You knew it was going to happen, but today Volcom “officially” launched their new line of shoes for Fall 2013 and they appear to be very “fashion forward.”
Volcom’s Fall 2013 footwear collection features a variety of colorful styles in an array of assorted fabrics ranging from waterproof leather to classic canvas, catering to a diverse taste range for both men and women. The men’s line offers up a selection of sneakers, slip-ons and boots, each suited for maximum wearability. “Looking to the collection, we’ve built upon the success of our open-toe products by offering on-trend styling at key price points. Subtle queues to angle and asymmetry have kept the styles fun, yet unmistakably Volcom.” shared Jason Graham, Senior Director of Accessories/Footwear at Volcom. Though sneakers and slip-ons are also present in the women’s collection, platform wedges and boots lend a sensible, stylish take that expands on the vision of contemporary footwear.
It’s obvious to us, the Phillips family, the fans of Jim Phillips Sr. and Jimbo Phillips, and fans of the brand Santa Cruz Skateboards, as well as many in the global skateboard and skate art community that there is clear and obvious infringement by Mr. Scott. We are discussing this with our legal team to determine our next steps. . . I hope that Mr. Scott sees that his actions have hurt and affected many people, including the Phillips family, and that he has also severely damaged his own reputation. It is not too late for him to do the right thing, as an artist and creative person, and fix his error in judgement.
In the race for corporate “efficiencies” Quiksilver is making some pretty big changes.
In addition to COO and Global Brand President Craig Stevenson resigning (he’ll be paid through October 31, 2013), the company is apparently cutting the snowboarding team (but keeping Travis Rice) and cutting the skateboarding team (but keeping Tony Hawk). The Quiksilver surf team has also been reportedly trimmed by several surfers. There are also rumors that Quiksilver Women, the Waterman Collection, the VSTR brand and Dane Reynolds side project Summer Teeth were also set aside.
Over at DC Shoes they’ve cut their entire BMX team and their surf team. There is also mention of auto (and co-founder Ken Block himself) being cut as well. As one surf industry stalwart ironically put it, “Can’t wait until the same thing happens at Billabong.”
One thing to remember: Hollisterdoesn’t spend a dime on “core teams” and they don’t seem to be having any problem in the “So Cal inspired clothing for Dudes and Bettys” space. Still no official word from Quik, but then again, their information distribution department never has been very effective. We’ll let you know if and when anyone shares any information on what is obviously a very bad day for action sports athletes, media, and the industry in general.
[Editors Note: The details in this post have been in flux all day thanks to various sources adding and subtracting details. So far, no replies to emails sent to Quiksilver corporate PR and other contacts.]
Graphic, print and color direction inspired by the …Lost Surfboard Factory, these one of a kind, hand-laminated resin designs transform into individual looks for spring 2013. Spanning all categories, including knits, board shorts, wovens and T-shirts, the collection retails for $22 – $49.50 and is available at a retailers near you.
La Jolla Group CEO Toby Bost is making his network television reality show debut tonight (February 22, 2013) when the fashion executive goes undercover with his own employees on the CBS show Undercover Boss. On the show Bost will apparently be playing the part of O’Neill CEO (as opposed to Metal Mulisha CEO, or Rusty CEO, FMF CEO or The Berrics CEO) as he puts on a “medical school” drop out disguise and hangs out with employees he’s never met, you know, retail store employees, the guys in the warehouse, and the screen printers. Bost, who does amazing job as a nerdy middle aged worker, enjoyed the experience greatly.
“The UNDERCOVER BOSS experience was intense, and it certainly prompted me to remember the importance of little details,” said Bost. “The opportunity allowed me to examine our company from a new perspective and learn important lessons from our employees. In my position, you aren’t often able to replicate the retail experience through the eyes of an entry-level employee, for instance, so this allowed me to see the challenges they face every day. It also provided a closer view into our training and communications procedures that I wouldn’t have had the same access to otherwise.”
It will be interesting because the employees who work for La Jolla Group and don’t know who Bost is are probably some pretty entertaining people (or paid professional actors). The show airs tonight, February 22, 2013 at 8 PM on CBS. Check your local listings or follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
Jeremy Scott is well known for his lust for youth culture and nostalgia, and these graphics are right in line with his sensibilities: last season he threw Bart Simpson all over a $500 sweater and no one batted an eye. But “repurposing” in the Internet era becomes something slightly more sinister when your source material is not already a household name. Matt Groening can take a hit, but we’re betting that Jimbo’s not sitting on a multimillion-dollar industry based on some trippy faces he came up with in the ’80s.
We just breezed over Billabong’s half year financial results for the six months ended December 31, 2012 and found a few things interesting and not all that surprising items. Here they are:
• Previously announced due diligence by Paul Naude and VF Corp is expected to conclude next month
• Sales fell in the Americas by 5.3 percent (blame Canada)
• Billabong lost AUS$ 536.6 million in the last six months.
• There will be no dividends paid in 2013
• Full year EBITDA guidance is now “in the range of $74 million to $85 million” as opposed to the “$85 million to $92 million” range reported in December.
• The performance of Nixon has not met expectations
• Trading conditions in Europe are difficult
Craig Woolford, a Citygroup analyst is warning investors that Billabong “could downgrade full-year earnings guidance when it delivers its first half result this Friday,” according to a story in the Wall Street Journal.
“We see risk the full-year guidance of 85 million Australian dollars (US$87 million) to A$92 million in Ebitda may be revised lower,” the broker said in a note to clients, explaining that the surfwear retailer may seek to provide significant clarity about its earnings trends given two private equity-backed consortia are conducting due diligence.”
Maybe this comes as one more reason Launa Inman (right) and the Billabong board should just take the VF Corp money and go their own ways.
For those time when you know you’re going to return with more than you brought, or with much less, comes the Herschel Supply Packable Collection.
Created with ripstop nylon and has the unique ability to stowaway into its own hidden pocket, the Packable Collection offers a durable, lightweight and compact storage carrying solution. This collection is comprised of duffels, backpacks, totes and a rain cover. The compact size and fully drainable features make this collection perfect for everything from eco friendly grocery shopping to extra packing space on your travels.
Australian surfer Owen Wright (as if you didn’t know) now has his own pair of signature sunnies from Dragon: the Owen Wright Remix. Here’s what Dragon says about it:
Capturing the luminous colors of a desert sunrise, these shades tell a much-loved story of Owen’s camping jaunts with his mates – driving 12 hours to the middle of nowhere in the search of that perfect left hander. The intricate arm detailing unique to Dragon brings to life Owen’s desert-dwelling alter ego, seldom seen outside of the deep Australian wilderness.
And they probably dull the suns bright glare a little, too.
