Hey All,
Sorry for not posting in the past couple of weeks…..closing in near over a month actually. I kind of feel like since I have been back from abroad and back to my campus life, things have kinda slowed down for the worst. I am missing some sort of creativity that I had when I was in Europe, and In New York City. Being in Massachusetts back in school, there is not much to see or do…..or maybe I am just not trying hard enough. I feel like I am a product of my environment, and the one around me is not that interesting………But, I will be going to Malaysia in approximately 2 weeks, so that should hopefully be the change I am looking for. I never been to Asia before, so I look forward to see what it has to offer.
On a side note, I’ve been looking for a pattern maker to produce the first design. Its been a harder task than I thought it would be, but I have to make sure I find the right person.
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I want to with life. Just waiting for my “Ah-hah!” moment.
Hey Everyone, ALLIANCE IFEAN would like to introduce its Chief Artistic Director, Aira H. She has phenomenal talents and superior creative abilities, which are aligned with the visions of ALLIANCE IFEAN. We feel very lucky to have her!
Could this be the future of Fashion in the skiing/snowboarding industry?
A one piece snow suit
While in Milan, I had the opportunity that some people may call a “dream of a lifetime,” which was to tame a true mechanical bull; a Lamborghini (Gallardo). There is something that catches your eye when you see a Lamborghini, perhaps a sense of ferocity as it prances dowe the street with its aggressive way of moving. Or you may just see an Italian piece of art on wheels. For me, I see a bull that wants to be tamed, that need to be tamed. Once my sense of sight adhered with my sense of touch, the touch of being one with the car, I began to see that my visions were just becoming a mere part of my reality.
When I turned the key of the engine, I felt an experience that I had never felt before…..it was the beginning of LIFE coming to existence. My body could feel the engine surge the adrenaline through my blood as I heard every cylinder of the engine working behind my ears. As I started to inch the car out the parking space, I could feel how over 500 hp of pure energy wanted to be put to the test. Driving this car in very slow traffic such as parking lots speeds required mental energy, because you need to give it short burst of power and inch up to where you are going rather than just leaving your foot on the pedal. I like to call it the “bull’s dance”, in which the engine is prancing, because it has too much power to be driven under those conditions.
Right of the back, you could feel the stiff, extremely tight steering. To turn the steering wheel you are required to have a little bit of muscle, to really get the car where you want to go. You really need to be mentally and physically focused when driving.
Driving the car, you could feel how the dynamics of the car were super elevated to match the engine: from the steering, to the rigidity, to the NOISE!!!! The Noise from the engine alone sounds like a bull getting ready to break through a cage coming at it with full RAGE! The noise is what ecstasy must feel like, because every time I heard I got shiver down my spine.
Driving in the city, I only got a couple a straight line shots, but every time I did, I put my foot all the way down to the pedal. The Acceleration alone feels like having an immediate thrust on tap at the push of the throttle. The best feeling that I could relate it to is being on a runway of an airplane getting ready to take off. The feeling of pure I had finally been running with the bulls, trying to unleash every piece of anger this car had. My body felt like a slingshot, as I would be pinned to the back of my seat under acceleration.
Driving this car feels like being on a high…..a RUSH of something that you cannot describe. Its evokes POWER, a sense of power you feel when you know you are the quickest, the fastest, the one that’s evokes the most emotion; the best at what you do.
I THINK IM IN LOVE
The final analysis we gave to the Emporio Armani brand and the brand stucture was
The vertical hierarchy of the “Armani” name as well as the Armani logos create a cannibalism between the Armani brands, as well as confuse customer perception.
What this basically means is
1) There is no clear distiction between the brands
2) Consumer perception of the brands in the group are slightly distorted
3) Brand ambiguity causes people to “surf” the brand(s)
The Giorgio Armani group is based on a vertical hierarchy, which means that the brands cater to different markets; from the ultra-premium market down to the diffusion brands to appeal to mass market consumers. With that said, our analysis shows that Armani group should take further strategic procedures to make sure that the “Armani” name is not diluted as a consequence of their vertical hierarchy company setup.
Neil Blumenthal and David Gilboa have started a vintage inspired eyeglass company called Warby Parker, in hopes of dramatically undercutting the competition in the market such as famous glasses maker Luxottica. Their vintage inspired frames are set to sell around the $95 price range, hoping people will looks at their glasses as an accessory. Their selling point is for every one pair of glasses they sell, they will give one away to someone in need.
Another vintage startup taken in a more luxurious direction is Noel Vintage Boutique, a high-end sunglasses retailer that specializes in selling vintage name-brand designer frames and accessories. Started by current Babson student Brandon Sicard, Noel Vintage retails mint condition, unworn eyewear ranging from the 60s to the 80s, sporting such designer frames as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. As a touch of exclusivity, to get your hands on one of these frames, customers will have to book an appointment in advance, providing the customer with the ultimate shopping experience.
To learn more about both companies listed above, visit
Currently, me and my team for my Fashion & Luxury Goods Management course in Milan, Italy are working on a brand analysis for Emporio Armani. This has involved taking multiple journeys to the flagship store located in the heart of Milan’s fashion district, going “undercover” as perspective buyers, and really trying to understand the conceptual thinking of the Emporio Armani label. So far, I can say that it is very interesting to see how a fashion company has to go the extra distance in order to build a brand and mirror it to the right consumer. But it is even more interesting to see whether their perception of their brand is actually being perceived the correct way. I will post an update on our findings.
For every entrepreneur out there, there is a car that has your name written all over it. Whether you like to drive (fast), or be driven (fast as well), here are the top 5 most BOSS cars.
Who says a sports car can’t have 4 doors? - BMW M5
One Turbo is good….. Twin Turbos are better – Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
Everybody wants a car that looks better than the girl sitting in it – Audi R8
Behind every good chauffeur is a fast car– Mercedes Benz S65 AMG
Social responsibility just got a little bit prettier - Fisker Karma
Picture the GAP and ZARA. American swagger is everything that can be bought from the GAP and European Swagger is everything and anything that can be bought from ZARA? See where I am heading?
In terms of size & fitting:
American: Loose; airy; squared
European: Form fitting; precise; contours body
In terms of color:
American: Usually solid colors, or follow midtones
European: Any color will do
Overall demeanor (for men):
American: Masculine
European: Metrosexual
