Jordan Women’s Enjoying Triple-Digit Growth, Launching New Footwear, Apparel Collections - Forbes

fannygisele Haziran 26, 2021

Posted: 05 Feb 2020 07:20 AM PST

The Jordan Women's Flight Capsule launches in February, showing the continues push by the brand into ... [+] women's-specific collections.

Jordan

Jordan Brand's focus on building its Jordan Women's division has already resulted in triple-digit growth for fiscal year 2019 as the all-woman leadership team continues to create new footwear and apparel collections.

Don't expect Jordan to slow the momentum.

"A lot more people are trying to sell apparel to women than ever before," says Andrea Perez, global vice president and general manager of Jordan Brand Women's. "We want to offer new styles and innovations for icons for tomorrow and also prove what works and what doesn't. We want a line that is sustainable."

In that vein, the Jordan Women's approach takes a wholistic approach to women's footwear and apparel. The first-ever women's-specific product from Jordan launched in 1998 with the first Women's Air Jordan, a take on the AJ 13. But that was a while ago and the reentry into the women's market really started to take shape in spring 2018 with a footwear silhouette just for women.

"The Jordan Brand has always been connected to women," Perez says. But now with a full women's category a team prioritizing women's product, the two-year push has "been a fairly incredible journey."

The latest from Jordan Women's comes Feb. 14 with the full launch of a new apparel capsule collection. "We are coming with something that is unique and a good proposition for women," Perez says. "We are delivering styles and Jordan design elements. It is about the women's needs." The line, she says, thinks about everything from a women's perspective, from proportions to pockets. They have done sizing from a global position, with sizing for both Western and Asian markets, along with plus sizing.

Perez says they've traveled the world with employees from a variety of departments within the brand to find what women "want from the Jordan Brand and what they expect from us and what they didn't want." That allowed the team to put a collection together in terms of style and sizing. The balance of taking a new approach to iconic styles, all while producing women's-specific product for the future remains in constant discussion. "We are constantly talking about balance," Perez says.

The Jordan Air Max 200 XX.

Jordan

So far, Jordan Women's enjoys a three-pronged success to product, especially when it comes to footwear. The Air Jordan 1 franchise has proven popular and a "staple in her closet." From AJ1 new classics to the AJ1 Panda and the AJ1 Blue Chill, Jordan Women's is putting new interpretations and colorways on a classic footwear silhouette, just for women. Perez says it has been encouraging to see the excitement throughout the sneaker community, and not just from women.

The collaboration piece has offered a new entry for the brand, working with female designers who have taken Air Jordan models to new places, but also propelled female designers into the mainstream sneaker market. From Aleali May to Teyana Taylor, the list is every-growing.

MORE: Sloane Stephens On Sneakers, Jordan, Designers And Prepping For The U.S. Open

Even while creating classic products in a fresh way, Jordan Women's has put a focus on creating modern silhouettes for demographics around the world. The Jordan Air Latitude 720, for example, has proven popular in China. And the January launch of the Jordan Max 200 XX ties to the geometric pattern on the Jordan 8, in a modern design.

Building on the footwear success, the February capsule collection offers another perspective, including a flight suit that harkens to the flight history of the brand, jackets, sweatshirts, leggings and tops designed specifically for women. It won't stop there. Expect an expanding spring capsule and summer capsule, with a robust apparel line in fall 2020. "We look to continue to build this energy," Perez says, "and all the demand around the apparel business."

The expansion has helped Jordan Brand overall earn its first billion-dollar quarter with strong growth in North America and internationally. The women's apparel collection will help grow that base, with what Perez calls a really balanced reception across the world with markets hungry for the brand from China to Europe and beyond.

Building new product and working with athletes and collaborators starts with heritage and authenticity. That's why the flight suit makes an entry into this capsule collection. "Flight has been a big, big part of the brand," Perez says. "How do we get to flight? We are getting a lot of insights from our female consumer."

Each piece allows for versatility in how it is styled and worn. The jacket can be reversed. The flight suit can be cinched at the waist or cropped at the leg — or left in a neutral state. Pockets alleviate the need for carrying a bag.

Like the volumes, the capsule's color schemes project a future direction for Jordan Brand, eschewing traditional choices in favor of new neutrals — a range of greens and browns — juxtaposed with electric color. This is clear in the bomber, where sparks of neon green break through a predominantly olive pattern. Simpler items — an oversized T-shirt and cropped hoodie — plays with color as either a direct statement or subtle accent.

"The capsule collection is a beautiful blend of streetwear utility with fashion influence and is underpinned by the authenticity of the brand's heritage," says Michelle Walter, design director for Jordan Women's Apparel. "For example, traditional elements from MJ's original flight suit are brought to life within the bomber jacket's silhouette and featured Wings lines."

Moving forward, Jordan Women's will continue to build upon its growth and tie to a long history of connecting with women by offering a new perspective on a routine basis. "We always feel," Perez says, "whoever wears a pair of Jordans feels invincible." Right now, that feeling is extending to women in a completely fresh way.

Clothing exhibit features voices of 15 black women | News - Iowa State Daily

Posted: 03 Feb 2020 03:12 PM PST

Black Women's Style #2 — Fifteen women collectively loaned 40 items that they felt represented their "black identity," which are on display at the exhibit.
Logan Metzger/ Iowa State Daily

Editor's Note: A quote from a source included in the original publication of this article stated that the Krieger Board Room has paintings of only white men, which did not take into account the painting of Labh Hira, who is a past dean of the College of Business who does not identify as white. The Iowa State Daily regrets this error.

From hoop earrings and Doc Martens to dashikis and head wraps, Iowa State's Textiles and Clothing Museum is displaying an exhibition on black women's styles.

The exhibition "Collegiate Fashion and Activism: Black Women's Styles on the College Campus" will be on display from Feb. 3 to April 17 in the Mary Alice Gallery in 1015 Morrill Hall.

"As humans, we communicate our many identities, such as race, gender and social class, through what we choose to wear," according to the exhibition handout. "While the decisions we make to dress ourselves may not be conscious, they are always important, informative and reflect who we are."

In "Collegiate Fashion and Activism: Black Women's Styles on the College Campus," the curators analyze the ways black women college students attending predominately white institutions in Iowa express their black identity, activism and expressions of empowerment through fashion. They focused on black women's everyday clothing and its connection to black student empowerment on Iowa college campuses.

Fifteen black women college students who are currently attending predominately white institutions in Iowa shared stories through an in-depth interview about their fashion and style, which is on display for attendees to listen to as part of the exhibit.

The 15 black women college students who were interviewed for the exhibition are pictured in the exhibit and in an online catalog of the exhibit. Some of the women chose to blur their face or use a pseudonym for anonymity. The names of the women are Lucille, Princess, Nina, Donielle, Erica (pseudonym), Oni, Vashalice, Kara (pseudonym), Brea, Truth, Destiny, Viveca, Marie, Aja (pseudonym) and Bianca (pseudonym).

These same women collectively loaned 40 items that they discussed during their interviews, which are on display as the exhibit.

Black Women's Style #1 — The section "Black Girl Accessories" highlights different items black women add to their outfits, like hats and earrings.
Logan Metzger/ Iowa State Daily

In addition to lending garments for the exhibition, the women also provided images, which were displayed throughout the exhibition in large-scale prints.

"These 48-by-36-inch images were hung throughout the gallery in response to the ways that large paintings of white men fill the halls of many university buildings," according to the exhibition handout. "For example, the Krieger Board Room at Iowa State University has large paintings of [mostly] white men."

Through 11 themes, the curators explored the ways black women represent themselves every day in predominately white spaces.

The 11 themes include Messages of Strength, 90s Throwback, Matriarch, Self-Created Expression, Pride in Skin Tone, Cause Solidarity, Connection to Roots, Fearless Expression, Yes I Can, Powerful Words and Black Girl Accessories.

"Matriarch" focuses on the strong black woman leader of the black family — in this case, the grandmother. Vashalice inherited her grandmother's blue muumuu after her grandmother passed away in 2016. Vashalice wears this garment to remember her grandmother, who taught her how to be a strong black woman.

In "Messages of Strength," the curators shopped at black-owned businesses and advocated for black people in positions of power. In this section, there are two t-shirts on display that demonstrate how "black women can overtly show messages of strength," according to the exhibition's online catalog.

The first shirt is titled "Phenomenal Women" and features images of Michelle Obama and other black women who represent the significance and history of black women's impact on society.

The "Black Dollars Matter" t-shirt reflects the importance of supporting black-owned businesses in an effort to empower the black community.

"The phrase 'Black Dollars Matter' mirrors the phrase Black Lives Matter and the many initiatives of the movement, including resistance against white supremacy, uplifting black people and caring for black success," according to the exhibition catalog.

Black Women's Style #3 — In the section "Powerful Words," the clothing items present different intersections of the black community, such as gender identity and sexual orientation.
Logan Metzger/ Iowa State Daily

The exhibition was curated by Dyese Matthews, masters student in the apparel, merchandising and design program, and Kelly Reddy-Best, assistant professor in the apparel, merchandising and design program.

Though the exhibit was completed, according to the exhibition's online catalog, there were some issues along the way.

"Museums are fraught with white supremacy," according to the exhibition's online catalog. "In this exhibition, there were many instances of us needing to combat the continued and prolonged history of white supremacy."

The first instance was with the mannequins.

"The available mannequins in the museum were all made of white fabric," according to the exhibition's online catalog. "Therefore, while we would have liked to use these mannequins as is for ease and time, we decided to cover all of the mannequins in different fabrics to represent the variety of skin colors of black women."

The second instance dealt with the museum's collection. Due to the few documented examples available of black women's fashions in the museum's collection, 100 percent of the garments are on loan.

The third instance was with the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Though the board approved all of the data collection methods prior to the interviews, there was a hiccup in the standard process. The curators requested that the participants be able to share photographs of themselves that "reflected pride in their black identity," and one IRB reviewer made a statement about it.

"In this experience, the IRB reviewer asked that we include a clause that the 'women not include any images with illegal imagery,'" according to the exhibition's online catalog. "We questioned why this clause was needed, indicating that this would assume illegal behavior of black people, and the IRB reviewer reverted their request and approved our methods without the proposed clause."

Intimate clothing store Beverly's Secret in Roseland to provide body positive shopping experience - South Bend Tribune

Posted: 05 Feb 2020 03:05 AM PST

With a business name like Beverly's Secret, you have to wonder — who is Beverly and what is her secret?

"Beverly is my grandmother," owner Danielle Luckey said. "And she has no secrets."

Luckey laughed at the question and admitted she wishes her women's lingerie and sleepwear retail business had a deeper meaning behind its name.

"But it's just my grandma," she said.

The delicate ware business opened in November 2018 at its tucked-away location at 424 N. Dixie Way in Roseland, next to the American Pancake House. Luckey said the idea behind the business was to fill a void in offering more plus-sized clothing options.

"I have my bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising and we opened the store because we don't have a lot of plus-size things in the area for women," Luckey said.

Promoting body positivity is a major focus for the business in offering something as intimate as underwear and sleepwear. Luckey and assistant manager Adriana Jones say they often become their consumers' hype-women, championing different body styles and finding the appropriate clothing that makes the shopper feel comfortable and sensual. With Luckey's fashion merchandising background, she is sure to train each employee on how to fit styles appropriately with each shopper's body type.

"We become personal shoppers for them and grab a couple of items that we think would look good on them," Jones said. "Sometimes they're not liking (the items initially), but once we create a closet for them they will try it on and love it."

Lingerie often has a sexual taboo associated with it, making people shy away from discussing it. But Luckey and Jones say that is not the sole purpose of lingerie. Instead, at Beverly's Secret, they want to help women feel good about themselves.

"It just needs to make you feel good and I think a lot of women believe (lingerie) has to make someone else feel good, but that's not totally true," Luckey said. "What I love about our business is we have women who come in here and have no idea what they are doing or looking for. We help them and help them find lingerie they look good in … and they end up feeling good when they leave."

The store sells a wide variety of clothing, varying from everyday underwear and sleepwear to more intimate, bridal and costume attire, all in a range of sizes from XXS to 9X. The store also offers bath and body products like bath bombs, soaps and lotions. A big trend that Luckey and Jones have noticed recently is consumers are no longer wearing lingerie items strictly in the bedrooms.

"It's more modern because a lot of people are wearing lingerie out as an outfit," Jones said, "We try to carry some of that too, so it can be worn on more than one occasion."

"Everyone has a different taste when they come in here so we try to provide for that," Luckey followed.

Beverly's Secret is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. With Valentine's Day only nine days away, the store is gearing up for its busy season. Pink and red Valentine-themed outfits, robes and pajamas line the front of the store, but hundreds of other styles and colors are available in the back and throughout the rest of the year.

Breadsmith in South Bend closed

The website details the location at 2022 South Bend Ave. closed "due to unforeseen circumstances" and a sign on the door of the building says it will remain closed "until further notice."

Management with the South Bend Farmer's Market said the franchise owner called Tuesday stating the business will be closing and will no longer have a booth there as well.

The Wisconsin-based company opened its South Bend store in 2003 offering bread, baked goods and desserts. The nearest location is now in Palos Heights, Ill., near Chicago.

A corporate spokesperson did not respond to calls regarding the closure. It is unclear if there are plans for the location and whether the franchise would consider opening another location in Michiana.

Have you heard?

The Taco Bell at 13120 Indiana 23 in Granger opened Tuesday. It was originally scheduled to open in 2019, but hit some construction delays. Its lobby hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week and the drive-thru is open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. … Osceola dairy farm Crystal Springs Creamery now sells its milk products at Martin's Super Markets locations at 2081 South Bend Ave. and 926 Erskine Plaza in South Bend.