Vans and Converse, not to mention Nike and its Jordan brand, Puma, Adidas, and the like, are among most active partners in the world of collaborations, as they try to feed the near-insatiable demand from sneaker collectors and other fans for new and unexpected designs. Less widely recognized on a mainstream scale, but still very […]
Archive | Fashion
Brand New Pairs of Roller Skates
Like many hobbies, participation in roller skating rose during the pandemic—about 12 million people in the U.S. partake in the sport—but in this case the resurgence began even before the lockdowns hit, in the late 2010s. The growth was fueled at least in part by nostalgia for both inline skating and, in particular, the four-wheeled […]
Jazzed About Jeans
Denim sales have been on the rise in 2021 and 2022, with individual companies at all price points reporting jumps in sales in the category. That growth is likely to last, analysts say. Research and Markets, for example, estimates that the denim jeans market worldwide will reach $76.1 billion by 2026, up 32.8% from $57.3 […]
It’s All Relative
Celebrities are increasingly getting their family members involved in their product collaborations, in part as a way to broaden their demographic appeal and/or establish authenticity with demographic groups beyond their core fan base: Established jewelry designer and occasional Shark Tank cast member Kendra Scott partnered with her three sons for her first men’s and gender-neutral […]
Soccer Vision Off the Pitch
At least three global soccer/football players have signed deals this year, two of them announced just this month, with makers of premium or luxury sunglasses, eyeglasses, and optical frames. This continues a tradition over the past decade or so where one or two current or past soccer stars, most commonly hailing from Europe and/or playing […]
Fashion Labels Go Fishing
Fishing and fashion may seem to be an odd-couple pairing, but collaborations involving streetwear or other apparel labels and functional fishing gear come up more than you might think, including at least two examples this season. All involve companies that are rooted in Japan, where fishing is a popular pastime, or that have strong ties […]
Celebrating Summer with Celebrity Swimwear
The swimwear category has been a hot one for celebrity collaboration over the past couple of years, with new collections from actresses, models, athletes, musicians, and more. Some of the forays into the category are extensions of existing activewear or shapewear lines, while others are standalone efforts. A few examples from this summer: Demi Moore […]
Homegrown Hits
Individual teams that are members of the leading U.S.-based pro sports leagues have increasingly been pairing with local fashion labels—mostly of the streetwear genre—for clothing collaborations available only in their home markets. Clubs in all five of the major leagues have served as examples of this phenomenon: National Football League. The Cincinnati Bengals paired with […]
In Fashion At Home
Well-established fashion designers often eventually enter the home goods space, but it can be a challenging business for them, whether they extend their labels through licensing or some other business model. As a result, expansions of this type tend to be cyclical. Currently the technique seems to be on the upswing, if the number of […]
Just for Kicks
While collaborations between fashion labels and football/soccer clubs in Europe and elsewhere are nothing new, the landscape is expanding, with more clubs and more fashion labels entering into such agreements. The fashion styles range from luxury to streetwear to denim; in many cases the club’s main kit supplier is part of the equation as well. […]