms section.

View some of the Amazon private label fashion brands Franklin & Freeman, Franklin Tailored, North Eleven, Scout + Ro and Society New York.

For further research, you may want to read the following news articles:

Amazon 7 Private Label Brands (Business Insider)

Amazon Hiring for Private Label Fashion Brands (Business Insider)

Amazon Direct Private Label Push (WWD)

Amazon Fashion Brand (Fortune)

Amazon Private Label Brand (Racked)

The trademarked brands range from women's scarves and cold weather gear (North Eleven) to women's workwear (Lark & Ro) to a new source for draped cardigans (James & Erin). Also shop clothes for kids (Scout + Row), men's shoes (Franklin & Freeman), and $250 men's suits (Franklin Tailored).

Here is a bit more about some of the Amazon private label apparel collections:

Lark & Ro is for women constantly on the move, who want to look stylishly pulled together from day to night. Practical yet polished, this brands wardrobe essentials are the perfect solution for those navigating busy mornings, a hectic work schedule, and a full roster of after-hours and weekend events.  Their purpose is to simplify your life by serving up effortless style when you need it most.  The Lark & Ro collections consist of pretty, versatile pieces with a classic yet modern look. We love a great dress because it’s an easy, one-and-done outfit for women on the go. Each season, Lark & Ro offers plenty of choices in figure-flattering shapes, including fit-and-flares, wrap styles, structured sheaths, and more. They pay extra attention to the fine details like beautiful draping and soft pleats, which give their dresses something special.  Lark & Ro is also the busy woman’s resource for seasonal must-haves—from summer tops to winter coats—plus fresh takes on the latest silhouettes. The brand designers source fabrics that will hold up all day, so creasing or wrinkles are a non-issue, and caring for our pieces is a breeze.  Most importantly, they aim to deliver top quality at accessible prices you’ll love, season after season.

Scout + Row for kids.  Scout + Ro outfits girls and boys ages 4 to 14 with confident, comfortable, ready-for-anything clothes, so they can make the most of every hour between breakfast and bedtime.  The Scout + Ro collection is full of soft, easy-to-wear styles that both children and parents will love.  They aim to help curb the craziness of hectic mornings by providing kid-friendly options: Practical, versatile clothing that’s easy for young ones to pull on and off themselves, plus mix-and-match pieces that inspire fun, fresh combinations.  Scout + Ro is not only your go-to clothing resource for daily essentials but also every event on your child’s social calendar. You’ll find casual hoodies, tees, polos, and track pants for school days and play dates, as well as skirts, sweaters, and khakis for music recitals, holiday parties, and other special occasions.  Regardless of whether your kids need lightweight shorts or a cozy cardigan sweaters, you’ll find options in stock year-round to make sure they’re covered and content.  Scout + Row clothes stand out thanks to playful prints, stripes, and bright colors, but the designers also take care to design pieces that won’t be in today, out tomorrow. Scout + Ro also continually strives to provide exceptional value, with high-quality and easy-care fabrics that have the durability to live up to your high-energy, hard-playing kids.

Learn more about these brands and their other brands at the Amazon.com website.  You can also learn more about Amazon clothing here on Apparel Search.

If you would like to shop for other international brands, Amazon offers them as well.

Learn about other fashion brands & designers here on Apparel Search.

Thank you for taking the time to read our fashion retailer blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Naturalizer at Work with Ortholite

Naturalizer is proud to share their collection of shoes designed specifically for women in the service and healthcare industries offering innovative safety, comfort and style features, called Naturalizer@work.  Naturalizer has partnered with industry leader Ortholite to create a new standard in footwear comfort using their patented multi-density foam insoles that deliver with long-lasting cushioning, breathability, moisture management and antimicrobial function.

The styles range in price from $99-$119 and will be sold at Naturalizer stores, Naturalizer.com and Scrubs.

Features:
•  Leather uppers in a pump style
•  Padded collar for long-lasting comfort
•  Lux-sueded sock with Agion
•  Ortholite removable comfort foam insole
•  Oil resistant / slip resistant outsole
•  Heel height: ~2” to ~3”

Top 3 styles available in sizes Medium 4-11, 12 and Wide 6-10, 11, 12. Bottom left styles available in sizes Medium 4-11, 12 and Wide 6-10, 11, 12. Bottom right style available in sizes Narrow 6-10, 11, Medium 4-11, 12 and Wide 6-10, 11, 12

n 1927, during a decade of tremendous cultural shifts and progressive thinking, Caleres, Inc. launched a women’s footwear line with the radical idea of combining current fashion with comfort features. Naturalizer became one of the first shoe brands that women could turn to for feminine style they coveted and comfort they thought was impossible to attain. The recent suffrage movement had provided women with new-found freedoms and, as hemlines became shorter and shoes became the focus of fashion, Naturalizer symbolized what modern women had achieved. Naturalizer honors the brand’s original promise to deliver feminine, stylish, comfortable shoes in a manner that is relevant to the busy lifestyle of today’s woman.

Caleres is a diverse portfolio of global brands, which fit people’s lives: Family, Healthy Living and Contemporary Fashion. Their products are available virtually everywhere - in the over 1,200 retail stores they operate, in hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on their branded e-commerce sites, and on many additional third-party retail websites. Famous Footwear and Famous.com serve as their Family brands.

Learn more about Naturalizer shoes.

Thank you for taking the time to read our footwear industry blog post. We hope that you have found this shoe news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

New York Market Week StylingOn

New York Market Week at Styling on Showroom.  They have their own kind of style.  February 22-26, 2016 from 9:00AM-6:00PM

Showroom location: 252 West 38th Street, NY, NY 10018
Learn more about the StylingOn Showroom in NYC.

Hemp Blue Fashion

The new LA-based denim brand Hemp Blue premiered at the City Gala Fundraiser inside the Playboy Mansion this Monday through an exclusive fashion show debuting it's 2016 collection and celebrating the launch of it's first online shop: www.hempblue.com

Immediately following The 58th Annual Grammys the City Gala 2016 benefited Community Inspiring Today’s Youth (CITY) . The event was hosted by rapper/producer Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, who welcomed Keynote speaker Sir Richard Branson and other guests like Buzz Aldrin, Chanel West Coast, Jeff Timmons, Paul Oakenfold, John Paul DeJoria and more. 

During the Hemp Blue fashion show the runway momentarily became a site for protest as the models marched the catwalk holding signs demanding action towards the fight for the legalization for agricultural hemp in the U.S.

After their successful Kickstarter campaign, the founders of Hemp Blue; Derek Thomas and Robin Lane with designer Alfredo Settimio, have been preparing the complete collection and incorporating more products with premium hemp materials that are currently sourced from countries like Italy and Japan. They are quick to point out, however, that they are fighting to work with American grown hemp textiles.

Learn more about hemp clothing stores here on Apparel Search.

Opti LUX Shield Corrosion Resistant Zipper

Coats, the world’s leading industrial thread and consumer textile crafts business, is launching Opti LUX Shield, the most advanced range of corrosion resistant zips.  Opti LUX Shield is being showcased at Lineapelle, the international trade fair for the leather goods sector, held in Milan, Italy, 23-25 February.  

Metal zips used in leather goods, clothing and footwear are prone to oxidisation and corrosion from exposure to the moisture in air and also through contact with chemicals contained in all leather following the tanning process it goes through.  This not only detracts from the product’s appearance but can also impede the smooth running of the zip, often to the point of jamming.  

Coats Opti’s Research and Development team has developed a unique and advanced formula which makes the zip’s teeth and slider resistant to corrosion caused by atmospheric exposure and leather tanning chemicals.  The propriety Shield finish protects the electroplated surface from chemicals and minimises the damage caused by regular abrasion.  Specially engineered chemical and mechanical properties also enhance the appearance and durability of the zips.  This is combined with a superior process for forming the mechanical teeth of the zip which enhances the run ability by lowering friction.

Rajiv Sharma, Global CEO, Industrial, Coats, said: ‘The unique chemical and mechanical process we have specially developed means we are able to help our customers improve the durability of their products.  We have developed an enhancement to one of our products that makes a direct and visible difference to the end product sold to the consumer.’ 


The range is available in a choice of shiny and matt appearance, all tape colours and three sizes.  It is ideal for use in leather garments and accessories as well as stone washed and post dyed garments. 

To find out more about Opti LUX shield go to: www.coatsindustrial.com/en/opti-lux-shield

Thank you for taking the time to read our fashion news blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Organic Fabrics and Standards

Are you interested in organic fibers, fabrics, and apparel?

First of all, what is organic clothing?

Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment.  Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.  Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.  In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming.  All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown.

How are organic fabric standards created?

Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.

The Global Organic Textile Standard International Working Group is comprised of four reputed member organizations, namely OTA (USA), IVN (Germany), Soil Association (UK) and JOCA (Japan), which contribute to the GOTS, together with further international stakeholder organizations and experts, their respective expertise in organic farming and environmentally and socially responsible textile processing.

Starting point of the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) development was the Intercot Conference 2002 in Düsseldorf (Germany), where a workshop was launched with representatives of organic cotton producers, the textile industry, consumers as well as standard organizations and certifiers who discussed the need for a harmonized and world-wide recognized organic textile standard.  At that time numerous different standards and draft standards existed in the niche market of organic textiles.  The different standards caused confusion with (the few) producers, retailers and consumers who were interested in this field and they were an obstacle to international exchange and recognition of organic textiles.

As a concrete result of the workshop the International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard (IWG) was founded with the aim to continuously work on harmonization of the various regional approaches and to develop a set of Global Standards.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognized as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers.  It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well.

Only textile products that contain a minimum of 70% organic fibres can become GOTS certified.  All chemical inputs such as dyestuffs and auxiliaries used must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria.  The choice of accessories is limited in accordance with ecological aspects as well.  A functional waste water treatment plant is mandatory for any wet-processing unit involved and all processors must comply with minimum social criteria.  The key criteria of GOTS, its quality assurance system and the principles of the review and revision procedure are summarized in their general description section.

Learn more about organic fashion and fabrics here on Apparel Search.

Thank you for taking the time to read our organic fashion blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

NYLON USA Creative Director

Congratulations to Molly Butterfoss.  She has been appointed as NYLON USA Creative Director. 

Molly will lead design for the print magazine and oversee visual continuity across NYLON's digital, e-commerce, and social platforms. 

She previously worked as Senior Art Director for Pitchfork. 

BOOGALOO Music & Art Festival to Spot Trends

Music and fashion go hand in hand.  What better way to catch a glimpse of youthful fashion then by attending a festival?  We are excited to announce the lineup for the return of BOOGALOO Music & Art Festival this year held at the beautiful Irvine Lake in Silverado, CA Friday, April 29th through Sunday, May 1st.

You are sure to catch some great casual chic & bohemian fashion at the event.

BOOGALOO announced the official artist lineup for the 2^nd edition of the music and art festival held at the beautiful Irvine Lake in Silverado, California.  Hosted by The Dirty Beetles, BOOGALOO is a one of a kind experience much more than a festival with top notch live music, art cars, live painting, camping, workshops, yoga, Sunday BBQ, all ages activities and more.

Headlining this year is UK electronic music group Crazy P Soundsystem, San Francisco-based DJ and producer J. Phlip and musical group Karl Denson's Tiny Universe plus a surprise headliner to be announced, who are among more than 40 established and emerging  DJs and artists who will hit the art car stages throughout the weekend.  Other notable acts include KCRW host, DJ and music festival fixture Jason Bentley.

Held at the Oak Canyon Park, the home of Woogie Weekend and the Dirtybird Campout, BOOGALOO offers a majestic outdoor setting and two DJ stages atop two legendary art cars – Boogaloo and the famous Camp Charlie Unicorns.  In addition, a live music stage, hip-hop stage, live painters, local vending, performance artists, yoga and kids zone will ensure this new annual festival has something for everyone. 

BOOGALOO 2016 Lineup:

Crazy P Soundsystem, J.Phlip, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, The Funk Hunters, Worthy, Christian Martin, Jason Bentley, DJ Dan, Orgone, Fort Knox Five, Stylust Beats, The Gaff, Mat the Alien, The Librarian, The Golden Pony, Pumpkin, Marques Wyatt, QDUP, The Lions, JPOD, People Vs. Larson, StéLouse, Slynk, Charles Feelgood,, House of Vibe Ft. Ultralove, Rachel Torro,   Jr. Thomas and the Volcanos, divaDanielle, Mike Balance, Neighbour, Honey LaRouche, Emotionz, Pause MC, Everyman, Orphic, Lou E. Bagels Ft. Annie Dolly, Fleetwood Smack, Liqourbox, Little John, DJ Alexis, Subsuelo,  Erik Nelson, Dat Phat, K-MO,  Jamie Schwabl, DJ Soup

A 3-day pass to BOOGALOO includes camping, workshops, yoga and filtered water.  On Sunday, there will be an art car parade and a family-friendly BBQ for all ages.

Three-Day General Admission (GA) Tickets:

• Tier 1 3-day GA: $135 plus taxes/fees
• Tier 2 3-day GA: $145 plus taxes/fees

Add-On Camping Passes:

·         Car Pass: $69

·         RV Pass: $99

For tickets and continued updates on the festival, artists and more, please visit http://2016.boogaloomtnjam.com/.

Dead Endz

Charlize Theron was seen wearing Junk Food on Friday in Los Angeles! The actress rocked her Dead Endz sweatshirt while out and about (www.junkfoodclothing.com). 

Learn more about Charlize Theron.

Dead Endz are better than split ends...