by The Editors on January 13, 2014
Click here for our Agenda Show Photo Gallery.
Tim Gavin was on the front steps of the Long Beach Convention Center with a couple of friends when we rolled up for the Agenda Show on the morning of January 7, 2014. He was wearing a Filament T-shirt and telling another friend to be sure and come by the booth. “Stop by later,” he said. “It’s booth N-13.”
It likely wasn’t his plan (we didn’t even speak with him), but the industry veteran put us in an optimistic mood from the start. If Gavin were a different sort of man we’re sure he could come up with plenty of excuses to stay away from what is now the largest action fashion and skateboarding show on the West Coast. He’s done this gig before. He’s built and run extremely successful brands (DVS, Matix) and he’s seen them slip away into “reorganization.” But there he was, out front at the show with a new skate shoe brand and a head full of lessons learned the last time around.
It’s seems 2013 is the year of rebirth for many people. Paul Naude is in a similar, though much more high profile, position himself. After building the Billabong USA business up from next to nothing after licensee Bob Hurley started Hurley International in 1999, Naude saw the ship he helped sail nearly sink in heavy financial seas. After a failed attempt to buy Billabong, Naude could have taken some time to “pursue other interests,” however he was out in the Agenda Show aisles putting his considerable reputation and might behind two new brands Vissla and D’Blanc and helping action women’s fashion veterans Mandy Fry and Summer Rapp with their soon-to-launch women’s line.
Click here for our Agenda Show Photo Gallery. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 13, 2014
Get ready for Spy branded everything. Spy announced today that they have signed a licensing agreement with the Irvine, California based company The J Fin Group to sell products “including, but not limited to, men’s and boy’s apparel, unisex accessories and consumer electronics.”
“The J Fin Group in partnership with Scope’s Business Services Platform is an exciting new partner for SPY,” says Michael Marckx, SPY CEO and president. “In addition to a number of other brands, they own and market the Split and Ambig brands and understand the unique market segments we serve: active, ‘happy to be outdoors’ surfers, snowboarders, skiers, motocross riders, cyclists, and beach goers. Our vision is to develop authentic and compelling product for each of these groups leveraging the SPY brand’s newfound strength in the market and its unique and irreverent ‘happy’ point of view. We are confident that our combined experience will allow us to successfully open new channels of distribution, attract new customers, expand the product offerings and provide meaningful growth opportunities for the future.”
For the official word from Spy, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 10, 2014
Sexy 80s & 90s eyewear is making a strong comeback. Don’t think it’s not. We know. We walked the Agenda Show aisles. Smith Optics did it better than anyone back in the day, and now they’re bringing it back exactly as it was done before with their new Smith Archive Collection.
[Link: Smith Optics]
by The Editors on January 9, 2014
On January 30, 2014 the shareholders of Billabong will vote on a proposal to issue 329 million shares at 41c apiece to Centerbridge Partners and Oaktree Capital Management, according to a story in The Australian. But not everyone is happy about this plan.
AN independent expert has declared a proposal to issue up to $185 million in Billabong shares to a pair of US private equity funds is unfair to existing shareholders.
To know what’s truly “unfair” you’d have to weigh dilution against dissolution.
[Link: The Australian]
by The Editors on January 8, 2014
Volcom has produced a collab shoe with street artist Skullphone. Only 400 pairs are being made. They cost $85 and are available at select retailers and in Volcom’s online store. If you’re into Skullphone you’ll probably like these.
by The Editors on January 6, 2014
We’re not sure we know anything about ourCaste other than their clothing looks good and their models look infinitely “hip” in an almost fetishistic way. What’s been getting us most recently is that retro “Skateboarder Magazine” font. It tickles our design center each and every time we see it. Not going to lie.
[Link: ourCaste]
by The Editors on January 6, 2014
Former Billabong USA President Paul Naude is starting brands all over the place with his new company Stokehouse Unlimited. He’s got the oddly named clothing brand Vissla, and then there’s D’Blanc eyewear, but now we get work that he’s also behind the launch of a new (as yet unnamed) women’s swim/sportswear brand from action fashion veterans Summer Rapp and Mandy Fry (pictured right).
“It has been a lifelong dream to start our own business and we feel now is our time to stake ownership and create a brand from the ground up,” said Fry. “We’re both entrepreneurs by nature and come from families of business owners who have taught us so many valuable lessons. We have also spent our careers learning from the best in the industry about how to build and sustain brands in the ever-changing apparel industry.”
Naude will offer the back office muscle while Rapp and Fry act as co-presidents and roll out the goods, reportedly.
“Partnering up with Paul for financial and operational support is instrumental in making this dream a reality,” added Rapp. “With his passion and vast experience in the California lifestyle business, we’re equipped to design, market and deliver all-around quality product. We both look up to Paul in so many ways and are honored to embark on this journey with him.”
The great thing about fashion is that people are always looking for the new new, especially when it’s coming from recognized players. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on January 6, 2014
Reed Exhibitions‘ appetite for trade shows is not flagging in the least. After purchasing the Agenda Show exactly a year ago (January 2, 2013) they’ve now announced that they have acquired the Capsule shows from BPMW for an undisclosed amount.
“We feel that Capsule is a great cultural fit with our growing fashion portfolio, and a great addition to what we’re doing with the AGENDA events” said Greg Topalian, Senior Vice President at Reed. He added, “The team’s dedication to the feel, authenticity and respect for the market it serves has been, and will continue to be, the keys to Capsule’s success.”
The deal closed in late December 2013. Watch out Advanstar, Reed is coming for you. For the official word from Reed, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 20, 2013
Providence Equity Partners, the owners of Surf Expo’s parent company GLM announced today that they have sold the company to the San Juan Capistrano, California based Emerald Expositions, Inc. for $335 million dollars according to a press release.
David Loechner, Chief Executive Officer of Emerald, said, “GLM is a truly outstanding tradeshow company with an exciting portfolio and an experienced and talented workforce. This acquisition expands upon our position as a leading tradeshow organizer in the United States. I am excited about the opportunities for customers and employees of both companies that will result from bringing these two high-quality portfolios together.”
Emerald, for those who have lost track, is the company that owns Outdoor Retailer, Interbike, and a long list of design trade shows. For the official word from Surf Expo, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 16, 2013
Agenda is announcing the second installment of their “highly curated creative and brand building conference” Agenda Emerge, powered by Group Y to be held at both the Long Beach Agenda Show on January 8, 2014 in the Center Theatre, and in NYC on January 23 at the Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
“The importance of bringing an educational platform like AGENDA Emerge to the public serves as a tool to foster growth for the next generation of our industry’s creatives and entrepreneurs,” said AGENDA Founder Aaron Levant. “Going head to head with the largest and well-established fashion industry shows and watching these brands reach success, knowing that we had a hand in it, has been a humbling journey. This is a great opportunity for the new generation of designers to learn from seasoned experts who have turned their brands into household names.”
For the official word from Agenda, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
