The Rise of Style Forum-born Entrepreneurs and their Impact on Style

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Well, FWIW, this is consistent with the long-tail theory: the internet has enabled entrepreneurs to market to small, but global, consumer niches.

I don't buy bespoke but I have abandoned RTW for MTM in shirts, trousers and, recently, jackets. Increasingly, I'm using the internet for most accessories such as socks, shoes, and ties.

The impact of SF on me is more subtle but significant. It made me conscious of the limitations and compromises of RTW and large retail outlets. In the past I accepted these compromises, unthinkingly. But, now, in addition to the SF based entrepreneurs, I have the ability to obtain better quality/better fitting goods from European based retailers.

In the last year, I've made purchases from Yount, Wang and Panta. Additionally, I've purchased C&J shoes from a London based internet site, Dore-Dore from what I believe is an Paris based site, ties from Drakes and Hober (Thailand?) and a pair of trousers from a Japanese site. And, of course, Hemrajani's MTM shirts are workshopped out of HK.

i will be monitoring this thread closely

-n

zero impact on taste. minor to negligible impact on buying habits.

in, for a review later...

^I wanted to say that

Originally Posted by F. Corbera

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I was having a chat with a 99.9% departed SF member yesterday

How is Vox?

Conformity isn't all bad.

Originally Posted by Coburn

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Well, FWIW, this is consistent with the long-tail theory: the internet has enabled entrepreneurs to market to small, but global, consumer niches.

I think that's exactly the phenomena that we're seeing here. Clothing of a certain quality level (and style) is all but unavailable in mainstream shopping centers, and where it is available in the traditional brick-and-mortar model, it is punitively expensive.

A lot of what the 'SF entrepreneurs' are providing are things that are in such low demand in any given city, that as a retail proposition, they could not survive. But as an online business serving the world, they can. Over time, we'll probably see an increasing number of these kind of long-tail specialty businesses emerge, particularly in mature industries where proverbial corners are cut to increase profit (or just lower prices).

I think it's an interesting question, for each of them individually, as to what their long-term goals are for their businesses. Do they hope to transition into being mainstream/retail brands? Are they satisfied with a long-term niche? etc.

no love for Eric Glennie?

Originally Posted by F. Corbera

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I was having a chat with a 99.9% departed SF member yesterday, and he raised an interesting point about narrowing of taste on Style Forum. By narrowness, I think that he meant a type of close-mindedness about style that is not as simple as being plastered against "the rules," but the type that is pedanticly dressed-by-the-Internet and is closed off to learning or appreciating things beyond that.

I'd like to add a contrary opinion. More than the entrepreneurs, it is the highly visible (and sometimes vocal) forum members that set the tone for the current taste. It keeps evolving as new members learn and try to have a style of their own, but one cannot ignore the indirect but strong influence Foo, PG and even yourself.

Originally Posted by OttoSkadelig

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zero impact on taste. minor to negligible impact on buying habits.

For me it's minor impact on taste and major impact on buying habits (i.e. I never bought clothing online before stumbling into here).

I can't get on board with all of the looks that I see in the WAYWRN thread but I do appreciate the information.

Originally Posted by tj100

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I think that's exactly the phenomena that we're seeing here. Clothing of a certain quality level (and style) is all but unavailable in mainstream shopping centers, and where it is available in the traditional brick-and-mortar model, it is punitively expensive.

A lot of what the 'SF entrepreneurs' are providing are things that are in such low demand in any given city, that as a retail proposition, they could not survive. But as an online business serving the world, they can. Over time, we'll probably see an increasing number of these kind of long-tail specialty businesses emerge, particularly in mature industries where proverbial corners are cut to increase profit (or just lower prices).

I think it's an interesting question, for each of them individually, as to what their long-term goals are for their businesses. Do they hope to transition into being mainstream/retail brands? Are they satisfied with a long-term niche? etc.

Well said.

This forum gets a lot of bashing and there are a lot of love/hate relationships with it for a lot of people, but it does offer a lot of solid education. Sure there is some conformity here, but I think it offers looks, brands, and styles that one might not come across in your typical brick and mortar establishment. F. Corbera is in Boston, I am in New York and I have come across the same thing really. If you shop retail you are forced into some sort of conformity, and the same thing goes for Style forum to a degree. I think it offers more variety and ideas that you may not come across without it and I feel benefits many people sartorially, (at least in their own eyes, which is all that really matters).

I think many of the Style Forum based businesses are a great thing because they offer convenience for the people who know what they want. However, many of them, while I still support them are still selling other's products and are basically niche department stores. I think traditional brands are going in this direction as well with all of the collaborations happening; it allows for greater profit from other's designs.

All of this being said I have been wanting to see an all new brand, not a reinvention, that has a physical presence that combines the old school craftmanship Style Forum desires, and classic styling with more up to date fits. I have recently begun making this a reality albeit a painstakingly slow one.

I conform if it meets my taste and budget. Otherwise, it makes for good webz viewing and killing time 'til the workday is over.

I will say that a byproduct benefit is some ridiculously great deals in B&S