Supreme Spring/Summer 2007 @ Richard Kidd (NWS)

[j3rk]

Here you see a series of t-shirts of the new Supreme Spring/Summer 2007 collection that we have not come across so far. Overall there are two. The first one is the Cunt Tee and the second one the Satan tee. Both are hand-drawn all in black. Definitely a nice alternative to all the photoshop and illustrator designs that you see out there.

Richard Kidd in gastown has just received their spring 07 collection.

[rawb]

SOME BACKGROUND

SUPREME IS A NEW YORK SKATE STORE STARTED IN 94. WHILE NO LONGER PRIMARILY FREQUENTED BY SKATERS, IT VIRTUALLY TRANSFORMED THE LAFYETTE STREET AREA (NOW A VERY 'SHOPPABLE DISTRICT' WITH CLIENTELLE, RECON, UNION). SUPREME (AFTER THE FIRST FEW YEARS) HAS HAD A VERY STRONG DESIGN ETHIC, WITH COLLABORATIONS WITH ONLY PEOPLE THEY RESPECT. IT IS VERY ROOTED IN THE NEW YORK ART AND MUSIC SCENE. SUPREME WOULD BE A GREAT STUDY ON HOW TO GROW A BRAND WITHOUT HURTING ITS INTEGRITY.

EVEN IF THE GUYS IN THEIR STORES ARE DICKS, THE BRAND SHYS AWAY FROM COMMON 'OMG SO COOL BRAND!' PITFALLS:

-THEY DONT ARTIFICIALLY LIMIT THEIR STOCK. FOR ALMOST ALL OF THEIR GEAR, THEY MAKE ENOUGH TO SATISFY DEMAND, AND THEY DONT RELEASE NUMBERS OF STOCK PRODUCED

-THEY WORK WITH ESTABLISHED BRANDS AND TRY TO MAKE EVERY EN DEVOUR NEW AND EXCITING, NOT REHASH

-IF SOMETHING SELLS, THEY DONT DO A SECOND SEASON 'RETOOL'

-QUALITY IS VERY VERY HIGH WITH THEIR PRODUCTS, THEY EXPECT THEIR PRODUCTS TO BE USED AND SKATED IN

-PRODUCT ISNT OVERPRICED

SUPREME NEVER DOES ANYTHING EXPECTED, IT USUALLY IS 2 TO 3 YEARS AHEAD OF OTHER BRANDS. OLD SUPREME GEAR CAN FECH HIGHER PRICES THAN NEW GEAR.

THAT AND THEIR BOX LOGO IS SO ILL

SOME IDEAS THAT SUPREME IS FAMOUS FOR:

-THE RESURGENCE OF THE MESSENGER/BOX CAP
EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE A NEW TAKE

-BACKPACKS, EVERY YEAR THERE IS A NEW SUPREME BAG THAT IS DESIGNED, NOT SOME KNOCK OFF

-THE HEROIN CHIC/COKED OUT MODEL PICTURE (DID IT FIRST WITH KATE MOSS)

-THEY HAD THE FIRST HYPED NIKE DUNK, BACK WHEN NIKE SB WAS TEAMING UP WITH ALPHANUMERIC AND SHIT

ITS KIND OF SAD THEYRE NOW A TOURIST DESTINATION, THE AREA THE STORE IS SITUATED IN IS NO LONGER NEAR PEOPLE THAT CAN AFFORD THEIR GEAR. WHILE DESIGN-WISE THEIR GEAR IS ON POINT THEY HAVE KIND HAVE LOST THE OLD LIFE. ENEVRTHELESS THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A WEAK SEASON.

PEOPLE THAT USED TO BE AFFILIATED HAVE LEFT TO START THEIR OWN PROJECTS HOPING TO RECAPTURE SOMETHING UNIQUELY NEW YORK ABOUT A BRAND (A-RON HAS STARTED ANYTHING, A COMMUNITY BASED LABEL THAT PROMOTES NEW YORK ARTISTS AND IDEAS LIKE SUPREME USED TO, ALONE WITH A STORE)




RICHARD KIDD UNFORTUNATELY IS OVERCHARGING FOR SUPREME GEAR BY 2 OR 3x, WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING. YOU CAN GET A LOT OF STUFF CHEAPER ON EBAY, OR EVEN BY ASKING A FRIEND TO GO DOWN AND HANG AT SUPREMES LA OR NY STORE