by The Editors on December 11, 2012
While we were watching the American Giving Awards on NBC Saturday night, December 8, 2012, we had the thought: if you’re going to throw an awards show it might as well be awarding people who are actually doing things to help others. And, that’s where the Costa Mesa, California based Krochet Kids International comes in. They won a $500,000 cash prize, according to a story in the Orange County Register.
Krochet Kids international, established in 2008 by three surfers — Kohl Crecelius, Stewart Ramsey and Travis Hartanov — took the trio’s hobby of crocheting hats to Uganda government camps, where refugees from local rebels had been living for as long as 20 years. The Costa Mesa organization teaches women to make the hats; it then markets them internationally. . . Last year, a second operation was set up in Lima, Peru, to help impoverished women living in the city.
Now it would appear that the kids have a little more funding to build their socially conscious business. Then some day Krochet Kids will get so big that they’ll have to employ entire factories of third world workers to make their clothes.
[Link: OC Register]
by The Editors on December 10, 2012
Vicki Redding, the former La Jolla Group Senior Vice President, Merchandise and Design and Quiksilver/DC Shoes Senior Vice President Americas Merchandise and Design, is now Vans new Vice President, Apparel according to an announcement made by Vans President Kevin Bailey today (December 10, 2012).
Vans’ Apparel business is rapidly growing in both size and complexity and is a critical component to our business initiatives,” said Bailey “Vans has a strong team in place and having someone of Vicki’s caliber and experience will only strengthen our brand.”
For the official word from Vans, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 10, 2012
Nike and Adidas aren’t the only heritage athletics footwear brands rolling skateboarding. Nope. Welcome New Balance to the party with New Balance Numeric a collaboration between New Balance, Black Box, and Westlife Distribution.
“New Balance is proud to partner with Black Box on the New Balance Numeric skate footwear initiative,” says Rob DeMartini, President & CEO at New Balance. “As one of the most authentic and talented skate companies in the industry, Black Box offers industry knowledge and a strong commitment to skate specialty retailers that matches well with our 107-year-old tradition of delivering technical design-forward performance products for athletes.”
Jamie Thomas is obviously on board.
“I have always found the heritage and integrity of New Balance inspirational, therefore it’s truly an honor for Black Box to partner with New Balance on the New Balance Numeric project,” says Jamie Thomas, Black Box company founder and professional skateboarder.
And so is Westlife’s Mike West.
“The vision for New Balance Numeric is to bring something unique to skateboarding. We combine the East Coast heritage and supreme workmanship of New Balance with the West Coast lifestyle and culture of Skateboarding,” says Michael Akira West, President & CEO at Westlife Distribution.
For what’s left of the official press release, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 10, 2012
To help celebrate Sneaker Freaker’s 10th Anniversary, editor Woody kicked down his version on the Supra Owen with the limited edition Blue Balls.
This time around we busted a nut on the lightweight Owen, combining brains, brawn, and beauty into one sweet ball breaker of a shoe. SUPRAFOAM shock absorption and a black diamond mesh upper with royal blue microfiber ensures the ride is limo quality, while the rope-a-dope lacing and speckled concrete SUPRAFOAM sole punches harder than Kojak’s cojones. Tug on the plush pink heel pull and admire the unorthodox asymmetrical color blocking as you guide your foot deep inside this super snug package. Yep, once you’ve cupped our throbbing Blue Balls in your hands you simply won’t be able to wipe the smile from your dial. Unlike our Golden Balls, these are no wet dream.”
Sweet like Nutella! Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 6, 2012
Not that Stevie Williams needed help with his Supra color ways, but this time he got a little from Lil’ Wayne.
“I asked Wayne if he wanted to do a color way with my shoe,” Stevie said, “and he said he was up for it. Just supporting Wayne skateboarding, and having his name on my shoe, it just shows how big this skateboarding thing is. I’m excited about it.”
It would appear that Lil’ Wayne’s color is red. Click here to buy ($105.00) or follow the jump for the official details. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 5, 2012
The “secret” behind Spy’s new Happy Lens mood enhancing technology reportedly has something to do with “long-wave blue light.” The idea is that blue light affects our bodies and can increase alertness and elevate the mood. (If you want to read one of the studies Spectral Quality of Light Modulates Emotional Brain Responses in Humans published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America click the link).
Whether we believe it or not, Spy CEO Michael Marckx is, not surprisingly, backing the technology pretty hard.
“This is the most exciting product innovation we’ve ever created,” Marckx said. “Our Happy Lens™ applies advanced technology to the eyewear world and strikes a powerful balance in sunglasses—one that can be seen and felt, enhancing experience in manifold and novel ways. It’s the single most important product breakthrough I have ever worked on.”
The new Happy Lenses will officially debut in the Spy’s 2013 line in styles like the Crosstown Collection, Fade to Black, and the high performance cycling glasses. We’re currently testing the Happy Lens in the new Discord frame (pictured above). We’ll let you know if we notice anything “happy” about them. For the official word from Spy, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 5, 2012
Today marks the start of 686’s fashion design contest Reclaim Design Project. Here’s what the project is all about:
The world famous RECLAIM Design Project gives three talented designers the opportunity to create an original outerwear garment utilizing reclaimed materials, fabrics trims and supplies from the 686® production facility. Two winning designers will be awarded the grand prize of a coveted internship at 686® – helping design innovative, fashionable outerwear and technical apparel, as well as a collection of other great prizes. Is this you, do you have what it takes?
Think you have skills to make it on trade show tour with 686? Then submit your jacket design and a quick bio introducing yourself to reclaimproject@686.com. Follow the jump for all the official rules. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on December 3, 2012
The Vladimir Gusinsky Living Trust (click the link it’s worth it) has reportedly sued Quicksilver CEO Bob McKnight and the board of directors over some restricted stock that was given to several top executives at the company, according to a story in BloombergBusinessweek.
Awards of 4 million restricted stock units to McKnight, Pierre Agnes, president of Quiksilver Europe, and Craig Stevenson, the company’s chief operating officer, violated a 2000 stock incentive plan, according to the complaint filed today by the Vladimir Gusinsky Living Trust. . . The awards are “a waste of the company’s corporate assets and a breach of fiduciary duties owed to the company and its shareholders by the members of the compensation committee,” the trust said in the filing in Delaware Chancery Court.
The trust apparently wants Quiksilver to “improve its corporate governance procedures” and recoup some “unspecific damages” according to the story. What good is being CEO if you can’t give yourself a little stock everyone once in a while?
[Link: Bloomberg Business]
by The Editors on December 3, 2012
Supra’s Stevie Williams S1W is now out in a Keelan Dadd color way and they look pretty flash.
Keelan treated the S1W to a black, snakeskin-embossed suede upper with black patent leather, black suede, and turquoise and hot-pink accents. It has black and turquoise padded mesh lining, black/hot-pink rope laces, and it’s constructed on a unique, translucent, hot-pink cup sole. It also comes with a PRO + AM Collection hang tag and sock liner.
For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on November 30, 2012
After announcing that it’s back-to-school sales were softer in the third quarter Zumiez shares fell in after-hours trading by seven percent on Thursday evening November 29, 2012, according to a story on Bloomberg Businessweek.
Zumiez reported net income of $12.7 million, or 40 cents per share, for the period that ended Oct. 29. This is down from $14.1 million, or 45 cents per share, in the third quarter of the prior year. The most recent quarter included 10 cents per share in costs tied to its acquisition of Blue Tomato and 1 cent per share of costs tied with its relocation of its corporate offices to Lynnwood, Wash.
The company blamed a drop in November sales on Superstorm Sandy. Why not? Zumiez stock bounced a little this morning and honestly, minor dips of this size are barely worth mentioning. But we already typed it in this far (and you’re reading it) so whateves.
[Link: Bloomberg Businessweek]
While we were watching the American Giving Awards on NBC Saturday night, December 8, 2012, we had the thought: if you’re going to throw an awards show it might as well be awarding people who are actually doing things to help others. And, that’s where the Costa Mesa, California based Krochet Kids International comes in. They won a $500,000 cash prize, according to a story in the Orange County Register.
