big thank you to reebok for making this happen.
if you are in berlin be sure to check out the exhibition until end of november.
pump20 exhibition next to solebox

Came across this article about the current retail climate a few days at my favorite daily reads, the NY Times haha. I’ve pasted the article below as sometimes you need to login but do yourself a favor and get a free NY Times account anyways. Seemingly there’s light at the end of the tunnel… for some. As it stands, the high-fashion retail sector seems to have temporarily found their way to combat the pain and hurt inflicted by their previous retail tactic of slashing the shit out of their prices for their luxury products. This obviously has serious ramifications on a branding and perception side. You’re reinforcing the notion, “why pay full price” when I can get that for 70% off 3 months after it has hit the retail floor? In addition, the once “exclusive club” for luxury goods has all of a sudden opened its doors wide open.

For the meantime, high-end stores have been taking on lower stock and orders and they’ve seemed to be able to effectively modify the simple Economics 101 supply/demand model in their favor. By shifting the supply curve, they’re selling more at full-price at the cost of having not being able to satisfy demand but that does seem to be the lesser of two evils. Much better than selling stuff off super cheap. The wealthy have gotten their Hypebeast on and been coerced into buying at full price on the thought that this shit is limited!!! I don’t doubt it, it has worked for the most part for so long. I’ve never really stood behind the cashier aside from some short stints back in the day at Foosh, I’m really unsure how this model can work on more mass/affordable goods level. The margins are much higher on luxury goods so obviously for everybody below, you need to sell that many more t-shirts and sneakers to equal that one handbag, bespoke shoes or Italian-made suit. So what I’m interested to know, for retailers at different segments of the market, we’ve seen massive mark-downs become the norm in the retail environment over the last little while… what seems to be the best way to overcome this? The luxury retailers seemed to have found a Band-Aid solution which I think should work as eventually the luxury consumer will return close to their original habits… but what about the rest of us?

And… as I was re-reading this it also dawned on me… who else is getting screwed over? Designers of course, if orders (at the high-end level) are smaller, does that put a damper on creative output? Hmmmm?

-Eugene (flickr | Twitter)

By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM
Published: November 18, 2009
All around Saks Fifth Avenue, merchandise is sold out. The $2,520 Marni shearling vest? Gone. The $5,295 Brioni leather bomber jacket? Only one left. The $1,995 over-the-knee Christian Louboutin boots?

“All gone, except for this,” said Nick Passerelli, a Saks employee, dangling a size 11 boot from his fingers.

After a brutal year in which the nation’s luxury retailers were forced to offer their wares at stunning discounts, they are trying to get their magic back. And they may have found a way: deliberately running low on merchandise.

Saks, the chic Manhattan department store, is a prime example. Its inventory is down by double digits compared with last year. That is partly a response to lower demand, of course, but it is also a business strategy aimed at weaning consumers from deep discounts. By carrying fewer goods and selling them at full price, Saks is essentially telling customers: buy it now or live without it.

“Upscale stores want to train the customer that luxury equals exclusivity and that they cannot assume they can wait and they’re able to buy it on sale,” said William S. Taubman, chief operating officer of Taubman Centers, a mall developer and owner.

This less-is-more strategy is risky, of course. If retailers sell out of goods too soon, they will lose profits they need. But they think it is even riskier to stock up too much.

This time last year, purveyors of high-end goods were drowning in merchandise. Consumers had stopped spending in the economic downturn, forcing stores to cut prices sharply to unload designer goods. At 50 or 70 percent off, once-expensive stilettos and suits flew off the shelves.

But the discounts prompted some consumers to wonder what those items were really worth in the first place. And to the distress of retailers, shoppers began to feel entitled to those eye-popping discounts — not just at big-box stores like Wal-Mart and value-price department stores like Kohl’s, but at Saks and Neiman Marcus, too.

Now, as the economy stabilizes, luxury retailers are taking measures to stamp out discount fever.

They have significantly cut their inventories and are trying, with some early success, to sell their wares at full price. Both Saks and Neiman Marcus have gently told customers that there are fewer goods to go around this year.

Burton M. Tansky, president and chief executive of the Neiman Marcus Group, says he does not think he is retraining consumers. Rather, he said, he is doing what is best for the health of his company.

“We’ve told our customers that the availability is less than they’re used to seeing in the stores,” Mr. Tansky said. “We’ve suggested that it would be prudent to shop early.”

If a particular item sells out at Neiman Marcus, the ability to restock the shelves will depend on the merchandise category. In general, though, lead times for manufacturing luxury goods are long.

“As you go up the ladder to European designers, it’s virtually impossible,” Mr. Tansky said. “But in contemporary apparel, women’s shoes, it’s possible.”

Saks, too, has told customers its inventories are lean.

“We’re out of stock on a number of hot items people want,” Stephen I. Sadove, chairman and chief executive, said this month as he walked through the sprawling shoe department at Saks in Manhattan. “Our associates are telling people, ‘If you want this item in your size, we only have three of them, we only have two.’ ”

That strategy might be working. “I’ve been running out of sizes because I’m selling out,” said Lera Alexkseyeva, a Saks employee who sells clothing by Brunello Cucinelli. Saks bought 21 gray cashmere and fox fur jackets designed by Mr. Cucinelli in the medieval village of Solomeo, Italy. All but one jacket have sold — at $2,695 each.

A big question this Christmas will be how successful retailers are with the strategy. Some surveys have found that, so far, the prospect of lean inventories is not prompting consumers to hasten their holiday shopping. Shoppers could wait out the retailers until late in the season, in the hope that they will panic and put high-grade merchandise on sale.

“Bargains seemingly may matter more than selection for the consumer,” Michael P. Niemira, the director of research and chief economist for the International Council of Shopping Centers, said in a news release this month.

Regardless of when consumers choose to shop, retailers are glad to have a better handle on customer demand.

Speaking about the luxury market, Peter E. Nordstrom, executive vice president and president of merchandising for Nordstrom, said, “The business might not be exactly where we want it, but it is relatively stable.”

Nordstrom has always had a wider range of prices than Saks and Neiman Marcus, and so has less need to hit the reset button with shoppers. The chain weathered the downturn better than its competitors. And while it has less inventory than last year, Mr. Nordstrom said when it came to Christmas, “we think we’re going to have enough.”

Saks came in for sharp criticism from designers last year for the magnitude of its discounting. Mr. Sadove is being aggressive this year about managing inventory, and acknowledged the possibility of not having enough merchandise even for customers willing to pay full price.

“I think we in the industry may go too far and cut back too much,” he said. “You’re going to lose some sales. And that’s O.K. versus having too much and having to sell it at these very high markdowns.”

In fact, chains said they were selling more merchandise at full price today than they were a year ago. And while the stores will not reveal exact numbers, they say a reason their earnings are improving is that they are selling a higher proportion of goods at full price. This month, Saks posted a profit for the first time in months, and Nordstrom said its profit rose as well. Neiman Marcus will report its earnings in December.

While there will be sales this season, as there are every year, most analysts are predicting they will be less drastic than last year.

That is good news for high-end chains that suffered after years of giddy double-digit growth fueled by easy credit. While those days are gone, for now at least, some industry veterans say luxury retailing will thrive again by returning to its roots.

“What’s luxury retailing about?” Mr. Sadove said. “It is about a scarcity of supply.”

Kickflip to pivot pop in fakie

Just hanging around the shop it made me think that there is so much more than just a store. It is also about the people that are associated to the shop and their stories too. Tyler pictured with Melanie works at our store, hes a big part as well as everyone that works at our shops is too of our shop brand . These guys and their friends are part of our family that keeps growing and growing on the daily. Its one of those things that no money can buy. The relationships we all share.

Tyler’s In4 Hi tat.

After a long morning of talking out of the side of my neck , it was time to meet up with my favorite rep Geoff.

As always there is only one place to go. Paina Cafe!

These guys make the best poke on the island, for those not knowing poke is a mix of raw seafood most times tuna mixed with hawaiian seasoning.

It is something you have to try when coming to the islands.
This time around we all flipped it and went for the steak and shrimp for 8 bucks a plate. Paina never disappoints.

In the KAPPA X YOHO Awards, I was founder of SMG - I managed to receive 2 awards for my 7 month old label SMG, presented to me by Endo of Devilock! Thanks Endo, looks like we have alot more coming up for us than just the first DVLK x SMG collabo!

In the Global Chinese Music Awards, as a singer / songwriter, I had the honor to be presented with the following:
- Best Duet Song 2009
- Best Singapore Act 2009
- Top 5 Mandarin Male Vocalist 2009
- Best Male Vocalist 2009

Thanks to Kappa x YOHO, and the GCMA team for the love shown! You guys rock!

This was an important night for me, it’s another milestone in my life n career!

Guess what? I stumbled upon my little big brother Porsche Cayenne in the TechArt MAGNUM bodykit! True beauty indeed

Here’s my version of the TechArt SUV kit. damn i prefer metal grills…

Rehearsing with Charlene Choi from HK for our duet.

Show time…

Asia’s very own soul boy Khalil Fong… one of my favorite male vocalists!

The great Eason Chan, another legend in the Chinese scene.

Top 5 Chinese Male Vocalists 2009 for GCMA… glad to be receiving with these great singers.

When I first moved Canarsie to Uniondale, Buscemi was one of the first people I met out there

I can’t believe I still talk to this nutjob…I remember when he used to have a hairline

It’s the journey not the destination…

Follow through…

I must apologize before this post as it really has this has nothing to do with anything I’m into. It’s just randomness that makes you go WTF?

If you really want to touch someone, send them a letter.

Baygon bug spray ad

Builds strong teeth.

LOUD & CLEAR ! BOSE headphones

Life is too short for the wrong job.

Life is too short for the wrong job.

Lego - Parody from “Construction Workers lunching on a crossbeam”

M&M

AXE

AXE

Dove anti-frizz cream

Sharp

The real cheap supermarket

Yoga Centre

CATS

So there was this Tuesday…… and the Hypebeast team heads up at the infamous Haight Street in San Francisco to well…. do work …and one of the stars from Aladdin welcomes us.

Follow us…

And on to the action…

Bringing you the San Francisco streets up close and personal.

Luis, showing off his double knot tying skills.

We don’t have an arcade machine in the office nor any video game systems because we are too focused on what we do! So……. we improvise! Shin-Ku-Hado-Ken!!!!!!!!!

Death by Louis Vuitton…. Drew gets lined up for execution first!

Luis passes out via heart attack before they got to him….

and me well you can see me smiling under my Louis execution Bag…..  :- )

Tuesdays are just the beginning of our week so stay tuned for what happens next in the dreaded OFFICE!!!!!

and Cut!

Derek // Team SF

Over the weekend Red Bull held their annual “Tires of Fire” long skid competition. There was a lot of chatter amongst the riders in the days leading up to the day, especially given the previous year’s result, with a winning effort and an unofficial world record 270m (885ft) skid. This year however, with the event moving close to the downtown area, Red Bull could only obtain a 200m road closure for the event, with a 50m run-up to the start point.

Unfortunately for the competitors it started to bucket down during the start of the competition. Riders wondered if it made it easier or harder, but all agreed that it made the competition a little harder in the run-up, with a few riders losing traction and speed sprinting towards the start mark. While the wet road enabled the riders to slide a little further towards the end of their attempt, it was hard work for them keeping the bike in a straight line with the weight shift from a sprinting position to a NtoS (nuts to stem) skid.

Incumbent champion and local messenger Ken White returned to defend his ‘08 title, and laid a solid benchmark at about 140m on his first attempt. Was quite impressive watching him take off in a sprint heading towards the start point and he managed to keep his rig on the straight and narrow.

The lone female competitor Tabitha (left) also managed a great effort - as Jenna Makgill, previous women’s CMWC champion watched on.

The podium.

1st place (centre) = Ken White (185m / 606ft)
2nd place (left) = Max Ginger (148m / 485ft)
3rd place (right) = Conrad Smith (121m / 396ft) (AY YO CHECK OUT HIS TEE YOHEI!)

Here is a ten minute edit chopped up by Red Bull, part of which aired on national station TV3’s “Nightline” news program over the weekend. “Pash the asphalt“.

Naturally, it wouldn’t be a fixed gear event without some reference to a sausage fest of sorts. Luckily for us, Jeff is an expert at drawing penixes. No beef.

Limited supply available This weekend at Opening Ceremony NYC / LA and select international retailers. Thank you again Terence.

Unfortunately when I approached Reebok they denied any ideas of a collab with Mighty Healthy but thats ok I will live

Anyway, I was lucky enough to get a pair of these from Hue

“I want to make bank bro….”

Step Brothers is my shit

after dealing with the daily madness, i left the office to go visit FAMA shooting their upcoming album cover and promotional shots.

looking very stylish the wardrobe is styled by ADRIN, on the other side of GLAM:FAB,

you can see here EDC doing art direction, and executive producing, and mentoring FAMA, very refreshing to see that. after the styling shots, we move onto AVON studios, here is CKWUN eating his dinner @ 11:30PM

meanwhile on the other side, EDC being 6 WING’s vocal coach and mentor (i would say)for the last song in the album, very fresh indeed. wish you could here it now too? keep coming back here for more info.

on the other side JUICE HK is getting busy too, for the final preperation and setup for the juice x reebok pump 20 year anniversary, look forward to seeing you guys out there friday night guys.

on the other side, on the same night Friday the 20th, my seefu and homie DJ TOMMY will be having his album, USB ROBOT CD release @ XAGA and then the following Saturday the 20th at LUXY, after i finish hosting this reebok event in hong kong will come join the crew on Saturday the 20th @ LUXY, come check it out. special shoutout to DJ TOMMY, 99, ALAN, COEI, MASTA MIC, EDC, JEFF, and the whole crew. TAIWAN WE GETS BUSY.

if you haven’t gotten your ticket yet please check out the LOOP productions website here for further information. i heard that XAGA brings it harder than LUXY. i wonder if that is true, too bad i cannot make it to XAGA would love to see some cool photos, please send them over if they are hot and sexy. I hope LUXY can bring it too this time which i am sure. i also heard that there will be a special guest, so TAIWAN get ready, GOOD SHOW DJ TOMMY!