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New York Fashion Week 2015 NYFW Spring Branding
Fashion

New York Fashion Week Struggles To Find Self Amongst Changes

August 12, 2015

NYFW New York Fashion Week Logo Redscout

With less than a month to go, we can’t wait for the kickoff of New York Fashion Week. We always get excited to see the new styles and how designers incorporate technology into those looks. This September though, NYFW finds itself in a very different position versus 12 months ago. The marquee fashion event not only has a new look this year but has also been kicked out of its home for the past 5 years and has lost its title sponsor. Change isn’t always bad though, and after several years of stagnation, the question is whether these shifts can help bring some of the gleam back to the New York event or has NYFW become passé.

In 1993, NYFW moved from press events scattered around NYC to a consolidated event with a centralized venue in Bryant Park. Bryant Park was chosen not only because it is a crown jewel of NYC, visited as much by tourists as by Manhattanites, but also because of its proximity to the garment district (the original name of the event was 7th on Sixth). After over 15 years of growing popularity, Bryant Park could no longer accommodate NYFW and the event moved uptown to Lincoln Center in 2010. The move to NYC’s Upper West Side was controversial, with  

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by Doug Parker
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Fashion

New Joe’s Jeans Features Built In Phone Charger

August 10, 2015

#Hello Joe's Jeans

While we wait for Google to help make our Levi’s more interactive, Joe’s Jeans has released a new line of denim designed to keep your phone charged. The brand’s #Hello jeans feature a cell phone sized pocket slightly above the traditional back pocket. The pocket is designed to comfortably hold an iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, or 6 (sorry Android users). A short USB cord connects the phone to an optional battery pack that slides into the seam of the jeans. The battery can fill an iPhone 5/5S/5C to 85% and an iPhone 6 to 70%. The #Hello jeans are available in 4 different styles for $189. While a clever idea, we are not sure how comfortable the whole setup would be, especially with the battery sitting along the back of the hip.

Regardless of comfort, it is great to see a continued effort to make it more seamless to have a charged phone; products such as this and Kate Spade’s partnership with Everpurse give hope that their will be easy and fashionable ways to keep our devices charged, I don’t think we are there yet though. It is interesting that according to a recent poll, most consumers were prefer a slightly thicker phone with better battery life versus the continued “thinning” of our phones. It should be noted that the iPhone 6+ is not supported  – we are guessing the phablet sizing of the iPhone 6+ makes it way too big in a rear pocket. Also after claims of the iPhone 6 bending, whether true or not, we would be hesitant to keep it in a back pocket.

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by Doug Parker
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Fashion

A Smart Bikini Designed To Keep You Safe From The Sun

July 20, 2015

Spinal Design Smart Bikini

Looking to make your essential beach wear a bit smarter? France based Spinali Design has a solution for you! Their line of custom made bikinis and one-pieces feature a Bluetooth UV sensor which connects to the bottoms of the swimsuit. Much like the June UV monitoring bracelet, you provide information about your skin type via an app; that data is combined with readings from the sensor to display reminders on your phone when it is time to reapply sunscreen or seek out shade. While June was a unique product when it hit the market last summer, it had several short comings – most notably, it was not waterproof. Spinali thankfully has been able to make their sensor waterproof, important for an afternoon at the beach or poolside. As much as we would love the sensor to be seamlessly integrated into the suit, the current version clips onto it. In the future, the company is aiming to further miniaturize the technology and have it integrated into the garment.

We love the concept of a connected bikini but are disappointed to see it only being offered with the company’s custom made swimwear – read “not cheap.” The custom bikinis start at $167. Hopefully Spinali will introduce a line of sized swimwear or partner with another company to get the skin saving technology into the hands (well…suits) of more people. If you are looking for something a bit more budget friendly, the company does offer a not-quite-as-fashionable option: a $111 beach towel that incorporates the tech. If you are the DIY type, you can save some bucks by purchasing a kit to attach the sensor to your own suit; it includes the sensor, fasteners, thread, and instructions for approximately $64.

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by Doug Parker
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Re/Done Jeans Denim Levi's
Fashion

Re/Done Rebuilds Old Levi’s To Make Them Fashionable Again

July 17, 2015

Re/Done Jeans Denim Levi's

Ever come across a box with old jeans in it? You aren’t going to wear those baggy circa-1994 Levi’s anytime soon, but you just hate for them to end up in a landfill. Re/Done is a fashion brand breathing new life into those old, outdated relics. The LA based fashion company sources vintage Levi’s and meticulously disassembles them. Once taken apart, they are restyled into current looks.

While salvaging jeans is not unique, the process that Re/Done employs is. The re-creation process is focused on the company’s objective to maintain the DNA of the original jeans: the wear, the wash, and hardware. There are no harmful chemicals and all the work is done by hand. The company’s objective is to maintain the DNA of the original jeans: the wear, the wash, and the hardware. They want to deliver a sustainable luxury product while highlighting a historic American brand. Started by fashion entrepreneurs Sean Barron and Jamie Mazur, Re/Done is currently sold online and at number of Barneys New York locations. Looks sellout quickly and when they are gone, they are gone. Also keep an eye out for their men’s collection later this year. Head past the break for a video about their process.  

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by Doug Parker
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Fashion, Manufacturing

Fashion Company Honest By Launches 3D Printable Accessories

June 19, 2015

Honest By Launches Purchasable Designs For 3D Printed Accessories

In what marks a first in the fashion industry, a brand has launched a line of accessories designed to be printed at home by the consumer. Ranging from brooches to combs, Honest By has released 9 items for you to create at home with a 3D printer. The designs cost between approximately $35 to $80 and can be used an unlimited number of times. While the designs are mostly simplistic, a fashion brand testing the waters of selling printable plans to the consumer is a notable milestone. Honest By was founded by Bruno Pieters in 2012 with the goal of being the first company to have a 100% transparency policy.

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by Doug Parker
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Project Jacquard and Levi's
Clothing, Fashion, Wearable Technology

Levi’s Partners With Google On Sensor Embedded Clothing

May 29, 2015

Project Jacquard and Levi's

At this weeks Google I/O conference, Google announced Project Jacquard, an effort to develop touch sensors that can be seamlessly integrated into textiles. The idea is intriguing and could play a very large role in wearable technology in the future! The word “Jacquard” is a term related to loom weaving, referring to the added control mechanism that makes possible the automatic production of unlimited varieties of pattern weaving. It is perhaps one of the most important technologies in the sphere of textile creation. Project Jacquard is an effort by Google to create a yarn that is comprised of both fabric and conductive threads. A traditional automated loom can then be used to integrate the yarn into textiles. The conductive threads allow the fabric to be touch sensitive and understand where you are touching the fabric. This special fabric could be imbedded into textiles used for clothing, home decor, or even the seats of your car. The technology that drives fabric is housed on a circuit board slightly larger than a button.

The idea of integrating touch sensors into clothing isn’t new, but being able to seamlessly integrate it with a yarn that can be used in a loom is. Creating a yarn that can easy be utilized by any designer is wise; Google recognizes that while they can develop technology they are not clothing designers. As such, they have announce a partnership with Levi’s. No word on when we might see a jean jacket the allows you to answer your phone by swiping your arm, but we will let you know when there is! Head past the break to learn more about the tech!  

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by Doug Parker
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LED Dress Rebecca Street 2015 BAFTA
Fashion

Rebecca Street Designed LED Gown At BAFTA Awards

May 11, 2015

LED Dress Rebecca Street 2015 BAFTAAt last night’s BAFTA Television Awards in London, actress Donna Air stole the spotlight on the red carpet wearing a Rebecca Street designed LED gown. Street, who previously had been Alexander McQueen’s creative cutter and sculptor, designed the dress in collaboration with House Of Fraser, a UK fashion website. The LEDs are integrated into both the structure and draping of the gown. Multiple sensors built into the garment monitor movement. Using that information, LED drivers create light patterns and shading reflecting the movements of the wearer. The dress is without a doubt a technical achievement and is very eye catching; it is unfortunate that some of the LED strips, especially around the waist, look as stiff as the $25 spools of LED lights you can purchase on Amazon. Head past the break to a fantastic video of the gown being assembled and to see it in motion.  

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by Doug Parker
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