Access Granted

We all want we can't have, or at least what we think we can't have. However in today's world with the onset of technology, the internet, and globalization, this is practically irrelevant because we can have it all, no matter where we are. While Australia may be thousands of miles away and a 20 plus hour flight, it is finally catching up to the rest of the world and becoming a hub for both imports and exports of the hottest internationally recognized brands.

What we know is, Australian shoppers prefer to shop online and reportedly contributed to over $15 billion in online retail sales over the last year, and that only continues to strengthen. E-commerce not only gives access to these foreign labels, but also the power to choose among an endless array of products that were never available to them before. With most big and small name brands offering shipping around the world, retailers have been able to experiment across the Australian market and understand the growing potential, causing some to expand into the Southern Hemisphere.

photo via Australian Vogue

Stores that were once filled with solely Australian labels, are now being exposed to a plethora of cutting-edge fashion labels from around the world that offer entirely new shopping experiences. Not to mention such global hard hitters like Uniqlo, H&M, and Tod's have just opened up shop and Sephora is next. At the moment, there is no real beauty chain of its kind present in Australia, apart from department store cosmetic counters, pharmacies, and independent brands. With an expected launch date in early 2015, two of Australia's biggest department chains are already keen to do what JC Penney has done with Sephora and integrate it into its stores. In lieu of such success in Asia, the one-stop makeup haven has instead decided to open up standalone stores and it's really going to shake up the market.

photo via The Syndey Morning Herald

However, shopping these overseas retailers comes with a fee as a new survey exposes the discrepancies in pricing between Australian brick and mortar and retailers' international online stores. By comparing fast fashion brands like ASOS, Gap, Topshop, and Zara, it's pretty clear that Australians are paying as much as a 35% premium on merchandise. Meanwhile, retailers are blaming price increases on local taxes, freight, and labour expenses. To make matters worse, these e-commerce sites are equipped with geo-blocking features that direct shoppers to a specific online store based on their location so they are unable to shop at a fairer price from a different country.

photo via Refinery29

In the interim of this Northern Hemisphere invasion, Australians are beginning to make a name for themselves elsewhere. Besides well known Sass & Bide, Dion Lee, and Zimmerman who have already paved the way north, a fresh group of talent is following right in their footsteps. While many of Australia's best kept secrets still remain stateside like uber trendy fashion labels Witchery, Finders Keepers, and Cameo, a few are making their way over to us here in the USA.

photo via Oneteaspoon

A favorite among many and available at hot spots like Revolve Clothing, ASOS, and Free People, Oneteaspoon is the epitome of Australia's rebellious spirit. The label made its official debut in 2000 after designer Jamie Walsham caught a bus from Queensland to Sydney at age 18 and set the precedence for its signature rock'n'roll attitude. Fast forwarding to today, Oneteaspoon is now stocked in 32 countries across the globe, worn by Emma Roberts, Vanessa Hudgens, Alessandra Ambrosio among many other "it" girls, and has even expanded into homewares.

photo via Refinery29

Bec and Bridge is the brainchild of Sydney duo Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston and is about to change the way you wear denim. The pair initially launched the label well over a decade ago and their sexy body-con dresses and skirts are finally picking up speed in the US. Their most recent collection entitled "Indigo," bears the same name as their source of inspiration, a coffee table book by Catherine Legrand. With a modern take on denim, the line is full of patchwork jackets, raw edged chambray and indigo tweed that is polished off with additions of 3D mesh, silk pinstripes, and gorgeous batik patterns.

photo via Business of Fashion

So despite news that the Australian market is undergoing a fashion crisis, it's really just more of an overall shift. For the Aussies, shopping domestically just isn't cool. While that will eventually change as they gain the same access as the rest of the world, the fashion industry down under has a lot of development ahead of it first. As with everywhere else, brands move in and out depending on the demand and right now going global is the thing to do, the only thing to do. 

MBF PROFILES: Maxine Bédat

As the onset of a more conscious consumer and curated shopping experience takes over the retail world, the ethically-minded e-commerce site, Zady helps combat the rise of fast fashion to help bring the slow-fashion movement back into style. This platform is dedicated to indulging in the story and heritage of a brand, connecting and creating authentic relationships, and truly recognizing the value in quality craftsmanship and innovative design. So today, we'd like you to meet Maxine Bédat, co-founder of the site and a key leader revolutionizing the way we sell and shop.

photo via zady.com

MBF: Please tell us a bit about your background. How did your e-commerce side concept come about? What are the thoughts behind it?

Maxine Bédat: While I have always been interested in fashion and art, my career prior to The Bootstrap Project and then Zady was in international law and development.

The concept for The Bootstrap Project was first developed in Tanzania where I was working at The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the court set up to try the Rwandan genocidaires.

The tribunal work seemed so far off from the people with whom I lived, that I took every opportunity to visit the surrounding areas. This meant that I saw a lot of markets. I soon realized that many of the products, even those pieces that looked “African,” came from half-way around the world. And as I spoke to the people at the markets I learned for the first time how local craft was systematically dying out. While for hundreds of years prior a mother would pass down her skills to her daughters, the chain was forever being broken as cheap imitation imports flooded the markets. The products that were left were shoddily made, created with inferior material and did not represent the local culture.

During this time, I was also lucky enough to meet a woman named Rose. Rose was both a cunning entrepreneur and a highly talented artisan. She still carries on the craft traditions of her family. I instantly fell in love with her work and the idea dawned on me that if I could just expand this woman’s market and connect her with folks from around the world who would appreciate her time-honored skills, she could seek out a more sustainable future for herself and her children.

It was then that The Bootstrap Project, the non-profit helping artisans in the developing world was born. While much of the work of Bootstrap is in training programs, helping artisans train a new generation, and teaching business skills, a significant part of our work is telling the story of the artisan to the international market. I was so moved by the story of Rose and her incredible beautiful work that I wanted everyone to have the opportunity to meet her, or at least feel that they had.

While I was setting up the ecommrece chanel for Bootstrap I reconnected with a high school friend Soraya Darabi. We both were moved with storytelling and together we became very interested in product supply chains. We had built such a close connection with the Bootstrap Project products that we wanted to have that same connection with all of the things in our closets.

As we dug into the research, we began to realize the horrible implications our fast-fashion ways were having on society – from a health, environmental, not to mention worker rights perspective. At the same time however, we saw an emergence, introduced first by Whole Foods and the slow food movement, of our society’s deep interest in connecting with our things. And since there was no destination that we could find that curated beautiful products where we could build a connection with the makers, we decided to make it ourselves.

photo via zady.com

MBF: Zady is an ethical minded e-commerce site. What is the core mission and what does ethical minded mean?

MB: The core mission of Zady is to build a connection between maker and consumer. We are developing a slow-fashion movement, where focus is on quality over quantity. It’s interesting since moving away from fast fashion, my wardrobe is now much more highly edited. I have a better sense of my own style, each piece that I own is much higher quality than I ever had, and with all of that I end of spending much less than I did before. And that is all due to the switch from fast fashion to slow fashion.

MBF: You are working with an amazing brand portfolio. Can you tell us about the vetting/curating process?

MB: Thank you! The beginning of every conversation with a brand starts out with where the product is made. You would be shocked to know that the vast, I mean vast majority of brands, do not know where their product is made. So we always begin with this, because if you don’t know, down to the atelier or factory, then we’re not going to be interested. However, those that do know, tend to get so excited about the process of manufacturing and the care that is put into production, and you can so clearly see it from the products themselves, they just look more beautiful.

Everything that we do is aesthetic driven, we care about the factory because we care about the quality of the design and of the end product. We as ourselves for every piece, would be comfortable wearing this for over a decade. If the answer is yes, then it's a fit.

MBF: You launched on August 27th of this year and were immediately successful. What is the recipe?

MB: I know this is not a glamorous answer, but just plain hard work is a big part of it.

MBF: What differentiates Zady from other e-commerce sites? Do you see your company as a niche market? Who would you say are your competitors?

MB: We’re developing a whole new way of purchasing and interacting with products. We’re developing a brand that is being built with our community and we are presenting a lifestyle, through product but also more importantly through engaging content that is quite different from brands of the past. In that way we don’t see ourselves as having competitors. There are brands like Whole Foods and Patagonia that we admire, but do not compete with.

photo via zady.com

MBF: Do you experience that the consumer is becoming a more conscious consumer who demands transparency, integrity and beautiful design? Can you give us an idea of who your customers are?

MB: It has been a lot of fun having our pop-up shop at the airport because we have been able to get a really solid understanding of exactly who our customer is. It’s not an age range or even a socio economic bracket. What we are seeing are those folks who you can tell just by how they are dressed care about each item that they purchase. Even in the way they interact with the sales associates, they are looking to build a small connection. They are thoughtful, stylish people.
 
MBF: Storytelling is such an important part of marketing and branding nowadays. What is your way of storytelling?

MB: We have stories of each of our products and tell stories through our Features section. The features are articles that have nothing to do with product, but speak to the Zady lifestyle. We’re also looking to expand into video storytelling, which can be so powerful, as well as other more dynamic forms like google hangouts, where we can connect our community directly with the makers.

MBF: Zady is a curated personalized e-commerce site. What metrics are you using to harness the data and analytics to not only grow your customer base but also to anticipate what your customer is looking for?

MB: We focus on metrics, of course, but more importantly at this stage is the qualitative data. We’re looking to build an engaged community and that means asking them questions, listening to their responses and acting for them. For example we asked right at the outset what was missing, product wise, from our site, and of all things we were asked for a sustainable brand for pets. We went out and searched for that brand, and now those pieces are doing phenomenally well. We would never had known if we hadn’t just asked!

photo via zady.com

MBF: You launched a pop up shop at La Guardia. How is that going? Would you consider any other brick and mortar ventures in the near future? Anything in the making?

MB: We are having the best time at La Guardia. Airports are a completely overlooked and amazing opportunity to meet people from across the country and around the world. Since New Yorkers tend to segregate themselves by neighborhood, the airport provides a great melting pot to gauge customer reactions from a broad range of people.

Engagement has been terrific and it is beyond all of our expectations. We have learned an enormous amount and will apply those learnings to our next brick and mortar experience.

MBF: Is there a demand from the consumer side to take the Zady experience into a physical shopping experience – similar to what for example Warby Parker, Bauble Bar and Etsy have experienced?

MB: Smart brands have learned that the best experience for the user is omnichanel. The digital world and the brick and mortar world should be seamless. For example, at the airport some folks want to do all of their holiday shopping at the store, but they don’t want to carry it with them on their journey. We make it easy for our customers to make the order in the store and we pack it up and ship it for them.

The brick and mortar experience adds another layer, another dimensionality to the online experience. Customers want to have that level of engagement.

MBF: What are the biggest challenges you encounter to take your company forward?

MB: As we grow our team, we want to make sure that our hyper-active, thoughtful, passionate culture stays with us. That will be a top focus of us going forward.

photo via zady.com

MBF: What is the most amazing item on your site right now?

We can’t choose our favorite child, but our Mischa Lampert hats have drawn a lot of attention both online and in the store.

Our MBF Profiles ends with a questionnaire that follows in the footsteps of Proust's Questionnaire and American TV show host James Lipton's "10 Questions".

MBF: Your favorite swear word?

MB: Putain de mere, somehow if it's in french I dont really feel like I’m swearing.

MBF: Your least favorite word?

MB: Moist (shudder).

MBF: Your favorite word?

MB: Pamplemousse, which is grapefruit in french. Doesn’t it sound lovely, pamplemouse.

MBF: What turns you on?

MB: People who are passionate about whatever they are doing.

MBF: And of course, what turns you off?

MB: Constant negativity.

MBF: What sound do you love?

MB: Crackling fire.

MBF: If you could pick any profession – what might you be?

MB: Astronaut.

MBF: If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

MB: Right where I am.

MBF: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

MB: You can go back now, heaven doesn’t need you.

The Cool Factor

Eco-fashion including doing good and vintage shopping has finally gained a significant cool factor. There are no longer any stigmas around this type of "granola" lifestyle and it is all driven by Generation Y, technology and innovation.

Especially, after all the unbearable natural disasters and recent factory tragedies in Bangladesh, people have opened their eyes and mouths to change. As they say, out with the old and in with the new (kinda).

At the forefront of these ideals is the fashion label Everlane whose Founder Michael Preysman recently took a trip to China to not only check in with factories but document footage on his findings. Previously, he shared a video series of the t-shirt factory used that is based in LA. However, this time around, he took the transparency of his company one step further by exposing the harsh misconceptions surrounding Chinese factories. And he's not alone, as many other companies are beginning to open up about their business practices with some even signing agreements towards bettering safety measures and the general well-being of workers.

photo via Fashion's Collective

We're quickly moving towards an all around notion of "Radical Transparency." Online brands in specific are beginning to offer more limited selections versus a plethora of mass produced merchandise. Some are even lowering markups by cutting out the middle man to offer a higher quality product at a more competitive price. Their focus has shifted towards a more minimal, high-end luxury experience because in the end, it's all about the product. Not to mention, they are using a more modern and cost-effective form of marketing through social media platforms, pop-up shops and brand partnerships.

photo via zady.com

The new consumer has become part of a global community that is extremely conscious and believes in a "New Normal." Questions are being asked, answers demanded and companies are expected to be responsible and transparent for their actions. So how radical can we get? Could the next step be a fully transparent supply chain? Meet the platform Zady that let's customers know at the click of a finger if something is made locally, handmade, sustainable, or made in the US, etc. Not only do they operate a see-through supply chain, but currently have a pop-up shop at La Guardia airport.

photo via techcrunch.com

With a million brands making similar products, a well reported story, emotional attachment and strong philosophy are what makes one company stand out from the next. The home decor store Given Goods is the perfect example of this with their high impact driven business. To them, their main focus is to communicate what they are doing to help the community around them. Whether its donating money to an organization or employing the locally unemployed, Given Goods makes sure to give back their fair share.

photo via techcrunch.com

There's also WE'VE another home decor e-commerce site, which is instead crystal clear about their manufacturing processes. Once pre-order minimums are met for artisan made products, videos and photos are shared with buyers so they can more thoroughly experience the entire production process. So now we can really feel good about how we spend our money.

photo via NY Times

Tom's has even launched a new online store called Toms Marketplace that features over 200 products from 30 different companies and charities worldwide. The company is really intermingling their mission of "doing good" into their business strategy.

photo via WWD

Our beliefs are shifting to really value the importance of being apart of something bigger. Kind of like what industry pioneer Patagonia is doing with the launch of "The Responsible Economy" campaign which hopes to trigger a global discussion that will eventually result in some type of political change. Patagonia has been one of the most proactive and transparent brands urging consumers to buy less, repair, or resell.

If you haven't already noticed, a new people-powered economy is emerging and it's actively affecting the supply chain. Through community driven websites like Etsy, consumers are no longer just buying from retailers, but they are purchasing from other consumers. Through these people to craft/trade connecting platforms, local is going global, materials are being innovatively reused and it's giving the average person a chance to be an entrepreneur. The facts of life are changing and it just so happens there's nothing cooler than doing a little good. 

North Of The Border

Today we want to take you to Canada, which has become an often talked about neighboring country especially within the fashion industry. With many US companies looking to expand over the last couple of months, retail growth just north of the border is on everyone's radar.

photo via Nordstrom

At the lead of the pack is Nordstrom who in less than a year will introduce it's first store in Calgary. Following that, the Seattle-based department store expects to open four more stores in Ottawa, Vancouver, and two in Toronto throughout 2016 with hopes to eventually expand their lower priced sister store Rack as well. However, it's not all smooth sailing for the super chain who may see some competition arise as Holt Renfrew plans to launch an off-price high-end apparel shop called hr2 to compete with the steadfast Nordstrom.

photo via Ottawa Citizen

Others like Land's End, White House Black Market and Chico's have also recently ventured across the Canadian border. Many of these stores are taking a different angle and focusing market expansion on their online access versus advancing brick and mortar operations. With J.C. Penney in a rut, Canadian native Joe Fresh has just debuted online shopping as has Macy's and Bloomingdale's who both now ship to the north as of the past year.

photo via Yahoo Finance

On the other end of things, the Canadian parent of Lord & Taylor, Hudson's Bay Co. just made a major acquisition by snatching up Saks Inc. According to CEO Richard Baker, the goal is to introduce the luxury of Saks into Canada and open seven Saks Fifth Avenue stores, 25 Off Fifth outlets and launch an e-commerce platform targeted at Canadians. Between Lord & Taylor, Hudson's Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue, the conglomerate will now be able to offer customers a range of quality products and distinct shopping experiences at a range of price points from moderate to luxury.

photo via Elle Canada

You'd be more than surprised about some of the Canadian born and bread who are currently power players on the international catwalk. Designers Erdem Moralioglu of Erdem and Dean and Dan from Dsquared2 are all natives who grew up in Montreal and Toronto accordingly.

photo via Financial Post

Despite the market shift, there are some retailers still slow to the game. Which stores are on Canadians' wish lists? From Trader Joe's to Uniqlo to DSW and Madewell, these are the brands consumers are demanding the most, so what are they waiting for?

Wheeling Forward

Cross industry-wide there is a new standard for omni-channel retailing: SO (online), LO (brick and mortar) and MO (mobile technology). As we continue to move towards a globalized economy, companies need to think about how to remain as accessible as possible to customers. However, as of late, businesses are getting even more proactive as they bring themselves straight to their consumers by hitting the streets, literally.

photo via bangstyle.com

If there's one thing we've noticed this summer, it's the food truck-crazed phenomenon striking New York City during lunch hours. From creative boutiques to gourmet food, a large mix of companies are evolving to reach new markets by creating nomadic businesses on wheels. An idea that has since advanced from the traditional trunk show or door to door salesman is giving new meaning to pop-up shops. With a majority of these so called traveling vendors being start-ups and smaller businesses, they encompass more power to be flexible and accommodating to their clientele based on the day, weather and demand.

photo via The Boston Globe

One of coolest things about these on-the-go stores is that many have been completely revamped into mobile paradises from old delivery vans, potato trucks and even former school buses. Not to mention, while most of the time these vagabond businesses can be found parked in their regular whereabouts, many do offer traveling tours as well as private shopping events, video game parties and personalized services like hair cuts depending on the type of business.

photo via wsj.com

So it was only a matter of time until the fashion world caught on and now it's bringing style directly to you, when and where you want it. Mobile (not to be confused with mobile technology) retail is the latest innovation to reshape the way we shop by offering customers everything from clothing to accessories to gifts from both mainstream brands to independent designers to vintage. This new way of doing business allows retailers to create an intimate shopping experience on wheels and cut down overhead costs in the process. Right here in New York alone we have The Styleliner in the Hamptons, the Celebrities Mobile Boutique in Harlem, The Nomad frequently in SoHo and The Mobile Vintage Shop in Brooklyn. However, these on the go fashion boutiques are launching all over the country with Fashion In Motion based in Chicago, The Fashion Truck in Boston, and Le Fashion Truck in LA so keep an eye out in a city near you!

video via The Sketchbook Project

A few weeks ago, we came across The Sketchbook Project, a traveling crowd sourced art exhibition based in the heart of Williamsburg. The best part about this initiative? Anyone can contribute to their ever-growing collection of art by simply purchasing a sketchbook via their website, filling it up with whatever you like, and sending it back. Besides their brick and mortar Brooklyn flagship and mobile library, the project is also available digitally. So far 70,000 participants from 135 countries have submitted work, which is currently on tour for the summer around the U.S. and Canada.

photo via supermarketnews.com

The online grocer Peapod continues to communicate to their customers "shop anywhere, anytime" by taking things one step further and combining the idea of "mobile billboards" with mobile technology. Customers can now scan and shop for groceries on the side of Peapod's delivery trucks using their smartphones. To cater to their east coast clientele, the trucks will be parked at things like ball parks and concert venues this summer.

photo via untappedcities.com

In Portland, also known as a mecca for cyclists, it's no wonder businesses on bikes are booming. From florists to coffee shops on-the-go to a traveling farmer's market, entrepreneurs are on the move and in a fun, cultured and conscious way. Even the city's number one tour company happens to be operated on pedal bikes, further deeming Portland, "America's Bicycle Capital."

The future success of almost any business relies on its accessibility, as more and more retailers become available online, in person and on the go. These entrepreneurs are leading the pack by experimenting with on-wheels strategies. While costs may be low and business responsive to where the market is, as with everything else, there are still challenges. For this nomadic concept to work, a firm understanding of one's customer and the ability to keep shoppers informed about where and when you will be somewhere is crucial. Many of the solutions to these obstacles lies in the fusion of social, local and mobile technology with a dynamism that allows businesses to be adjustable in this new age of global business and consumer driven industries. At this point, it's looking like the best way to figure out what works is to take it to the streets because sometimes you have to work your way up, or in this case around. 

Calendar of Events

We know we aren't the only ones that wake up in the morning and have no idea how to dress ourselves. So it's about time the industry is finally addressing this hot fashion conversation as some look to transition towards a seasonless calendar. Categorizing fashion into a Fall, Spring, Pre-Fall and Resort model is so passé, especially with seasons being less and less distinct between one another. With that said, the rules of fashion are drastically changing, if any even still exist. Things are not only being affected by changing weather patterns but our attitudes are shifting as we move away from the traditional and familiar.

We called it back in March 2012 and whether it be on the runway, in shop windows or your own personal wardrobes, we now have complete freedom to design and buy what we want, when we want. However, that doesn't necessarily make things easier and it's leading to controversy for the entire industry. What does this mean for the future of Fashion Week? And more importantly, as our shopping habits adjust to new demands based on necessity and desire versus routine, how will this affect the entire fashion cycle?

photo via Marie Claire

Fashion Week has been evolving for decades and for many, today's catwalk has become more about exposure and "giving a show" than selling the clothing actually being shown. Buyers, once seated front row, are being replaced by bloggers and socialites. Models are just as important as what they are wearing and backstage access via photo and video content is pretty much customary. Fashion shows are now broadcasted in real time and looks can be pre-ordered straight off the runway. It's all about going viral and giving customers what they want, at an instant.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

However, the fashion is changing too as many designers begin to rename Resort and Spring to Spring 1 and Spring 2 and the same for Pre-Fall and Fall, being replaced with Fall 1 and Fall 2. Seasonal distinctions are getting less and less clear – just look at how florals and mini hemlines have transitioned into Fall/Winter and fur accents and layering have moved into Spring/Summer. With so much pressure on designers to bring newness to the table and keep consumers interested, brands are experimenting with everything in order to survive. This can only be credited to the rise of the internet, social media and fast fashion, causing everything to turnover at an uncontrollable rate. Not to mention, runway fashion is now available at both the high, low and mid-markets as well as across the globe to any type of culture and climate, practically all at once.

photo via The Sydney Morning Herald

The only way to cater to this rise in globalization is to offer transitional pieces that can be layered and worn year round. Pre-collections are typically much more commercial than Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer and they have gained remarkably in popularity over the years as a growing demand for all types of fabrications becomes more and more essential. Some stores are even devoting as much as 70% of their budgets to these collections. The key here is to not designate a season to these collections but deem them new arrivals because who wants Resort in November and Pre-Fall in June anyways?

photo via colorfully

As competition gets fiercer and e-commerce sites continue to flood the market, consumers are having more of a difficult time making choices about what to buy and from where. Michael Kors said he would prefer to just announce with each new collection, "Look I made new clothes!" We have to admit whether it be hot, cold, sunny or snowing, we love new stuff. However, we do need things we can wear year round and in today's day and age, we need to be ready for anything. 

Fast Forward

Fast forward to 2020. The office is practically extinct as worker mobility and cloud computing have become key factors pushing businesses to go completely virtual. Women have gained significant ground over men in the job market with increased promotions, a rise in wages, and entrepreneurship opportunities accessible. Meanwhile, men have moved into "pink collared" jobs, as healthcare and social assistance sectors surge due to the aging Baby Boomer Generation. As globalization and technology continue to shape the way we live, a new cluster of jobs have emerged to lead us further towards a "knowledge economy."

For starters, the explosion of technology is creating countless new positions for mathematic and science geniuses that you wouldn't even believe. From realistically destroying fake buildings to geometric sculptors to mathemagicians, more and more jobs are being adapted from the natural world and brought into the digital space.

photo via Clothes On Film

The field of costume design is even transforming as the focus shifts to animated characters rather than real life actors and actresses. According to Simulation Supervisor, Claudia Chung, from the movie Brave, the garments from the film were modeled in 3D, digitally sewn together and virtually tried on by the characters, similar to how it would actually be done in the real world. They even go as far as making sure the garments hang properly and the grain of the fabrics is going in the right direction. Just as in costume design, it's all about the fine details and these specialists do everything to make it look as realistic as possible. For jobs similar to this, backgrounds in both fashion and technology may eventually be critical.

video via YouTube

Everyone's fallen victim to cyber hacking one way or another. Luckily enough, we now have "ethical hackers" also know as the white-hat hacker. These experts specialize in protecting an organization's networking infrastructure and website. While these moral professionals invade a network much like a hacker would, they use this information to find and fix security vulnerabilities rather than causing them. Overall, whether government or privately owned, security is a major issue so it's no surprise the demand for these specialists exists.

photo via Mashable

We talk about the overload of information all the time and now data scientists will be available to finally make sense of it all by translating data and creating viable predictions from it. Not to mention, as technology continues to accelerate faster than the workforce, 63% of data scientists foresee the profession being severely undermanned over the next 5 years.

video via Clear PR

So as we rewind back to 2013, many of these jobs are already here and others are just beginning, as people start to get qualified and educated in these new roles. Just look at how the careers of storytellers, social media managers, and trend forecasters have evolved from the beginning of the Millennium when they were basically nonexistent. Today, both storytelling and social media are crucial while many predict that trend forecasters will be essential in educating the industry on sustainability.

video via smartplanet.com

The way we do things is changing, plain and simple. What we once thought of as a productive environment, the office, research shows is actually more of a distraction. People want the freedom to work anywhere, at anytime and may work as many as 8-10 different jobs in a lifetime. We are no longer binded to traditional approaches to business and want different things from the companies we work for. Our entire lives, both social and professional, are moving from an offline world to an online one. As a result, all of these things are stimulating a new job market that may eventually lead to future career paths in anything one can imagine. From body part making to space pilots to virtual lawyers, professional sleepers, and virtual clutter organizers, maybe it's time for a career change.

What's Your Story?

Who doesn't love a great story? We know we do! And in today's retail environment, the significance of a story to your concept is more than crucial. It's all about the who, what, where, why and how of your brand. With the ability for consumers to get practically anything from around the world via the internet, they want to know they're buying something special. We are no longer limited to what brick and mortar stores in our local area offer, but an endless amount of online stores and plethora of products in the international marketplace. Our values are changing and preserving a sense of community, even online, remains key especially in the vast world of the internet.

photo via Culture Baby

Culture Baby is an online global children's boutique that not only sells clothes, toys and accessories for your favorite little ones, but celebrates cultural heritage from around the world. They strongly believe that children should know about the world they are living in and what better way than to wear and play in it? From Africa, Asia, South America, Europe and the USA these carefully selected products are made from an array of international entrepreneurs and designers. Culture Baby takes it even one step further by offering non-toxic and organic items as well as sustainable, ethical and fair-trade merchandise. We spoke about the importance of going global a few posts ago and we feel this brand is a major innovator in the international children's wear arena, especially since children love a good story even more than adults!

photo via The Sinclair

If you're in the Boston area in the near future, make sure to grab a bite at The Sinclair Kitchen. This music venue now doubles as a trendy restaurant to your pre-concert evening out and offers delightful eats under Chef Michael Schlow's expertise. The venue which is part of The Bowery Presents, is influenced by the likes of New York, California and New Orleans. With communal tables, a fantastic bar downstairs and a more traditional dining atmosphere upstairs, this spot tells the perfect story of food, drink and music.

video via Made by Hand

There's nothing more special than handmade products. Martinez Cigars, started in 1974, hand roll all their cigars at a factory right here in New York on 29th street. Not only was this craft passed down from father to son, but today it has become a neighbor meeting place for a fine cigar, friendly face and good story.

photo via Alkemie

Last week we stopped by the Designers & Agents international trade show to check out some of the most innovative emerging brands out there. One of the first ones to grab our attention was Alkemie, a socially and environmentally responsible jewelry brand brought to life by a lovely husband and wife duo who both come from former jewelry backgrounds. Their entire collection is handmade in LA and made of 100% reclaimed metals and sustainable and earth-friendly dyed leathers. So far they have been featured in editorials in Spanish Vogue, French Elle, Lucky, WWD and Spin Magazine, to name a few. Most of their pieces are priced under $200 and sold at one of our favorite shops, Treasure & Bond!

photo via Alkemie

While chatting with the couple, we couldn't take our eyes off of Ashley's really hip East West Musical Instruments jacket, deemed the back pack jacket so motorcyclists had an extra pocket while riding. But what's really interesting is Ashely's story about how he had to get it...About 15 years ago, he went to an East West collector in LA and in order to get the jacket he had to find another collectible East West jacket to trade it for, which took him over a year to do. East West Musical Instruments originally started by making instruments and then one day decided to make a fringed leather shirt, which quickly sold to the iconic Janis Joplin. From there it was fashion history and they expanded to make unique leather jackets, pants, shirts and bags that sold to the likes of Jerry Garcia, Robert Plant and Elvis Presley, among many other rock legends. How's that for some music history?

photo via Kempton & Co.

Looking for a new "it" bag? Kempton & Co just may be it! These one of a kind, technology friendly bags are made of vintage materials like linen and hemp. The Deceiver bag collection (our personal favorite) sparked from designer Fiona Kempton's idea to give her stylish handbags a built in protective sleeve for laptops. Some of her other versions are adorned with sewn in wallets, iPad holders and special compartments for your keys so you can now travel with ease. Their first shop is set to launch this Spring in Brooklyn and will feature custom work, monogramming on small leather goods and even some other brands, for men too, so stay tuned!

photo via Susan Woo

Based in New York with a focus on both luxury and sustainability, Susan Woo stands by the fact that "luxury equals thought and consideration." She uses natural and organic silks, wools and jersey blends, which she believes are synonymous with high quality and a modern way of living. To her, "fast fashion is buying a look" and "luxury fashion is story telling." If that's so, we definitely want to see the sequel to this story!

It's all about the stories we tell. Where does it all come from and how? We are more informed these days and with that we ask more questions. It's no longer just about the ending, but the entire process from concept to creation to the end user. Your story is your mark on the world. We all have a unique story to tell that makes us stand out from the rest, it just has to be told in the right way, at the right time. So, what's your story?

Go Global or GO HOME!

Well, it's that time of the year again...fashion week and this season it's all about online! We are moving (quicker than we realize) towards a global lifestyle and regardless of where we are sitting from around the world, we can still stay informed. Here at MBF, we are officially moving up to the cloud so we can work anywhere, at anytime.

From catwalk to computer screen, a global audience of consumers now has front row access right there with fashion's finest as we shift towards a completely virtual fashion experience. Just think about the growing number of fashion bloggers in attendance and how they have become just as important as any buyer, editor or socialite. The two fashion worlds, online and offline, are blending in full force.

photo via Mashable

Do designers finally have fashion and technology working in their favor? Live-streaming has pretty much become the status quo as we begin to forget what it actually feels like to physically be at a live show. If you remember back in the 1950's it was forbidden to even sketch the looks let alone photograph them and today, we have instant viewing while the show is still in progress like on style.com. Topshop and Google team up to take it one step further with "The Future of the Fashion Show" which allows viewers to see the show from all different points of view whether on the runway, backstage or front row. WWD has even partnered with Paper by FiftyThree to compile live-sketches from select shows at NYFW including the likes of Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, DVF, Oscar de la Renta, J. Crew, Calvin Klein and Alexander Wang. It's all about finding new ways to enhance the online experience.

photo via NY Times

Through this instant technology, designers and brands are cutting out the middleman and going straight to consumers via online platforms and social media like Twitter. Now companies like Belstaff, can use data analytics to predict what items will hit stores based on their web viewers favorite looks. They now have the ability to tap into what consumers are watching, from where, which devices and for how long as well as which looks consumers pause for. This information is also revolutionizing brands' e-commerce platforms which can now be fine tuned depending on each country's clicks and viewing preferences.

photo via Elle UK

Not to mention, through sites like Moda Operandi and Lyst, which pre-sell runway clothes as the shows are live streaming, brands have move available insight into what will sell in the future and what pieces to produce more of. Burberry recently launched a new "Made to Order" initiative which gives their global consumers the opportunity to purchase and personalize outerwear and handbags as they are shown on the catwalk. Forget buyers, agents and consulting agencies, consumers have the power to decide what's in store now!

photo via Elle

Just look at how consumer buying habits are affecting all our industries. Magazines like Elle now offer free iPad apps when you subscribe. Best Buy and Barnes & Noble are severely hurting since we don't buy tangible media anymore; we download and stream everything. Television is being replaced with online TV and web series like "House of Cards." And do land lines still exist? Barely. The computer is even disappearing as smartphones just get smarter.

photo via WWD

So what does this mean for the fashion industry? Well first of all, this access to the latest trends fuels both the fast fashion and knockoff industries even more than before. Not to mention, with growing direct-to-consumer business, will we even need sales agents or showrooms anymore? This could possibly be foreshadowing the eventual extinction of apparel trade shows or at least major updating to adjust to the fast changing industry. And now with the middleman gone, will these brands pass on this margin to their customers? As our retail business models evolve, the entire way we position our price structures is going to have to change too. While some retailers continue to focus primarily on their brick and mortar expansion, they better take another look at their strength in the online community because this is the future of fashion. We are living in it right now and there's nowhere to go but global.

What are your favorite looks from fashion week thus far? Make sure to check out some of our personal highlights from the runway on our Pinterest page and "like" us on Facebook to stay "in the know" with all the latest happenings in the industry!