LadyFrank

if you dig raga music, reggae, dancehall...check out my man Jackie Murda. He'll be in Montreal soon via NYC. Good people. Not sure what spots he'll be hitting up, but I'll post it as soon as I know.

check out Karmaloop...they're based out of Boston. Great people and great clothing.

also, check out digital gravel. it's a website based out of brooklyn new york...if you like brooklyn flava...check it out.

www.digitalgravel.com

Second hand shops run the entire gammut in this city. They can be ridiculously expensive, or totally reasonable.

Here are some high end choices (worth your while)

1.) Screaming Mimi's

382 Lafayette Street (bet 4th and Great Jones St)

(212) 677-6464

2.) Resurrection (2 locations)

a.) 217 Mott St. (between Prince and Spring)

b.) 123 E. 7th St. (between 1st Avenue and Avenue A)

Lower End

1.) Metropolis

for a little mix of old (vintage cowboy boots, souch boots, t shirts, pants, jackets) and new (paul frank, mooks, stussy, etc.)

? 3rd Avenue (East side of the street between 9th and 10th street)

2.) Treasure Trends NYC

204 1st Avenue (East side of 1st between 12th and 13th street)

3.) Search and Destroy

23 St. Marks Place (North side of the street between 3rd and 2nd Avenue)

358-1120

Also, for funky street style check out string of choice spots on Lafayette below Houston There you'll find Brooklyn Industries, Triple 5 Soul, DJ Honda's store and Supreme all on the same block. Just below Prince Street and on the East side of Lafayette, you can check out a new sneaker spot called Clientele...Nike, Reebok, Adidas, you name it, they've got it. I suggest you check out Classic Kicks as well...really chill, non pretentious vibe (Elizabeth Street...see addy in previous post). The LES is simply brimming with style...you can't go wrong really...just take a stroll through the area and you're sure to find something new and unique.

Enjoy!

What up.

I’m looking for people in Tokyo and London (1 person in each city) who would like to participate in a trend hunting study. This is a great opportunity to promote underground projects internationally and gain visibility in the States. We’ve got some big name clients who are eager to touch base with the creative minds like you, so if you’re in the mix and know what’s good in your city (and want to make some extra cash…who doesn’t?) then check the 411 below.

Project details are as follows:

Company: Why-Q (youth market research boutique located in the Lower East Side of New York City)

Requirements:

16-24 years old

Resident in London or Tokyo

Creatively inclined (i.e. art student, graphic designer, etc.)

Must own a digital camera

Project Duration:

6 months

Compensation:

$100.00 each month

Project description:

At the beginning of each month participants will be assigned “trend categories†to investigate (i.e. hot spots, cool shops and new music). Over the course of the month, participants will take 24 pictures of emerging trends that correspond to these categories and include a brief explanation of why they believe these trends are hot (two to three sentences should do). Participants will then email the pics and the descriptions to ME at the end of the month upon which I will compensate their time and energy with a cool $100.00. In other words it’s an extra 100 bones each month*.

*I know 100 U.S. dollars is standard for projects we run stateside, but I’ll inquire about conversion into yen and pounds. Ideally I’d like to hit you all off with 100 in your own currency, but as of now, I’m not sure about this detail.

If you are interested in participating or if you have any further questions, please contact me a.s.a.p. at [email protected].

Cheers,

Laura

yeah...what's the word on EM in NYC?

linked to the site, but can't read any articles.

it's hard to say on a location-specific basis. there are east coast phrases that originate in one city and then spread through the metropolitan areas. for instance, a few years back, i started hearing all my philly friends use the expression "that's what's up" as a reply to pretty much anything in any context...you ask me what i did today, i tell you i went shopping, you reply, "that's what's up." or i tell you that the price of milk is sky-rocketing (which it is), and you respond with "that's what's up."

"good lookin' out" is popular too...i think it's was also a philly thing. it's used in place of "thank you." for instance, when you pass the salt, or hook me up with a contact or something, i reply "good lookin' out."

it spread to new york immediately...then a few months ago, i heard a bunch of kids in baltimore using these phrases in heavy rotation. of course, i'm just assuming it was a philly thing based on the people who were using it.

just a couple...i'll try to think of more for you.

over the course of research, i've discovered exactly what you've summized.

apparently, the luxury goods market was booming a while back...since '96ish, sales have declined about one-third to 1.2 trillion yen (10.8 billion dollars). an article i read from the IHT online reports that "japan's population is aging rapidly, and the sluggish economy, rising unemployment and higher taxes mean that the smaller new generation of young adults have less to spend." this is meaningful based on the fact older/aging generations generally buy luxury goods...as opposed to younger generations.

i think that once the market gets better...all those women who are working hard and marrying late will begin spending more money on themselves...you know, splurging on luxury items. of course, the market has to get better first...who knows how long that will take.

Vuitton and Coach have decided to open stand-alone stores as opposed to remaining in shopping mall locations...but i don't really see how this would make a difference.

so, in other words, not a great time to break into the market...sounds like some serious barriers to entry.

thanks for the 411.

Desperately seeking info on the market for fine jewelry in Tokyo...

Is it sold in department stores or specialty stores? What's kind of people generally sport high-end designer jewelry? Most importantly, what brands are popular?

Any advice on how to go about doing research? Contacts in the market?

I'd be grateful for ANY insight...you guys are da' best

Cheers!

In Boston at the moment. Very "New England-y," which isn't to say it's bad...just lacking urban flava, if you know what I mean. Note: some of the street musicians are DOPE!

Pretty city, none-the-less. Lamentably, everything shuts down at 2am.

Being a huge fan of dnb, music scene bit of a disappointment (though it's an indie rock fan's dream). The only weekly dnb party is at a spot called Phoenix Landing, in Cambridge (512 Massachusetts Ave)...Thursdays. Met some cool cats from L.A.

Ganguin exhibit (his later works) at the Museum of Fine Arts...may be worth your while if you're a fan.

Satellite Records was a familiar favorite.

Check out Newbury St...some funky boutiques...also, Newbury Comics (somewhat famous).

As for hotels...can't help you. I'm at the Hilton Back Bay...very predictable digs, but comfortable.

Safe journey...and enjoy!