The Standouts of Fashion Month

With New York, London, and Milan Fashion Weeks long gone and now Paris coming to a close, its time to roundup and reflect on all that we saw over this last month.  With so much visual stimulus, it’s hard to decipher what is relevant and what is not. That’s where we can help. Here are three major trends that hit the runway for FW15 that we believe will stick around for a while. Here we go!

Fur, Fur, and more Fur

On and off the runway, this trend is huge. This is trending already with street style and runway looks. It’s completely wearable and a really easy way to look extra lux. Wear it with a gown or pair it with joggers and a graphic tee – either way, it looks great.

FW15 Looks from Jason Wu, 3.1 Philip Lim, and Gucci
Photos via Style.com

Blurred Gender Lines

Have you ever played dress up in your boyfriends closet and thought maybe you look better in his clothes than he does. Don’t worry you aren’t the only one. Top designers like Gucci, Rick Owens and Raf Simons are borrowing styles classic seen in menswear and moving them into womenswear, and vice versa.

Gucci, Rick Owens, Houghton, & Raf Simons FW15
Photos via Style.com

Back to Basics

We are seeing an overall theme in current trends - going back to the basics. You’ve seen it, it’s not just and classic white ADIDAS sneakers and oversizes blazers, its the #NoMakeup, #IWokeUpLikeDis selfies all over Instagram  (which we all know that “no makeup” really means “just some makeup”, but that’s beside the point).

It's all about simplifying your wardrobe, and life overall.  In an age where everything is getting more complicated, going back to the basics seems refreshing. Wearing no makeup instead of the Kim K contour, Birkenstocks instead of sky-high heels, and joggers instead of binding skirts is what it's all about.

Photos via Vogue.com

A New Face of Convenience

The sharing economy seems to be a hot topic as of late especially with all the controversial buzz over companies like Uber and Airbnb. Right now, we are seeing a major cultural shift towards lending, borrowing, and working together within the community to tap into underused resources. New business models and entrepreneurial causes are working to change how we live, work, and play, by keeping things personalized, sustainable, transparent, and making the economy work in our favor.

video via Share Better

The Very Best of Instagram

Whether you're an avid fashion follower, looking for some inspiration, or just appreciate a nice use of filters, here are our top picks for the coolest Instagrams you need to be following right now!

photo via Cara Delevingne

Menswear is Conquering the Fashion Industry

In the past, menswear has been known for playing it safe in terms of fashion, keeping to the same basic trends as it has been showing for years and years. The best runway shows were saved for womenswear while menswear shows displayed little change from season to season – but this has all changed for the better, in our opinion. Here’s an update about what’s happening in the menswear market, and we love it!

Men’s clothing is now way more creative with more design. Nowadays, men are much more willing to experiment with fashion and try new things. Men love it, and it is reflecting in sales.  Total sales in menswear grew by 5% while womenswear only grew 4% this past year, according to NDP Group. Dolce and Gabanna, Jimmy Choo, and Holt Renfrew Co. Ltd. are just a few retailers taking notice of this trend by opening up spaces specifically designed for men only. Dolce & Gabanna recently opened its flagship Men’s boutique in London (seen below) with the presentation of its newest Men’s Tailoring Collection.

Dolce & Gabanna London Flagship store

MBF Profiles: Amanda Parkes

A few weeks ago, we attended Manufacture New York's 2nd Anniversary Party and had the pleasure of speaking to the Chief of Technology and Research, Amanda Parkes. With over 10 years of experience in wearable technology as a Fashion Technologist and Biomedia Designer, Amanda and her team at Manufacture New York are making revolutionary breakthroughs for emerging designers in the fashion industry.

photo via Peter Roessler

Zero Power Smart Fashion Conference

During Fashion Week, we attended the Zero Power Smart Fashion Conference, which showcased the latest advancements in the fields of fashion and technology. Located at The Gallery of Metropolitan Pavilion in the Flatiron District, the conference was designed to help merge the two growing sectors and allow specialists in these areas to connect from both the US and throughout Europe. Over 20 speakers ranging from professors of technology to textile designers to healthcare professionals and beyond presented at the event, which was hosted by top universities EPFL and ETH Zurich in cooperation with Swissnex Boston, an organization devoted to connecting Switzerland and North America in the areas of science, education, and art.

photo via Katie Nicole Mercado

In Vogue Now

According to Carrie Bradshaw, one of the biggest fictional fashion icons of all time, “Every year the women of New York leave the past behind and look forward to the future... this is known as Fashion Week." Although the shows ended two weeks ago, it is still in our minds (and hearts). While the catwalks were showing us what is going to be in trend for the next spring/summer, outside the tents, captivating ensembles of girls and guys from across the industry showed us what is in vogue now.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

Fashion Week Part 2

Welcome back for part two of our NYFW wrap up! Today we'll cover the rest of our Fashion Week circuit and continue to introduce you to more must-know emerging labels hitting the New York fashion scene this season.

photo via Peter Roessler

Fashion Week Part 1

We have been busy bees at MBF covering event after event during New York Fashion Week, from off-site venues to the tents at Lincoln Center. To name a few, we covered Nolcha Fashion Week, the Angola International Fashion Show, the Snowman Runway Presentation, and even went inside the tents to see Custo Barcelona hit the catwalk. We also attended off-site events such as Manufacturer New York’s Second Anniversary Bash, the Refinery29 Country Club, and Christian Siriano’s fragrance launch party.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

At 17 and self-taught, the Houston based designer Amir Taghi made his debut at New York Fashion Week this season with a collection inspired by fierce women chasing after their dreams. He name dropped icons like Bianca Jagger, who was known for her signature low cut suits that were the perfect combination of sexy and elegant. Overall, his designs reflect his Persian background and emit an unapologetic sense of sophisticated luxury which is so consistent with the chic southern style he surrounds himself with.

photo via Carrie Hammer

Carrie Hammer creates customized business dresses for the modern woman and what better way to empower her collection than to have real life professionals strutting down the catwalk? Replacing runway models with role models, Carrie is making a major statement by equating beauty with success. Held at The Fashion Law Institute, this year's diverse lineup included the likes of top female executives from Shoppable, The Li.st, Amazon, Intuit, Fast Company, Apple, and both Geena Rocero a transgender model as well as Karen Crespo, a quadruple amputee who walked the runway for the first time with her new limbs. 

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

We came across the swimwear line Feelo'je at the Angola International Fashion Show who's tropical palette and Caribbean vibes brought together a striking collection of bold bikinis inspired by the sunset. The designer Janay, who officially launched her label at age 17, came up with the name Feelo'je to pay homage to her hometown and merge it with her "feel" for fashion.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

Another noteworthy designer at the Angola Fashion Show was Lucrecia Moreira who blends African, European and American cultures into one cohesive line. This collection in particular was inspired by the Mao collar but reinterpreted and applied to dresses of varying lengths and cuts.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

NAMM also known as "New Age of Money Makers" is a cool menswear label that draws inspiration from modern art, architecture, and represents a team of ambitious 20-something Millennials. Shown at Manufacturer New York, designer Ron Wallace is working as the first incubator for the new initiative, which has really helped mature his aesthetic and grow as a designer. The collection is credited for it's fine tune details and is looking to expand to a bigger show and larger venue next year, possibly even in Paris.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

Portuguese designer Katty Xiomara who is known for her graphic themes, strayed a bit from last season's geometrics and color blocking, and introduced a focus on the structure behind the geometrics. Shown at Nolcha Fashion Week, the clothing had a lighter, softer, more transparent take for summer and with the label's popularity quickly gaining momentum, she's definitely one to keep an eye on!

photo via Nolcha Fashion Week

Also spotted at the independent fashion show Nolcha was the contemporary lifestyle brand, Charles & Ron. The self-taught couple created the collection by transforming photographs from their capital city of Malta into a captivating display of prints. Overall, the brand is deeply rooted in their Maltese culture and truly symbolizes the spirit of the Mediterranean. 

photo via Refinery29

This season Refinery29 really made a splash at NYFW and introduced their interactive Country Club pop-up concept down on Mercer Street in SoHo. Here fashionistas were able to take a break from all the Fashion Week madness and enjoy snacks and refreshments as well as a nine-hole mini golf experience inspired by different designers like Suno and Marc Jacobs.

photo via Refinery29

Refinery29 also teamed up with Lord and Taylor to present The New Class of Designers showcase called Brand Assembly. Together, they produced a runway show featuring advanced contemporary designers which included the likes of Sachin + Babi, Priority Ten, and Calla. Right now these up and coming labels are available to shop at the Brand Assembly concept shop both online and at the Fifth Avenue flagship.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

And lastly one of our favorite Fashion Week events was the Cara x Mulberry Scavenger Hunt. With the help of Refinery29, about 30 girls were stationed throughout the city on bikes giving away custom totes filled with keys. Out of all these giveaways, only three lucky keys, each at one Mulberry location across New York, were actually able to unlock the padlocks holding a handbag from Cara's new Mulberry collection. One of our team members was able to track down the Refinery29 girls and get a key, but unfortunately it did not unlock the case holding the handbag turned backpack. However, it was definitely some good old fashionable fun!

Please check our Facebook and Instagram for great street style pics from all these events during New York Fashion Week.

This is part one, stay tuned to part 2 to be posted soon!

MBF's DIY Hacks

With the Fall shows kicking off today and cooler temperatures just around the corner, we thought we'd get in the groove by highlighting our favorite, most fashionable DIYs of the season.

photo via Mr.Kate

Before we get started, whether you're a beginner or arts and crafts fiend, there are some essential supplies that every DIYer needs. According to the famed DIY Queen, Kate Albrecht of Mr. Kate, a basic kit should include the likes of adhesives, fabric paint, paint brushes, glitter, spray paint primer and spray paint, x-acto knife, hole punch, twine, wire, needles and thread, painters tape, pliers, wire cutters, tweezers, sharpies, pencils, erasers, and of course a good pair of scissors. Not only will these tools help as you begin to experiment with various projects, but they can easily be picked up at your local craft store in one go. So now that that's covered, let's get creative!

photo via Fall for DIY

Sweater weather is almost here and everybody needs warm, cozy layers to kickstart Fall. However, this year it's time to upgrade those beloved wooly knits with some pom pom pizzaz. All you need is some mini pom poms, a needle and thread, and of course a comfy sweater fancying a bit of a fashion upgrade.

photo via Honestly WTF

Nail art is super hot right now and since we aren't all gifted with a steady hand, we'd like to introduce you to nail striping tape. It's easy, affordable (a mere $2), and gives you flawless looking designs by simply sticking it on your nails and adding a top coat. However, if you're feeling a bit more brave, this tape is perfect to mask off geometric shapes and create color blocked patterns as well.

photo via Miss Kris

Sometimes a girl just needs some subtle bling in her life. So why not take two of your favorite things and combine them into one for the ultimate style upgrade? Jeweled clutches are the perfect way to add some glamour to any look, especially when it's coming from one of your favorite sparkly necklaces. For the how to tutorial, click here.

photo via A Beautiful Mess

If you haven't jumped on the logo bandwagon yet maybe it's because you just haven't found a slogan that says something about who you are. Once you figure out what you want to say, plaster it onto one of your favorite tees or sweatshirts using either iron on transfers or glitz it on with sequins. Not only is it a super easy trick, but a great gift to tell someone how you really feel!

photo via ISPYDIY

Denim has become more than a staple in our wardrobes as of late, and with distressing pretty much everywhere right now, we'd thought we'd learn to do it ourselves. While this project can be tedious at times, once you get the hang of it, you'll go on a distressing frenzy on all the denim in your closet. If you're willing to give it a try, follow I SPY DIY's tutorial and we promise you won't be sorry!

video via Mr. Kate

We don't know about you, but we are still super sneaker crazed and after wearing our favorite kicks all summer, it may be time to make a new statement for Fall. So why not update your everyday sneaks with a cool snakeskin print in a color of your choice? Or if prints aren't really your thing, you can always add some studs and spikes to give those old runners some fresh edge!

Stay tuned for our Fashion Week coverage from the New York shows next week and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see what we are up to until then!

AMP3 Press Day

Last week we had the pleasure of attending AMP3 PR's Press Day, featuring five amazing brands to watch out for this fall. Sponsored by Zico Coconut Water, Energems chocolate energy, Pretzel Crisps, and Probelle nail polish, the showcase was full of good vibes, trendy clothing, and highlighted Fall 2014 collections from Bela Criacao, Citizen Ciao, SNOWMAN New York, NOMAD by Tess Johnson, and Cat Footwear.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

With a love affair for the bright and colorful, Bela Criacao is a South American brand designed for curvy shapes and offers key transitional pieces that women can wear from the office to an evening out. In Portuguese, the label literally means "beautiful creations," and is made right here in Manhattan. Focusing on fit, fabric, quality, and construction, Bela Criacao presented their Holiday 2014 and Spring 2015 lines, which both embody seamlessly sexy and confident staples essential to any woman's wardrobe. Currently, the fashion label is available online via their website as well as at a few select boutiques across the country.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

Citizen Ciao is a new cutting-edge streetwear brand for both men and women whose mission is to give back to people around the world. Inspired by Southern California surf culture, this multicultural lifestyle label infuses an urban attitude with eye-catching graphics and donates part of its profits to the organization Project Hope Alliance, which aims to end the cycle of poverty through education and family stability. The name, Citizen Ciao, was born from the idea that people should be respectful of one another and say Hello and Goodbye to each other, which is what "Ciao" translates to in Italian. Their tagline, "the new surf," reflects their desire to remain inline with surfing culture but mix it up with floral, stripe, and text designs. To check out more of the label, click here.

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

The NYC based outerwear company, SNOWMAN New York is known for their signature high quality, light-weight down jackets. By keeping what makes New Yorkers "tick" in mind, the label reflects the vibrancy and energy of New York with their Fall/Winter collection inspired specifically by 42nd Street. For Spring, their range will include trench coats and rain jackets in a lighter range of vibrant yellows, purples, oranges, and blues. Right now you can shop them online or across the city at Equinox shops. 

But First, Let’s Talk About The #Selfie

Just one second with your phone facing you is all you need to take a selfie. And we're pretty sure you've done that at least once in your life. No judgements. We've all taken selfies, no matter how anonymous or famous we are. Selfies have taken the world’s centre stage, especially in the last 2 years. It was even nominated as “the word of the year” in 2013. What was once a way to take pictures on your own or with friends, has now evolved to one of the most popular and profitable activities of the year. Not to mention, our selfie and social media obsession has become a current theme for songs, ads and TV shows.

photo via Daily Mail

The Kardashians, Rihanna, Princes Harry and William, Justin Bieber, Cara Delevigne, your 9 year old cousin who just got a smartphone… Every day we are overwhelmingly bombarded by a plethora of self-portraits on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. This incredible phenomenon intrigued Photographer Jenna Garrett to create a project called The Public Profile Of An American Girl, a collection of 5,000 “Public” selfies she collected on Facebook. The project is now an installation at Aperture Foundation's Summer Open, in New York, and discloses the behaviour of the young generation of American girls.

video via The Chainsmokers

And it doesn't stop there. Our selfie fever has permeated into TV, music and other media outlets like the Chainsmokers’ song #Selfie. The song was released in the beginning of this year and is a controversial satire of our self-portrait and Instagram addiction. By dividing the audience into lovers and haters, #Selfie mocks the way girls are constantly obsessed with likes, filters and all the other quirks that social media platforms, such as Instagram, offer.

photo via Mashable

Also mocking narcissism and social media addiction, the upcoming ABC TV series, Selfie, plans to teach us that it is possible to connect with people even when you are “offline." The comedy tells the story of Eliza Dooley (Karen Gillan), a girl who is too busy updating her “263,000 followers” to have a real life or make friends until she decides to ask for help from her marketing pal, Henry (John Cho).

photo via NBC News

So how much is a selfie worth? The answer is: it depends on who is in the picture. In the case of the above photo, besides being taken during the Oscars, the quantity of global movie stars in it made history with over 779,295 retweets in half and hour and one of the best marketing strategies to date. The picture was worth $1 Billion, which far surpasses what is usually spent on a commercial during the award ceremony. And there’s a logical reason for that: the selfie has reached more than 45 million views, which is far greater than what ads usually reach because for most people, social media is more trustworthy than paid advertisements.

photo via Buzzfeed

The cultural phenomenon of the selfie exposes a very basic human desire to feel noticed, appreciated and recognized. However, there’s a big discussion about whether it has become a bit excessive. Known as the Selfie Queen, Kim Kardashian makes us question how far the selfie obsession has gone. And now, she is publishing her first book, named “Selfish," next spring. The 352-page book is a collection of Kardashian’s best self-portrait shots, and so far it has already provoked negative opinions in hundreds of people.

Although selfies are criticized by many people because of their narcissistic character, for some, this is a major source of recognition and appreciation. Large media vehicles and companies have decided to invest tons of money into "the selfie," which is a fast and efficient way to attract customers’ attention. It seems that this trend is not going to fade anytime soon so feel free to keep taking your selfies without any shame.

NY Trade Show Roundup Fall/Winter 2015-16

The close of July is considered one of the busiest times of the year as the industry gets color, fabric, and print frenzied over all the trade shows happening across town. So if you didn't get to make it to Premiére Vision, Indigo, or Texworld, we've got all the latest must-know innovations so you can keep up to date with what's happening in the market.

photo via Lamar

Held at a new, spacious location at Pier 92, Premiére Vision was our first stop and a bit off the beaten path, but totally worth the trek. While the Trend Forum was smaller than previous years, the layout of the show was much more organic and created a flow from accessories to the Forum, to vendors, and finally Indigo. The Trend Forum confirmed our key color predictions for F/W 2015-16 with blues, oranges, and darker tones prevailing across the spectrum. Here, we came across Lamar, who exclusively produces the technical fabrics "Nilit Heat," lining that captures body heat and insulates as well as "Nilit Breeze," which is used for windbreakers.

photo via Camilla Frances Prints

While Indigo mimicked many of the same themes we saw at PV, a fresh set of textile companies graced the roster. The first, Camilla Frances Prints is based in London and newbies to the Indigo scene, but definitely offered an unforgettable selection of designs from blurred florals to ethnic tapestry prints to galactic, landscapes, and graphics. With most of their collection placed on darker grounds and in more complex placements, botanicals, floral and geometric combos, and black and white prints were in the most demand.

photo via Natural Cotton Color

Located at a booth featuring independent designers, we were introduced to Silvia Maria, a Brazilian design studio that showcased at Indigo for the first time as well. Through an intense mix of colors inspired by Brazilian life, the collection included a plethora of lively prints, mixed patterns of animal and florals, and overlapping designs. One of her prints was even chosen to be included in Indigo's website gallery of wallpapers and is available for download here.

We've already updated you about our discussion at TexworldUSA so now it's time to tell you about the most relevant trends exhibited at their Trend Forum. Overall, there was an abundance of texture, shimmer, sparkle, cutouts, and of course embossing. Shimmery yarns created a tapestry-like sensation in conjunction with iridescent details, sequins, and glittery bouclé. Navy took center stage on its own as well as in various combinations with nudes and yellows. However, the main focus resided in performance fabrics like scuba materials.

photo via Hyperbola

It seems like everyone is after fabrics that offer the newest technology, which is why we have to highlight the forward thinking company, Hyperbola. With a focus on outerwear, Hyperbola combines fashion and function that can fit into everyone's lifestyle. While they currently work with major retailers like Puma and Zara, they feel the merging of fashion and function hasn't necessarily trickled across from athletic wear. The Taiwan based company has already won awards for their 100% performance wool ski jacket which is almost identical to a classy tuxedo jacket. This jacket is not only stylish and lightweight, but waterproof, breathable, highly durable, water repellent, windproof, and super warm.

So what's our forecast for F/W 2015-16? Color palettes will shift towards a blue story ranging from icy to dusty to midnight hues with hints of teal. On the fabric front, it's all about performance features and technology so expect scuba-like materials to stick around. 3D effects were prevalent as in embossed textures, pleating and lace. Double faced fabrics as in sportswear inspired synthetic performance fabrics combined with traditional wool.Shimmer and sparkly embellishments are also keen to pop up, but mostly in yarn form for both knits and wovens. Digital prints, geometrics, and diffused floral patterns with dark backgrounds will be everywhere, proving spring themes can easily translate into fall fashion. Overall, we are looking at a growing relationship between fashion and function and a way to not only merge the two, but create clothing that can handle practically anything. 

Capsule NY SS15 Recap

The two-day long men’s show, Capsule, concluded last week after a showing of over 700 designers, including a mix of new independents and big names in the business. The event took place on the southern tip of Manhattan, in Basketball City. This great, open arena produced a laid back atmosphere, and mimicked the feel of the menswear products presented in the show. Capsule was all about casual convenience, even offering shuttles from Lafayette and back, discounted Uber rides, and access to an outdoor terrace with stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

photo via Capsule

Since the show began in 2007, it has grown from only 45 designers, to well over 700 as of this year. Even with so many designers at the SS15 show, there seemed to be an overriding theme – an understated sophistication that left us with the feeling that our lives are serious enough, and fashion doesn’t need to be. This West Coast, vintage inspired vibe embraced Hawaiin prints, short-sleeved button downs, and even the bucket hat! As an overall, we saw soft tailored pieces with a sportswear attitude – predominant colors of earthy tones ranging from moss green, dark greys, caramel and navy, with pops of color like yellow, orange and teal. If you haven’t already, invest in navy pieces for Spring/Summer 2015, because it is going to be huge!

Capsule was able to show a little bit of everything in men’s fashion. Overall, we saw brands not just selling clothing, but a lifestyle.

Iron & Resin, a California brand, based its designs around the surf lifestyle, while brands like Timberland focused on performance wear for men, showing breathable button downs in natural colors, Cordura shorts, and Hyvent Jackets – technology designed by their sister brand The North Face.

Japanese Company, A. Four from designer Kazuki Kuraishi, focused on minimalism, representative of the culture and enlisted the help of graphic designer, Lucas Price for a line of graphic tees previewed here.

Goodlinens, a new bath and kitchen towel brand, set to launch later this year displayed towels made from natural fibers out of flax pants and naturally colored.

Herschel Supply Co. showed off their line of wearable storage in coordinating colors, introducing a new salmon pink to the collection.

Men’s lifestyle and fashion mags like Cereal and Man of the World featured men’s street style and photography from around the world.

photo via Arpenteur

One design team that embodied the vibe of the show was Arpenteur, who were first timers to Capsule NYC. Arpenteur was created 3 years ago by two Frenchmen who took on making wearable and sustainable clothing – everything from raincoats made from the same material as sails, to a collection of knits from the same heather grey yarn. There is ease to the collection that clearly reflects the personalities of the creators and cartoons they watched as kids inspire the simple colors and lines.

photo via Men in Cities

And then there was Men in Cities a lifestyle and accessories brand based out of New York City, with an innovative take on selling to men. Men in Cities does all the work for you! They have created boxes inspired by different cities across the world that are filled with products that embody that location. For example, Men in New York would get gloves while the man in Paris may get a paisley print pocket square.

photo via Meg Company

Meg Company had one of the most exciting displays at Capsule, with everything from hats to men’s apparel and shoes…tons of shoes! Meg Company is ahead of the game when it comes to footwear for men with their camo print loafers, open toe lace-up sandals, and leopard print sneakers – all trends that we are only starting to see in men’s street style. Meg Companies practices in sustainability and quickly won us over. They make jackets from old US Army tents and use natural dying methods in the process.

Overall, Capsule was an amazing show filled with innovation and refinement – a move from serious to easy going is in store for Spring/Summer 2015 and we can't wait!

The Watchlist

There is a mix of cool and unusual collaborations happening across the board right now. From doing good to shared economies, technology, wearable tech, groundbreaking innovations, mindful consumption, and conscious consumerism, the industry is taking some revolutionary steps forward.

photo via Rude Baguette

If you're still new to bitcoin, it might be time you got acquainted because online European merchants are now accepting the digital currency via the merchant solution, Paymium. By using Paymium's API or plugins, bitcoin payments are not only cheap, but global, and more secure than anything else.

photo via The Independent

Ever want to design your own clothes but lack the sewing skills? Well, the Seattle-based company Bombsheller has just opened its own factory that creates customizable clothing. While the company is currently concentrating on leggings, customers can choose their own designs and tailor the size and length of the garments to their own specific measurements.

photo via West Elm

With headquarters across the street from each other in Brooklyn, West Elm and Etsy share many of the same values like supporting emerging artists and telling a story about the products they sell and who makes them. They both understand that the key is to create a connection with consumers through a curated selection of merchandise. What began with a collaborative catalog and evolved to Etsy pop-up shops in select West Elm locations, has now led to the creation of initiatives supporting local artisans and the launch of Etsy's wholesale marketplace. Now West Elm lovers can shop the retailer's Etsy page, West Elm Local, to see their favorite pieces and shop props from the catalog.

photo via springwise.com

In Japan, you can now give clothes a test run before deciding whether you want to keep or return them. Japan's Fast Retailing Co has recently launched a store using its GU Fitting service, which allows customers to try on up to 3 items after giving their name and phone number details. They can wear the clothing outside of the store for as long as they like under one condition, that the items are returned/paid for that day. While this was only a trial and was restricted to 30 customers a day, this initiative is a great way for customers to really get a feel for the clothing they are investing in.

photo vis Electronic Products

Microsoft Mobile and the British menswear designer Adrien Sauvage have teamed up to create the first wireless charging pants. With a Nokia DC-50 charging plate sewn into the pockets, these pants are made to recharge Nokia's Lumia smartphones and represent future innovations of our digital counterparts. 

MBF At TexworldUSA Roundup

You may remember us mentioning that our Creative Director, Manuela Fassbender, was invited to participate in Lenzing's Innovation Seminar Series at TexworldUSA last week. Manuela hosted and moderated a discussion entitled “The Future is now: New Games and New Rules," with a panel that included top leaders in the industry: Maxine Bédat, Co-founder of Zady, Liz Bacelar, Founder and CEO of Decoded Fashion, and Julia Straus VP of Partnerships and Business Development at BaubleBar. Held at the Javits Center along Manhattan’s Hudson River, the discussion addressed the major drivers in today's apparel industry and how to gain market share. We had an outstanding attendance and very thought-provoking conversations, so here are some highlights:

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

Maxine Bédat, Co-founder of Zady and expert in conscious consumerism, explained how consumers want to know more about their clothing. According to Maxine, conscious consumerism started in the food business and trickled down into fashion. She described today's consumers as the “Wholefoods Generation” with an awakened curiosity towards what our food and clothing is made of. Consumers are obsessed with plus factors – Made in the USA, 100% organic cotton, and so on, and businesses should take advantage of that. When it comes to fashion, we need to help consumers define what sustainability is.

Liz Bacelar, founder and CEO of Decoded Fashion connected and educated us on the merging of two very different players, fashion and technology. She examined how fashion is slow moving when it comes to technology, because there are little investors in pricey fashion/tech collaborations such as 3-D printing for personalized bracelets. She states that there is a major demand for fashion designers to team up with tech firms to beautify wearable technology in the luxury market. Liz gave us an example of Google maps working with a couture jacket where the wearer places their phone in their pocket, and the jacket vibrates based on the direction that Google wants you to go. Needless to say, the entire audience wants that jacket!

Julia Straus, VP of Partnerships and Business Development at BaubleBar focused on the play between Fortune 500 and startups. Julia told us how Nordstrom recognized BaubleBar after their 50-day pop-up shop in NYC drew in major crowds and now they are available on the upscale department chain's website as well as in 35 Nordstrom locations. Deemed guest bartenders, the fashion jewelry mecca now collaborates with influencers, personalities, and editors who lend an eye in designing an upcoming collection. The latest collaboration is BaubleBar x Frends, a full product line of Bauble Bling headphones that come with a complimentary pair of earrings. Wearable technology is one of the hottest markets right now and a partnership between Fortune 500 companies and startups can do wonders for both parties by combining the fresh and innovative with that of the more established and experienced.
 

photo via MBF Trend Consulting

While gaining market share is more challenging than ever, being able to analyze what drives the market from conscious consumerism, to fashion/tech partnerships, to alliances with startups and Fortune 500 companies will help to seal a spot in the industry.

To learn more about these influential women, read our Seminar Announcement here. And to check out our full MBF Portfolio, please click here.

MBF Profiles: Joseph Huba, Co-Founder of Bikestock

What happens when you take a love for biking in NYC and translate it into 24/7 self-service kiosks? Basically, you get an urban cyclists go to, or Bikestock, vending machine repair hubs that supply everything from organic chocolate to tool kits, air for your tires, and branded cycling products. Joseph Huba is not only the Co-Founder of Bikestock, but a biking enthusiast himself and through his experiences as a bike messenger in Brooklyn, knows first hand the importance of being able to stay on the move no matter the time of day.

photo via Bikestock

MBF: Tell us about your background, the concept of a vending machine that sells tools, snacks and other essentials and how it came about? What drove the concept?

Joseph Huba: I'm from a small town outside of Washington, DC and went to college at the University of Maryland, College Park. I studied Sociology while I was in school and coincidentally my business partner Matt studied Anthropology. The idea of selling bike parts and other small items out of a vending machine is not a new concept but it's certainly not happening on the level that we envision in New York City. Matt (co-founder) heard about bike parts vending machines in other parts of the country and came up to me one day and said “We should put bike parts in vending machines and get them all over New York City.” I needed no more convincing once I let the idea soak in. It made total sense because I was working as a messenger at the time and cannot tell you how many times I needed a bike parts vending machine and bike repair after hours. Essentially Bikestock was born out of frustration.

MBF: Why is it so important to keep people in movement? What is your mission?

JH: Our mission is to empower and encourage people to be more active. Being active helps you live a happier and healthier life and cycling is such a good way to do just that.

MBF: Besides the vending machines, you also have a pop up store and personalized tool kits. Can you tell us more about them? Were they part of the initial project?

JH: The pop up store was just a temporary collab with Urban Outfitters. They gave us the opportunity to establish a small retail shop and sell bigger items that don't normally fit into a vending machine. And the tool kit was an idea I came up with when we were spinning our wheels trying to get a location for a vending machine. The tool kit kept us from giving up and abandoning the idea all together. Neither were part of the initial project...they just happened organically.

MBF: How did you guys meet? What connects you? Is it the passion for biking and/or your lifestyle?

JH: Matt and I met while working at a restaurant/bar called Calexico in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Matt had just moved out here from the West Coast and I was already living in Brooklyn when he moved here. We had similar interests and tons of mutual friends. And Calexico in its early stages was a really tight knit restaurant; everyone was friends and everyone hung out after work.

photo via Bikestock

MBF: Your logo is really cool. Tell us about the logo.

JH: I don't know what to say about it other than our designer (www.davidwhitepond.com) did a great job giving us an identity. We showed him a ton of stuff we liked and didn't like and trusted him to come up with something for us. He hit a grand slam and we're thankful for the top notch branding every day!

MBF: Bikestock Kiosks have been picked up by Urban Outfitters, a fortune 500 company. What are the pros and cons? Can you talk a bit more about the partnership? And how did they find you?

JH: One of their higher ups saw our machine in Bushwick and e-mailed us about getting us in their stores. That's how we got in touch with them. The list of pro's goes on forever. Overall it's just a fantastic opportunity to test out a business in their market.

MBF: What is your biggest challenge? Where are your current locations?

JH: The biggest challenge is finding more 24 hour locations. Our current locations are at 49 Bogart in Bushwick and 1333 Broadway (35th and Broadway) in Manhattan.

MBF: Are you looking to do other partnerships with other venues? What is your criteria?

JH: We are working on a few things right now. We just want our future locations to be accessible 24 hours a day.

MBF: Are you aware of any competitors? If so, how do you think it affects your business?

JH: We are aware of our competitors and they affect our business positively because more people get to see 'bike parts vending machines', even if they don't say Bikestock. It's nice to see other people providing a wonderful service in a city that is full of so many cyclists.

photo via Bikestock

MBF: What are the key recommendations you would suggest for start up companies?

JH: Formulate your idea and get it on paper, then write a business plan, and don't give up.

MBF: Where will Bikestock go next?

JH: Who knows what the future holds for us....!

MBF: Our MBF Profiles close out with the following questionnaire – in the footsteps of Proust's Questionnaire and American TV show host James Lipton's "10 Questions."

MBF: Your favorite swear word?

JH: Fuck.

MBF: Your least favorite word?

JH: No.

MBF: Your favorite word?

JH: Yes.

MBF: What turns you on?

JH: Hardwork.

MBF: And of course, what turns you off?

JH: Laziness.

MBF: What sound do you love?

JH: The sound of an empty forest.

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

JH: Pro Skateboarder.

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

JH: The west coast.

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

JH: I'm not sure youre supposed to be here...