Discussions about the fashion industry thread

[cb200]

Yeah minimums is a challenge both on the factory side as well as on the fabric procurement side. As well is amortizing product design and development costs for product are going to eat away at margins with a smaller number of units produced.

* I'm thinking this is a big issue for smaller retailers looking to duplicate a Haven type private label or small "colab" run.

 

[jet]

I would agree with all of that. I should add that, having been part of this myself, not as far back as Supreme, obviously, but in the mid 2000s, when things started to blow up) that the low quantities and out of season drops were not by design, but a happy accident built of a combination of lack of funds and taking advantage of out of season production. The factories were all occupied making things for big brands in time for in season delivery, so we did production in the off season, and made only enough to cover the minimums (often negotiated down) because anything over say, 50 units, to sell to an untested market, seemed foolhardy and a great way to go broke and be left with 150 pairs of jeans or jackets or whatever.

I think that a sterling sliver carabiner to wear on your belt or belt loop, like we did back in the 90s, to carry keys, but with an optional wallet/watch/compass chain that could be clippped on or slipped on, would be a cool collaboration. It's actually something that I would use, and aside from oranmentation (which is is), I can think of several ways it could be used/worn as well. I have a few designs sketched out, Haven has great points of distribution complementary and distinct from Good Art's, and we all have pretty decent marketing infrastructures with slightly overlapping audiences. To me, that's a pretty decent bet.

thats a terrible idea dawg

 

[LA Guy]

thats a terrible idea dawg

Now I definitely want to do it.

 

[jet]

you ain't a biness man

 

[LA Guy]

you ain't a biness man

I’m pretty happy to just be me, man. No need for a label.

 

[Phrost]

Yeah can’t see too many people buy an expensive ornamental carabiner.

If you slap Supreme on it though...

 

[dieworkwear]

Yeah can’t see too many people buy an expensive ornamental carabiner.

If you slap Supreme on it though...

they're not all carabiners, but there are a ton of "luxury end" hooks for holding your keys on your belt loop.

 

[LA Guy]

Yeah can’t see too many people buy an expensive ornamental carabiner.

If you slap Supreme on it though...

Are you paying attention to streetwear and brands like Givenchy, Martine Ali, Random Identities, all the clips that Good Art themselves do? Carabiners and luxury versions of functional items are pretty popular right now.

 

[jet]

let us know how it goes for you

 

[worakl]

I should add that, having been part of this myself, not as far back as Supreme, obviously, but in the mid 2000s, when things started to blow up) that the low quantities and out of season drops were not by design, but a happy accident built of a combination of lack of funds and taking advantage of out of season production.

Dude how are you building sentences.

 

[dieworkwear]

i will only buy a styleforum carabiner if it's made from recycled quilts by bode

 

[smittycl]

Interesting piece in NYT on Direct to Consumer disrupters. Not about clothes but certainly applicable.

They Changed the Way You Buy Your Basics (Published 2020)

Founders of Dollar Shave Club, Warby Parker and other billion-dollar companies exploited giant rivals’ weaknesses — and really listened to their customers.

www.nytimes.com

 

[cb200]

From the NYT piece, this rings true. “It’s never been cheaper to start a business, although I think it’s never been harder to scale a business,”. I believe in the ability to build small / midsize brands today in apparel strictly DTC. But growth will prove to be the biggest challenge. Lots of nice businesses can be built but they may be modest in scale. Biggest challenge is and will be gaining attention and engaging an audience, the big super brands have the biggest share of attention and can afford to provide and service customers with experience and marketing at a level that's hard for smaller budgets.

 

[cb200]

Article on DTC with a bit more of a bite than the NYT piece...
https://thebaffler.com/latest/barons-of-crap-kaiser-schatzlein

 

[gdl203]

On the nose