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I want to make a collection of 3 socks - a sparkly sock, and fluffy sock and a patterned sock
Bright bold colours, fun textures, paired with interesting party shoes

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Comme Si is a luxury loungewear brand, started by Jenny Lee in 2019. The brand specialises in socks, shirts, shorts and trousers, all of which are made with high quality fabrics (cotton, silk, cashmere, merino wool.)
The ethos of their brand is to be both functional and beautiful. In their mission statement they state the Comme Si 'celebrates l'art de vivre, starting with the daily ritual of getting dressed. We inspire women to express their style through refined staples, beginning with an elevated take on the classic trouser sock.'

I chose this brand because I appreciate their values and meaning as a brand, but also because their whole aesthetic is so strong and visually pleasing.

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Comme Si visual aesthetics moodboard

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Simple, yet very aesthetically pleasing packaging design. Nice packaging makes people want to buy again for the unboxing experience

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Tags are part of their branding - looks good when everything is cohesive

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February 2019 - Jenny Lee founds Comme Si

September 2019 - Limited edition tye-dye socks

May 2020 - Kendall Jenner wears Comme Si for Vogue Japan

October 2020 - La Boxer Classica collection

January 2021 - Comme Si X Lichen collaborative project

April 2021 - The knee-high collection

May 2021 - ‘Say it with Flowers’ - partnered with the Asiant American Arts Alliance

December 2021 - La Boxer Alta collection

March 2022 - The Danielle Goldberg shirt collection

July 2022 - The silk scarf release

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Merino Wool
Egyptian cotton
Cashmere
Organic Cotton
Silk

I really appreciate Comme Si's use of only high quality materials. It acts as a USP for the brand and also shows sustainability efforts.

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Comme Si use their instagram as their main way of communicating with customers. They post promotional pictures of products, but also random posts of things which inspire their work. Having links to art and culture gives the brand more depth as well as creating a lifestyle for the brand which people would like to buy into.

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Their website is the main source of purchasing products. Everything is laid out well and clear, the website does it's job but doesn't stand out as a particularly exciting website. Everything is clean and within Comme Si's aesthetic.
I like how their instagram shop links to the website to encourage sales from another platform.

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A library for the modern woman who curates her wardrobe with intention. Browse fine Italian socks, sartorial loungewear and limited-edition accessories. Each piece is expertly crafted with quality materials, from Egyptian Cotton to pure silk.

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As of April 2021 limited Comme Si products are stocked in Hirshleifers in New York. Hirshleifers is a shopping centre/ department store which houses mainly high end brands such as Balenciaga, Fendi, Gucci and Off-White.
Comme Si sits amongst these high-end, luxury brands as a small section which showcases a few of their sock collections.
However, I cannot find much recent information so it is unclear as to whether they are still currently stocked there and their focus is very much on their digital presence.

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Everlane: Loungewear made of high quality materials such as cashmere. This is similar to Comme Si so proves to be a luxury loungewear competitor. However not as niche as just socks as they do jumpers, sweatpants and dresses too.
Skims: has the same type of viral hype of one specific garment that Comme Si experienced. (Skims dress vs Comme Si shorts). Strong social media presence and influencer backed. Comme Si must up their digital presence to compete.
Pour les Femmes: similar aesthetic to Comme Si, also uses high quality materials. Products are both comfy and fashionable - very versatile.

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The holidays have come and gone, but baby, it's still cold outside. With the winter season now upon us, the search is on for the best loungewear brands to cozy up in throughout the chilly weather months. As more people are spending time at home with the dip in temperatures and the surge of Omicron, warm and comfy clothing has never been more necessary. There's a lot of loungewear options but when it comes to comfort, you've got to find what's best for you. Whether you're looking for the best fuzzy cardigan, soft cashmere, cozy knit sets, or the perfect everyday on-and-off-the-couch tracksuit, we've rounded up a selection of some of the best loungewear brands with items that are sure to keep you warm, comfy and cozy-chic, this winter.

Everlane

It's no doubt that Everlane has perfected everyday basics. From clothing, accessories and Italian-made shoes, the ethically-sourced brand is all about classic comfort. From their sleek cashmere to their soft knits and organic loungewear, you can't go wrong with any of these Everlane pieces.

Madewell

From everyday apparel to everyday loungewear, you can't beat Madewell's variety of warm and comfy clothes for the winter-and you certainly can't beat the prices. Choose items from the brand's MWL activewear line or their wide selection of loungewear to cozy up in this season.

Hill House Home

With a popular item like The Nap Dress, you know Hill House Home has you covered when it comes to comfy yet stylish clothing. But if you're looking for something slightly warmer than a Nap Dress (though the long-sleeve velvet style from the holiday collection would also make great winter lounge attire) try out their casual sweatshirt and jogger sets.

Lululemon

While lululemon is famously known for its ultra-comfortable activewear, the brand's loungewear products are also top-notch. You can't go wrong with their selection of sweaters and sweats but if you love lounging in your lululemon leggings and sports bra, layer up with a hoodie or cardigan from the brand for some extra warmth.

UGG

The famous comfort brand has expanded from just cozy footwear. Now, you can keep your whole body warm in UGG clothing, with everything from warm wraps, fuzzy jackets, and comfy sweats.

Free People

Free People and Free Movement, the brand's activewear line, have a wide selection of of items perfect comfort on-to-go or comfort on your couch. Find anything from sleek workout pieces to comfy loungewear sets (that look cute on and off your sofa).

Amazon Essentials

Amazon's brand of winter wear is perfect for the season. With everything from bulky sweaters, jackets, winter accessories, and a wide range of loungewear ensembles, Amazon is the perfect place for affordable and cozy items that you'll live in throughout the cold weather months.

Skims

Kim Kardashian's cozy-chic creations are everything you want for a comfortably cute look. The mogul, who started out with Skims shapewear, has since evolved her brand into a range of collections including sleepwear, accessories, and, of course, loungewear. From ribbed cotton and jersey to the famed cozy-knit collection, it's easy to stay comfy and stylish with Skims pieces.

Leset

Speaking of versatile and stylish clothing, Leset is another ultra-chic brand that puts a modern twist on classic silhouettes, featuring items like wool-blend sweater sets, knit cardigans, as well as pants and tops. Made for really any occasion, you can slip on some comfy socks with one of the brand's oversized turtlenecks and matching pants or throw on some heels for a still cozy but stylish night out look.

Pangaia

Pangaia is an eco-friendly brand that has made quite the splash around the world. With its bold colorways and ethically-sourced materials such as their recycled cashmere collection, the brand is a trendy fan favorite. From coats, jackets, and accessories, to their iconic tracksuits and cashmere, brighten up your winter apparel with the brand that has something for everyone.

Tkees Core

The brand well-known for its sleek sandals and slides has recently introduced a line of equally sleek basics featuring a vast colorway of matching sets, sweatsuits, and everyday tees, reflecting the same aesthetic of their famous footwear.

Naked Cashmere

If you're looking for the perfect cashmere set to cozy up in this winter, go to the cashmere professionals: Naked Cashmere. The brand has everything from everyday cashmere sweaters to lounge sets, out and about outfits, and, of course, accessories. Hats, scarves, gloves, socks-you name it. Whatever cashmere style you want, Naked Cashmere has you covered.

Pour Les Femmes

Elevate your sleep and loungewear this winter with Pour Les Femmes. The brand, whose silk jumpsuit was recently worn by Kristin Davis as Charlotte on a recent episode of And Just Like That ..., features elegant products perfect for relaxing while remaining fashionable. From silk to cozy fleece items, Pour Les Femme will have you lounging in style.

Sleeper

Another favorite of Sex and the City 's Charlotte, Sleeper made waves with their fan-favorite feathered party pajama set, which the Park Avenue fixture was also seen in on the HBO reboot. But apart from trendy pjs, the brand also features feminine-detailed sweats and loungewear that can be worn on the couch or out on the town.

This eco-friendly clothing brand that is all about sustainability and versatility, is a fan-favorite for on-the-go travel with their light-weight, minimalist crafted clothing. And while ADAY is a great brand for the suitcase, their various collections - ranging in different textures from fleece to neoprene - make for the perfect everyday items whether you're staying in or heading out.

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15 Best Loungewear Brands to Get Cozy In This Winter

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The holidays have come and gone, but baby, it's still cold outside. With the winter season now upon us, the search is on for the best loungewear brands to cozy up in throughout the chilly weather months.

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Happy socks is Comme Si's largest competitor in terms of the sock industry as it is an incredibly popular sock brand. What makes them popular is their wide variety of either funny, colourful, pattered, or seasonal-specific socks.
Their socks appeal to many and have something for everyone, however Comme Si sticks to a specific general aesthetic and is considered much more niche. This does set them in different leagues, while still being competitors.

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" What is the best sock brand? " It's a steady refrain. "Which brand is best for me?" If we had a post bag, it would be bulging, though of course it is our inbox that is rattling to the big sock question.

There is, perhaps unsurprisingly, no definitive answer - as the Pantsman puts it: "Each sock brand is special and excels in its own way." For him, they are as his children... He loves them all equally.

But we feel it is our responsibility to guide you through the many choices you are faced with. We are, naturally, well versed in such matters. So while there may not be a single sock brand 'King', it is fair to say every brand has something unique to offer, whether you are looking for something understated yet stylish, or a pair that are colourful and fun, or even if you want an affordable, everyday workhorse.

Some brands are incredibly well-known, but, as always, we like to introduce you to something a bit different as well to mix things up and help you come to a well-rounded decision as to which lucky pair of socks will be the next to slink into your sock drawer.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at:

Top 9 best sock brands in 2022

Calvin Klein

Kicking things off, let's take a deeper dive into Calvin Klein - one of the biggest names in men's underwear.

Calvin Klein specialises in understated comfort and style and is the go-to brand for many. The signature Calvin Klein sock look is a black trouser length, with the brand name near the neck. Their Eric socks match this perfectly.

Of course, if you'd like to add a splash of colour, then Calvin Klein has you covered. While not quite as colourful or 'out there' as some of the other brands on this list, you'll find a variety of colours and patterns in the Calvin Klein collection. Try their Karsyn Socks if you're looking for a dash more colour.

For those of you who prefer to don a pair of shorts or don't want to draw unnecessary attention away from your shoe collection, Calvin Klein has a very decent selection of no show socks to suit you in understated greys, whites, blacks, and navy blues. Try this selection pack of Jason Socks if no show is your thing.

Naturally, CK won't let you down if you're looking for ankle socks either. Its Drake Socks are designed in Calvin Klein signature style with the brand-name woven in larger letters around the elastic. Definitely more of a statement.

In all, CK is excellent for day-to-day socks in all shapes and sizes, specialising in understated coolness and clean designs.
SHOP CALVIN KLEIN SOCKS
Another 'big name' luxury brand is HUGO BOSS. Synonymous with beautifully tailored suits and great casualwear, BOSS doesn't stop when it comes to socks.

HUGO BOSS socks have all the understated, restrained style you would expect from one of the world's great tailoring brands.

The classic BOSS sock is plain black, trouser length, with subtle branding below the elastic, and is designed to accompany you to the office or other formal settings. Of course, you can wear them day-to-day as well, as they pride themselves on providing efficient and understated comfort.

One excellent benefit of some HUGO BOSS socks is their availability in bamboo.

Yes, you can do more than just feed Pandas with bamboo.

BOSS Edward Socks take the classic style of BOSS regular socks and combine it with natural bamboo fibre material for a silky smooth and durable sock that is lightweight, breathable, stylish, and has antibacterial properties (courtesy of the natural properties of bamboo) to keep your feet smelling and feeling fresher for longer. These socks are a favourite at the Pants and Socks HQ.

Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger started life as a sportswear brand. That pedigree is evident when looking at its modern sock collection that takes its preppy heritage and adapts it for everyday wear in soft cotton.

A little more colourful than the other "big luxury brands", Tommy Hilfiger can be found in a wider variety of patterns and colours to make a slightly bolder statement, as with these Iconic Stripe Socks.

Its signature preppy style is epitomised by its Patch Socks, which are great if you're looking for more of a frat-house look. And, of course, it has a range of ankle socks for those of you who prefer shorts - though in American fashion, they call them Sneaker Socks.

In all, if the American college look is more for you, then Tommy Hilfiger is a great range to add a dash of preppy colour to your sock drawer.
SHOP TOMMY HILFIGER SOCKS
Happy Socks

Happy Socks has been the go-to sock for the more adventurous and colourful sock wearer since 2008.

Its mission is to turn the everyday sock into a fashion statement that makes people smile. And it has certainly accomplished that goal! Happy Socks takes high quality fabric and splashes it with a wonderfully wide variety of fun and insanely colourful patterns and motifs.

Have you ever wanted socks with fried eggs on them? Take a look at their Sunny Side Up Socks. How about Hamburger Socks? The brand has you covered.

If you're after some more traditional patterns, but taken to the next level, try the Big Dot or Stripe Socks.

Happy Socks is all about making a bright and joyous statement with your socks. If this sounds like you, check them out and add a gigantic splash of colour to your collection!

FALKE

FALKE is another brand to look at if colour is your desire. But what lies at its heart is a commitment to quality. This is luxury goods for your feet.

For the last 125 years, FALKE's mission has been to cater for those who like a modern aesthetic, moving with the times and fitting in with its customers' lifestyles. Their signature Family Socks are bold and simple showing a love for block colours and simple patterns, while the Sensitive Mapped Socks are the epitome of striped design if you're looking for something bold and simple.

The brand utilises soft cotton for comfort and has engineered all of its socks for optimal durability using what it terms 'reinforced stress zones' to help keep your socks in your drawer and out of the bin for longer.

Another excellent choice for everyday comfort and those looking for a bold style.

FALKE doesn't stop there, however. It also runs a small range of merino wool socks crafted for those who are more active, appropriately named Walkie Light Socks. These are great if you like to get out and about and are looking for some durable and lightweight socks to help your feet breathe easy.

French Connection

French Connection is another brand to look at if you're after something a bit more understated in both colour and pattern use. Generally more affordable than many other brands, this is still good quality hosiery - you shouldn't have to break the bank to look your best!

Check out the Waterfall Socks in woven cotton - a great choice for everyday wear, which come in a variety of patterns and muted colours. All sport the signature capital 'F' of the brand and are made with cotton, an excellent sock material that matches durability with lighter weight and breathability for added comfort. Great for everyday wear!

If you're looking to quickly expand your collection for day-to-day use while ensuring you look after your hard-earned cash, grab one of French Connection's 3 Packs to ensure your feet are kept comfy in affordable soft cotton.
SHOP FRENCH CONNECTION SOCKS
GANT

Do you like stripes? Great! So does GANT!

Our collection of GANT socks is brightly coloured and very stripey. All manner of stripes in every size. Grab a 2 Pack of striped socks in assorted colours, or if you want something a little more simple, go for the Colourblock Socks made up of two different large stripes.

GANT socks are high-quality stripey statement pieces, famous for their playful use of colour in a sea of black and white. You will certainly be noticed.

Polo Ralph Lauren

Another immensely famous brand, Polo Ralph Lauren has American Preppy at its core.

Ralph Lauren's Classic Crew Socks are definitely a statement piece, sporting the signature polo player logo and neat block colours. But for those of you who desire patterns on your socks, then you will not be disappointed by the bold Striped Socks.

Polo Ralph Lauren is synonymous with quality. Utilising the best cotton blends for durability and comfort, it will provide you with a statement piece and long-lasting addition to your sock drawer.

The socks are a little more pricey than others on this list, but you can't compromise on quality and style.
SHOP RALPH LAUREN SOCKS
Puma

Puma is a brand for sportsmen. If you're in need of sports socks, then look no further than Puma.

Its socks come in a variety of lengths from no show to trouser and are engineered specifically for durability, lighter weight, comfort, and breathability whether you're on the court, the pitch, or wherever you go about your sporting business.

These socks are not bold or garish, they are practical and no-nonsense. Puma knows what you need from your sporting socks and they deliver. The Footie pack caters for those of you after no show socks. Ankle socks? Try the Lifestyle Sneaker socks. And their Crew Socks conform to your regular trouser length.

All of these socks are affordable, durable, and reliable. Puma is definitely the brand for you if you need some sporting socks fast!

So, what are the best sock brands in 2022?

Unsurprisingly, it all depends on your personal style.

If you want something very flamboyant, colourful and fun, then look no further than Happy Socks. These socks are great for making a fun statement and people will certainly notice and comment on your socks.

And if you want luxury and the best quality, then look to FALKE.

For good-quality everyday socks, shop around BOSS, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger to see which you prefer. Our personal favourites are BOSS's bamboo socks for comfort if you have a little extra cash to spend.

Stripes? Go for GANT if you're looking for incredible variety in your stripes.

French Connection is best for socks on a budget.

And finally, Puma is the obvious choice for sports.

Hopefully this handy guide has helped you choose your next pair of socks from our vast range of brands. Of course, everything could change in 2022... but you'll have to keep an eye out for any updates to our list.

As for me? I'm going to pull on my Sunny Side Up socks and go for an eggs-ellent stroll. I'm not yolking.

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Best Sock Brands You Need To Know in 2022

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"What is the best sock brand?" It's a steady refrain. "Which brand is best for me?" If we had a post bag, it would be bulging, though of course it is our inbox that is rattling to the big sock question.

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https://www.textiletoday.com.bd/italian-textile-industry-recover-within-2022/

Comme Si pride themselves on using high-quality Italian silk. The pandemic led to an all-round decline in Italy's textile industry, specifically with trade and export. This would have affected Comme Si's ability to produce their garments. However, according to the Italian Federation of Textiles, Fashion, and Accessories, as of 2022, Italy's textile industry has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, allowing more accessibility for Comme Si, therefore allowing room more production of new and already existing products.

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Business analysis according to CrunchBase.com

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Business analysis according to CrunchBase.com

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Private company (therefore it is difficult to find a lot of specific information and data about the company)
1-10 associated people/ employees. Only two contacts (founder Jenni Lee, founder and creative director, and Ashley Tong, content and brand marketing manager) shows the workforce behind the company is very small and tight-knit.

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Web traffic analysis shows a 27.22% decline in monthly visits as of October 2022 (-33.75% in the US specifically), and that top countries to browse the website are the US, Chile, Italy.

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Comme Si is featured in the Companies with fewer than 50 employees list, proving their small employee base.

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Sock brand competitors:
Cashmere and wool are best for luxury socks - soft and biodegradable.
Reiss - focuses on minimalist styles and quality fabrics (very similar to Comme Si)
Sunspel - merino wool and cashmere, lighter pastel shades. CDLP - bamboo socks, high sustainability. Light and comfortable.
Burberry - receive lots of hype online. Burberry is a brand which dominates the luxury market.

(Although these are mens socks brands they still pose as competitors)

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Socks. The building blocks of a good outfit. Sure, they're not always the star of the sartorial show, but they do hold the power to ruin a well-thought-out ensemble if badly selected, and are certainly liable to repair. But snagging the perfect pair (be it dress socks, black socks, colour socks, or otherwise) can often align your styling, keep you smelling fresh, and repeatedly endure your gnarliest walks.

Even if just for the personal fuzzy feeling that comes with sliding on a luxurious pair, they're worth an ounce of your attention to get right. But there are some considerations to hold in your mind when getting down, dirty, and into the sock draw.

What are the best materials for quality socks?

Let's keep things simple - much like a good pair of socks. Polyester is the cheapest of the fabrications and also the easiest to wash, but the least comforting. Cotton is typical, and likely to be the most commonly found in your current sock drawer. It's durable, natural and usually blended with elastane for stretch. In that same vein, organic cotton is simply cotton grown using different agricultural methods, ones that avoid chemical use and result in the consumption of less water. Sticking with a theme of sustainability, bamboo is a super sustainable organic material that grows fast, is uber-soft, breathable, anti-microbial, and anti-odorous.

For a luxurious take on the simple sock, cashmere is incredibly soft and supple, but requires some close reading of its care instructions. For a safer option, wool socks also bring that extra touch of decadence, and are soft, biodegradable and highly insulating, making them fantastic winter socks.

What type of socks should I wear?

When it comes to casual wear and summer styling, one can rarely go wrong with a good ol' trainer sock - the kind that lies below the top of your trainers making them effectively invisible. Great for styling with shorts and trainers, they work to prevent blisters, reduce sweat and avoid colour clashes.

For the sportier sock wearers, an ankle sock sits above the sneaker line, offering extra support for the ankles and looks bang-on aesthetically.

Mid-length or long socks are for when wearing with trousers and formal wear, where hems rise when sat down. Socks can also be a malleable styling tool for your tailoring, so choose wisely.

Designer socks, on the other hand, are made to give a flash of logomaniac glory when glimpsed over your shoes of choice.

How many pairs of socks should I own?

In truth, that's your prerogative. But we'd say your trusty sock draw should contain enough pairs of socks to get you through the week, plus a few extras for when you feel like postponing laundry day.

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What are the best brands of men's socks in 2022?

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The best sock brands for shin-high style

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If the thought of socks for men were the yawn-inducing present of Christmas past, it's probably because you haven't been gifted the right pair yet. Here, we've compiled our pick of the best men's socks that any stylish man would be happy to unwrap.

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What I learned from this article:
The brand that survived the pandemic best were ones which focused on comfort, outdoor activities and online shopping. - and appealed to wealthier people who were less impacted by the cost crisis.
Europe will be less quick to recover economically compared to China and the US.
The increase of online commerce via social media and the met averse also poses threats of cyber crime and data loss. Brands must be careful.
Rise in domestic spending as result of travel restrictions. (Americans will buy from American brands - this is good news for Comme Si)
Desire for wardrobe re-fresh and social life begins again.
TOP 3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE BUSINESS CONDITIONS:
Recovery
Challenging
Changing
Supply chain challenges will be a big issue for brands.
US luxury sales predicted to grow 5% higher than 2019 sales in 2021.

MY CONCLUSION:
Relating all of this info to Comme Si, I can say that during the pandemic they fit the perfect description for the type of bran dhow survived best (comfy loungewear and online sales), however with the return on social wear and revenge shopping Comme Si will have to adapt to the demand and find new ways to stay relevant. They do already have the upper hand being a luxury brand as they are the least badly effected, but as trend cycles change Comme Si might get forgotten.

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What I learned from this article:
Sustainability needs to be an important aspect of every decision I make, and customers favour brand who show transparency.
Social media affects trends and people's spending massively. Think about using social media not just for promotion, but for E-Commerce via TikTok or Instagram.
Considering hybrid retail.
Loyalty < cost.
Post-covid spending is less. People are worried about inflation.

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For many in the retail industry, 2021 has been a harder year than 2020. With major shifts in consumer spending on a regular basis, and a growing fatigue with managing the impact of the pandemic, this is another year most will be happy to put in their rear-view mirror.

Looking ahead to 2022, much remains uncertain. 2021 is ending with the spectre of a rapidly spreading variant causing disruption once again.

Regardless of the uncertainty, the pandemic has continued to accelerate trends seen across the retail industry, several of which will continue to have a profound impact in 2022.

Conscious consumers and the environment

"Retailers need to evolve with the consumer to hold onto their brand relevance in 2022 and beyond... Brands need to show off their culture and purpose. Sustainability must be at the heart of their business and across the entire supply chain." states Kyle Monk, Director of Insight & Analytics at the British Retail Consortium.

Conscious consumerism, which has been reshaping consumer behaviour for several years, is continuing to be a force to be reckoned with. From environmental concerns to a desire to see better representation in the products that are sold, the consumer in 2022 expects the businesses that they buy from to be doing better.

"Our research reveals that 90% of consumers are more concerned about sustainability than ever before," explains Chris Biggs, Global Head of Retail for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

"In the UK, 41% of Brits recognised that recyclable choices and sustainable packaging influence their buying decisions, and 70% are willing to pay a price premium of 5% for sustainable products. As customers increasingly opt for eco-friendlier products, retailers have been encouraged to make sustainability a real priority."

The onus in 2022 will be on brands and retailers not just talking about their green credentials, but convincing the customer that their efforts are genuine. Research from the Chartered Institute of Marketing shows that 63% of customer say they would like brands to be more vocal about their sustainability plans, but remain sceptical about their authenticity.

A growing awareness of the finite nature of virgin materials and the important role that the circular economy will play in minimising the environmental impact of retail has fuelled the resale market. Etsy's purchase of Depop and Farfetch's entry into the resale market are just two examples of how established retailers are looking to leverage this trend.

Research from ThredUp suggests that the global market for fashion resale will double to $77 billion by 2025, with growth rates expected to be 11 times that of traditional clothing retail. With a proliferation of new platforms springing up to take advantage of this trend, resale will no doubt show huge growth in 2022 in fashion, but also other areas such as homewares or electronics.

The customer in 2022 will want to see businesses be regenerative. They will expect to see thoughtful, inclusive products that meet their sustainability criteria, backed up by transparency and rigorous adherence to a code of ethics to convince them that the businesses they buy from are doing more good than harm.

Social commerce and Live Streaming

"2022 is the year that we'll see the social commerce model-deeply embedded commerce that meets consumers where they are and is non-disruptive to their experience-spread to more platforms and more industries," states Amir Kabbara, Director of Product for Shopify.

After a record year for online shopping in 2021, social shopping, the fastest growing area of e-commerce, will be shaping how and where we shop in 2022. Kabbara expects to see "any platform with an audience" start to monetize that platform through "commerce and shoppable content".

At the forefront of shoppable content is live-streaming, the ability to instantly purchase a featured product on a live-stream video. Shopify, who have partnered with TikTok to enable merchants to sell live, believe that this trend will show huge growth over the next 12 months.

"Live Streaming is already a quickly growing market, projected to reach nearly $224 billion USD by 2028. From August to October 2021, we've seen installs for liveselling apps increase by 40% compared to the previous three months," explains Kabbara. He cites the technology as not just a sales channel, but an "extremely useful way for brands to connect with consumers" as "the line between shopping and entertainment blurs".

Hybrid Retail

"In 2022 we should expect most shopping journeys to start online, but that doesn't mean they should always finish there. In many cases an online shopping journey's best and most convenient destination is a physical store down the road," claims Nick Brackenbury, CEO and co-founder of NearSt, a retail technology company.

For many years, retailers have been gaining a more sophisticated understanding of the customer buying journey, and how it crosses from online to offline, sometimes several times, before a purchase is made. This has underlined the need for truly hybrid retail, being adopted by large and small retailers alike.

"We are seeing more of the smaller retailers develop 'hybrid' retail models, making better use of the opportunity provided by the internet to complement their physical store," claims Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA).

"An omnichannel strategy might come to life via in-store shopping appointments to elevate the consumer experience, accessing a customer's online sales history to offer in-store discounts, or arming sales associates with customer order history so they can share personalized recommendations. In today's commerce landscape, in-store has become a sales channel that pairs with Instagram, TikTok, or the online store," states Kabbara.

Not just retailers benefit from embracing the hybrid model, the customer in 2022 is increasingly wanting to shop this way. "Consumers are opting for hybrid-shopping rather than strictly online, with 48% of people preferring hybrid-shopping compared to 39% this time last year," agrees Biggs, citing BCG research on shopping habits.

Hybrid retail simply makes sense as footfall continues to fluctuate due to Covid restrictions and concerns. Shedding the siloed approach and "us vs. them" mentality of "online vs. offline" is a huge opportunity for retailers.

However, building an entirely hybrid model is not without it's demands. Technology underpins hybrid retail, but in order to flourish, customers need to be "100% confident that the thing they want is definitely available nearby" explains Brackenbury.

"This means surfacing their live in-store stock in Google, in Facebook, and in many of the other social networks that we'll see launch local commerce offerings in 2022."

For retailers, focusing on how to deliver a seamless, integrated and stress-free experience to their customer as they move from the digital world to the physical, and back again, has got to be a top priority for 2022.

Loyalty as the new frontier for growth

"At a time when consumer behaviours are changing fast, customer experience is more important than ever, so brands will have to work harder to emotionally engage with consumers and retain loyalty," states Kyle Monk, director of Insight at the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

With the rising cost of acquiring new customers, loyalty will become the new frontier for growth. Whether that's focusing on reputation management, allowing customers more flexibility to manage their finances through offering a range of payment options such as buy now, pay later, or tapping into a growing desire to shop local, retailers will need to be laser-focused on retaining existing customers as we move into 2022.

"During the pandemic we've seen local stock lookups powered by our technology - that's shoppers going online to check stock in local physical stores - go up to more than 4x their pre-pandemic levels, and stay there," explains Brackenbury, highlighting how important the trend towards shopping hyper-local has become.

Biggs agrees, citing BCG research that showed that "consumer loyalty to regional and local suppliers rose considerably during the pandemic."

Tapping into the power of local to drive loyalty, as well as looking at other ways to strengthen relationships with existing customers will be crucial as retailers look to ride out the waves of change in the year ahead.

Consumer spending to tighten in 2022

The new year begins, with a high degree of uncertainty, and challenges ahead. Top of the list? Rising costs, coupled with consumer caution. Retailers "need to anticipate and plan for rising prices with clear customer communications to instil people with confidence," is the BRC's view.

"Concerns around inflation and consumer spending have been brewing over the last twelve months. And while we must remain cautious, we know that there is a range of factors that are driving prices up in the short term," concurs Biggs.

"While we can remain cautiously optimistic that consumer sentiment and shopping appetite are returning, the retail industry still faces a tough challenge ahead.

Ultimately individual retailers always need to give a strong reason for consumers to buy, and that will be particularly true as they compete with the return of eating out, entertainment and travel."

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Four Trends That Will Shape Retail In 2022

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For many in the retail industry, 2021 has been a harder year than 2020. With major shifts in consumer spending on a regular basis, and a growing fatigue with managing the impact of the pandemic, this is another year most will be happy to put in their rear-view mirror.

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"Looking ahead, there will likely be increased appetite for experimentation and self-expression as consumers seek out more playful and energetic ways of dressing, boosting demand for novel designs, more adventurous colourways and creative pairings across categories in 2022.

“Often it’s the case during times of crisis, people revert back to shiny fabrics, bright colours, clothing that can inspire happiness,” said London-based trend forecaster Geraldine Wharry. “If you look at the 2008 [global financial] crisis, a couple of years after that, there was the trend starting to really gain traction in terms of bright clothing, almost clothing inspired by toy colours.” In the US, patterned trousers and women’s garments in bright colours such as fuchsia, green, orange and purple were more commonly sold out through 2021 versus 2020, according to StyleSage."

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This article first appeared in The State of Fashion 2022, an in-depth report on the global fashion industry, co-published by BoF and McKinsey & Company. To learn more and download a copy of the report, click here.
The pandemic fashion era will be remembered for a surge in comfortable clothing among other things, but some shifts in spending between categories were temporary, while others will see sustained momentum over the longer term. The net result is an altered consumer demand structure comprised of new baselines for some fashion categories, a change which will compel some players to adjust strategies across product development, merchandising and marketing in 2022.

Consumers' lifestyles were drastically altered through the pandemic, causing lumpy seasonal purchases characterised by irregular spikes and lulls of activity, such as surging demand for athletic wear and loungewear. Resizing needs have also disrupted usual demand patterns. In the US, 40 percent of women and 35 percent of men are a different size than in 2019. Now, some categories and products are starting to experience demand fatigue as the recent torrent of irregular purchases is set to subside.

According to analysis by online fashion platform Lyst, pandemic-resilient categories such as nightwear, activewear and underwear are starting to see decelerating demand compared with the more-than 100 percent growth rates that were common in 2020. While 2022 will certainly not see a collapse of loungewear and leisurewear, some brands operating in these categories are beginning to slow down their inventory turnover. Launches of new activewear shorts and tops in the US and UK were down 20 percent and 50 percent respectively in late 2021 compared with the same period in 2020, according to e-commerce trend research by data analytics platform StyleSage, reflecting a similar trend in China.

On the other hand, as more people return to the workplace and formal occasions are reinstated on social calendars, consumers will reinvigorate the formalwear business in the year ahead, building on momentum established in the latter half of 2021, as pent-up demand manifests as so-called "revenge shopping" in some markets after people's social lives resume. Global monthly searches for occasion dresses, such as homecoming, wedding guest, cocktail and formal dresses, were already up 200 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year, according to StyleSage.

Similarly, in footwear, consumers will look beyond the sneakers and comfy sandals that ruled lockdown-era shopping. In August 2021, online searches for women's heels were up more than 200 percent compared with the same month in 2020. However, more practical heel shapes that cater to adjusted consumer preferences will likely remain popular even as people dress up again: footwear styles with the highest number of units sold in 2021 were wedge heels, rubber heels, thick or block soles and kitten heels. In summer 2021, similarly comfortable options like Gucci pool sliders and Tory Burch "Miller Cloud" sandals were cited as bestsellers by Bloomingdale's footwear merchandiser. Dressier sneaker styles were also high on consumer wish lists, particularly in the US, where searches for platform sneakers and brands such as Golden Goose were up 28 percent and 104 percent respectively.

In contrast to the reinvigorated demand for occasion dressing, workplace wardrobes will witness increased casualisation in some markets, such as the US and UK, as people adjust to new ways of working, including hybrid office-home patterns. "Work looks and feels different now," said US-based retail consultant Kathy Gersch. "Virtual work and flexible hours aren't going to go away. Brands that believe old patterns will revive will fall by the wayside."

In another sign of creeping casualisation, workplace returnees in many regions have been shopping for casual blazers rather than suits: global search volumes for blazers were more than 100 percent higher in August 2021 than in August 2019. In some markets like Germany, searches for suits were down. Even some traditional and corporate offices will adopt hybrid styles, replacing suits and heels with business-casual styles and sneakers. Of course, there are nuanced differences between markets, where dress codes in some regions and professions will necessitate a return to formality. This said, brands will still find opportunities to tap into the casualisation shift by developing products with new fabric options or hybrid styles. For example, athletic brands Lululemon and Athleta have expanded into workwear, while Hugo Boss collaborated with Russell Athletic to produce suits in jersey fabric, some of which have shorts in place of trousers.

In addition to the changes companies make across design, product development and merchandising, they may also need to employ fresh marketing strategies that align with those changes. For example, exuberance in marketing campaigns will likely mirror consumers' eagerness to dress up for social occasions again. As such, brands should consider bold ads and ambassadors suitable for the new mood, fine-tuning their approach to rapid shifts in social marketing trends on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to enable customers a seamless and instantly gratifying route to purchase new styles. At the same time, leveraging marketing channels that were largely ignored during pandemic, such as in-store events, will be increasingly important to build a sense of community and loyalty.

With consumer demand rebounding alongside ongoing logistics challenges in many global markets, 2022 pricing strategies should also be re-examined. Indeed, fashion executives across different value segments have cited plans to increase prices in 2022, with an average expected rise of 4 percent in luxury, 2 percent in mid-market and 5 percent in value, according to the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2022 Survey. These price hikes are in part due to ongoing supply chain disruptions that will impact margins (see "Logistics Gridlock"). However, they will also have downstream effects on how consumers in each segment shop new styles to reboot their wardrobes.

Looking ahead, there will likely be increased appetite for experimentation and self-expression as consumers seek out more playful and energetic ways of dressing, boosting demand for novel designs, more adventurous colourways and creative pairings across categories in 2022.

"Often it's the case during times of crisis, people revert back to shiny fabrics, bright colours, clothing that can inspire happiness," said London-based trend forecaster Geraldine Wharry. "If you look at the 2008 [global financial] crisis, a couple of years after that, there was the trend starting to really gain traction in terms of bright clothing, almost clothing inspired by toy colours." In the US, patterned trousers and women's garments in bright colours such as fuchsia, green, orange and purple were more commonly sold out through 2021 versus 2020, according to StyleSage.

The budding new consumer mood, which was captured in late 2021 by fashion critics like GQ magazine's New York-based Rachel Tashjian, is likely to continue feeding into aesthetic preferences in 2022. "During the opening stages of the pandemic, there was defeatism... but that's evolved into this type of exuberant attitude," she said. Brand leaders are increasingly aligning their creative teams with the changing consumer sentiment: "People are ready for a little bit of optimism... [and] looking to be inspired," said J.Crew Group chief executive Libby Wadle.

Executives, merchandisers and buying team leaders at retailers including Moda Operandi and Intermix noted soaring appetite for bold and risqué styles in late 2021. Indeed, this theme will likely extend into next year, with luxury players' Spring 2022 collections by brands such as Michael Kors and Chanel showing skin-baring looks at fashion weeks in New York and Paris.

In a bid to capture demand for new styles, particularly from younger consumer cohorts, fast and ultra-fast fashion players are upping their inventory turn. Asos, Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing are among those to have recently accelerated product introductions. Chinese ultra-fast fashion player Shein consistently introduces more than 6,000 new products per day in limited units, with designs informed by customer data, which can be turned around in as little as three days. However, companies reliant on these business models are facing increased scrutiny for their environmental impact and labour conditions.

There are huge contradictions at the moment [with the concurrent rise of both ultra-fast fashion and]... the mindful consumer.
- Geraldine Wharry

"There are huge contradictions at the moment [with the concurrent rise of both ultra-fast fashion and]... the mindful consumer," said Wharry. "I think we're at a tipping point when it comes to people associating the item they buy with its contribution to society... [but even for those who are less concerned about that aspect], there will be more awareness of 'how can this item also be recycled into other occasions?'" As such, a growing number of consumers are likely to allocate more of their wallet share to investment pieces and versatile items, even as inexpensive items and impulse purchases remain an important part of the wardrobe mix for many in 2022.

For most brands, the demand for new styles does not necessarily mean adopting bigger assortments, but instead using greater thoughtfulness around data- and demand-driven product launches and inventory mixes. With increased opportunities to collect consumer data through the growth in e-commerce spend, brands should track category shifts and pay special attention to how new assortments resonate with consumers.

To respond rapidly to changing preferences amid next year's wardrobe reboot, brands should also strengthen the reactivity of their supply chains and think differently about the highly seasonal nature of the traditional fashion business. This means reimagining their collections and production cycles, while being prepared for uneven supply and demand. To achieve this, brands will need to collaborate with suppliers to carefully manage orders and inventories. They should also be aware of the need to balance consumer demand and pricing opportunities with the need for increasingly careful allocation of budgets to marketing and supply chain operations.

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The Year Ahead: Consumers to Reboot Wardrobes for Post-Pandemic Life

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This article first appeared in The State of Fashion 2022 , an in-depth report on the global fashion industry, co-published by BoF and McKinsey & Company. To learn more and download a copy of the report, click here.

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Key trend: MAXIMALISM
As people return to social life they are focusing on personality and self-expression. Post-pandemic, people want fashion to be fun and exciting, and bring positivity back into the world. Bold prints and bright colours are key

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These past years, minimalist fashion has taken the spotlight. However, this fashion trend is now becoming less popular. To be specific, many people have been itching to try something bold and exciting. As such, maximalist fashion is now gaining popularity. In fact, more and more individuals are wearing clothes with bold prints. So, why is this fashion trend becoming the go-to style of most people? Here are some reasons maximalist fashion is trending in 2022.

Maximalist Vs Minimalist Fashion

To understand the reasons maximalist fashion is trending, we have to learn the difference between the minimalist and maximalist fashion. To be specific, minimalist fashion is the idea of removing excess items. As such, it embraces the concept of "wearing less is better."

On the other hand, maximalist fashion has no limits. For this reason, you can wear printed and bold-colored outfits without worrying about the things you need to match. The important part is to wear an outfit that shows your personality and style.

Reasons Maximalist Fashion is Trending

1. Nothing is Too Much

As mentioned, maximalist fashion has no limits; thus, nothing is too much with this fashion trend. In fact, you can mix varying styles without worrying about your attire being overdone. You can even layer clothes of varying colors if you prefer. The reason is that maximalist fashion encourages people to be unique and creative. Remember, it is fun and exciting to add a little bit of mystery to your outfit.

2. It is More Colorful and Exciting

These past few years, most of us have stayed with neutral-colored outfits. However, more and more people are opting to live life to the fullest after experiencing the serious effects of the COVID-19 infection. As such, they want to be more daring with their style by opting for maximalist fashion. In fact, one of the reasons maximalist fashion is trending in 2022 is that it is more colorful and exciting. With this style, you can reveal your personality. Plus, wearing bold and colorful outfits is one way to bring life and positivity back into the world.

3. It Brings Out Your Personality and Style

As you know, each person in this world is unique. We all have different preferences and styles. The best way to show your personality and style is through maximalist fashion. Remember, there are no rules in this fashion trend. As long as you feel good and confident, you can wear anything you want.

All in all, these are some of the reasons maximalist fashion is trending this 2022. As you know, the pandemic has been a challenging period in our lives. However, we can bring color and positivity back into our life through our chic outfits.

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Why is Maximalist Fashion Trending in 2022? - VIVA GLAM MAGAZINE™

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These past years, minimalist fashion has taken the spotlight. However, this fashion trend is now becoming less popular. To be specific, many people have been itching to try something bold and exciting. As such, maximalist fashion is now gaining popularity. In fact, more and more individuals are wearing clothes with bold prints.

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Proof of other brands creating collections around partying and targeting the idea of re-socialising

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Things to think about:
The Metaverse and its effect on e-commerce and digital promotion
Packaging that has life after its use - brand with sustainability efforts tend to gain most popularity.

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4 social and cultural trends to look out for in 2022

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Mintel analysts identify four social trends to look out for 2022. These trends outline social and cultural consumer lifestyles choices in 2022. Read more.

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MAXIMALISM
No more neutrals!

My faves: Royal Purple, Baby Pink, Cool Cerulean, Kelly Green

Comme Si colour palette: Burnt Orange, Cream, Dusty Blue, Ivy Green, Muted Red

Need to incorporate new exciting colours, and colours that match the brand aesthetic.

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Photo: Baum und Pferdgarten; Claudia Li; GCDS; iMaxTree.

Scroll To See More Images

When I'm picking out an outfit, color is everything to me. Nailing the perfect hue can completely change the vibes of a T-shirt-denim combo, a great dress or any other look I'm dreaming up. And while I definitely enjoy wearing my favorite colors and the shades I think suit my complexion, I'm always looking at what's trending for new ideas to inspire me. Luckily, the top color trends for 2022 as predicted by the runways are decadently rich. Let's break 'em down, shall we?

According to fashion's top designers, we're in for a very regal 2022. Just look at the color palette! Royal purple, jewel-tone teal, and burning red are all trending hues incorporated on the Fall/Winter 2022 runways, each with its glamorous style.

Bottega Veneta modernized purple with a fringed skirt, Fendi replaced Barbie pink with a softer shade and GCDS made me reconsider pulling out my teal Juicy Couture zip-up tracksuit.

That said, we'll also be singing the blues-in a variety of saturated shades! See how easy it is to get carried away with these punchy hues? Below, read on for runway inspo plus all the deets on this season's trending colors.

Royal purple was appropriately the main color scheme behind the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year and the celebration is expected to continue with designers like Bottega Veneta and Blumarine making the shade a mainstay on their runways. The jewel tone is a classic fall shade but hasn't had a moment in the spotlight for years. Look for opportunities to add the deep hue as an accent color with neutral camel tones or make it the main event with knit sweaters, tights and winter coats.

Bright Barbie pink has been everywhere over the last six months since Valentino created an entirely hot pink F/W 2022 collection. Since every celebrity has already worn the shade, I'm anticipating a shift towards a muted baby pink. The soft color is on point(e) with the rapidly rising balletcore trend and extends the ultra-girly pieces associated with Barbiecore. It's soft, romantic and an excellent way to transition your summer wardrobe for cooler temperatures.

Jewel tones are really having a moment this season and the influx of teal on the runways prove it. Classic brands like Baum und Pferdgarten and Y2K-inspired brands like Blumarine both leaned into the shade. With kelly green and cerulean blue also trending, it's only logical that this hybrid shade was up next.

I know what you're thinking, and yes, this is similar to the royal blue mentioned earlier. But it's different! Balenciaga, Nina Ricci, Stella McCartney and Rokh all showed a more cerulean blue in their Spring/Summer 2022 shows. Of course, you can revisit Miranda Priestly's monologue from The Devil Wears Prada to learn about the hue's true fashion origins.

Orange may have been the color of the summer, but designers are ready to turn up the heat this fall with burning red. The bold shade aligns perfectly with the powerful fashion statements people are eager to make with an increase in in-person office meetings and formal events. The shade is a total classic so be sure to check out your local vintage stores for a unique iteration of the trend before you opt for something new.

Last but never ever least: Kelly green. It's rich! It's playful! It's bold! It's pretty, don'tcha think? Green is unlike any other color, so skip the LBDs and opt for something far more fun instead. Pro tip: if you're excited to wear lots of green this fall and winter, make it the color of your go-to winter coat like the Stand Studio option pictured above. It doesn't matter if it'll go with everything but the jacket itself is everything.

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These Fall Color Trends Will Convince You To Ditch Neutrals

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Photo: Baum und Pferdgarten; Claudia Li; GCDS; iMaxTree. Scroll To See More Images When I'm picking out an outfit, color is everything to me. Nailing the perfect hue can completely change the vibes of a T-shirt-denim combo, a great dress or any other look I'm dreaming up.

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This collection from July 2021 was their most fun, bold and colourful collection so far, in my opinion.
The colour palette is beautiful - matches brand's general colour palette, but also the visuals of sunrises and sunsets

The concept on Sunrise and Sunset ties in with Comme Si's focus on 'the ritual of getting dressed" and daily routines. Could be a good point to focus on for a story behind the Party Sock Collection. e.g. getting ready to go to a party.

Made from Egyptian Cotton. Because it is a finely woven fabric with a high thread count, it is easy to create colour variations/ patterns within the fabric.

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Thickly knitted Mohair wool or Alpaca wool could be good to use for the fluffy sock. They are both is very high quality and expensive (in keeping with Comme Si) and is soft and fluffy.
Good for keeping warm in winter, as the collection is aimed at A/W 2023.

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Sweater season is almost upon us and we thought we would take it upon ourselves to break down for you the different types of wool and animal fibers that compose them.

To help you separate your wools from your hairs and to give you an overview of the different properties and pros and cons associated with each, this guide intends to cover most frequently found names on the inside labels of your wool garments, including Lambswool, Merino, Cashmere, Angora, Mohair, and Alpaca.

The Basic Benefits and Types of Wool

Wool and hair in garments is something we humans have used since at least 6000BCE, when ancient Iranians began to domesticate wool sheep, to keep our bodies warm. What started out as a basic survival instinct for us hairless mammals at the very top of the food chain has since evolved into an industry of farming domesticated animals in the name of fashion. True, many people do still depend on clothes for utilitarian purposes, but many also have the luxury of being able to hand pick their optimal choice of knitwear, whether it is light or heavy, natural or dyed, merino or cashmere.

Aside from the soft and luxurious feeling very often associated with the popular cashmere, it can be difficult for many to distinguish between the different types of wool and hair. Although there are many similarities in both the farming procedures and general properties of wool and hair, they're usually distinguished between what animal they're sourced from. Wool is sourced from sheep (Merino, Lincoln, Dorset etc.) whereas Hair is sourced from other animals such as goats (cashmere, mohair), alpacas (alpaca) and rabbits (angora).

What is Wool?

Wool refers to the full fleece on the outside skin of sheep whereas hair is typically divided into two types: the topcoat (also referred to as ' guard hair') and the undercoat. The guard hair is on the outside of the animal and typically used for rain protection; it's thicker and coarser than the undercoat whose fine hair is used to keep the animal warm.

The undercoat is soft, highly-prized, and generally favourable for use in knitwear, but the two are sometimes blended into the same finished yarn (e.g. in mohair). Wool fibers are generally shorter, thicker and has more pronounced scales whereas hair is generally longer fibres, finer and has less pronounced scales.

The Benefits of Wool

Our columnist Robert Lim recently declared his love for wool, but allow us to remind you why. Wool and hair have many general properties in common, making them desirable for use in a variety of garments:

They are generally durable, flame retardant, and water repellent.

They offer good insulation due to their moisture wicking properties and ability to trap air.

They take dye extremely well and both sheep's wool or hair from alpacas offer a wide range of natural colors that require no additional dyeing.

They generally have a small environmental impact as compared to using plant fibers.

On top of that, wool and hair are easily renewable and recyclable.

And while it requires both food, energy, water, and medicine to keep animals reared, the environmental impact naturally varies from factory to factory, with some wool and hair processing being organic and free from pesticides and chemicals.

A lot of the desirable properties associated with wool and hair stem from a natural protein, called keratin, which is found in the fibers of the hair and skin of mammals. The bilateral core of keratin causes the fibers to twist and bend, giving wool its natural crimp and resilience. Another beneficial property of keratin lies in its flame-resistance, which unlike with plant fibers, makes wool and hair fibers self-extinguishable once no longer directly exposed to a flame.

One drawback, however, is that wool and hair become weaker when exposed to water, with wool losing about a quarter of its strength when wet. Another disadvantage of wool and hair (and other natural fibers) is their tendency to become moth food, a problem not shared by synthetics. That being said, the beneficial properties of wool and hair arguably makes it unrivaled by any man-made fiber known today.

How to Determine the Quality of Wool

Aside from various types of animals and breeds, several things determine the quality of wool and hair. Wool and hair are both graded on their properties such as strength, staple length (length of the fiber), and fineness (diameter measured in microns), as well as consistency and defects.

Generally, the first shear from any animal is the softest and considered the most valuable as one end remains uncut. After shearing, the staples are spun into different types of yarn generally separated as carded (woolen) and combed (worsted). Wool and hair are often mixed with other fibers (natural or man-made) to lower cost or to impart other qualities, for example, in a sweater to improve elasticity, durability, and to help it keep its shape. It's referred to as an 'intimate blend' when the individual characteristics are lost to the combination, like a jumper from an intimate blend with 20% nylon is likely to lack some of the properties of a 100% woolen jumper, like warmth, moisture wicking, etc.

There are many different breeds of sheep used in wool production and their fibers range from roughly 10-50 microns in diameter and 1.5-4.5 inches in staple length. The various breeds come in different shapes and sizes, and live in different countries and climates, that along with age, health, and diet affect the quality of their fleece.

Wool has a low tenacity (the ultimate force it takes to break the fiber), which is worsened when wet, but wool is able to stretch up to a quarter of its size before breaking. Wool fibers are generally durable and are able to bend a thousand times more than man-made fibers. The pronounced scales in the wool fibers makes woolen fabrics more prone to tangling and thus relevant for nonwovens like felt, but it also increases the tendency of shrinkage.

The Most Common Types of Wool

Now that we know all about the general properties of wool and hair, let's break down some of the most common types.

1. Lambswool

As with most wool and hair, the first shearing of sheep generally produces the finest and softest wool. This is referred to asLambswool and is typically shorn from lambs younger than seven months old. Sheep yield anywhere from one to thirteen kilos annually depending on breed, health factors, etc. Some breeds produce a fleece with a high resilience which is hard wearing and therefore good for carpets, rugs, and upholstery while other breeds produce a fine fleece with a softer hand feel which is thus popular in clothing.

2. Merino

The finest and softest sheep's wool is Merino which comes from the Merino sheep. It is the most popular breed of sheep used for clothing and produces the most luxurious wool, famous for its fine staples at about 20-25 microns in diameter (superfine merino can sometimes be down to 17 microns) and a soft hand feel. It has excellent drape due to its long staples at approximately 4.5 inches. The sheep originates from Spain, but nowadays about 80% of all Merino comes from Australia.

Like other sheep's wools, merino needs scouring prior to being spun to yarn which is an energy and time-consuming process involving washing and rinsing the wool. This gets rid of the fatty grease lanolin, which is a by-product used in cosmetics, but it means that only about half of the initial fleece can be used in the production of a garment. The scouring process is unique to wool, as hair from goats, alpacas, or rabbits doesn't contain lanolin. Yet producing merino is still not as inefficient as the production of cashmere.

3. Cashmere

Cashmere is obtained from the undercoat of the cashmere goat which only makes up about one-quarter of the total fleece. Known for its luxurious soft hand feel, cashmere is extremely fine with a diameter at around 18 microns, similar to superfine merino. The finest cashmere comes from the neck region of the undercoat which has to be combed over one or two weeks. One goat typically yields 150 grams of cashmere a year which is a small output compared to the rest of the fibers, thus explaining cashmere's high price.

It has a similar resilience to sheep's wool, but the fine fibers of cashmere generally make it more delicate than wool. When cashmere is finished into clothing, the nap is typically raised on the wool to improve the softness. Most modern napping machines use metal tines (e.g. lambswool), but more traditionally, dried teasel pods were used and are still considered superior for soft and delicate materials like cashmere.

4. Mohair

Mohair is obtained from the Angora goat (sometimes confused with the angora yarn that comes from the angora rabbit). It has a larger undercoat compared to the cashmere goat, but the guard hairs from the topcoat are, unlike with cashmere, often mixed with the hairs from the undercoat. This gives mohair its distinct, frizzy look with the slightly stiff short hairs visible in the final product.

Mohair fibers are about 25-40 microns which is similar to wool, but it's known to be stronger, smoother, and more resilient than wool due to its long staples at 4-6 inches. The finest mohair fibers come from the first three shearings of the Angora goat. It has less pronounced scales than wool which reduces the tangling/shrinkage and also minimizes the dirt it picks up. Angora goats are farmed similarly to sheep, but at a much smaller scale, which might be why mohair is slightly more expensive than wool. One Angora goat yields between 3-5 kilos of mohair in a year which is significantly more than the cashmere goat, but its end product is not as soft and exclusive.

5. Angora

Angora comes from the undercoat of the Angora rabbit whose fibers are extremely fine at about 10-15 microns, which makes Angora incredibly soft and the finest of all the aforementioned. The quality of angora depends on the proportion of guard hair and undercoat making up the finished angora.

There are four main breeds: English, French, Giant, and Satin, which are all domesticated for angora production. The hair is very light and not very strong, with a low resilience. For that reason, angora is often blended with stronger or more elastic materials. Angora production is both time consuming and costly and the ethics of the production method has been questioned by many. Farming angora sometimes involves the rabbits being kept in separate cages and in near darkness to protect their undercoat.

To further protect their hair from matting, the rabbits are combed regularly. The hair for the finished angora is obtained either by plucking or shearing, each having their own advantages. Plucking makes for the best quality, but is more time consuming - shearing makes for a lesser quality, but will yield more hair. The Angora rabbit grows hair quickly, but one rabbit will still only produce around 400 grams a year at best.

6. Alpaca

Alpaca hair comes from the Alpaca, an animal living in South America that produces some of the finest hair available. Ranging from 15-40 microns, alpaca fibers can be very fine and soft, but are generally quite itchy at or over 30 microns, and thus less likely to be used for clothing. Generally a little bit stiffer than merino or cashmere, alpaca fibers are sometimes blended with wools like Merino to improve its draping qualities.

Like hair from goats and rabbits, it needs less preparatory steps compared to wool, and the hair from Alpaca hair is a natural hypoallergenic, arguably making it superior to cashmere. The Suri Alpaca, in particular, is a very rare breed, yielding some of the most exclusive alpaca. The different breeds of Alpacas offer a wide range of natural colours, with five main colours, and furthermore twenty-two shades to choose from. An average Alpaca will yield approximately 3.5 kilos in a year.

How to Select the Right Wool For You

There are many aspects to take into consideration when choosing the right jumper for your specific needs, something this guide will hardly be able to do for you. Some jumpers are heavy and hard wearing, some are light and fuzzy, some have intricate jacquard patterns, some are plain knit, some are naturally coloured and some are dyed, some are washable and some are dry clean only.

These are all properties that can be found in woolen and hairy jumpers, but as much as it depends on the animals from where the yarn is sourced, the composition, and the preparatory steps from fibers to yarn, it also depends on the design and the machines that knits the fabric. Bear in mind that it's possible to make soft jumpers from pure lambswool and rigid knitwear from pure merino. However, the design and knitting technology is a whole chapter of itself.

Alpaca, cashmere, and angora knitwear are all very exclusive and generally have the highest price points. But as much as it depends on the animal and the breed, it's important to remember that factors like age, health, and stress also affects the quality of the yarn and thus the final product. Angora (and other fine fibers) is generally too delicate to be associated with workwear; it's very much a fancy material which is often used in bright, fluffy women's jumpers. Angora production is furthermore an industry that many people and animal welfare associations have had issues with in the past, due to a lot of Angora farming having taken place in countries with little to no animal welfare standards.

But if you want sustainable and hard wearing woolens, here are a few brands we recommend:

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Know Your Wools: Cashmere, Lambswool, Angora and More

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Sweater season is almost upon us and we thought we would take it upon ourselves to break down for you the different types of wool and animal fibers that compose them.

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Glitter is essentially a micro-plastic and is harmful to the environment, so need to figure out how to use high quality, safe glittery fabric.
Today Glitter creates biodegradable glitter.
BioGlitz has managed to put eco-friendly glitter into fabrics

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Glitter is a microplastic that traditionally has been a problem to the environment. For this reason, many companies have now turned to an eco-friendly alternative.

This product has recently become a passion for the cosmetic sector. However, microbeads and microplastics - the tiny bits of plastic that make up some face washes, body scrubs, and glitter - are detrimental to our environment.

Glitter is basically composed of tiny bits of plastic. Like most other types of plastic glitter can not be recycled as usually it is made of some kind of non-biodegradable material, such as copolymer plastic or aluminum foil. These harmful microbeads are tiny pieces that are classified as 'microplastic' and can be found in many cosmetic products.

Fortunately for those that don't fancy losing their sparkle, we are developing and keep on researching more about the environmentally - friendly glitter.

Today Glitter uses 100% Bioglitter™, a new innovative and progressive glitter product, designed to reduce the impact on the environment while retaining the same beauty effects. We never mix our products with plastic glitter. We are the first and only verified reseller of Bioglitter in the US.

Differences between conventional and biodegradable glitter
Traditional glitter is hazardous to our environment
Traditional glitter is made up of microplastics that cannot be recycled, and its tiny composition makes upcycling out of the question. Essentially, once the glitter is disposed of, it lingers on the Earth and can lead to devastating consequences to the environment and natural life.
Most glitter ends up in our oceans and back into our bodies
Traditional glitter spreads through our natural environment, and it ends up in our oceans. As the microbeads do not break down, eventually those microplastics will be consumed by some animals under the sea. This affects not only our aquatic ecosystem but also ourselves; fish that are caught for human consumption are increasingly beginning to contain plastic particles, which in turn are consumed by us.

Microbes have been banned from the cosmetics industry due to plastic particle water pollution and conventional glitter is no better.

Today Glitter: the eco-friendly glitter choice

Today Glitter is the first step in our journey to provide a solution to the issue of glitter microplastic pollution and offers an eco-friendly glitter choice. Today Glitter is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic-based glitter and it has been developed to tackle the part of microplastic pollution created by glitter.

Our glitter is produced from plant cellulose, so it is derived from sustainable sources, meaning that it does not contain genetically modified materials and it can be metabolized by microorganisms.

Today Glitter is now more committed than ever to be good for our planet! Not in the future, not later,.. Today! Today Glitter does not dissolve in the water, it needs some bacterias and other microorganisms to biodegrade.

The core of Today Glitter is a naturally biodegradable cellulose, representing more than 90% of the product's content. It is the best foundation on which to build our ultimate 100% plastic free goal. With the current version of Today Glitter, we have already come a long way in achieving our goal of a naturally biodegradable and plastic free glitter. Being 92% plastic free and degradable outside in the natural environment, Today Glitter has already significantly reduced its effect on nature. Nevertheless, we are working hard to go further.

Compliant with the European and American standards

Our glitter meets both FDA and European Commission Cosmetics Regulations. These institutions heavily vet the products they consider acceptable for approval, so you can feel confident that you are making a safe choice when purchasing our glitter. Our loyal customers have always been trendsetters and leaders in their own right. That is the reason why we are taking personal responsibility for the environment and we are moving towards the change we hope to see in the entire glitter market one day.

Without compromising our quality and our core philosophy, we feel confident our fans would follow us on our new journey to sustainable glitter fashion.

The special regenerated cellulose used in Today Glitter is the only biodegradable glitter in the market. Do not confuse biodegradable and compostable form of cellulose. Compostable, needs glitter to be treated in a recycling plant. Naturally biodegradable will degrade in nature.

Currently, we are investing in a major research and development program to reach the ultimate goal of being totally plastic free.

The challenge keeps on going. Making the final steps can be increasingly difficult, however, the future possibilities have us all energized and excited about things to come. We feel incredibly privileged to have this opportunity to make a difference. Currently, we are investing in a major research and development program to reach the ultimate goal of being totally plastic free.

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Biodegradable Glitter: A new trend in the environment

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Today Glitter is the first step in our journey to provide a solution to the issue of glitter microplastic pollution and offers an eco-friendly glitter choice. Today Glitter is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic-based glitter and has been developed to tackle the part of microplastic pollution created by glitter.

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Best fabric to use for a patterned sock? 

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Best fabric to use for a patterned sock? 

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For any patterns or colour variations Comme Si have done, Mongolian cashmere or Egyptian Cotton are used.

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Cool sock spotted on the train

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Funny sock inspo seen while scrolling on Instagram

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Socks my flatmate bought

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Gucci made a snapchat filter in 2020, which allowed users to try on their shoes. The filter also had a 'shop now' button leading users to their website to buy the shoes, making it a retail experience.

I want to make a filter like this where users can try on the new collection of socks. A digital filter is fun and silly, but also acts as a great promotional tool, especially when it leads straight to their website.

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KEY WORDS: engaging, sensorial and memorable.
Hyper-physicality - an extension of the real world.
Meaningful spaces which elevate traditional bricks-and-mortar shopping experience.
eMarketer forecasts that bricks-and-mortar retail sales will grow between 2.6% and 3.4% by 2025.

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Consumers appreciate transparency when it comes to supply chain and sustainability.
Big focus on maximalism and bright colours, and mindfulness and well-being through things like healthy eating (veganism especially), quality of sleep and stress management.

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The first month of 2022 has already flown by, but that doesn't mean our excitement surrounding what the new year possibly holds has worn off. While we don't know what the new year will bring as we're still continuing our at-home routine due to the new Omicron wave, there are things we're most excited about this year: the biggest lifestyle trends in 2022!

From making sure we look good (while also being kind to the planet) to nurturing our well-being, we have compiled everything you need to know about the biggest lifestyle trends in 2022.

Sustainable wear

When we think of our personal impact on the planet, many of us have realized the consequences of our sartorial choice. That's why sustainability has been the theme for quite a while and is where fashion is heading towards. Despite the topic being much-discussed in recent years, a 2020 report by Global Fashion Agenda found that the fashion industry's emissions are set to rise at around 2.1 billion tons a year by 2030. Without taking significant actions, the industry will fail to meet the Paris Agreement's target to keep global warming to 1.5°C for 2030.

McKinsey & Com pany, a global management consulting firm, reported that consumers will demand more transparency when it comes to supply chain and sustainability -how products are made, where materials come from, and whether or not the people involved in the making are treated fairly.

Given the scale of the climate crisis we're facing, more brands have started to follow ethical and sustainable practices that are pioneered by brands like Patagonia, Everlane, and Reformation. Offering recyclable materials, designs that last more than one season, plant-based leather options have been significant trends for sustainable fashion. And as consumers are beginning to be more conscious, more and more people will opt for ethical alternatives to fast fashion companies, resulting in the trend of renting clothes, buying vintage, shopping smart and from independent, small businesses continue being on the rise.

Vibrant hues

Gone are the days where we played safe with neutral-colored outfits. Aside from keeping things sustainable, in 2022, one of the biggest lifestyle trends will be about wearing spotlight-stealing hues. Bold splash of colors have been seen almost everywhere on the Spring/Summer 2022 runways-primary blue at Loewe, lime green at Prabal Gurung, yellow at Rodarte, and bubblegum pink at Chanel. These colors serve as an instant wardrobe refresher that are guaranteed to brighten up the mood during the bleakness of the pandemic.

According to Leatrice Eisemen, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute , "Colors for Spring 2022 bring together our competing desires for comforting familiarity and joyful adventure through a range of soothing and timeless colors, along with joyous hues that celebrate playfulness." She add ed, "As we enter this new landscape, one where fashion rules no longer apply, hues for Spring 2022 allow us to mix and marry as we please, encouraging the exploration of new chromatic realities, opening the door for personalized style and spontaneous color statements."

While these vibrant hues are released to predict the fashion design trends, without a doubt, the colors can also be incorporated into home designs. Especially if you're into...

Maximalist interior design

Being confined at home for so long due to the pandemic has pushed us to step out of our comfort zone and rethink the way we live, work, interact with each other, and express ourselves. commissioned by Coravin and conducted by OnePoll found that 70% of 2000 respondents learned more about themselves during quarantine through delving into new hobbies , and 35% said that they want to continue their newfound hobbies.

Among the many new hobbies and exploration of something new, redecorating homes is one that is popular as people want to find ways to turn their homes into a sanctuary , with maximalist interiors to be specific.

Maximalism means decorating our homes with more of the things we love. This direction of interior design is characterized by an eclectic mix of patterns, busy walls decorated with photographs or artwork, and unique statement pieces. When selecting furnishings, be sure to consider exploring not only rich colors, but also layers and textures, because maximalist design goes way more than just filling the room with lots of stuff.

Social media has its own impact when it comes to influencing consumers on maximalist design. According to Pinterest data, people are searching for "maximalist decor" five times more often on the platform compared to 2020. The style is taking the interior world by the storm in 2021, and a quick scroll through Instagram or TikTok will also get us to a plethora of maximalist decor inspiration.

As stated by Sasha Bikoff , a designer for Sasha Bikoff Interior Design, on Apartment Therapy, " The emergence of social media and the desire for that unique, bright image absolutely plays a role in maximalism's most recent rise."

Overall well-being

Amid the Omicron wave, we are still surrounded with so much uncertainty and fear. That's mainly why looking after our mental and physical well-being feels especially vital. For that reason alone, increased health consciousness has driven the wellness industry while we reevaluated what it actually means to be "well".

In light of the pandemic, there was a growing demand in sleep aid devices that resulted in global retail value sales of around USD 3.0 billion in 2019, as well as immunity-boosting food and vitamins, which became Amazon's top 17 of 20 best-selling vitamin category products in mid 2020.

Apart from making sure we have quality sleep and get nourishing food supplements, people are starting to recognize the importance of self-awareness to manage stress. Many of us are facing challenges that can trigger a stress response. While we certainly can't avoid stress, learning to cope with stress in a healthy way can help us manage it more effectively.

According to Bupa Health Clinics, one of the biggest trends of 2022 is tracking stress. conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of the clinics found that there was ​​80% increase in searches on Google for "stress tracker" and 88% increase for "mood tracker journal". Seeing this trend of tracking stress, it is likely that products to help keep track of our moods such as smart watches, mood tracking apps, and mood diaries will become highly popular.

These demands are set to keep expanding in 2022 for it came as a direct response to the rise of anxiety levels caused by the virus outbreak and the consumers' needs to find new ways to improve their lives.

Mindful, plant-based eating

If there's one food trend that is noticeably growing in the last few years, it's the rise of vegetarian and vegan food that has created a massive demand in the market. Innova Market Insights reported that global sustainability has overtaken personal health as consumers' concern. This gradual shift towards plant-based diet has increased the launches of new plant-based products by 59% in 2021.

While not all plant-based foods are made equally healthy, these options have less environmenta l impact, which lure more people to make the switch. A survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Veganuary, an organization that encourages people to go vegan in January, found that a record of 500.000 people have signed up to eat only plant-based foods for a month. This milestone in 2021 is double the number compared to January in 2019.

Since there is a growing awareness of environmental concerns and animal welfare, those who still consume meat will be more inclined to reduce their meat and dairy consumption, hence flexitarianism i s believed to be a growing trend. The term flexitarian has been around for a while and is coined to desc ribe individuals who mainly consume plant-based foods, with occasional meat and dairy intake. So, there should be no surprise that r estaurants and shops will be offering more plant-based menu options in 2022.

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Everything You Need to Know About the Biggest Lifestyle Trends in 2022

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The first month of 2022 has already flown by, but that doesn't mean our excitement surrounding what the new year possibly holds has worn off. While we don't know what the new year will bring as we're still continuing our at-home routine due to the new Omicron wave, there are things we're most excited about this year: the biggest lifestyle trends in 2022!

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For ordering clothes online. Customers can scan clothes for more information, try them on using connected mirrors.
The space is very small - 200 square metres.
This would be a very clever way to translate Comme Si's online store to a physical environment.

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Looks better and more visible against skin in white

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'Face mask' effect makes the text warp around the face more. This makes it more interactive as the person moves but the effect looks less crisp and refined

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Figured out how to resize so it fits the face better

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Ive got to think about how things are layed out so they will guide how to customer will walk around. I like either free flow or geometric.
Think about sounds, scent, touch and taste.
Seasonal, showing the right products at the right times.

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Planning the layout of your store is both an art and a science - it requires creativity, psychological insights, and testing.

In this post, we'll explore common tactics that you can implement when planning the arrangement of your store. Go through them below and see if you can apply any of these pointers to your store's layout and merchandising.

1. Use the right floor plan

Your floor plan plays a critical role in managing store flow and traffic. The choice of which one is right for you will depend on a number of factors including the size of your store, the products that you sell, and more importantly, your target market.
What are your customers like? Are they shopping in a hurry or can they take their time? Do they prefer self-service features or will your associates guide them throughout the store? Do want to find exactly what they need efficiently, or are they open to discovering items along the way? These are just some of the questions you have to ask when deciding on your floor plan.
While there are plenty of store arrangements that you can adopt, here are the most common ones in retail:

Straight floor plan

This floor plan involves positioning shelves or racks in straight lines to create an organized flow of traffic. It's one of the most economical store layouts and is mostly used in large retail spaces, supermarkets, and in stores that primarily use shelving to showcase their merchandise.

This layout encourage customers to "loop" your store. You position your fixtures and merchandise in such a way that you create a path to guide that guides shoppers around your shop.

Angular floor plan

Geometric floor plan

The geometric floor plan utilizes racks and fixtures to create a unique store feel and design. Go with this layout if you're showcasing trendy products.

Free flow plan

A free flow layout affords you the most creativity. You're not limited to floor patterns or shelves that have to be placed at certain angles. And unlike the other layouts, you're not prodding people to use a path around your store; instead, shoppers are encourage to browse and go in any direction.

2. Be aware of where you "lead" shoppers

There's quite a bit of debate about whether or not retailers should lead customers in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion inside their stores.

On one hand, some claim that since most people are right-handed, they instinctively turn to the right and explore the store in a counter-clockwise direction.
However, other studies indicate that shopper direction has more to do with their vehicle traffic patterns. Consumers in the UK and Australia for instance, drive on the left side of the road so they have a tendency to explore stores in a clockwise manner while consumers from right-hand driving countries like the US usually turn right when they enter a shop.
The pattern of movement in the supermarket is counterclockwise in the United States, but PathTracker studies in the UK, Australia, and Japan show a much greater tendency for shoppers to move in a clockwise pattern there... traffic patterns in the store may also be affected by vehicle traffic patterns outside. In these small studies, we noted that in countries with right-hand driving, where traffic circles move in a clockwise pattern, shoppers in stores may be more comfortable moving in the same direction.

Our recommendation? Test out the theory for yourself. If you find that your customers do indeed follow the country's vehicle patterns, then you'll know where to place new arrivals and other inviting elements.

3. Ensure that your product quantities are appropriate

The question of how much merchandise to have on display is an important one - and the answer is not clear-cut.

Meanwhile, when Walmart reduced their inventory, sales steadily declined, so the company remodeled their stores to add stock back.

What's interesting, though, is while Walmart's sales declined during that time period, customer satisfaction . In other words, customers were happier, but they weren't buying as much. William S. Simon, then Walmart's chief executive for the US division said that customers "loved the experience" of having less stock on the sales floor, but at the same time they also bought less.

Having too much product on the sales can lead to a decline in brand perception, especially if you're trying to position yourself as a boutique or high-end retailer.
As Paco Underhill, author of The bottom line? The amount of stock to display in your store will depend on the size of your shop, the image you want to project, and the type of experience you want to create. If you're a discount retailer who wants to make the most out of your store space, then packing your shop with merchandise could be a good strategy for you. But if you're a high-end boutique, then it's best to keep your selection curated and just put a few select items up for display. Why We Buy told the New York Times, "the more a store is packed, the more people think of it as value - just as when you walk into a store and there are fewer things on the floor, you tend to think they're expensive."
4. Have enough space between products and fixtures

It's ok to have shelves that are packed with merchandise (if that's what you're going for) as long as you still give your customers their personal space.
While reviewing the tape to study how shoppers negotiated the doorway during busy times, we began to notice something weird about the tie rack. Shoppers would approach it, stop and shop until they were bumped once or twice by people heading into or out of the store. After a few such jostles, most of the shoppers would move out of the way, abandoning their search for neckwear. We watched this over and over until it seemed clear that shoppers - women especially, though it was also true of men to a lesser extent - don't like being brushed or touched from behind. They'll even move away from merchandise they're interested in to avoid it. That said, most experts recommend changing some part of your store around once a week. You could, for example, change the outfits of your mannequins or feature a different upsell every week. And for obvious reason, you want to switch up your merchandising whenever new products come in.
You want to avoid the butt-brush effect, which according to Underhill, is a phenomenon where shoppers would abandon a display or product they were looking at when they were bumped once or twice from behind.

Underhill wrote:

5. Freshen up your displays regularly

The rules around how often to change up your displays will vary depending on who you're talking to and the type of store you run.

Also take into account the amount (and nature) of traffic that you're getting in your store or shopping center. Do you get a lot of the same shoppers walking by? Are you on a busy street corner that's on the way to people's work locations? If so, then you'll need to change up your displays more frequently in order to grab people's attention on a consistent basis.

The last thing you want is for customers to get too accustomed to your store that it doesn't even register when they pass by.

6. Find ways to appeal to multiple senses

While the majority of a location's design is made up of visual components, other factors-including scent, touch, sound, and taste-can also make an impact on a store's look and feel. If you wish to create a truly immersive in-store experience, design your store to appeal to as many shopper senses as possible.

Here are a few ideas on what you can do:
Reuters Other retailers craft a scent made out of their best products. Brandi Halls, Lush's director of brand communications for North America, told Racked that that strong scent in their stores are a mixture of their top products. cites a few great examples of scent marketing in action. Some upscale merchants for instance, "scent their baby goods department with the soothing smell of baby powder" while "Cruise lines and hotels use signature aromas in their rooms and on the brochures mailed to guests after they go home, in hopes the scent will bring back memories of a pleasant vacation and spur repeat bookings."
Sound

Pick your playlist wisely. Determine the atmosphere that you want to create and pick songs that enhance (and not overpower) the ambiance. Volume and beat can influence behavior, depending on who you're selling to. For instance, while loud music may work well for retailers that target younger shoppers, the same thing can't be said for merchants catering to adults.

Scent

Bakeries and cafes may have a slight edge here, as they can use the smell of their products to draw customers in. But you can still cater to people's sense of smell even if you aren't in the food industry.

"When I walk in, I can definitely smell the Avobath bath bomb, the Karma soap, and the Vanillary perfume. These are some of our cult products," she added.

The right scents to incorporate in your store will of course depend on your audience and business, so do your research and figure out which ones will encourage shoppers to linger and buy.

Touch

Having a "hands-on" vibe can enhance shopper experience. One way of doing this is to take out sample products from their boxes to encourage customers to test or play with them.

Apple pioneered this approach in the electronics retail space when they launched stores that had their products out in the open instead of being inside big brown boxes (which was the norm at the time).

Consumers loved it, and soon other retailers in the computer and electronics space followed suit.

Taste

If you sell food in your store, see if you can have taste testing stations. Again, this encourages a more hands-on shopping experience and makes it less intimidating for people.

Check out what Brandless did when in their LA pop-up store. To give people a taste of their coffee and tea, they set up a station where people can sample the products.

By the way, even if you're not selling edible products, you can still appeal to shoppers' sense of taste by offering nibbles and drinks that they can enjoy while shopping.

Cosmetics store Birchbox, for example, occasionally serves champagne in-store. Here's a shot from their SoHo location in January:

7. Don't forget to cross-merchandise

Grouping your merchandise into neat categories or departments is a great strategy, but see if you can find room to cross-merchandise different items. Identify products in your store that would go well together and put them in a single display.

View your merchandise from a customer's perspective. For example, if you were a shopper looking at a particular dress, is there anything in the store that would go well with it?

Have a look at this display from Gymboree, which cross-merchandises a range of shirts and sweaters with a matching purse.

Here's another cool example from Target. The top shelf showcases different brands of sunblock for kids, while the shelf directly below it has swim diapers on display. Target knows that customers shopping for swim diapers will likely need sunblock (and vice versa) so they cleverly put the products together.

8. Make sure your employees are on point

Don't forget that your staff also plays a role in your store's design and layout. How they are positioned in your shop can make or break your store's appeal. Having your employees move around on the sales floor instead of staying behind the counter is a good way to make the place more inviting.

Consumers looking into your shop will be more enticed to walk in if they see people moving about. That's why Bob recommends that merchants instruct employees to "act as if they were customers" if a store is empty in order to make it more enticing.

9. Track and measure your efforts

Last not but not least, always ask whether or not you're making the right floor plan, design, or arrangement decisions. This is critical to making sure that you're implementing the best strategies possible.

You and your staff should be very observant with how people behave in your store. Pay attention to where they go, where they linger, and what they do while they're inside. Also ask questions on what they think of your shop and what you can do to improve.

Let's say you're implementing a major layout or merchandising change in your store. You want to benchmark metrics like sales, traffic, and dwell time you make the updates, and then measure the results once the changes are implemented. ( Pro tip: Use POS reporting software to track your performance. This will save time and make data-gathering so much easier.)

Specifically, you will:

Bottom line

Your store layout and merchandising directly affects your store traffic, dwell time, and sales, among other things. That's why it's critical that you invest the time and resources in making sure that the look and feel of your stores are on point. Also remember when it comes to layouts, displays, and merchandising, your work is never finished. So keep finding trends and ideas, and always look for ways to step up your game.

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Store Layout Design: 9 Tips for Arranging Your Retail Shop

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Planning the layout of your store is both an art and a science - it requires creativity, psychological insights, and testing. In this post, we'll explore common tactics that you can implement when planning the arrangement of your store. Go through them below and see if you can apply any of these pointers to your store's layout and merchandising.

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Researching how to actually design the sock
This technique is fine for putting pattern on already existing socks
But I need to find out how to put fluffy or sparkly texture

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How To Socks Design - Photoshop CC Tutorial

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super helpful tutorial on how to put a fuzzy texture onto the socks

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How To Create a Furry Text Effect in Photoshop

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Happy Socks is a direct competitor so seeing how they use physical retail is helpful to get ideas for Comme Si.
They are currently displaying Christmas items so this is not that helpful in relation to The Party Socks. However it was good to see how things are laid out to guide you around the store.

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Having artwork around is nice to fill blank walls and create a visually stimulating experience
Everything must be insta-worthy

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I don't like how busy this wall is. It is difficult to spot things immediately and a customer might feel overwhelmed by choice - and just looks a bit messy
On the other hand it could be purposeful as a way to get the customer to spend more time in the shop as it takes more time to find what they need.
Also happy socks is all about colour and fun and being bold so this kind of display makes sense. Comme Si is more elegant and refined so their shop display and atmosphere will need to reflect that.

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Sarah Andelman - founder of Colette, Paris 

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Sarah Andelman - founder of Colette, Paris 

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Notes from this article:
Colette Paris was a concept store - exhibition space, bookshop, water bar
Lots of art connections (I want to show Comme Si's art connections)
The shop is a curation.
"Captures the senses and is almost museum-like in their approach"
Human services are important e.g. being offered a drink on entering
WHAT DOES THE STORE OFFER YOU THAT ONLINE CAN'T
Experience= touch, sounds, smell, sight
"keep it short, renew and do something different next time"

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Attitude of “permanent renewal” drives retail success says Colette co-founder Sarah Andelman in Liganova talk

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Co-founder of the iconic Paris concept store Colette Sarah Andelman has discussed the fresh, unexpected approaches needed to succeed in the future retail landscape, in a talk hosted by Dezeen and Liganova at Milan design week.

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https://visualjournal.it/dear-mayuko/

Love the minimal design, everything is displayed neatly and uniform.
The display tables remind me of display plinths in a museum or gallery. Makes the products feel luxurious and expensive, like art.

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Pricing

Minimum hours: 5

*No smoking allowed inside the gallery. *Outside food & drink should be approved by space manager. *20% Service Charge will apply. *We also have our own exhibition schedule, so we recommend the renter to contact us 3-4 months before your exhibition and discuss the space availability with our space manager.

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Gallery space for exhibition/media event, New York, NY | Rent it on Splacer

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The gallery is 1,363 Sqft on 1st floor (street level) with reception area, middle gallery and main gallery, plus 550 Sqft on the lower level for backstage/back of house. Some built in capabilities include gallery fixtures, track lighting, audio sound system (easily connect with phone or laptop), wireless microphone, high-speed internet, wifi, restroom and one small kitchen.

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Prime Pop-Up Store in Vibrant Soho | Storefront

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This vast gallery space in Chelsea is perfect for exhibitions, photo shoot, filming, Fashion showroom, Corporate event and product launches.

The space is located on the third floor and is loosely divided into three interconnected rooms. The bright white-box style interiors, polished white gray floors and large windows allow a wealth of natural light into the gallery creating a well-lit ambience. The space is suitable for a large art show, large meeting, Product launch, fashion showroom, media production and more.

Located in the heart of Chelsea with a view of the High Line and the Empire State building, this gallery is easily accessible and perfect for photo/video shoot, brands and creative professionals looking to impress in an arty and sophisticated environment. There are two elevators in the building allowing access to the third floor. There are loading docs on the street connecting to the 2 factory size freight elevators.

Please note that our daily rate includes 8 hours from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. Any stay beyond the 8 hours will have an extra fee added to it of $280/hr. Weekends Saturday and Sunday any stay beyond the 8 hours will have an extra fee added to it of $300/hr. If total guests exceed more than 50, $30 will be added to the hourly fee. Multiple days rental will be added $300/ night. All extra fees except basic rental fees should be paid directly to the venue. The renter and the venue will exchange an agreement prepared by the venue.

The in-house rental amenities: Chairs ($1.50 each), Tables ($15 each, with table cloths $20 each), Coat racks ($20 each), Pedestals ($15), Speakers ($65each), Microphones ($20 each), Projector ($85), Backdrop w. white or black screen ($30).

Rental furniture fee should be paid directly to the venue when order was made.

We require refundable security deposit of $600(one day rental)~depending on the length of the rental days. A site rep fee of $130 at the beginning and at the end of the event. The one time basic cleaning fee of $130 for one day renter. The cleaning fee varies according to the situation and the length of the rental days. The refundable security deposit, the excess hours fee, the exceeding number of the guests fee, the site rep fee, the cleaning fee and in-house rental amenities fee should be paid directly to the venue when exchange the agreement.

If alcohol were served Renter is required to hire one or two security guard/s at the space entrance to make sure that all guests are in the event space not in the hallways during the reception period.

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Spacious Gallery in Artsy Chelsea | Storefront

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This vast gallery space in Chelsea is perfect for exhibitions, photo shoot, filming, Fashion showroom, Corporate event and product launches. The space is located on the third floor and is loosely divided into three interconnected rooms. The bright white-box style interiors, polished white gray floors and large windows allow a wealth of natural light into the gallery creating a well-lit ambience.

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I would want the pop up store to be in New York as the company is based there and because of consumers shopping more locally due to covid.
Using an exhibition space rather than a shop enhances the links to the arts world and makes it feel like a luxurious experience rather than a mundane, classic shopping experience.
Reflects the Comme Si lifestyle
Push the idea that Comme Si's products are art

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or artists in New York, renting a showroom can be easy with Splacer. Plus, art galleries can be used for much more than art. These inspiring spaces are perfect for creative teams looking for photoshoot locations, sets for film productions, or small gatherings. Because these galleries are left with ample wall space, you can mold the space to fit your event, making these showrooms the ideal venues. Even the lighting can be adjusted as needed, whether making your own art display or taking photos of a product. Check out these 7 art galleries in New York to host your event today!

Located in Long Island City, this art gallery is ideal for private gatherings, team events, or your own artistic work. This flexible gallery is only $120 per hour, with 40 guests max and 700 square feet of space. With plenty of seating, large windows for natural light, and minimal decor, you can transform this space into a reception area, or bring your own art displays.

Looking for a larger space? This versatile art gallery in Dumbo has 2,000 square feet of space. Designed by architect Sou Fujimoto, this space provides a small book store, pop-up counter, cafe, and the art gallery. With 14 removable panels, you can adjust the space as needed for your event, showing, or celebration

This Midtown gallery is an ideal venue for fashion photoshoots, product launches, or pop-up boutiques. With high ceilings, sky lights, and bare walls, this gallery is your canvas. The space is divided into a reception area, middle gallery, main gallery, and backstage with plenty of space for guests, production crews, or your personal art pieces.

For only $150 per hour, this Hoboken art gallery is both industrial and chic. Ideal for hosting corporate events or private parties, this space offers furniture rentals and catering services. With up to 70 guests maximum, it is easy to socialize in this elegant and inspiring space. If you want a more comprehensive look, check out this 3D walkthrough!

Looking for an affordable option? This storefront gallery is an impressive $45 per hour! Located in Journal Square, this space has plenty of sunlight, gorgeous wooden floors, and eclectic art decor that creates a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Some notable features include a ceiling mounted projector, privacy screens for the windows, and a folding screen. Book today for your next art exhibition or visual art showcase!

Located in Midtown East Manhattan, this historic art gallery can be used for corporate events, film projects, or even weddings. With 1,500 square feet of space, this venue fits up to 100 guests. Plus, there is a 1927 Steinway 'M' grand piano available to rent, perfect for live concerts at small gatherings.

Looking for something more luxurious? This space provides contemporary artwork from talented artists, inspiring conversations for your guests. Located near the High Line, this stunning space has large arched windows, three rooms, and outdoor space for art exhibitions. Host your next team gathering here for a more elegant and professional party venue!

Art galleries have ideal locations, perfect for drawing in new clients or other creative individuals. Especially now, people are craving art and missing the museums. Bring your own artistic vision to life in these 7 inspiring art galleries. Book today!

#ArtGallery #Showroom #NewYork

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For artists in New York, renting a showroom can be easy with Splacer. Plus, art galleries can be used for much more than art. These inspiring spaces are perfect for creative teams looking for photoshoot locations, sets for film productions, or small gatherings.

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These images were my main inspirations for my own shoot. I like the basic white fabric backdrop and the use of interesting shoes an a few minimal props as well as interesting poses that show off the socks nicely. These photos feel like something I could replicate well and keep as true to the Comme Si style as possible.

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These Are the Best Socks to Wear With Heels

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This photoshoot will be for general product promotion and website/ social media content

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I'd like this shoot to tell more of a story behind the party socks, create an image of the party girl
To create a community/ lifestyle to buy in to
However this isn't as necessary as the first one so will only be if I have time at the end

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Using the Angelli sock as the template for the new socks. The cut and fit of this sock is classic and will fit any design I put onto it

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I cut out the shape of the socks, converted them into smart objects and then increased the contrast so the shadows and contours of the sock were more visible.

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Copy and pasted the sparkly texture into the shape of the socks.

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Used multiply effect to create transparency so the shadows of the original sock show through and make the sock look realistic.
I also changed the colour of the original sock underneath to be slightly pink, so the shadows would be pink to match the sock colour.

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For the fluffy sock it was the same process of putting the texture into the shape of the sock and using multiply effect.
However to make sure the edges were fluffy and looked 3D I had to create a custom brush to look like hairs, then stroke the whole area of the sock to outline everything with the furry brush, and them add the same texture as in inside of the sock.

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For the custom brush stroke, I created a few random, overlapping hairs using the pen tool, then in brush settings set the Size Jitter, Angle Jitter and Roundness Jitter all to max. This made the brush randomise with every click and created realistic and varied hair texture which I could then put on the socks.

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First attempt at the patterned sock
Stars inspired by nightlife/partying
However I think this looks too simple and a bit like a children's sock

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Created a star sun and moon design that is much simpler and elegant to match Comme Si's vibe better

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The pattern translated onto the sock

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Decided that the orange and yellow were too similar colours and it was hard to see the pattern
The dark blue contrasts the yellow nicely and still gives an elegant feel.

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Made the pattern gold glitter to add to the party feel

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Used a bedsheet as a back drop, I set up a box light and shot on iPhone as it was easy and all I had at home.
I sourced a bunch of funky party shoes from charity shops

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I am pleased with how these photos came out. I styled the model in only white socks so that I can photoshop my sock designs onto them easily.

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Planning how content could be used on social media

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Planning how content could be used on social media

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I also want to make examples of what their Instagram stories would look like, and show things like inspirations and styling tips for each sock, like they do for their actual collections.

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cool way to display socks seen on Pinterest

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I wanted to create a more visual example of what the store would look like.
Planner 5D is a free website I found which lets you create floor plans and see them in 3D.
I enjoyed considering how to lay out a store and thinking about where the customer would walk around and how to guide them. The free bar is at the back but directly visible, so will attract customers immediately but they will have to walk through and see everything to get there.
I placed display plinths at the windows so people would see from outside and be curious, as well as in sections to display the different sock collections.
The lounge area is more hidden and private (a sit down acts as a reward once you've seen the whole store) and is next to the bar, so customers can sit down while they drink - encouraging them to stay longer

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The website only came with a certain amount of decorations and furniture that I could access. I chose items which closest matches Comme Si's aesthetic to suggest the style of decor that would be in the shop, and left empty spaces for where the socks would be displayed.

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Used QRfy.com to create a unique QR code that links to the Comme Si website. For the actual event, there would be signs with different QR codes matching each sock collection, taking you straight to the website to buy the socks you're looking at.

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Cutting out the shoes and socks separately, I edited their contrast and desaturated to make the shadows stronger and the silver not look yellow.

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Copied the sparkly texture into the shape of the socks and used multiply effect so that the shadows of the original sock shoes through.

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Same process of editing contrast and saturation, and copy and pasting the texture into the sock shape.

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Using my pre-made fur brush texture to outline the socks

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Putting texture onto the outline so everything matches and looks realistic

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Putting solid blue colour onto sock with multiply effect

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Mapping out the pattern in line with how the feel are positioned