Author: Peter Baines

Retail Round-up: Puma Profits Dive; Iconix Brand Buys Umbro from Nike for $225 Million; American Eagle Outlines Long-term Plan Including Global Expansion

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It’s been a roller-coaster ride for many brands as Q3 back-to-school financials report a tumultuous sales season. First, Puma has reported that their profits have dipped 85.1% in Q3 due mostly to falling sales in European markets, indicating just how bad things are there, but there are other reasons as well. As one of the […]

Levi’s Launches Waste-Less Denim Made of 8 Plastic Bottles—Among On-going Trends in Sustainable Fashion

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Levi’s continues its efforts towards sustainability, and like many brands, has been leading the charge in taking an organic look at what shapes the denim and fashion industries. Today, October 16, 2012, they announced their new collection of denim called Waste<Less that basically incorporates post-consumer waste, specifically recycled plastic bottles and trays into 1 pair […]

Denim Brand Citizens of Humanity Launches Short Film Series—Another Example of Strategic Branding via 3-Minute Clips

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Fashion videos and films centered around iconic celebs in latest collections and short YouTube clips showcasing the mood and emotion of a new release are strategic branding methods growing in popularity in fashion. For a generation that watches YouTube more than TV, this is especially important for brands approaching youth culture markets. The latest to […]

Kelly Slater, 40, Claims 50th ASP Surfing Title at Hurley Pro Trestles

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As incredible as it seems, Kelly Slater, the 11-time ASP World Champion of surfing, has once again claimed another Association of Surfing Professional World Championship Tour event, the 6th out of 10 this season, yesterday, September 20, 2012, at the Hurley Pro at Trestles, CA. Beating out Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, in clean three-to-five foot […]

Books and Magazine Round-up: Saturdays Surf NYC Magazine; Banksy’s You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat; The Sartorialist’s Closer

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Inspirational books have just hit the market, and as usual, starting off this month in the Paris concept store Colette before hitting the mainstream, including the latest from street fashion photo blogger Scott Schuman, a.k.a. The Sartorialist and his latest book “The Closer,” and a compilation of Banksy street art by Gary Shove and Patrick […]

U.S. Open of Snowboarding Moves from Stratton, VT to Vail, CO—Mixed Emotions As Heritage Gets Trumped for Festival-Like Event

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There’s been much speculation among pro snowboarders and fans of snowboarding regarding Burton’s announcement yesterday, July 30, 2012, to move the U.S. Open of Snowboarding, which has been held at Stratton, VT for 27 years, to Vail, CO for the event February 25-March 2, 2013. More traditional riders feel the heritage of the sport is […]

Electric Blue Heaven: Short Video Featuring Surfer Dion Agius Ripping World’s Raddest Artificial Wave in in Abu Dhabi Goes Viral

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While surf or wave parks are becoming big business in the ongoing boost to get surfing into the Olympics and granting more people access to “waves” to boost the surfing industry as a whole, one of the most exotic artificial wave breaks is in the desert of Abu Dhabi’s Al Ain. This amazing, blue water, […]

Intense Surf at Cloudbreak, Tavarua for Volcom Fiji Pro as Kelly Slater Wins Claiming 49th Elite Tour Victory

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  Surfers were stoked that the Volcom Fiji Pro was back in the line-up of elite ASP surf events for 2012. Last week, at the massive surf location called Cloubreak in Tavarua, top surfers battled it out in one of the most intense swells of the surfing season. Barrel after barrel, pro surfers defied the […]

Banksy Gets Busy With More Ironic Street and Contemporary Art

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Banksy’s been busy as illustrated through his latest releases on his website, illustrating the irony of art and communication. From the ballerina on a strong on the back of a picture, to font fatalities, it’s always fun and actually rather important to see what this notorious artist is up to. From advertisers, marketers, to filmmakers, […]