How much influence does StyleForum (and to an extent, Superfuture) have on fashion?

blank · Jan 14, 2008

I don't like being that guy who starts threads but doesn't have much to offer, but I'm more interested in getting a discussion going.

How much influence does StyleForum and other message boards, like Superfuture, have on modern fashion? I don't mean business-formal men's fashion (suits, etc.), but I'm referring to our standard SW&D style.

Is there any influence? Do our posts, pictures, praises and critiques for brands have an effect on how designers work, what brands produce, how they market themselves, etc.? What percentage of the luxury market participate on these forums?

chronoaug · Jan 14, 2008

Very little

TUspiv · Jan 14, 2008

Yeah I wouldn't think much.

imightbechad · Jan 14, 2008

Little to no influence, but I'd say the forums are a pretty good barometer...

Just my opinion; the apparent "influence" is nothing more than the upcoming trends in practice.

Chad

StevenRocks · Jan 14, 2008

More vendors are reading the boards these days, but I don't think anyone could point to a direct correlation to what we see in stores.

ctrlaltelite · Jan 14, 2008

unless you're one of the many hypebeasts that dresses only according to what the sufu hipster gods have deemed as cool, lacking any personal style of your own, then i would say absolutely no influence whatsoever.

chronoaug · Jan 14, 2008

I mean, there are some vendors who get a lot of business from the forums such as denimbar, context and peasant. I'm sure it affects their buys and stuff considering they know they can sell out of wings&horns and EG stuff before it even reaches their store, but i don't really see it affecting the actual designers themselves.

stickonatree · Jan 14, 2008

dude, we're like, the best, bro.

Maharlika · Jan 14, 2008

Nada. I doubt that Hedi Slimane or Karl Lagerfeld hangs around forums to get fashion ideas. Im more inclined to think that economy, social and political events would be more of an influence.

mack11211 · Jan 14, 2008

I tried to write about this in November:

http://www.nysun.com/article/67034

Many industry folk read it, but whether or not they respond in a particular way is impossible to say.

The exception here is items designed in collaboration with the members of a forum, but these are limited production runs by small designers, at least so far.

Karo · Jan 14, 2008

Yeah I agree it has very very little impact on designers, unless they happen to come across the forum and see a thread/discussion that gave them insight to design something that revolutionizes fashion.....yeah so no, I doubt there is any impact.

wiru · Jan 14, 2008

don't know what it is now, but it'll only continue to grow. the more business the internet generates, the more forums like this will affect what stores carry and what brands produce. the internet already has a big influence on music, films, television, etc. don't know why clothing would be any different.

Brian SD · Jan 14, 2008

Little to no effect on the design, relatively significant effect on sales for some particular vendors.

Without SuFu and Styleforum, I really doubt Blue In Green or Self-Edge would have taken off how they did, which isn't to say that they aren't excellent stores within their own right, but is it really a coincidence that the sudden market shift towards raw Japanese jeans coincided with its popularity on the internet?

denimdestroyedmylife · Jan 14, 2008

^^ Yeah, I don't think there would be US retailers in Japanese denim without the Sufu/SF boards. And I don't think Jay-Z and Lebron James would be wearing Samurai or Warehouse without BiG. And I don't think those folks that emulate those rappers would be seeking out those jeans.

So I think these boards do influence street fashion or fashion as practiced in the streets. And those designers that take cues from what The People are wearing may reflect that in their designs somewhere down the line, but the influence from sufu/sf will have been diluted quite a lot by this point, and the board-people will largely have moved on.

Get Smart · Jan 14, 2008

Designers/brands determine how *we* dress/shop, not so much the other way around.

How much influence does StyleForum (and to an extent, Superfuture) have on fashion?

Distinguished Member

Boston Hipster (Dropkick Murphy)

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Boston Hipster (Dropkick Murphy)

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Moderator

Big Winner

Don't Crink

Streetwear Featured products

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: