WebProNews

Tag: clothing

  • Victoria’s Secret Could Face Competition from Italian Lingerie King

    Victoria’s Secret is THE household name in lingerie, and there’s not really that much competition to that crown in the United States.

    You may not have heard of Sandro Veronesi or his Calzedonia Group, but it may be looking to make a big play in the US clothing market.

    The Calzedonia Group, which includes the Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis, Falconeri and Cash & Carry brands, is looking to come stateside. The namesake, Calzedonia, mostly sells legwear. Intimissimi sells intimates, and has even been sold in Victoria’s Secret stores.

    Together, Veronesi’s brands sold about $2.5 billion worth of intimate apparel last year. The company, based in Italy, has over 3,800 stores worldwide – but most of them are in Europe. Calzedonia has a small presence in Hong Kong and Japan, but the company isn’t looking to expand further in Asia due to their reluctance to deviate from domestic brands.

    Veronesi himself is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of between $1.8 and $2.4 billion.

    “We will start maybe from New York, which is a fashion city, and then we will expand in the major cities,” Veronesi told Bloomberg. “There is a dominant competitor in the United States, but that is maybe a reason why also women would like to have an alternative.”

    The company will be taking on a giant. Victorias’s Secret boasted around $11.4 billion in revenue last year.

    Victoria’s Secret is gearing up for its annual fashion show, which will take place on December 8th. Angels Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, and Candice Swanepoel will be there, alongside performances from Rihanna, Selena Gomez, and The Weeknd.

    It's okay to go as yourself. ?

    A photo posted by Victoria's Secret (@victoriassecret) on

  • Olivia Wilde to Promote H&M’s “Conscious Exclusive” Collection

    Olivia Wilde is the new brand ambassador for H&M’s Conscious Exclusive fashion collection. The Swedish clothing retailer announced today that Wilde will be the face of the Conscious Exclusive campaign, one of the company’s initiatives for what it dubs sustainable fashion.

    “Sustainability is one of my biggest passions,” said Wilde. “I’m proud to be the face of H&M Conscious Exclusive, a collection which shows the stylishness of sustainability.”

    Wilde is an actress famous for her role on the TV show House M.D. and for starring in movies such as TRON: Legacy.

    The Conscious Exclusive collection is part of what H&M is calling its long-term commitment to sustainable fashion. The company bases its H&M Conscious initiative on seven commitments including being ethical, recycling, using natural resources responsibly, and rewarding responsible partners.

    As part of the announcement, H&M revealed a bit about the upcoming Conscious Exclusive collection. The company stated that the new collection is focused on dresses and hand-drawn prints. The collection has also taken inspiration from African, Indian, and Asian cultures.

    “I love the look of this year’s Conscious Exclusive collection,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, head of design for H&M’s New Development department. “The pieces are full of character with the most beautiful prints, all made from more sustainable materials.”

    The new Conscious Exclusive collection will be available in H&M stores and online starting April 15, 2015.

    Wilde is well-known for her political activism as well as her support of environmental and humanitarian causes. She is a board member for both Artists for Peace and Justice and the ACLU of Southern California. She has participated in campaigns for President Obama, U.S. healthcare reform, and a variety of human rights issues.

    Wilde also has specific ties to sustainable fashion. The actress is a co-founder of Conscious Commerce, an organization that encourages retailers to market themselves through philanthropic fundraising.

  • Zara on Apology Tour over ‘Concentration Camp’ Kids Shirt

    Spanish retailer Zara is in full-on apology tour mode after pulling an item from its online store that, well, lacked a bit of cultural sensitivity.

    This shirt, seen below, was available for purchase in Zara’s kids’ collection. The long-sleeved t-shirt was pulled late Tuesday after people began making a rather sinister connection.

    A striped shirt with a big, yellow six-pointed star on the breast? What’s the problem…

    Post by ‎הלל גרשוני‎.

    Oh. Right.

    The shirt (since removed from the online store) was described as a “striped sheriff t-shirt.”

    And that’s the line Zara’s holding in the many apologies the company has been issuing via Twitter:

    It’s amazing to think about how many levels of approval this had to go through, and how it still made it through. Also, what the hell kind of sheriff has ever worn a shirt like that?

  • Miranda Cosgrove Stars In NFL Women’s Apparel Line

    Nickelodeon star Miranda Cosgrove and former American Idol Jordin Sparks have signed on and joined forces for a new marketing campaign for the NFL Women’s Apparel Line.

    Football season is just around the corner, and the NFL has already started shooting the ads to promote their new items, and show what the girls will be wearing this year in the stands while they are cheering on their favorite teams.

    Sparks can be seen sporting an Arizona Cardinals jersey, a controversial choice for the daughter of former N.Y. Giant Phillippi Sparks.

    “I was born and raised in Arizona. Although I have an allegiance to the Giants because of my daddy, I bleed Cardinal Red,” Sparks told PEOPLE. “I’ve always loved the underdog!”

    Sparks has always had a love for football, and she credits her father for instilling that passion. “One of my earliest and favorite [football] memories is when my dad took my brother and me to the training facility and locker room to play instead of school. Sorry, Mom!” Sparks said.

    Jordin took to her personal Twitter account to reveal that she had joined the campaign saying, “You all know I love me some @nfl football! It’s an honor to wear the gear & rep @AZCardinals!! Check it out!”

    Miranda and Jordin are being joined in the campaign by Gossip Girl star Vanessa Szohr, Disney Channel’s China Anne McClain and Victoria Secret model Erin Heatherton.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Blue Jeans And Skin Spikes: Bad Ads’ Photoshop Fails

    Blue Jeans And Skin Spikes: Bad Ads’ Photoshop Fails

    A facepalm worthy Photoshop job is one thing.

    But when a recent Target ad ruffled feathers with a half-assed editing job on model’s bikini clad body (no – literally – half of her undercarriage is missing), it was cause for questions, like: “Why’d they cut off her lady parts?” and “Will this mid-kini give me some sweet underarm and hip spikes too? Sold!”

    There was a hypothesis that perhaps a Target photo editor (finally fed up with illusory and mass distributed ideas of beauty) sabotaged the snapshot on purpose. I’d like to believe that actually happened, but I can’t confirm.

    In the latest, related, debacle with Old Navy, the company was slammed for allegedly “Photoshopping a model” to have a thigh gap too.

    I’d call the model “plus size” like everyone else seems to be doing. But, firstly, it’s a mannequin. Secondly, the sizing question is: plus what? We can’t say “plus-the-industry-standard”, can we? Well, you can if you like. It’s a free country. But if you feel empty enough inside to eschew that freedom in favor of chaining yourself to some Platonic barometer for where your own weight should be, you’re gonna have a bad time. Why? ’cause we can’t even tell what the dictated standard for body types are supposed to be anyway. Even super physically fit chicks get chop ‘shopped into some deluded ideal (or an Aquateen Hunger Force alien, if you’re Target).

    Thus, when an Old Navy mannequin became the object of controversy, it was a bit of a head-scratcher:

    Is Photoshop really the issue here? It’s a mannequin. If you’re going to ask about unrealistic body standard-setting, ask why it was constructed with unnatural body proportions. That said, is it possible that “Photoshop accusation” just sounded like a perfect synthesis of pity buzzwords for piggybacking off press of other companies? (“Old Navy’s the victim of haters! Put on your protest hats – we’re gonna go buy all their mom jeans in a show of solidarity!”)

    Better yet – can we please assess the false advertising that seems to be tacitly approved by everyone?

    The retailer stated, “At Old Navy we strive to show our customers the most accurate representation of how product fits the body.”

    Okay. That sounds good so far. But wait! There’s more:

    “This includes pinning garments on body forms to show how they will actually appear,” they added, “While we do remove these pins in post-production, we do not use any photo-altering techniques to deliberately distort the actual look or fit of our product.”

    Wait. What is this non-logic? Since when does “pinning garments” show how they’ll actually look on a body? The claim that clipped clothing hopes to show how apparel will appear (assuming they mean “on an actual body”) is like saying, “I am beginning the Big Mac, Little Activity diet to get a thigh gap.”

    Does anyone reading this walk around with clothespin laden garb?

    Wait! Is that what was underneath that Target model’s underarm?

    Time to spring clean these notional norms from our noggins!

    Have a beautiful day and remember – most models don’t even look their own ads.

    Images via Youtube

  • You May Be 3D Printing Your Own Clothes By The End Of 2014

    In early 2013, Objet partnered with fashion designer Iris Van Herpen to create a 3D printed dress. It was certainly a perfect fit for the world of high fashion where functionality means nothing and art is everything. For those who want 3D printed clothing that’s not an art statement, your day may come in 2014.

    Fast Company reports that entrepreneur Aaron Rowley has a new startup called Electroloom. The new company is working on a 3D printer that creates functional, wearable clothing. So far, they’ve been able to print sheets out of polymer fabric. By the end of the year, they hope to be able to print T-shirts, beanies and more.

    While the product is nowhere near complete, Electroloom is getting there thanks to a grant from Alternative Apparel. With the extra money, they’ll be able to investigate new materials, including one that’s a mix of natural and synthetic.

    Check out the video below to see the fabric material in action:

    Post by Electroloom.

    More amazingly, Rowley hopes to set up a Thingiverse for clothing. In other words, he wants to set up a Web site where designers can share their clothing designs with the world and anybody else can print them for their own use. Everybody from professionals to amateurs would be able to share their latest designs and receive immediate feedback on the latest fashions.

    Electroloom hopes to have a product out the door by the end of the year. With how amazing their material already is, I wouldn’t be surprised if people were created clothes with 3D printers by that time. Of course, you can already imagine the uproar the clothing industry would make if this were to catch on. After all, why buy clothes when you can design and print your own?

    Image via Electroloom/Facebook

  • Pretty Little Liars Has A New Clothing Line

    Pretty Little Liars, for those who might not know, is a hit television show that airs on ABC Family, with the story line revolving around a group of friends who, as IMDb puts it, “band together against an anonymous foe who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, whilst unraveling the mystery of the murder of their best friend.” And when the writer says this show is a hit, she means it; the show is incredibly popular among high school-aged viewers, as are the books the show is based on. So popular, in fact, that there is a new clothing line being launched with the show’s name on it.

    The clothing line surely won’t come as a surprise to fans of the show; the lead characters are often dressed to the nines, and style is a very important part of the show’s aesthetic. With that in mind, it’s certainly not surprising that Aeropostale would pick up the show’s fashionable, up-and-coming clothing line. Fans of the show won’t be disappointed, either; the clothes are being designed by the show’s costume designer, Mandi Line, for a four-season collection.

    Line, when asked about her involvement, seemed very excited about the opportunity and positive about her creations. She was quoted as saying, “I knew that if the cards aligned this would be the ideal show for a clothing line. It’s just so popular- a combination of the books, and edgy, savvy team, and a cast that embodies everything. The line is only going to get better and better.”

    Fans will also be pleased to hear that they can get their hands on a piece of the clothing just in time for the show’s return to the silver screen by shopping on the website, with the pieces being divided by character. This allows the line to feature all kinds of styles, ranging from “tomboy” to “girly,” meaning that any fan will surely be able to find something stylish to add to their wardrobe while supporting a show they love. And with all the pieces being between $18 and $72, a new addition to a budding fashionista’s wardrobe won’t break her bank, either. It seems like everyone wins with this line!

    Image via Twitter.

  • Olivia Wilde Helps Others By Being Consciously Fashionable

    Olivia Wilde Helps Others By Being Consciously Fashionable

    Olivia Wilde, 29, is taking Hollywood philanthropy to another level.

    The “Cowboys and Aliens” actress, who is also a first-time mom-to-be, has been working on elevating a benevolent online business that blends charity and fashion into one.

    Conscious Commerce, also what Wilde refers to as a”FUNdraising” expenditure, uses a shopping savvy technique that not only gives consumers what they want but also provides the less fortunate with what they need. By connecting brands with selective charities, it guarantees that proceeds will be funded to an organization.

    “It should be shocking when a product isn’t somehow helping the people who made it,” Wilde told Forbes.

    As stated on the company’s about page:

    “Along with pointing you in the direction of cool, ethically sound businesses, we have paired some of our favorite brands with small, locally run organizations, to create limited edition products. These exciting collaborations are our way of bringing together consciousness and commerce, and making them make sweet, sweet love…”

    The fairly new commerce delivers an online store that consists of a variety of stylish products. Every item bought encompasses its own donation component, but just not to any charity.

    Wilde and her partner-in-crime, Barbara Burchfield, have made sure to team-up with small, local charities that would need the extra boost financially.

    Deals with big-time clothing companies like New Light India ensures that they donate a portion of their sales as dresses to schoolgirls in India.

    Despite Wilde’s passionate zeal for Conscious Commerce, she feels that philanthropy is hard work and can be repetitive at times, especially when it comes down to pleading with the same companies to donate money.

    Thus, Wilde obtained her inspiration from traveling to Haiti with film director and humanitarian, Paul Haggis.  From then on, she decided to take a different approach to philanthropy and develop something that would ultimately be consciously fashionable.

    “By incorporating a giving back structure into small purchases, it can make a huge difference,” she said.

    Just last month, Wilde opened up to People StyleWatch about some of her beauty mistakes following her nomination as Revlon’s spokesperson.

    One of her issues has always been with her eyebrows, which she equated to “devil horns.”

    “If I brush them up they look like crazy, pointy, “devil horns,” the actress previously said.

    Well, two things are for certain, she is far from mirroring the facet of a devil and she knows more than she thinks when it comes to using fashion the right way.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Orange Is The New Black’s Taryn Manning Is Grateful For Her New Christ-Like Pennsatucky T-Shirt

    Tayrn Manning, who plays the role of Pennsatucky on Netflix’s hit show Orange is the New Black, like many other cast members, appears to be enjoying the spotlight as fans continue to express their appreciation of the show and its characters in interesting ways.

    Someone has expressed their love for Pennsatucky by taking the famous image of Jesus Christ holding a lamb, and putting Manning’s character in the Christ role. Manning shared it on Instagram, expressing her gratitude for whoever gave it to her. Now some fans want one too.

    If you watch the show, you shouldn’t have a hard time understanding why this exists. Pennsatucky is something of a Christian leader (albeit a violent one) in the show’s prison.

    (image)

    Orange is the New Black38 days ago

    Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett: former meth head and current miracle worker. http://youtu.be/nryWkAaWjKg #OITNB #Netflix

    Powered by socialditto(image)  398 likes ·  146 comments

    Fans can expect to see plenty more of her in the forthcoming second season, as Manning was recently promoted to a series regular.

  • Men’s Wearhouse: Zimmer, CEO, Is Fired

    Men’s Wearhouse: Zimmer, CEO, Is Fired

    Men’s Wearhouse announced today that the founder of the company, George Zimmer, has been fired, but did not say why.

    The announcement comes on the same day the company was to have its annual shareholder’s meeting, which has now been postponed. As of now, there’s been no comment from Zimmer, who was not only the executive chairman, but the face of the brand. He appeared in commercials, telling customers “You’re gonna like the way you look. I guarantee it.”

    The board said in the statement that they want to postpone the shareholder’s meeting so that they can re-nominate the current directors without Zimmer. The statement also said the board “expects to discuss with Mr. Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of his ongoing relationship with the Company.”

    The news comes as a shock to analysts, who say that booting a founder just isn’t done.

    “This is very rare to fire a founder. Founders are generally entrenched in the company,” said Eleanor Bloxham, CEO of The Value Alliance, a board advisory firm.

    Zimmer started the company in Texas with one small storefront and reportedly didn’t even have a cash register; instead, he used a cigar box.

  • Make Laundry a Treat with This 2-Second Shirt-Folding Technique

    I hate laundry. You hate laundry. It’s not that we hate washing our clothes or anything – it’s just the folding part that’s so terrible.

    Well, here’s a 2-second shirt-folding tutorial to help. Yep. Two seconds. For faster laundry. Or, you know, you could employ this technique to help out your local clothing store workers. Whatever fold you’re doing when you try on a shirt and attempt to put it back in the shelf – well, it’s not working. It’s actually quite terrible. And they know who you are.

    Seriously, it works. And it’s awesome. Lifehack+1.

    [via DaveHax]

  • Corey Feldman: Jacket From Film Finally Returned

    Corey Feldman, who was one half of one of the most awesome ’80s duos ever, says he’s elated to have the leather jacket back that he wore in “Dream A Little Dream”.

    The jacket was stolen from the House Of Blues in 2011 and, according to Feldman, was worth $100,000. When a Boston-area man found the jacket at a flea market, he returned it and was rewarded with a trip to L.A., where he was honored onstage at one of Feldman’s rock shows. In addition, the actor donated proceeds from his show to the charity of the man’s choice, which happened to be OneFundBoston.org, an organization that benefits survivors of the Boston bombings.

    Feldman starred with his best friend, Corey Haim, in the 1989 film; the two would remain friends over the years and even appear on a reality show together before Haim’s death in 2010.

  • Hollister, A&F Clothing Stores Unfriendly to Disabled, Says Judge

    Earlier this month, Abercrombie & Fitch caught heat for comments its CEO made in the past about the company’s marketing strategy. Mike Jefferies was quoted in a new book, saying that Abercrombie & Fitch markets to “cool and popular kids” and “good-looking people,” which is why its stores do not stock extra-large female clothing.

    The comments sparked a backlash online that reached evening news programs and even actress Kirstie Alley. A campaign to counter Abercrombie & Fitch’s message has also begun, with activists urged to clothe the homeless in Abercrimbie & Fitch clothing.

    Now, Abercrombie & Fitch is facing legal trouble over the layout of its stores. According to an Associated Press report, a federal judge in Denver, Colorado has ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister stores are “unfriendly” to disabled persons. Abercrombie & Fitch is the parent company of Hollister. The judge is now considering an injunction against the company.

    The lawsuit was filed by disabled Colorado consumers who claim to have had trouble getting into the stores through side doors and have complained that countertops in the stores are too high. The lawyer representing the disabled in the court case compared the use of side doors, rather than some type of access to the stores’ main entrance, with racial segregation. Lawyers for Abercrombie & Fitch have called this comparison “inflammatory” and have stated that the stores were constructed to standards in place at the time they were built.