The collection can be divided into two styles, one which is more orthodox street wear with printed graphic t-shirts, shell jackets and embellished denim, and the other with a more subtle palette and follows a more mature cut-and-sew styling with oxford button downs, cardigans, and unadorned blues. The collection, aptly named, “Survival Of The Fittest”, is designed to celebrate Stussy’s 30th Anniversary, and points to the evolution of both brands through the years, and adapting to the market with incredible foresight and creativity for survival which I feel some brands should try and aspire to, not only in the realms of streetwear.
In any case, both labels have done way more than simply survive, and the collection is set to hit the racks very soon, on November 27th.
New Era XC has used the mould of the cult product as a platform for self-expression. Uniting nine decades of design and fashion experience with the creative minds of tomorrow. The international headwear and apparel brand welcomed a shortlist of 90 graduate artists from some of Europe’s most prestigious design schools to unleash their creativity on a New Era 59FIFTY, in celebration of the brand’s 90th anniversary. The artist who has displayed the most uniquely creative expression in headwear design will secure a £10,000 bursary, with the intent of assisting their launch into their chosen artistic career. The exhibition, will display the 90 works of art. The showcase will also play launch to the corresponding limited edition New Era XC collector’s book, highlighting images of the 90 works of art along with biographies of the gifted graduates, and a snapshot of the brand’s nine decades in fashion, design and sport.
What I have found from my own personal research within the UK retail environment and experiences when shopping is that the larger chain stores and MNC's (Multi-national corporations) want MASS custom, not MY custom. The service was less inviting and impersonal in comparison to a smaller, independant shop and even vintage/second hand shops. Smaller inde's are generally more welcoming and interesting in serving you personally I feel - probably because at this time more than ever, every sale counts! I think it is public perception that most local brands are synonymous with good quality and good service more than larger chain stores
In the current economic struggle and cuts, customer service is more important than ever! If the customer isn't treated right then they will be reluctant to spend their money - they want to get the most from their spending, which includes the in-store experience.
I say heritage, I mean heritage! Hestra have been making gloves since 1936 and is named after the Swedish town where the company was founded and is still run by a 3rd generation family member who still handles all manufacturing and material sourcing. Made from 100% deerskin with a 100% wool lining, Hestra haven’t held back on these gloves either, applying their mastership to create a super high-end glove with simplistic styling.
Contrast stitching adds a bit of colour-pop to the gloves which come in a really nice Tan or Yellow and a classic Black. Added detail such as the embossed collaborative branding on the wrist and the Norse tab that we have all become oh so familiar with are both nice touches. For those that know the Norse tab well, you may be shocked to see that their usual slogan of “Created to improve life. Good for all seasons.” has been replaced with “A product of the cold cold north.” ...Ice. Cold. Cool.
Sorry, it was where I got the idea of this post name from so I had to throw in a link// Classic old school tune, love it. 
I saw in Birmingham that both All Saints and Kurt Geiger within the Bullring had gone for the mass product look within their VM, stacked with surgically positioned and perfectly aligned grids which caught my iris'...
Seeing about 100 sewing machines meticulously placed in metal cages in the shop window, under low light, recalls the modernism push of mass production and how it was worshiped pre 1950s and makes an interesting, quriky and charismatic front window.
The Armani Exchange store has also used this idea of a hallway but taken it a step further by making it even more interactive with the consumer, employing a resident DJ to bang out the tunes in the shop window. Personally I have always loved this idea of combining fashion and live music and feel that it can be a really powerful method to talk to the consumer, obviously more so if the brand has a musical/creative personality or connection.
I think Selfridges, Birmingham tried to get away with just blaring music from the equipment and no actual real DJ a couple of years ago within the menswear section of the store. I feel that it is pointless just having the equipment and no one actually being DJ, pretty much takes the point away and loses the personal interaction value into just unneccessary loud music.
As well as offering more space for advertising and offering a slightly different retail environment (a bit like a club!) the idea of using a hallway style space is more interactive, giving a brand a few extra seconds to sell the experience/brand message which could have a massive impact on the consumer! I like it.
More visual trends, this time within the universe of menswear...
A key menswear VM trend, from what I saw in Birmingham specifically, orbited around the idea of alien invasion and space theme. The 3 White Walls Gallery was running a great exhibition called 
DKNY were portraying this theme with the words 'Just Landed' used in their shop window. There was a sense of delivery/industry with packages containing clothes, slightly deconstructed and damaged, perhaps dropped of by a couple of fashion conscious aliens (or am I talking out of Uranus!) The use of a green strobe light within the dark back drop looked different but would have been more exciting with several rather than just the one.
River Island. 
Topman.
Bang on Spring 2010 as we expect and love of Topshop.
