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.
PPR released their 2012 full-year results and it gave Jeff Harbaugh a chance to dig in to get a better idea of what has been going on at Volcom since they were purchased by the French fashion titan a year and a half ago. From what Harbaugh could figure, it looks like things are going okay, but they just might be down for the year.
At best, Volcom has grown only a bit. If that 261 million Euros in revenue includes Cobra and Tretorn, Volcom’s year over year revenues could have fallen. . . I would like, at this time, to renew my congratulations and admiration, expressed at the time of the deal, to the Volcom management team for the timing of their sale to PPR and the price they got.
Couple this with PacSun’s recent launch of their own Kendall and Kylie Jenner branded fashion line (a shockingly rare smart move from the mall retailer) and Volcom could be sitting in a less-than-happy revenue place in the coming quarters. For the entire Harbaugh perspective click the link.
In the first episode of the second season of the Alana BlanchardAssSurfer Girl show, Amen Teter (Alana’s agent, Hannah’s brother) calls to let Alana know she’s been invited to do a photo shoot in Las Vegas for the “the most viewed magazine on this planet.” Watch the video for the rest.
The Agenda Show will be dropping in on Las Vegas in August 2013 as part of a strategic alliance called Modern Assembly. Agenda will join AccessoriesTheShow, Capsule, Liberty, MRket, and Stitch at the Venetian and Sands Expo.
In a move that dispels the myths and competitive nature between the fashion tradeshows of yesteryear, the shows that comprise Modern Assembly will provide an ideal mix of resources in the right environments, with the utmost of convenience by co-locating and cross-marketing. Starting this February, Modern Assembly will present a strategic, unified and global approach to promoting Las Vegas as a major fashion destination, to elevate the experience for all participants.
Agenda’s Aaron Levant believes this union of smaller shows is the perfect way to march into the Las Vegas market.
“The Agenda Show thrives on deeply established exhibitor and retailer relationships in the streetwear, lifestyle, and action sports industries and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of this new union of shows,” says Aaron Levant, founder of Agenda. “Modern Assembly will solve the increasing feelings of discontent surrounding the Las Vegas market, by offering a familiar and trusted trade show environment which houses four remarkable shows under one roof.”
We’re looking forward to the Las Vegas August heat already. Pool parties anyone? For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
