At Your Convenience

Despite so much saturation in the marketplace, there are a few brands doing things differently by acting as a disrupter and defying the norm. Rather than doing the same old thing, these are the fearless, the risk takers, and the innovative, who take radical ideas and tailor them to reality. Companies like Zappos with their new self-governing structure and Amazon's mobile warehouse robots, are just a few of the businesses challenging the current industry.

photo via USA Today

Pop-up retail shops and restaurants really aren't anything new but they are becoming more and more common in airports as of late. Not only do they offer a chance to test out new brands and concepts, but they provide relevant merchandise and speciality gifts that coincide with the season. Just last October JetBlue hosted a three day Farmers Market at JFK and as we mentioned previously the ethically-minded website Zady set up a temporary shop at LaGuardia for the holidays.

photo via Business of Fashion

While most offline companies are moving online, Net-a-Porter is doing things a bit backwards. The e-tailer which deems itself as less of a retailer and more like a media company, feels it is missing the most basic component, a print magazine. With such a global following, the magazine called Porter, will be distributed in 60 countries and is giving Net-a-Porter a chance to partner with brands that have been apprehensive about selling their products to them, like Chanel and Dior. Their debut issue which will contain 65% editorial content will not only drive traffic to their e-commerce site, but also to those of its advertisers as well. By taking this omni-channeling approach, the company hopes to expand their audience and generate advertising revenue in the process.

photo via Mashable

Sure we have the luxury of shopping at the click of a finger anywhere, anytime but living the busy lives that we do, how do we avoid all those pesky missed delivery notifications? Now with the new delivery service Parcel, New Yorkers can shop online with ease and receive packages at a time that is most convenient for them. Basically, Parcel gives you a unique address to one of their facilities which you enter as the shipping destination for your purchases. Once they receive your package, you are notified via text to schedule a delivery anywhere between the hours of 7pm and 11pm for just $5 a package.

photo via springwise.com

There's even an app that can make all your tickets go away. Fixed enables you to take a photo of your tickets, upload them on the app, and have them challenged in court by a team of experts. If you win, you pay the team 25% of your ticket and if not, well you're stuck paying the fine but what do you really have to lose? Unfortunately, it's only available in San Francisco right now but hopefully will be expanding to a city near you soon.

The keyword here seems to be convenience and what's more accommodating than ordering Taco Bell via text? While that may take until the end of the year, one thing is for sure it's all about learning to adapt to change and evolving with it. We are mobile users that are constantly on the go so we look to things that are user friendly and make our lives a little bit easier in the long run.

Today we'd like to leave you with some of the top names to keep in mind for the rest of the year so please check out Fast Company's list of "The World's Most Innovative Companies in 2014."

The Object of Desire

With the events in Bangladesh all over the media, questions of what, where, and how to shop have moved to the forefront of our attention. These disasters have sparked the approval of a European-led safety accord which proposes obligatory factory inspections in Bangladesh over the next nine months. Overall, we are becoming more transparent, because there is no other way, with information and scandals so readily available to the public. Companies have a choice to either continue making a quick buck and risk damaging their brand's reputation or start to revolutionize the way they are doing things by making smart decisions and listening to their consumers.

Where are we standing today with our consumption patterns? What technologies, innovations, and initiatives exist in the textile industry to help consumers make a better choice and diminish waste? As we ask ourselves these questions, we become more conscious and continue to demand more sustainable, ethical products made available.

photo via Los Angeles Times

Let's face it, we all have way too much stuff and reusing, remaking, and buying less have been key topics in the industry for a while now. It's about time retailers tailor their retail models to adapt to these changing ideals.

video via Yerdle

One method is a collective consumerism approach like that of the website, Yerdle, which shares underused items like clothing and electronics to friends free of charge. Others like Hello Rewind, sell goods reworked from scraps by making t-shirts into laptop sleeves. Rather than necessarily reducing an item's footprint (which we have still yet to fully comprehend), the idea is to extend not only a product's life cycle but overall value for as long as possible.

photo via ecouterre

The fast fashion retailer, Topshop has upcycling on the mind as they collaborate with Orsola de Castro to release their second "Reclaim to Wear" Collection. The capsule collection is constructed from production offcuts and surplus stock to create items like delicate floral printed silks, sleeveless dresses with lace panels, and matching camisole and culotte separates. According to Topshop's head of sourcing and technical services, Stephen Mongan, "The inspiration behind the collection was to turn away from disposable fashion, giving a new lease of life to disregarded prints from previous seasons." Hopefully Topshop will keep these efforts up and challenge themselves to further integrate this design method into more of their core collections by reworking both fabrics and prints.

photo via USA Today

For most, it's all about recycling, which is deeply engrained in social responsibility initiatives across the board. From curbside pickups to clothing collection bins, many local governments around the nation are supporting this recycling boom by instilling more accessible channels in cities, towns and apartment buildings. Even some major retailers like The North Face and H&M are promoting in-store containers for donating clothes by offering shopping incentives.

video via Gustin

However, in today's day and age, it's just as much about fortune 500 companies as it is about startups, which are leaving traditional means behind, experimenting, creating, and most importantly, directly connecting with consumers. Gustin, a premium menswear denim brand, is one company making changes as they operate an entirely online, direct-to-consumer, crowdfunded business model. Not only are all jeans produced right in San Francisco, but the label really focuses on giving the customer what they want by letting them decide what actually goes into production. In other words, rather than producing what they think will sell, they only make what their customers actually want and sell it to them at a lower price point in the process.

video via Fashion United

Whether we like it or not, the best thing to help us move forward towards a more sustainable and ethically minded industry is nonetheless through technology. From technically enhanced fabrications to innovative gadgets to a continued commitment to sustainability, Nike has got to be the most cutting edge company out there. They are making huge strides in the industry once again with their new Making app which assists designers by evaluating materials based on four environmental components including water, energy, chemistry and waste. By pulling data from Nike's Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) from the past seven years, the app can offer comparisons based on how various textiles rank on a sustainable level. This tool will not only further educate designers but give them the accessibility to make better choices about what they use and how.

photo via Continuum Fashion

We've talked about the digital printing revolution before but we can't emphasize enough how revolutionary this is. As 3D printers become more and more affordable and reach businesses on a large scale, they will continue to be another major factor pushing sustainability forward. With techniques that precisely cut patterns and molds, these printers enormously reduce excessive waste. Not to mention, they can create products on demand which could ultimately eliminate manufacturing minimums. We highlighted Continuum Fashion's Constrvct in the past, but we have to mention some of their more recent accomplishments which include a 3D printed shoe collection, a wearable bikini and software which allows a LBD to be created in mere minutes. 3D printing is here and it may be coming to a home near you sooner than you think! 

Despite everything being at our fingertips, we still need to be mindful about what we are buying and where it is coming from, even if it requires a little extra research of our own. Even though we as consumers are demanding sustainable and ethical products, the overall industry is just beginning to learn how to adapt to this. Unfortunately you really can't believe everything you hear, and hopefully as we move towards a more transparent lifestyle, with more unified standards in place, we will be able to depend on retailers and brands to administer smarter and safer practices. When tragedy strikes, people come together so we really hope (and firmly believe) that the industry can fully join forces and make it a better place for everyone, everywhere. 

Do Something

In honor of Earth month, we wanted to take some time out and think about what's really important, the world around us and the people we share it with! Despite all the scandals and fast fashion allegations going on, there are tons of companies, celebrities and new initiatives celebrating our precious planet and trying to make a real difference.

With so many things going on in the world including unstable global economies and countless people in need, giving a hand doesn't necessarily mean what you would conventionally think. Whether it's buying products that have more longevity, donating time and/or money to a cause or building a DIY urban garden, what matters is that you are doing something. 

photo via Burt's Bees

First off, we bet you have no idea that some of the smaller, sustainable brands you are supporting are actually owned by larger corporations. For instance, Honest Tea is owned by The Coca-Cola Company and Burt's Bees by The Clorox Company, to name a few. These partnerships create a win-win situation as smaller companies gain resources and larger distribution networks and corporations begin to learn the ins and outs of sustainable operations.

photo via Pickwick & Weller

In today's workplace, the t-shirt, has taken on a new role of professional acceptance. Ashton Kutcher's e-commerce startup, Pickwick & Weller, strives to design, manufacture, and sell "the perfect t-shirt." This vertically integrated online brand is based in LA and appeals to the modern creative type, by offering an assortment of luxury products made of everything from supima to modal cotton, cashmere, linen and silk. The company even brings the fitting room to your home by sending you t-shirts free of charge so you can find the perfect style for you.

photo via Ecouterre

One of the simplest ways we can be more sustainable is by repairing damages to our own clothing. With this idea in mind, denim label, Self Edge, has launched a vintage hemming and repair studio in San Francisco called Darn It!. The space, which is dedicated to everything denim from tailoring stations to restored vintage sewing machines, provides authentic and quality repairs. From fixing holes without patches to replacing buttons and zippers, all repairs cost a flat rate of $40. We don't know about you, but saving a favorite pair of jeans is priceless and not only for our wallets!

photo via Huffington Post

Two of everyone's favorites, Halle Berry and Michael Kors have teamed up in the fight against hunger with their campaign, Watch Hunger Stop. With this initiative, for every Kors' bestselling Runway watch that sells at $295, 100 meals will be donated to children through the U.N. World Food Programme. Together, the pair plans on visiting some of the places meals will be sent which could include Africa, Syria and perhaps Central America. Halle who just announced the pregnancy of her second child, hopes to educate women on prenatal care and talk to mothers struggling to feed themselves and their children. 

video via Vogue UK

On June 1st, as part of Gucci's Chime for Change, a global concert will take place in London to raise awareness and money for female empowerment. Headlined by none other than Beyoncé with additional performances by Florence and the Machine, Ellie Goulding, Izzy, Azalea and Rita Ora, among others, this event calls to bring education, justice and health for girls and women to a worldwide platform. 

photo via Earth Day New York

So this month, with the onset of warmer temperatures and sunshine, take some time to appreciate your local community and environment. If you happen to be in the NY metro area this weekend, make sure to check out the Green Festival at the Javits Center or celebrate with free live performances, displays and exhibits at Union Square on Sunday. We can't do it all alone, but if we team up to combine our resources, one step at a time, anything is possible. 

New Demands

December 21st marked a global shift in consciousness and the beginning of a new era. This combined with the start of a fresh year calls for us to re-evaluate our lives, relationships with others and how we treat the world around us. We talk about this “shift” all the time and it’s here, as we establish a new set of demands. Our core values and beliefs are changing from young to old, east to west, as we begin to embrace lives full of meaning, passion and new experiences.

photo via NY Times

For some, this change starts at dinner as we bring manners back to the table. Chenery Park, a restaurant in San Francisco, hosts Tuesday "family nights" where children are expected to behave and practice basic etiquette. This restaurant is one of many etiquette based businesses who are trying to preserve and pass down the art of politeness to future generations who are too busy living in today's techno-crazed age. Even China is seeing a surge of interest in learning western etiquette in an effort to politely engage universally across many cultures.

photo via ft.com

Speaking of China, as double digit wage increases continue, many companies are shifting production out of the country to cheaper places like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and especially Cambodia, where productivity rates are rapidly improving. Look at Taiwan, who has built an entire high-tech fabric niche on behalf of companies exiting mainland China because of its terrible quality control measures. However, things seem to be finally getting better in China for employees as some plants begin to thoroughly re-evaluate workers' rights by regulating hours and upgrading their comfort standards by offering them chairs with more support.

photo via ft.com

Meanwhile, retailers push the limits ever so slightly as they test out high speed deliveries like Walmart, with its same day delivery service during the holidays. This initiative has developed as a response to companies who are entirely based online, like Amazon and Ebay's ability to speed up delivery times because of their more flexible business models. While the actual logistics of how many consumers prefer this method and how much costly it actually is remains under consideration, one thing is for sure, brick and mortar stores will not be able to compete with this pursuit for immediacy by e-commerce retailers.

photo via Chicago Tribune

We've discussed the importance of the "Made In America" initiative before on our blog and now it's really about to catch on as the largest retailer in the US, Walmart, seeks a more local approach to the way they do business. The retailer's plans include both buying an additional $50 billion in U.S. made goods over the next decade as well as hiring over 100,000 veterans over the next five years. Whether this is a response to their supposed low wages or merely a shift in business models, it is a monumental move that will hopefully unfold further for other retailers in the near future.

video via ecouterre.com

After major pressure from Greenpeace campaigns, Inditex, the parent company of Zara has pledged to eliminate all toxic and hormone disrupting chemicals from their supply chain by 2020. Other major commitments by Adidas, C&A, H&M, LI-Ning, Nike, Puma and Marks & Spencer are marking the beginning of healthier, cleaner and more transparent supply chains industry-wide. These instances reflect the changing demands of both the consumer and market to re-evaluate how we do things and figure out a more sustainable solution for this planet and its inhabitants.

photo via ft.com

No generation is more dedicated to a healthier lifestyle than Generation Y and the automotive industry is feeling the hit from it. Especially in more urbanized communities like Williamsburg, Brooklyn, there is a decline in car usage because for many young people, the car no longer serves as a status symbol. Instead, over the past few years, biking has made a major comeback to not only represent our lifestyle choices but a more cost conscious alternative to rising gas and insurance prices. Just as more innovative technology has reinvented the fashion world, car companies are going to have to develop new features that appeal to Millennials in order to win over this market.

video via ecouterre.com

In the past, all theses changing needs may have triggered major stress but not anymore. Bandu, a wristwatch that monitors stress levels before you even realize you are getting worked up, offers calming alternatives like listening to music, calling a friend or simply taking a few breaths to help you deal. This is one of many gadgets out there that focuses on our well being and making our lives a little bit simpler. Other forward thinking concepts on the rise include online banking start-ups like Simple, which offer free checking and a data heavy way to observe your spending habits and Polaroid who has experimented with retail locations so consumers can turn their mobile photos (which typically remain in digital format), into real-life keepsakes. 

Our demands are changing and our attitudes shifting. We are at a point where we are re-evaluating how we do everything to make it better, faster and more convenient. However, it's a learning process and a balance between more traditional aspects and advancing technology still exists and it probably will forever. We need to evolve but still remember who we are and where we come from. So take a leap forward, make a difference by doing something nice for someone today and remember to stand by what you believe in. 

The Gap (San Francisco)

The economic downturn has been punishing for many apparel companies and designers, but it could prove to be a new beginning for the Gap. After all, while the economy grew in recent years, the 40-year-old basics chain floundered; but with fashion-world darling Patrick Robinson at the helm, and shoppers increasingly seeking value for their limited budgets, the Gap may just be poised to reclaim its position as America's go-to line for simple, reasonably priced clothes. 

Collaborations? They've got 'em -- and juicy ones at that. Pierre Hardy shoes, Albertus Swanepoel hats, the annual white shirt collections from CFDA/Vogue nominees... and most recently, from the company that continued to crank out mom jeans well into the new millennium, a surprisingly up-to-date new denim collection. Robinson challenged designers from higher-priced denim lines to see what they could produce for the Gap's under-$60 price range, and they came out with a worn-in boyfriend jean and a super-skinny cigarette jean that, at least in thumbnail-size photos, rival any designer version. In a ringing endorsement from the fashion world, Style.com has gone so far as to include the fall collection among the runway shows on their website, alongside such up-and-comers as Josh Goot and Cushnie et Ochs. 

Still, the company's website and in-store merchandising don't yet seem to reflect Robinson's high-fashion-at-low-prices vision. Which makes us wonder: Will we see a gradual roll-out, or is corporate hobbling him? Can the Gap become the Uniqlo of the USA? It could be. It just could be.