Networking - to foster links between individuals around a given cause.
Aim: To inform people on how fashion and trendsetting is taking over the marketplace and how it is effecting the economy.
This is an article I read about today titled, "Fashion sector can enormously stimulate economy in Latin America." Although it quotes the headline about Latin America, I believe that the same goes for the rest of the world. The "power" of culture will always be around everywhere you go whether that place may be luxurious or in poverty. The influence of fashion is strong like the torch in the olympics, never dies out. Lala Deheinzelin, a specialist on this topic and also a member of the advisory committee of IN-MOD, the Instituto Nacional de Moda e Design, affiliated with the São Paulo Fashion Week says "A creative economy is based on three factors: culture, creativity and knowledge." This is absolutely correct and without one of the three, the bond would be broken. They create a chain of events which eventually leads to the power of culture, the influence and impact it gives on one's economy. And in the economy it includes the society/community, the market place which leads to sales/consumerism, teenage targets, and families that barely pass by every month but just love to dress up nice! In fashion, culture is not something that takes long to happen or change. It can impact you in just one day. For example, one day you may be walking on the streets or whatever and notice someone your age or so rocking a new trend or a style you never seen before but seem to be attracted to, BOOM, there you go, a new fashion and interest. Creativity and knowledge are mostly and heavily associated with the market place and those who determine their targets so they can make their productions in relation to the latest fashion culture. "Fashion is not only clothing: it is identity, attitude and socio-cultural communication." As written in the article, this quote is as real as it gets. I've been saying this throughout the months I been writing this blog because it is the truth. The fashion culture is similar to a toy that you can pick up when it's new and throw away when it's old to yet, find and purchase a new one. However, unlike a toy, it will always be there. Fashion is apart of one's self and as real as skin because it is one. It does not only enhance your image and appearance, but it describes who you are and what you are trying to express. What I am really trying to say is that, fashion speaks in a way you want it to because you pick it.
Today I read a article that was quite interesting to me and I found it on the web. According to the author, affluenza which is really describing something like a flu, can be also used to describe or relate to fashion and its' culture. I found a question in the article http://sweetpealovesgreen.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/the-recession-affluenza-and-kind-of-fashion/ that interest me and I was determined to dish out what I think. The question is "Could it be that capitalism can control our consumption so significantly through clever advertising and the media coverage of the recession enough to slow down or even stop our feelings of lack and dissatisfaction?" I think I would say yes to this question just because I am heavily involved with teenage fashion at the age of 18 and starting from the age of 14. Advertising and media coverage can and will completely hypnotize consumers even during a recession, primarily youths. On the web, I still notice many people (youth specifically) consuming items referring to sneakers and brand name clothing at a very high resell price. Re-sell meaning other people buying it for retail either having to line up for it, won/raffled it or somehow got it, and selling it back out online for a much higher amount of money than they payed for. This is of course to the seller's advantage and usually the buyer obviously knows their paying much more than retail for the item but they don't care. The reason is simple, because their desire and the demand for it is so high and even in the recession, they will still find a way to pull the money out of their butts to gain what they want. Those who still have a job at this time will dish out their monthly or weekly paychecks to get what they want, fashionwise. There is no way is stopping this but one's self which is extremely hard just like people's addiction to smoking. Fashion is a unstoppable force, supported by the barriers of advertising and media coverage!
"Yet whilst we are in this recession we are also being encouraged to spend. If we did not consume, capitalism would collapse, as we are currently witness to in the recession as it is the consumer who is being told to spend by the government to save our high street stores from administration." This is true but unfortunately, not happening. Resellers are generating their own little revenues on the internet while stores are making less and less sales, maybe at a moderate level. The government gave a little amount of money for people to spend, but instead, they saved and pay off their debts with the money they were given this time. People are learning to save and spend less during the recession, but when advertising with media coverage hits with "SALE 30-70% off or Buy one get one Free," it's over. Consuming will once again consume people's will to stop spending and save.
Although this article was consisted of opinion, it is very true according to my point of view as well because it's not only what I think but what I am noticing so far.
Affluenza will always be with a person who grew up with fashion, something that is not neccessary but one can not live without!
Today I was surfing the net and found a very interesting question. Do you think the fashion industry/pop culture has a negative impact on young girl's body images? That's a little specific but a more broader one would be, do you think the fashion industry/pop culture has a negative impact on youths? Well, after reading an answer that was given through this link http://www.akatoo.com/question.html?question_id=1280523, I was totally lured in to it. I not only agreed entirely, but asked myself the same question. "Absolutely.The outrageously unrealistic expectations set up by pop culture and the entertainment industry not only fuel young girls' insecurities and harmful behaviors, but they also give young boys (and grown men, unfortunately) unrealistic expectations about what women should look like, act like, talk like, etc." What they wrote here is so true because that is what we see in our society today. Fashion and pop culture definitely brings negative effects on the economy in ways such as this one. The person who answered the question also backs it up with a news article back in 1999. It is a unfortunate fact that these factors can cause results such as anorexia, depressed feelings -leading to suicide, eating disorders and even death! I can say for a fact that many youths had probably never even thought of this and victims probably won't even know that they were in certain ways, affected as well. However, I also have a different perspective on this topic as well. The amount and intensity of the effect of fashion/industry and pop culture can be controlled and to a level that you prefer or desire. Everything is laid upon your hands because the mind is always your own no matter what. No one can force you to take in the impact that certain things or factors give. Like myself for an example, the fashion culture especially sneakers are very strong on me. It has like this magnetic pull that keeps luring me to be the beast consumer that I am with the small amount of income that I recieve. I certainly buy a lot of sneakers and clothing, but I keep it to a certain level so that I can save money, have money to spend and not have a bunch of old clothing just sitting there. I only learned to control my beast within these past 1-2 years. Therefore I do have old clothing lying around that I once liked and bought, but no longer do. This is the part when you feel stupid and ask yourself "why did I buy this ugly shirt or pants?" or maybe "what was I thinking?" Sigh...this is how life is but always remember that impact is only a word and a factor that can't even control you because you have your mind. Mind can always overcome all effects including your body. Although fashion/industry and pop culture brings upon a negative affect on youths, it also has positive affects as well. That's if you let it, I mean these are todays advancements and we need them because we are adapted to it. Without it, I think it would be worse. Even though, shopping would be less (which would actually slow down the moving economy) and negative affects of those factors wouldn't even exist, life would be more terrifying without it. Results such as boredom which can lead to suicide, dull fashion, etc.
Who ever knew that cammo sneakers originated from the military. Although I always knew that the military or the army wore clothing and suits that had camo on them, I had no idea that they impacted even the fashion society. After coming across this article http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/articles/Sneaker-Wars-cammo/, I discovered the truth.
"Sometimes I think we all forget that cammo is designed with a purpose, namely so soldiers and equipment could hide in the jungle, snow, desert or urban terrain and not get popped so easy." This is very true and cammo finally became popular after "underground movement for a really long time." I remember looking at certain people, not sure if they were a soldier, in the army or whatever but the idea of them wearing cammo clothing and the style didn't really appeal to me at all in anyways. Honestly, I never thought about cammo like that, that it was used to help soldiers cammoflouge in the forests, snow, etc. I just thought of it as plain old army clothing. Anyways, eventually cammo style fashion makes a hit. I myself even bought some but only because they were able to make it in a appealing fashion. We know this brand as A bathing ape or Bape. After a while, this brand was able to grab mine along with thousands and thousands of other people who are involved in the fashion society. They used the cammo style in everything you can name of from sneakers to shirts to bottles to boxers and socks. Note that this brand not only originated from Japan, but it is very expensive. You can pay up to like 12 dollars for a roll of toilet tissue.I bought sneakers from them for up to 250$ a pair, hoodies at 300$+ a piece and t-shirts 80$+. However, this is not the only brand that uses the cammo style but it is one of the most expensive. Like I said and I'm saying it again, who knew cammo style fashion that started of from the military could've made such a big hit in the fashion world in our society today. It took quite a while to finally achieve some sort of success but it certainly made a strong impact. And come to mention it, I am wearing a pair of Armani Xchange white cammo shorts at the very moment. Funny how life and the fashion economy works. Also, at the very bottom of the article, it really did surprised me that some of the sneaker companies we buy our sneakers from also make boots / more advanced footwear or clothing for the military and other tactical forces like the SWAT team, U.S army and the Germany Anti-Terrorist groups.
So, the military which is also part of the government actually made a impact on the fashion culture which in chain events, led to us, youth and the targets of consumerism to purchasing products of the sort!
These are actually one of my favorites and a pair of batman bapestas that I have.
Today I came by a short essay from this website http://www.stylephyle.com/experts/why.html. I think it is important for people especially teenagers to read this because it explains or makes one realize why are they really wearing the clothes they wear, rocking the style they rock. The author wrote "We also use fashion as a sort of protection, or armor. We have power suits, favorite black pants, a special shirt--something that flatters or boosts our confidence or makes us feel powerful or safe." This is indeed, very true and I couldn't agree more. Sometimes or many times, people wear similar clothes/style to fit in with others or a group. Wearing the clothing you wear may sometimes or in one's opinion, shield them from a certain fear they may have, makes them feel just a little safer. And of course, style and trend clothings does make one have more confidence because they flatter themselves and have strength in the thought that they are able to impress others. Fashion can also make one feel powerful just like the author said. For example, notice a similar color and design of people who have authority? Yeah that's right, they all wear and have atleast the color navy blue. People like the President, police officers, soldiers usually wear navy blue because it's not only a powerful color itself that represents pride and honor to the nation, but it makes one feel more powerful, feeling like they have more authority than if they don't have it on. The author also wrote "As far as preferring name brands or not, I like both. What matters most is the comfort (physical and psychological) of the clothes. When I find a name brand I like, I look for other things from that same line, because they're likely to have something in common--the fit, the fabric, the style, the attitude." This is however, only what she prefers or her point of view. Many people in the American culture buy brand clothings whether they are comfortable or not just because of the brand name itself. That is what I see.
Well today, I was amazed when I came by a fellow blogger, someone else who writes blog, about the same topic I am except more specific. This person wrote about sneakers and it's values and I couldn't agree more on what they wrote. Here's the article source/website if you want to take a look: http://www.sneakerplay.com/blog/ayanti/8968/.
"The sneaker exchange network (the constant buying and selling of sneakers) has certainly felt the effects as the closets are emptied and that sneaker that was once considered a grail is now simply a pawn to be moved." After I read this quote, I already knew how in-depth this blog post would be. It is so true, over the past years and as a sneaker collector, I noticed many things and this quote couldn't explain it more. When times of desperation comes, regardless if the sneakers were your grails (your favorite or most desired sneakers-usually took pretty long to get), you would let go and sell it. That's just how it is, when people go to college, need money for books, buying a car or simply need money because they no longer have a job, they would sell even their most prized posession sneakers. Honestly, I'm just the same, I have owned many pair of sneakers myself and a few of my favorite, but as I can clearly see, they no longer exist in my collection. However, sneaker collectors will always be sneaker collectors, no matter what they will come back to it because like I said in one of my earlier post, I was able to quit the sneaker game for a year or so, but eventually came back and became once again, hooked! I am pretty sure that a sneaker collector would buy their grails once agian when they regain that extra money they are able to spend upon sneakers. In this tight recession setting, a lot of people say that people take advantage by buying sneakers at low prices and selling it for high. This is however true, but not entirely. Buying sneakers for low prices and selling it for higher have always been the case for re-sellers of the sneaker society. What I've noticed, even during the recession, sneaker prices are still the same, they are not dropping what-so-ever. In fact, some are even higher. It's all about the hype and what the sneakers are associated to. The prices are not really made up by the seller, it is made up by the buyers or the consumers of the re-sellers because no one would buy it if their not willing to fork over such high amount of green. Therefore, the price doesn't drop but may even raise because other buyers who have that kind of money would start to outbid each other and give the sellers what they want, the price they desire! It's all about how much consumers are "willing" to pay. Otherwise, re-selling wouldn't even exist because the sellers could put up their price but no one would deal with it. It's unfortunate for those who wants the "hyped" up pair of sneakers but doesn't have that kind of cash to add on top of the retail price it went for.
Back to what I said about "what the sneakers are associated to." By that I mean like is the sneaker related to anyone famous, created by any popular artist, band or whatever the case may be, something exclusive. Take a look at the newly released hype series of Air Yeezy's. They run for about 210$ retail which required sneaker-heads or just people who wanted them or who wanted to make money to line up/camp out for days and nights before the store actually opened up and sold the officially. That's the kind of hype I'm talking about, even in cold wintery weather, these guys would still be out there just because of those sneakers and the one and only, Kanye West. Yeezy could care less if you rock his sneakers or not, sell his sneakers for a higher price or not, your only making him that much more famous and hyped. This is not a offense to any one out there who bought these, I'm just giving a example.
By the way, the arthor of the blog-post http://www.sneakerplay.com/blog/ayanti/8968/ had given examples such as the one I gave above so take a look. I would rate this like a 9.8 out of 10 for a blog grade. It really defines what sneakerheads do with sneakers.
In this article, it is mainly talking about the shopping rebellion/society in Tokyo and kind of comparing it to New York. They compare Takeshita Street, in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, to the Eighth Street in New York which is full of stores and places to go, the teenage fashion/interest world. These are the main attractions that bring the youth in every place, not just Tokyo and New York. There is nothing more interesting or fun than spending money and having fun in the teenage world. Top priorities are as such, appearance/fashion, fun-party, playing sports, etc and again, looking good! Anyways, talking about Tokyo, remember the movies Fast and the Furious, Tokyo drift. Pretty amazing right? Well, not from personal experiences but from friends and other reviews, it is as real as it seems. Tokyo is a really amazing place and I, myself are planning to take a trip up there myself. Japan as we all know and can see clearly now that they are one of the most advanced countries in the world. They have amazing technology and are well beyond many other places in the world and can/will soon surpass America. Talk about Sony, Lexus, A Bathing Ape. I mean the got top brands in everything from games to cars to clothing/fashion. Let's go back to talking about fashion, they are just rising up there. Check out my previous post, the image on the bottome where people are lining up for blocks just to get something from the Bape Store. That's how crazy it is, even over here in New York, the only Bape store on Greene street build up enormous lines on occasions when the release some exclusive fashion. It's pretty clear that Tokyo and New York has a lot in common because they have the same attractions and ideas. However, it's also like two different worlds and people with the same interests. Mentioning Soho in New York, Japanese brand-style clothing are also taking over, Uniqlo came out pretty strong. Don't lie for those youths' reading this. I know you guys went in there and probably even bought something. Myself, I'm not really in to the Uniqlo style but A Bathing Ape is such a good creation and idea. I mean a Ape idea with cartoons on a shirt, hoodie, cap, etc arose to a millionaire-billionaire state. So amazing. What I really want to explain is that the market place is taking over by youth advertising and interest and the only real way to make it big is to get in to entrepreneur meaning getting your own ideas and making it a success. It's all up to you. Fashion will never lose itself, not even in recession!
Look at the image, doesn't look so familiar until recently right? TopShop is a newly opened retail store that sells fashion clothing like most other stores in Soho, New York. TopShop originates from the U.K and is also a British-based fashion which seems to be fitting in perfectly in New York as fast-fashion and is already starting to dominate some of the shoppers in the area. Competition comes..... as TopShop offer their new trends and cheap clothes. Our economy is yet again, being dominated by the fashion industry. Even in such a tough recession situation, the fashion markets are still going strong. Sales may be dropping, but not doing horrible in any sense. I mean, you would expect sales to drop like crazy or even deplete in a recession, but no, people are still buying, even some families that are not bringing in as much income as they use to. Fashion is a huge addiction that even a below average New Yorker can not stop. "New York is one of those first three or four cities that every fashion brand wants to operate in," said Sir Philip Green, owner of Topshop's parent company, Arcadia Group (source:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/topshop-comes-to-america-_n_181931.html). This is unbelievably true and what I have been trying to explain the whole time. However, New York is not the only place, just more dominant about fashion. The thing people hardly even realize is that America doesn't even produce these products, they were made far off, like on the other side of the globe (China). That's the problem, America is not only loosing money but profiting others because we always have to get our raw materials/products from someone else. We are more of a importer than a exporter which is not really a good thing. Anyways, Philip Green is the owner of Topship as well as a very brilliant man who knows to insert his style of fashion in the most busy and best place in New York. Not only that but he is also planning to expand to about 15 stores in New York, watch out for him to all those other Fast-Fashion retail stores out there!
Ok, so what is fast-fashion and how come Topshop is able to pull of a stunt like this in gaining sales once they even step foot in New York City? Fast-Fashion is simply when trends keep changing and that consumers, most of them in youth stages, expects fashion companies and stores to meet their expectations. Hmmm, sounds easy right, but how can you always come up with new ideas and fashions so fast and a consumers ever lasting changing taste..? Hard right, that's how fashion effects the economy, whether it rises or drops in sales, it will create a great impact. The more sales the better because it keeps our society moving along. "Fast-fashion chains offer shoppers two key propositions: They make the trendiest styles affordable, and they bring fashion to market fast." Took this sentence from the huffingtonpost article and I can't help agree more. This is exactly what I'm talking about and the only way to achieve success in the fashion world in a tough economy.
Well, talking about Topshop, I noticed it quite a few times walking by in Soho and until I read this article, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/topshop-comes-to-america-_n_181931.html, I knew I wasn't hullucinating. When I strolled down Broadway on a busy Saturday afternoon, I can't help but to notice a surprising large line down the block on this new fashion store I just found out was named Topshop. I mean, before that day, I already seen it, but it seems wack, atleast for me so I did't go inside, but that day, wow! I guess New Yorkers are only seeing CHEAP in their eyes these days.
This is not exactly the best image you can get out of Soho, but definitely a very crowded and shopping kind of setting.
Check this out- Most teenagers/youths that have jobs are probably retail jobs. The reasons are simple, it does not require much of any experience at all, fairly easy to get and most of all, the discounts!
In the first sentence of this post, you're only really seeing the bright side of retail jobs, but honestly, it's pretty horrifying. Some youths take on a job such as retail to make a little extra money to help out the family and have some sort of cash to get by here and there, maybe go shopping once in a while. However, that's not the case for most teens who find a retail job or any job to make money and spend it all right after receiving their paychecks. It's the truth, the fashion market is dominated by youth's nowadays because it's specifically aiming at them and successfully pulling them in. By the way, like I said earlier, once of the most things youths' look for in a retail job is their discounts, that way the could shop more for less or similar price than regular.
Now let me get to the negative part. Life at a retail job really offers nothing. I mean where is it getting you in the future, what kind of things/experience is it really teaching you, nothing really. It may be a temporary job, but others like myself find a more "educational" job like interning at a life insurance company as an IT. Well, it may sound boring but you are learning and obtaining a lot more than what your getting at a retail store even if they pay more. The most important thing is what you're getting out of it, picking up new skills and experiences as well as preparing your life for Corporate America. Even a job at the library would have a better and more knowledgable gain.
That was only one bad thing about having a job at a retail store. Here comes the part that we are all noticing lately and the point that the article above is really trying to get at. "The retail sales figures indicated incentives and promotions by car dealers and clothing stores such as Gap Inc. failed to draw customers hurt by a lack of credit and the highest jobless rate in 25 years." That's just really really bad, unemployment is rising which mean families can be hitting the streets. People who were once making six to seven figures such as those at Wall Street are desperate to even find a retail job. When the recession hit us, retail have been dropping pretty rapidly. However, I still find youth's like myself shopping even when income isn't so great and could be put to a better use. That's just how it is, fashion is a magnet pulling you back every time and all the time even when situations are bad. It is simply an addiction that many youths can not rid. Anyways, I wanted to share a little situation that someone I know had. He was working at A/X aka Armani Exchange in Soho making around 800 a week last summer and now he's gone. He didn't get laid off, but in my eyes, it was worse. His schedule became more and more off while hours became less and less. It became so bad that he ended up on a one day a week schedule not knowing which day and can be any time, and may even have gotten like only a few hours that day. Being on a on-call job while not even knowing how many hours your getting really sucks. He decided to quit because it was getting to hectic and stressful to deal with especially when your seeing checks like 19-30 dollars. I mean really, what can you do with that, I would literally rip it up and throw it back at them.
Anyways, that's how retail jobs are, they want you they don't want you. To me, your like their toy, if they like you, they'll keep you, but things are never going to be the same all the time. Retail jobs are not stable, not even if you're the manager!
This image is an example of a retail store that is actually still doing fairly well in sales, I mean look at that line. As well as growing in sales, they are also growing in size as they spread across the world. http://triplenetmarcus.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/bape_store_taipei-10.jpg Btw, items in this retail store goes up 500 dollars a pop for just a sweater/hoodie. Notice all the youths....
Image Source: http://smallbusiness.smh.com.au/dotAsset/900187505.jpg Artile information source: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/02/responsible-fashion-and-the-us-economy-nau-scape-jacket-and-down-vest-review/ Ok, so how is fashion suppose to be responsible and what do they mean by that? Well, read the article to get a little more in-depth explanation. In my opinion, I believe that fashion has it's responsibilities based on how it will interact and play a role in our economy. It starts off with our producers or manufactures who have their responsibilities to meet consumer expectations or atleast predict and interpret what they want the most, least, and recent. To me, it's all about trend/style and the majority just follows along with it. That determines how much consumers will purchase and their desires for it meaning even if the price may be out of hands, they will still go out of the way to get it. Let's skip to the part where I want to talk about more, Made in China. Notice the majority of our clothing/sneaker or anyt type of apparel says that over the decades. The reason is because, America have nothing American citizens want. Not to mention that their material sucks, but they also get it from other countries. Anyways, the point is that the U.S. economy rely to heavily on others to get stuff that they need and want. That creates a huge impact in our economy, money wise and fashion wise. When we consume our fashion wants, we keep the economy rolling because everything we spend from cash to credit cards is related. Now since we are doing bad and still relying on other countries (purchasing overseas from them) and not making much progress according to sales or consumer buying, the economy is doing poorer than ever. We as consumers have that responsibility, to spend and keep the economy moving, but that's not happening because people have no money. People are getting laid off here and there with no income, how can they require their fashion desires? How can they survive? Even if people are given money, what will they do? They would obviously pay off their debts first or save it so giving them money still doesn't help to keep the economy moving. The responsibilites of fashion are and are not in our hands! By the way, the source article in talking about two vests made in China and also from the same company, explaing the use, benefits, and a responsible fashion.
Wow, this is one of the most interesting articles I read in a long time. Coming from New York, News & Features, I just went through a very strong point that is flashing out from this featured article. It talks about how a rich girl, talking about a billionaire family, is poor! Don't get it, listen to this. A very rich teenage girl, the most wealthy family out of the whole Upper West Side private school actually appears the poorest in the entire city. Her parents are obssessed with spoiling their daughter, therefore only supporting here with 60$ a week and Old Navy brand clothing while paying 25 grand for tuition a year. It is a very shocking article that expresses how this young girl wishes and rather not have all this money because of the way her life style is. She always end up borrowing/spending her friend's money instead because she is broke! Honestly, 60 dollars a week from your parents isn't bad at all. Well, coming from a below average income family like myself wouldn't mind 60 dollars a week at all, but for a billionaire family background. wow. Personally, I never really had an allowance, just money here and there once in a while, but I haven't asked or spent my parents money in years because I found a job. Anyways, I think that her parents are actually right. I mean, it's a dog eat dog world out here, no one is nice. The girls got to learn how to save, budget and earn her own money. What if one day, her family's fortune disappear, then she would have to step up and out of that luxury and work like every other average citizen. "And yet to Caitlin, it often seems like that’s all anyone does: kids hustling, kids obsessing, kids turning downright savage." That's exactly right. Kid's that don't find a job or are too lazy to try to find a easy way out in life. Drop out of school and end up under the influence of drug and gangs. The economy of teenagers are exactly the way you see it, horrifying. They try to find every way to get what they want particularly money, fashion and drugs. They hustle for their money, thinking it's great how they're making so much money at a young age, forgetting it's illegal and have high punishment results. Results are always negative unless they are willing to change, willing to work, and most of all, control their thirst for money. For those who think there is never enough, then the results are never good. The world is cruel out here and this article shows that event the wealthiest kids may end up like the rest of us, poor and hungry (for money). Talking about wishing not to have so much money, she should be happy her parents are so successful and well respected and therefore, living up to their expectations. Sixty dollars a week means 240$ a month which is not bad at all especially when your doing absolutely nothing for it. I wish I had that growing up. The point I am trying to get at is that you have to know when is enough and when it is not enough. Nothing comes easy and the teenage culture/economy is very depressing and tough.
In this post, I want to share with you guys, the future of fashion and how it will have a impact on our society. The backdoor or the greater source of impact is coming from the advancing technology which creates a chain reaction to fashion and then to youth/people addicted to designer labels and then to our economy.
"Youth will be in charge. Pop music, videos, movies, television, and the fashion press will still promote fashion's idols and help to spark the latest fads (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2666_129/ai_67328787/)." I grabbed this quote from this site which gave me very interesting information. This quote has always been with me or meaning I thought of this the whole way. To me, youth has always controlled the market place, resources coming from parents or their own income. Either way, they will find a way to get money and purchase their desired fashion designs. This is because of their addiction and besides, they are the main targets now a days. I know this inside out because myself is also a youth who is heavily involved in fashion and have done many research about it. I am always updated with the newest and most recent fashion by either going online to the sites that keeps me updated or receiving information from other youths that enjoy collecting/sharpening their appearance.
Anyways, the main idea of this post is to let you guys know the future of fashion. Fashion will not only be more appealing but more advanced, technology wise. "Technologists will invent more multi-purpose fabrics, accessories, and makeup and extend the range of sensory and audio products to wear. Computer-aided design will provide made-to-measure garments for the mass market (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2666_129/ai_67328787/)." Although this article was written quite a while back, I still haven't really seen Computer-aided design. I mean like advance clothing/fashion that can not only help with your appearance and style but for convenience, safety or something in the area. However, I have seen a pair of sneakers that have Wi-Fi connection which is pretty amazing, but how convenient or helpful is that? In the article, it also states that Japan, which I already have been noticing because I also buy their fashion designs, is growing very strong in the fashion industry and not to mention China and the South Asian subcontinents. This is telling us that they will soon have a huge amount of control in the fashion marketplace which will take over other countries because other countries will have to buy from them, becoming the consumers.
HERE IS IMAGES OF THE WIFI SNEAKERS I MENTIONED EARLIER:
This is a google image of the "Bread and Roses" Strike. Source:http://chawedrosin.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/bread-and-roses-strike.jpg
In 1912, the textile workers of Lawrence, Massachusetts expressed their feelings and rage in one of the most famous strikes in history, the Bread and Roses strike. This strike represented one of the earlier victories in our history because it brang success and hope to the society. Their success in the strike brought results such as improve working conditions. This not only worked for them but also for mill workers along the east coast. This means hope for other people out in the world and that they can use the same tactics to fight for what they want, what they deserve.
This is a google image of Joe Hill- Source: http://www.store.iww.org/images/joehill.jpg Joe Hill was in and around the same time of the Bread and Roses strike. However, before that happened, he joined the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) movement in 1910. He was a song writer and also created huge impacts on the society and the world and a protestor. He wrote songs that included stuff about differences in culture and the working class. His songs spread all over the place and gave an example to protestors in the future to do the same, the same influence and power by music. People can follow his ideas and like himself, succeed in bringing forth protestors to what they have to do.
The Constitution protect our rights to dissent by giving us amendments and particulary the first amendment. The first amendment is the freedom of speech, not neccessarily enabling to say what you want and "think" what's right, but ideas and expressions that you want to share but limited to a certain degree. The first amendment gives the freedom of speech, press, relgion, etc but doesn't mean that you can say anything you want. You can't say exactly anything you want and the Consitiution states that, making things more complexed. You can't say things that may pose a threat to the government, say things that may cause violent and disrupt the civilized/society. Those are the limits of the Constitution.
The sneaker culture has over the years, affected the market economy tremendously. For teenagers, sneakers are among the highest interests and the most wanted item in fashion. The reason is simple. I notice that when people/teenagers buy sneakers, they also buy additional clothes/accessories to go with it. They buy a outfit along with the sneaker so they could look "fly," meaning attractive. To be honest, I use to be the same way, buy every single color to match every pair of sneakers, but I realize it doesn't matter if you match or not. I still wear a matching outfit every once in a while but it's not necessary because you still look just as good. In my opinion, it's all about brand. Brand is the most important thing in teenagers as well as people who are interested in fashion's life. Just the name of a certain clothing or sneaker makes all the difference in the world. Believe it or not, but it's true because they rather buy brand name clothings even if it's 4 times the price. Anyways, in this post I am trying to explain how the sneaker economy has taken over the market in many ways. I notice new stores/old stores are "fighting" to get sneakers accounts to get whole sale sneakers of the most desired recent sneakers. For example, the latest jordan packages, also known as countdown packages are sold out almost immediately and stores noticing it's good profit will kill to get that account. If I'm not wrong, I'm pretty sure you need a urban account to have those in your hands. Certain other accounts are quickstrike and NikeSB account. These are all exclusive accounts that are pretty hard to get. To my knowledge, I heard that in order to get a NikeSB account, you must first open and keep a skateboarding store open for atleast 2 years. The sneaker culture is growing and still going strong even during the recession. People are willing to pay MONEY for exclusive sneakers that are no longer available in sneakers. England created the first pair of sneakers in the 1860's. Of course their sneakers were very basic since it was the first concept. As the years went by, sneakers traveled around the world and was manufactured everywhere. People added style and design to them as they became for advance, comfortable and some even rare. Heres' a little background information on the history of sneakers: http://www.economy-point.org/s/sneaker.html
As I listed earlier, one of my contacts is Issforums.com, also known as Solecollector.com/forums. This site is mainly controlled by the youth because at this age is usually when "sneakerheads" arise. Teenager's interest in fashion is enormous, therefore affecting the marketplace tremendously. You may not notice this but this has a major effect on our economy because even when people such as the adults and older shoppers don't go shopping or spend money, the people in the youth culture will. If you take a look inside the solecollector forums, you will realize what I'm talking about. We are obviously in recession and people on Iss, as you can see, are still selling/buying sneakers. Consuming is my main point because of the loss jobs/careers and a portion or maybe even whole part of family's income is gone. However, we can see on Iss that people are not only spending but relatively high and expensive for one pair of sneakers. I, myself have been on Iss for years and notice even when times are bad, which in this few years is the first time, the prices doesn't really change, in fact, it may get higher. Thinking about spending from $100-1000's of dollars on just one pair of sneakers. Imagine getting multiple pairs on here. Really, Iss is a bunch of re-sellers like I said just like Ebay except in this situation you can do what you want. For example, if both parties lived in the same area such as NYC, then usually they would do a meetup with each other at discussed time and place after making a agreement. Everything is done at your own risk including shipping first or sending money orders/check first. Well, right now I'm making Iss sound like a negative site but it's not. It is much more convenient than other online shopping sites although it may take some time to get a transaction going. Personally, I like Iss a lot because it has gotten me my fair shares of deals and profits (not much). I of course, spent more than I made because I'm always buying re-seller's shoes and clothes that are exclusive and no longer available at stores. What I really want to explain here in this post is youth control the market place in many aspects because they are the one's targeted. Sneakers and Clothings were made to grab their interests and pull them in to buy, even when it is overpriced like Flight Club (check out Vintagekicks.com) or when you have to line up in freezing cold weather for days or even weeks. Im trying to say that the prices are not originally like that but it's how they make it. Their desire and want for the items contributes to it's price. Remember, Issforums.com
Noticing all the clothes and sneakers or any other clothing material in fashion in America? Guess what? A large majority comes from China. Check your tags, you would probably find half to 75% of your fashion or clotheswear saying Made from China. Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that China has over the years, created a huge impact on our economy our society causing us to follow trends and fashion created over there. Because the U.S. depends too much on other countries for supplies, wants and needs, we end up pretty helpless. It's always about buying from other people. American doesn't supply much of anything except maybe food is the best resource we have ourselves. Otherwise, we buy from other countries, things like oil, cotton, shoes and many other materials that we need and use every single day. However, America does have American brands but they are not supported/wanted because they do not create interest in anyone. The style of their fashion does not fit in our culture especially youth.
Lets get on the the story. As I listed one of my contacts as well as my first, Label Networks provide information on youth culture atleast twice a year and they get their facts from study, strait from the source. Here I found their latest studies in China on Youth Culture for 2009. The link is here http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?report_id=683602. This is not exactly Label Networks real site, but an article that leads to the real source.
Basically this article is about how the chinese (myself also one) follow trends and how certain aspects affect their preferences on fashion and culture, leading them to spend according to the attractiveness of the brand/trend and their desire for it. “The Chinese youth market is comprised of an entirely new generation among their 1.3 billion people who have grown up among massive economic reforms resulting in influencing a great deal of the overall spending power of China,” says Tom Wallace, President of Label Network. I believe what he says, this is very true because China use to be like just a whole bunch of villages, bunch of emptiness. Over the last few decades or so, things have changed. China became more advanced and skyscrapers arose, even more than what we have here in America now. Don't forget the value of the dollar, they are catching up to us as well. We use to get well over 8 dollars for one American dollar. Now we get what, a merely 6 dollars and change or may be a bit more. Maybe the majority of the people are not realizing what is happening but big changes are going on in our society, not just the big point, recession but a lot of things are also going on. The article also includes talk about Internet Cafes and Cultural hotspots. This reminds me, over here in New York, I also noticed a lot of Internet Cafes, majority opened by Asians, sometimes even 3-4 cafes on the same block. This makes me think why and does it make money? So, I went to all these internet cafes and notice a few things in common, a lot of asian customers, snacks and drinks which are for the 24/7 opening cafes so they can stay there all night, and most of all, it's dirty. Internet cafes get very dirty after a while because of smoking (even with the no-smoking sign there) and spit all over the place. Anyways, the point is this is part of their culture, online shopping, games is now a huge influence on everyone, not just the chinese. You already know where to contact LabelNetworks so just go ahead and hit them up!
They themselves may not know it yet, but they are falling in to a deep pit that will bring them only pain and suffering. Anorexic models really only see what they think is beauty now because they enjoy having a skinny/slender appearance where they can expose fashion out to the world on their bodies. However, they have not realized the impact of being anorexic and how it is affecting not only their appearance but their inner-self. Being truly anorexic models, they have a full concentration of losing weight and staying at the appearance they are at. Eventually they get to a point where it may no longer be controlable and starts tearing their system. Results would be like mental illness and may even bring you in to a coma. This is the horrifying truth that anorexic models don't accept. Promoting the dangers of anorexia would help build the confidence that these models need. They are not realizing the more important things of life, though they believe modeling/fashioning is their greatest passion. That can be done but their isn't a need for anorexia. The truth is real, anorexia is like a drug, the addiction to become that skeleton self can kill you. This subject area in fashion is by far the most dangerous and it doesn't have to be that way. I'm sure people would still buy and take interest in the latest fashion from more "heavier" models. Their is a better way to have a beautiful physique body. Don't you want people to see your body and say "wow, I wish I had a body like hers" or "that's a amazing body." I mean all these things are achievable just like how they achieved a anorexic self.
Although this artile is two years back, I still want to share some news from CBS with you guys because this article is seriously terrifying and definitely helps in promoting the dangers of anorexia. The link is http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/16/earlyshow/main3371433.shtml and the title is Anorexic Model On Road To Recovery Isabelle Caro Exposed Herself To World In Campaign Against Eating Disorder. You can obviously contact www.cbsnews.com for more information. Also, this article has a comment section where you can leave comments and opinions. I noticed three comments and although those people that comment may not be experts but they have their own point of views and obviously have some knowledge in the field. Here is a picture of a anorexic model from Google. Very scary image in my opinion, you can see her ribs through her shirt....http://english.pravda.ru/img/idb/photo/6-264.jpg
References (30): I'd give it a 20 because not all information has references.
Documentation (20): They do give the dates for which the facts/information was taken place but not for everything and doesn't exactly tell who the information is coming from except the site and a few magazine sources. I would rate this a 10 only for documentation.
Vetting (20): There is no sign of peer review on the page but maybe on the links/sources it gives us which are magazines. I only rate this a 5.
Author Information (30): There is no author but really just an narrarator that gives all the information. I'd rate this a 10 because its weak, hard to find where the information is coming from and how to contact them.
This is a site that was created back in 2000 and from then on created a fast researchable database for people to get to information about the youth community, trendsetting, marketplace and the technological or fast growing economy. Label Network has a amazing web page where you add comments, review and best of all, their information is from hands on study and researching to give you accurate and a good amount of information. However, you must suscribe to Label Networks, their site to get full access and insights to the information you desire. Each year, Label Networks would do a Fall Youth Culture Study twice. Not only do they research about just fashion (t-shirt, denim), but also retail landscape, retail in general, electronics, sports, social networking, video gaming, music, automotive, the fast food industries, beverage and the most urgent topics in the near future. My favorite is the sneaker culture and my interest is set in their because no matter how I try to quit collecting/buying sneakers, the interest and addiction for it does not leave me. Label Networks' have many clients and some of them we may recognize: Footlocker Europe, DC, Adidas Originals, Toyota Europe, Burton, Dickies, Sunkist, RedBull, K-Swiss, Timberland, Fox Racing, Reebok, Fuel TV/Fox Sports, Apple Computer, The North Face, Creative Artists Agency, Pacific Sunwear and many more. Also, you may want to know that Tom Wallace is the President of Label Networks. His views include mix culture influences and new opportunities including the marketplace. To contact Label Networks, Inc., look for them at (323) 630-4000; mailto:youthculture@labelnetworks.com; www.labelnetworks.com. Their main location is 400 S. Main St., #701, Los Angeles,CA90013.
Contact 2 The Wall Street Journal - Fashion http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122152150288939413.html Fashion in a Faltering Economy By Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan-Sept.15.2008 This site as we all know gives us the most up to date news that are released to the public online. I found this article while google searching a few key terms relating fashion and the economy and after reading it, I notice it gives pretty good information and we all know where reporters get their information from, strait from the source. On The Wall Street Journal, you can see other people's comments if there is any and other things if they have such as videos or slideshows related to the article. This article helped me remember that not only fashion can influence the economy but the economy can also influence fashion which this articles' position really is on. By the way Cheryl can reached by email at cheryl.tan@wsj.com.
Contact 3 Hypebeast - Online Magazine for fashion, sneakers & Culture http://hypebeast.com/ Staff includes Editor in Chief - Kevin Ma Managing Editor - Eugene Kan Editor - Luis Ruano Contributors - Jey Perie Photography - Season Chan This site is basically what it is, summarized in the title. It gives the latest updates and future releases on fashion, sneaker and accessories that interests the typical consumers that are in to the game. What I mean by that is people who are devoted to fashion and care about what clothes and sneakers they wear, usually to appeal to others but not neccessarily. Hypebeast is kind of like a person who is just in love with the fashion culture and would do just about anything to gain what they desire such as lining up in the streets in front of the store releasing them on a cold winter day for days to weeks. That is just my position on the definition of hypebeast but the main reason why I include hypebeast.com as a contact is because I use it and it helps my blog define what I am trying to say, that fashion culture has a impact on our economy and our society. I conclude that because Hypebeast is sort of like a advertisement or simply a just fashion and culture version of the New York Times. People are enabled to add comments to certain posts to express their views on the topic. Anyways, this site is really helpful to those who wants to keep updated on the latest fashion news. You can reach hypebeast at info@hypebeast.com
Contact 4 Issforums.com- http://www.solecollector.com/ This site is my favorite and it has a forum that allows user to buy/sell/trade sneakers, clothes, accessories and everything that you would want to sell,buy or trade just like ebay. This site has many people, mostly teenagers that are in to "the game." Usually this is the place of re-sellers or who people who line up for limited items or however they get the stuff and re-sell the item on the site for a much higher price. Because the stuff are limited, people raise the price so prices are determined by each other and the desire for it. If a person is willing to pay the price, then the price would probably set in the area and there the item meets it's new price. I also use this site and there are plenty of moderators and administrators that watch/keep order over it everyday. There are certain rules in this forum and breaking it results in getting banned.. Over the years, the site has changed a little such that others can no longer post in your thread in the buy/sell forums because it would keep bumping your thread up to the top constantly. Anyways, ISS (Insole shoes) also have blogs, discussion forums where you can talk about anything, release dates for stuff, and even a flamethrower thread where you can take out your anger on someone who flaked on you or something. Flake means to not show up for a meetup that was agreed to or decline a transaction after agreeing to it. Basically this site have many hypebeasts on there, if that's what you want to call them and allows people usually in the age group of 13-25, to explore and obtain their interests. Once joining this site, you would be addicted if you have a interest in fashion because I had my own experiences. I tried quitting but after a year, it just totally absorbed me. Find more about this site yourself! The contacts they have is only at http://www.solenoise.com/. Here I want to show you a video of a fellow isser who seems to be really "excited" when his part of the deal arrives. The video is from youtube. The link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd0pWupVuSY
The image is really how some people view what a hypebeast is. Description is in the picture.
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In the last ten years, the fashion culture has grown a lot in our society and has help shape the economy/nation in what it is today. People 13-25 years of age have aid this in happening by building up market trends. They now make up the majority of the market. These trends are influenced mostly by new economic conditions and differences in technology. Rising patterns and fashion often shifts people's views and trends for where they spend theirs' or their parent's hard earned money. The main influences of the markets come from the news media, music, sports, entertainment, marketing, etc. "The Fall Youth Culture Study 2008, produced by Label Networks, the world’s leading global youth culture intelligence media company, provides fresh consumer insight, analysis, profiles, and forecasts that indicate how this new generation has come into their own—even creating a generation gap within the marketplace itself and where market trends are headed, including the ripple effects across Europe, Japan, and China (http://labelnetworks.com/press/press_09_15_08.php)."
Basically this post is about how large of a impact does fashion and all it's subcultures have on our economy/society and how strong of a grip does it have on the marketplace!
Image Source: http://www.hongkonghustle.com/wp-content/photos/Nike_Power_One_Charity_art.jpg
Image: American Fashion Culture 
This is not exactly the best image you can get out of Soho, but definitely a very crowded and shopping kind of setting. 
