Columbia's Successful New Look

by Rachel Decker

After years of "tried and true" and just plain "tired" designs, locally-based Columbia Sportswear has revamped their aesthetic to target a much younger crowd. The entire company, which also includes Sorel Footwear and Mountain Hardware, is on the up-and-up according to the figures from the third quarter of last year: In October, Columbia declared that its third quarter sales were up 16% as a result of increased marketing, new designs and technologies, and profits were up 11% overall. The outerwear company projects that sales will increase 17-18% over the year.
It seems that Columbia has finally figured out that people want both form and function, not just the latter. The transformations within the women's collections are especially noteworthy, with the designs moving from boxy, shapeless styles to new fitted and shape-flattering designs. In addition to new silhouettes, bright colors and bold prints characterized both the men's and women's winter outerwear lines, thus appealing to a younger ski and snowboard market.


The new OmniHeat technology is also a large part of Columbia's winter marketing focus. The OmniHeat line not only features new fabric technologies that supposedly reflect heat back to the body, but also features jackets, boots, and pants that are literally heated by an electric power source. Tim Boyle, president and CEO of Columbia, stated, "We achieved quarterly sales of over $500 million for the first time in the company’s 72 year history, highlighted by the global launch of our innovative Omni-Heat™ warmth technologies." This new and interesting technology, combined with the risque marketing campaign (portraying scantily-clad or even nude individuals in the snow using OmniHeat garments to warm up), has refueled a lot of interest in the company.

Image courtesy of Columbia Sportswear


Retailers have also taken a new interest in Columbia's new look - Nordstrom and other high-end department stores carried a large selection of Sorel boots and Columbia garments this season, further stressing the importance of capturing the consumer who shops more for form than function.


Finally, Columbia is realizing the potential of targeting a more youthful market, and living up to the stardards that Portland's active-lifestyle demands. Already a giant in the outerwear market, Columbia's continued success will be one to watch in the coming year.

Warby Parker

By Brittany Deyoe

Warby Parker. Who? If you’re in the market for a new pair of some nifty eye glass frames, for an unbelievable price, check out WarbyParker.com. I recently heard about this site after complimenting a woman on her frames. She raved about the site and told me to check it out.

Four friends got together to start the company and their message is totally right on. Eye wear is overpriced and boring (unless you want to pay a fortune). So they created WarbyParker.

Lovelybride.com

So Check this.

Every pair are $95 dollars no matter what, Men’s and Women’s.

Indecisive? You can have up to 5 different pairs shipped to your house, and send back the ones you decide you don’t want. They even slip in a pre paid return form.

Buy a pair give a pair. Buy a pair of frames and they donate money to a non profit that provides eye glasses to ones who normally wouldn't' have access to a pair.

Free shipping. Free returns. Sold.

“Say Something”

By Charlie Okada

Winter term has begun at the Art Institute of Portland. For apparel, fashion marketing and graphic design students taking the Fit 2 Print studio class, it is a term that has brought them a challenging, but interesting project. They are to be teamed up into groups of two, a graphic designer and an apparel or fashion marketing student, and will then have to conceptualize and bring to life two garments that “say something.” Each team is to utilize graphic design techniques and print processes, like silk screening and stenciling, to tell a story on a 3D garment. These creations are to be inspired by a book of the teams choosing and can be constructed out of any material -- be it fabric, paper, or recycled materials -- as long as it successfully conveys the message the team is trying to tell.

Instructors Melanie Risner, assistant department director for the apparel department, and Emily Baker, freelance graphic designer who has worked for companies like Nike and Adidas, supervises and assists in the progress of all the teams as well as encourages and cultivates their visions. At the end of the term Melanie and Emily, along with a panel of guest judges and faculty members, will review and critique all the garments created and will choose the best to be featured in the opening portion of the Art Institute of Portland’s 13^th Annual Fashion Show.

While we are only in the third week of the winter term, fashion marketing student Michelle Batol is excited and ready to get started on the project at hand. When I asked her about her hopes and expectations for the class she excitedly stated, “I hope I’m in the show!” Like her I’m sure all the other students in the class hope for the same thing. This fashion show is one of most anticipated events during the season and often brings in large crowds that consist of industry professionals, retail owners, up-and-coming designers, and the media. This show alone is the college’s largest fundraiser for the Creative Arts Scholarship fund, and to have a garment featured in the opening act and adding to the fashion show’s success would be a great achievement for any student attending the Art Institute.

If you would like to follow the weekly progress of all the different teams, as well as get to know the individual graphic and apparel designers, visit the Fit 2 Print blog at www.fit2printstudio.blogspot.com. Watch as week by week each team’s designs go from being merely an idea into a wearable creation that fuses the 2D and the 3D into one visually appealing, and inspiring ensemble. Leave comments for the creators as well as the instructors and hopefully your favorite will become a star in the Art Institute of Portland’s 13^th annual fashion show: Fit 2 Print.

This year’s fashion show will be held at Pure Space on 1400 NW 15^th avenue, Saturday, June 4^th, 2011. Doors will open for the Silent Auction at 6pm and the Fashion Show will start at 8pm. General Admission tickets are $20 a piece but for AI students with ID’s and those within the AIPD community tickets are only $5 each. If, however, a VIP experience sounds more appealing, VIP tickets can be purchased for $100. As previously mentioned, all proceeds from the benefit go towards the Art Institute’s Creative Arts Scholarship fund. Hope to see you there!

Fairy Tale wedding Gowns

Fairy tales are not something of the past, with women come dreams of the perfect wedding and a well played out princess theme and the gown. Lucky for women who have played princess when they were little and had their ideal character from Disney movies come to life Alfred Angelo's Disney Fairy tale wedding gowns. Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Ariel, Tiana and Sleeping Beauty are brought to life in full size wedding gowns to fit any woman sizes 0-26. With gowns like these you can get married on Disney property and have the Cinderella movie come to life, Disney has teamed up with the best of the best of wedding planners David Tutera and come March of 2011 for those getting married or just want to go to Disneyworld for fun to attend a Disney wedding show case and met David, dress experts and the wedding team and if you can dream the perfect wedding Disney can be your fairy godmother and grant it. Women, welcome back to your childhood.

Top picture: complimentary of Avantagebridal.com

Bottom picture: complimentary of Alfred Angelo's Website

A Well Prepared Man

Trends of the Fall 2011 Collections to start planning for today

by Devon Burrus

2011 is still baby stepping its way into history, yet in Paris and Milan menswear designers have already decided what it will look like when all grown up. For the past two weeks men have sauntered down aisles taking the limelight dressed in Fall 2011 style. Notably color is a big player across the board as a key element for a whole ensemble, and a way to embolden dapper Mad Men like styling. January’s cold winds may still be at your back, but now is the best time to start planning for the key jacket you’ll want to add come October. Start now, and you will have the time to dig through vintage racks, catch the spring sales, and save up for a designer piece that has some extra pop. Come fall you can flip that old line from your girlfriend on its head and respond with “This old thing? I’ve had it for months.”

Left to Right: Dries Van Noten, Louis Vuitton, Dries Van Noten, Jean Paul Gaultier, Agnes B., Comme des Garcons, Adam Kimmel. Images courtesy of Style.com.

Fortune favors the bold, and Fall 2011 has a rich palette of deep, striking color. The strongest new statement is with robust, mulberry red. This color is solid, and rich enough that a bold man may pull off a tailored velvet version like that shown by Dries Van Noten. For the less dandy inclined choosing slacks, jeans, or a blazer in this self assured hue can make up half a look will adding more than a dash of style. Heritage looks are still continuing leading to a forest green making its way into the lineup. Another great neutral with an individual voice that can also be a reliable team player with your existing wardrobe. Just don’t pair with the red unless you’re really in a holiday spirit. Classic navy blues keep up the saturated feel, and are pervasive enough to offer the broadest range of style, and silhouette options. Browns continue to add some warmth. No need to look like a chestnut that has roasted on an open fire though, stick to natural oatmeal, dusty camel, or deep chocolate. The “it” color is bright orange, with nearly every designer crushing on it. Even more somber, brooding lines like that of Belgian Ann Demeulemeester sent out a few nearly full body ensembles in this powerful hue. As with most of the moment colors though, keep to more traditional styles when picking pieces in this shade. One should never be owned more by fashion than their personal style. For those looking for another pop color purple in a few semi neon shades is another favorite; reference John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Jean Paul Gaultier for hue variants. You’re your eyes open though, as purple is just starting to make its comeback and will last past the Fall 2011 season.

Left to Right: John Galliano, Givency, Junya Watanabe, Agnes B. Images courtesy of Style.com.

Besides the strong new directions in color, coats are a distinct element to a get-up. Double breasted looks are taking over coats and suit jackets, yet the peacoat you’ve had for the past five years wont carry over. Length is being added to many styles, think mid thigh to polo coat lengths for a little added warmth and refinement. Along the lines of classic silhouettes leather, shearling lined bomber jackets are being re-imagined in sleeker forms. Combining the motorcycle looks, and fur embellishment of the past few seasons into a more tangible form these jackets are also great for functionality. Just steer clear of vintage styles that add unnecessary weight to the girth. Another classic look going strong are school boy varsity jackets; twisted though as the jocks of yore have been squashed under the rebel geek movement. This look is for the Julian Assange, and Mark Zuckerberg type ilk who enjoy the idea of fighting back in the digital age. Indeed new renditions of the staple leather jacket are big trends in general, yet a prep twist keeps it wearable. More laid back styles have some great new developments in the form of parkas. Keeping a down to earth sensibility without looking like a ranch hand is making this style a strong new wardrobe staple. Whichever look fits your style keep in mind while sleek and tailored maybe be a current trend, a good fit never did wrong by any man.

Oh, and don’t worry about all that plaid in your closet. The Wall Street Journal is convinced it will be around for sometime to come, but then again in Portland it never died out anyway.