NEW YORK — January 17, 2018 — MISSION®, the leading performance accessories brand, with a singular focus on temperature controlling technologies, announces a new line of accessories inspired and designed for yoga, Pilates and barre enthusiasts. The new MISSION VaporActive™ Yoga collection uniquely leverages MISSION’s innovative fabric technologies to meet the needs of enthusiasts at every level.

The new collection was born from extensive consumer research in the fast-growing yoga category. The MISSION team used big data analytics to mine hundreds of thousands of conversations among yoga enthusiasts, as well as discoveries from extensive focus groups and interviews with yogis around the US to validate the findings. The research uncovered that current yoga accessories miss the mark in providing a comprehensive performance solution that includes drying, comfort and non-slip features. The new MISSION collection aims to provide fitness enthusiasts with an assortment that meets their needs.

The MISSION VaporActive Yoga accessory collection includes mat towels, ultra-drying hand towels, headbands and grip socks. Innovation is embedded throughout the collection and each item features MISSION’s VaporActive technology that provides advanced dry rates and odor control which is permanent, so it will never wash out. The MISSION Yoga Mat Towel features framed corners to fit securely over a mat, maintaining towel placement through all movements and positions. The MISSION Yoga Hand Towels feature a thermographic print that reveals itself when wet. The MISSION Crossover Headband is snag-free and secure fit, to keep hair in place. To address the importance of footing, MISSION No-Slip Grip Yoga Socks provide superior traction on any surface.

“MISSION is dedicated to creating smart solutions for active consumers at all levels,” said Scott Birnbaum, CMO of MISSION. “Our team actively listens to feedback from our customers and we continually hear requests to bring our temperature innovations into yoga. We studied the market and saw that consumers aren’t satisfied, and in many cases, feel that current accessories impede their progress. The MISSION VaporActive Yoga collection will change that to enhance comfort and performance for fitness enthusiasts everywhere and ultimately, raise the bar in yoga accessories.”

The new collection is also suitable for yoga, barre and Pilates, whether practiced at home or in a studio setting.   The MISSION VaporActive Yoga collection is now available via Amazon, Target, and MISSION.com with prices ranging from $12.99 to $34.99.

Posted January 17, 2018

Source: MISSION

LAS VEGAS — January 17, 2018 —This February in Las Vegas, SOURCING at MAGIC will focus on the most important topic for 2018 – the digitalization of manufacturing.   It’s a game-changer, and its here!  Digital Apparel Micro Factories, which can create apparel on demand and in extremely short periods of time, gives designers and producers powerful “concept-to-creation” capabilities. In five steps you can go from design to product – CAD/Design to printing to cutting to sewing.

“Automation will ultimately change where and how all apparel is produced – we are at a tipping point in terms of the technology necessary to move this forward, said Christopher Griffin, President, Sourcing at MAGIC. “SOURCING at MAGIC felt it was a very compelling focus category that all buyers, brands and factories are interested in and are seeking guidance.”

The Process:

• Create & prepare a garment prototype using 3D renderings
• Convert designs into printing data & transfer to digital printer
• Pick fabric using color management software & you are now ready to digitally print
• Send design to “heat press” which transfers the design directly onto the fabric
• Automated cutters the cut the patterns (sewbots)

SOURCING at MAGIC will let you experience the technology that will move your business into the future. Sourcing will host a micro-factory on the show floor, featuring live demonstrations of apparel production (the micro factory will produce tee-shirts onsite!).  The micro-factory will consist of machinery from EFI, Optitex, EFI Reggiani, Klieverik, Zund , Eton System, along with robots and sewing from Henderson. Several specialists will lead panels informing audiences on functionalities and the benefits behind automated technology.

SOURCING at MAGIC will host show wide installations, seminars and events:

FEATURED AUTOMATED TECHNOLOGY:

Pattern Making Software | “Sew-bot” Machines | Auto-Drape Machines | Hot-press Printer | New Digital Printers for Cotton

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPERS:

Eton Systems  | EFI | Optitex | Reggiani | Zund | Henderson Sewing Machine Co, Inc.

ON-SITE SEMINARS:

SMART FACTORIES: THE FUTURE IS HERE

• Digitalization of manufacturing is a fashion game changer linking the entire supply chain and no longer leaving the manufacturing in the “valley of analogue.” In order to meet these new challenges, manufacturers, designers, brands and retailers must adapt the new world of tech.
• Speakers include Katherine Stein, Softlines SGS North America Inc. and Joachim Hensch, HUGO BOSS/ SGS

MOVING INTO THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING FASHION: MICRO FACTORIES, FINISHING, ROBOTS and CUSTOMIZATION

• As fashion production changes at rapid pace, response to feedback and integration into flexible and lean manufacturing systems is imperative. Minimalizing the steps in the production process, the handling of garments along the supply chain including cutting and processing is a must for mass to customized production.
• We will discuss the future of robotic fashion factories.
• Speakers include Will Duncan, Executive Director, S.E.A.M.S., Frank Henderson, CEO, HENDERSON SEWING, Alex Vega, President ETON SYSTEMS INC, John Cote | North American Sales Manager, ZUND AMERICA INC.

DIGITIZATION OF SOURCING and AGILITY IN A VOLATILE WORLD

• Drawing on a recently released whitepaper from MCKINSEY & COMPANY, we will explore the importance of moving into the digitization of the supply chain for fashion products especially in today’s global world where technical, political and industry volatility reign.
• SPEAKERS: Althea Peng, Partner at McKinsey & Company | Advisor to Apparel Retail and Consumer Goods Companies  and Chris Callileri, Chief Supply Chain Officer, TORY BURCH

Posted January 17, 2018

Source: SOURCING At MAGIC

NEW YORK — January 17, 2018 — Steven Land, the men’s fashion brand, signs the legendary “Quiet Storm” host Lenny Green. Green, a pioneer and award-winning nationally syndicated radio broadcaster for WBLS, has been in radio for over 2 decades.  Over that time, he has become a trusted voice for his listeners and developed a reputation for being a “Love Doctor” by offering relationship advice and tackling tough issues.  Being a native New Yorker, fashion has always been a part of his DNA.  This partnership was meant to be, as Green was already a fan of Steven Land.  Lenny Green states, “This was an exciting opportunity for me.  I have many shirts and ties from Steven Land and now I get to represent the brand from head to toe.”

The Steven Land Brand is known for its cutting-edge style and innovation. They were responsible for creating the “Big Knot” tie and have kept the dress up style in fashion.  This is the first formal endorsement deal for Steven Land and they believe it will translate into greater sales and awareness.  The partnership includes advertising, promotion, social media and public appearances.  “These relationships always work better when they are organic, real and mutually beneficial.  We believe we have all the ingredients for success and can make an immediate impact; Lenny is our customer,” says Steven Landman.

The Steven Land line which has been mostly known for its fabulous shirts and ties has expanded its offering to include suits, shoes, socks, hats and watches.  The pop-up concept store in Harlem is open 7 days a week from 10-8pm, complete with an in-store stylist and tailoring services.  You can also find the entire line at www.stevenland.com.

Steven Landman came to America in 1986 from Israel and began selling ties for his brother at New York City flea markets. The marketplace was a haven for immigrants. It was a cornucopia of interesting individuals who brought with them their own unique cultures, backgrounds and styles. Landman interacted with them on a daily basis and developed an affinity for what the public liked regardless of gender, race or color. When Landman’s brother opened a New York haberdashery called “Tie One,” Landman became a buyer and a few years later he launched Steven Land.

Posted January 17, 2018

Source: Steven Land

Bowling Green, Ky. — January 16, 2018 — Fruit of the Loom is excited to announce a new partnership and licensing agreement with Goldbug, the largest distributor of infant and children’s accessories in the United States. This new relationship between Fruit of the Loom and Goldbug will produce a unique product line to cover babies’ needs from head to toe, which will sell at national and online retailers beginning in spring 2019.

“As a proven leader in the baby softgoods market, Goldbug’s focus on quality and innovative design makes them the perfect strategic partner for us as we enter this category,” said Melissa Burgess Taylor, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., Chairman and CEO. “Fruit of the Loom is known for its quality, value and style, and we are excited to offer innovative products to new parents seeking a known and trusted brand for their children.”

“We are enormously proud to begin a partnership with Fruit of the Loom, an iconic American brand recognized around the world,” said Katherine Gold, Goldbug CEO. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship with Fruit of the Loom, which will allow us to grow together and develop products that offer solution-oriented, pleasing designs that parents will love.”

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: Fruit of the Loom, Inc.

NEW YORK — January 16, 2018 — FINERY, the world’s first automated online wardrobe platform with predictive analytics for styling and shopping, announced today a $5 million seed round led by NEA with participation from Farfetch, BBG Ventures, Adrian Cheng through C Ventures, Correlation Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Halogen Ventures, RetailMeNot Founder & CEO Cotter Cunningham and TheSkimm founders, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg. The company is founded by CEO Whitney Casey (former CNN anchor and best-selling author) and Brooklyn Decker (actor and model) acts as the company’s Chief Design Officer.

Funds from this round will be used to grow the company’s team of top developers and data scientists. With a proprietary, automated backend process, FINERY integrates seamlessly with a user’s shopping history and purchase patterns, optimizing the second most valuable room in the home – a woman’s closet. Since launch, the platform has garnered more than 100,000 users.

FINERY is taking a technology-first approach to fashion, retail and a woman’s personal wardrobe, a space typically dominated solely by e-commerce. The consumer-facing platform allows women to shop across any brand or retailer and see all their purchases instantly in one place. From here, FINERY helps generate styled looks from the items users have already purchased and is building highly personalized shopping recommendation processes based on what each user already owns, reducing redundancies. FINERY’s proprietary technology acts as a consumer advocate, empowering women to own their information on wardrobe spending and use it to their benefit by making more informed decisions about how they budget their time and money.

To further help women shop smarter, the platform’s management technology detects recent purchases, providing alerts when an item’s return window is about to expire, while also monitoring for potential price adjustments. In addition, the platform notifies users when items they have been looking to buy go on sale.

“With thoughtful investors from both tech and fashion by our side, we’re committed to building out the most powerful set of software tools that are easy to use and invaluable to savvy female consumers – the kind of technology that makes women smarter about how they spend their money, style themselves and shop everyday,” said Whitney Casey, co-founder and CEO of FINERY. “We are the first consumer facing, apparel based data company to capture and understand these deep insights and then seamlessly put that powerful information directly to work for the women that data belongs to. We don’t want to sell women more ‘stuff,’ we want to help them to wear the things they already own, potentially monetize their closets and then give them tools to shop more strategically.”

“The team at FINERY is creating a completely connected closet platform, closing the retail loop from purchase to recommerce,” said Tony Florence, general partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA). “They’ve built a powerful algorithm that combines inventory management, styling, purchasing and accessibility to help an individual manage her wardrobe. The technology is unique in that it’s the first time we can understand the entire lifecycle of a wardrobe, from purchase, to usage, to the day it either gets retired or resold.”

This round of investors joins FINERY’s founding angel investors, including Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick, former professional tennis player; Miroslava Duma, founder and CEO of Fashion Tech Lab; and Nasiba Adilova, co-founder of The Tot.

Early adopters of the platform include Lauren Santo Domingo, Vogue contributing editor and co-founder of Moda Operandi; Christine Centenera, Vogue fashion director; Bobbie Thomas, style editor of NBC’s Today Show; Rachel Zoe, designer and celebrity stylist; Molly Sims, model and author; Kelly Wearstler, interior designer; Leandra Medine, founder of Man Repeller; Danielle Bernstein, founder of We Wore What; and Emily Schuman, founder of Cupcakes and Cashmere.

Posted January 16, 2018

Source: FINERY