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Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Justin Bieber Slammed Over 'Criminal' Prices For New SKYLRK Fashion Line
Bieber's long-awaited fashion brand SKYLRK has officially launched, and so has the backlash. Fans were quick to criticize the 31-year-old pop star on Thursday after visiting the brand's website and discovering jaw-dropping prices for what many described as "basic" streetwear. Items from Justin Bieber's first unisex drop include oversized hoodies, tanks, sandals, and sunglasses, with some prices soaring as high as $200. Bieber first began generating buzz for SKYLRK back in December 2023, when he was photographed by paparazzi sporting bright neon slides and basketball-style sneakers with the brand's name, "SKYLRK," stamped on the soles. Behind the scenes, Footwear News later confirmed that his team filed for patents and trademarks, including the brand's distinctive dual-rectangle logo, as early as May 2023. Over the following year, both Justin and his wife, , were spotted subtly wearing unreleased SKYLRK pieces. The sightings intensified in 2025, as Justin began frequently posting cryptic and chaotic teases on Instagram, offering fans behind-the-scenes glimpses into the design process while hyping the mystery of the launch. By the time the website went live, fan anticipation had reached a fever pitch, only to be met with sticker shock. The most buzzed-about item? A pair of "Upside Down" sunglasses retailing for a staggering $200. Other pieces include the "Zip Hoodie" for $160, "Chunky Mule" shoes for $180, and a beanie for $40. Even the simplest item, a tank top, comes in at $60. What was meant to be a major moment for Bieber's style evolution quickly turned into a PR nightmare, with furious fans flooding SKYLRK's Instagram comments. "You are a clown if you buy any of this bs," one person wrote bluntly. Another added, "He's smoking a bag of d-cks with prices on pieces like those." One commenter called the prices "criminal," while others compared the collection to "cheap made-in-China plastic crap sold for stupid prices." "This looks weak," another fan said, while someone else commented, "These prices have me screaming… cuz huh?" As more fans scrolled through the SKYLRK website, the disappointment only deepened. While some supporters tried to remain loyal, the overwhelming response was frustration over the steep price tags. "Bieber, I love you, but the price…" one fan wrote on one of SKYLRK's Instagram posts, capturing the conflicted feelings echoed throughout the comments. "$170 for a hoodie?" another asked in disbelief, while someone else quipped, "Them prices ain't it." Others pointed out what they saw as a stark gap between quality and cost. "This stuff probably costs $5 to make and he's making $175 on these shoes lol," one commenter speculated. And the criticism wasn't just about the money. "Not only are they not that cute, they're expensive as hell," another user declared, summing up the disappointment many felt after eagerly awaiting the launch. Despite the wave of criticism, not everyone was ready to slam Justin Bieber's SKYLRK debut. Some fans and fashion-minded followers came to the singer's defense, arguing that the backlash was misplaced. "People are trippin over the prices, yet they'll pay $300 and up for some Ray Bans," one user pointed out, suggesting the $200 "Upside Down" sunglasses weren't outside the norm for premium accessories. Another chimed in with support, writing, "I'M INSANELY PROUD OF YOU," praising Bieber for taking a bold, creative leap. Some comments reminded critics that SKYLRK isn't supposed to be budget-friendly fan merch. "People complaining about prices for a HIGH FASHION streetwear brand. This is not merch. If you are concerned about the pricing, it's not for you," one fan clarified. Others took a more practical stance: "If you guys don't agree with the price, just don't buy." SKYLRK marks Bieber's return to fashion after cutting ties with his previous brand, Drew House, which he co-founded with longtime friend-turned-ex-business partner Ryan Good in 2018. That partnership officially ended in April, with Bieber teasing his new label on social media for over a year leading up to Thursday's launch.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Takeaways From Switchback 2025, From Tariff Talk to Courting New Consumers
Switchback has wrapped its first standalone trade show, growing out of The Running Event to gather the outdoor industry over three days this week in Nashville. Nearly 1,300 attendees represented 194 brands and 290 retailers from 41 states and 9 countries. The trade show opened Monday with a series of educational panels and presentations, and the programming continued through Tuesday and Thursday while more than 30,000 feet of exhibition state was open for previews from brands. More from WWD Code Korea Project: 8 Brands to Check Out During Pitti Uomo The Couture Show 2025: Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty The Highlights and Events of Couture 2025 Nurture Relationships and Celebrate Design Excellence On Wednesday, Footwear News highlighted the top 17 shoes revealed at Switchback, and now we're taking a broader look at key business takeaways from the outdoor trade show. A prevailing sentiment throughout the trade show was that it was great to be back together in one place. With the disruption of COVID and Outdoor Retailer's profile diminished, brands and retailers relished the opportunity to once again meet face-to-face. 'I think this show is exactly what the industry needs,' Jessica Adler, vice president of sales for Merrell, told FN. 'It's great to have a national show that is relevant, gets everybody energized and excited about the future. I love the traffic, love the energy.' Although the list of exhibitors carried some heavy-hitters — including show sponsors Merrell and The North Face, as well as Asics, Arc'teryx, Birkenstock, and Skechers — the exhibition hall was intentionally kept intimate. Booth space was limited to 20 feet by 20 feet, with an exception made only for Merrell's double plot. 'We wanted to create this inclusive floor plan that would be easy to explore and easy for discovery, to really keep everyone connected and together,' said Christina Henderson, director of Switchback and The Running Event. 'We wanted something that we will build upon.' Lee Cox, vice president and general manager of Teva and Ahnu, appreciated the scope of Switchback and said it comes at an important time for Teva. 'It feels like a big regional show,' Cox said. 'Sometimes trade shows can get a little too big and it becomes more of a marketing tool versus a selling tool. For us, this is a selling tool.' Away from the business conducted in the exhibition hall, a full slate of educational panels and presentations offered insights on vendor-retailer relationships, tariffs, sustainability, and consumer profiles. Those at the front of the room spoke candidly on their respective topics, and the audiences weren't shy in their questioning and outlining some of their own difficulties. The next Switchback will return to its place within The Running Event in December in San Antonio, and next year's standalone spring show has already been announced for June in New Orleans. In a Monday afternoon panel on improving wholesale relationships between retailers and vendors, specialty retailers were in the spotlight. Direct-to-consumer sales have added competition, and one thing is clear: retailers want vendors to stop stepping on their toes. Minimum advertised pricing (MAP) policies are a major point of contention, as specialty retailers are often unable to match the discounts offered by the brands themselves and operate with slimmer margins. 'We started trying to match and coordinate, and I've drifted more and more to I don't care, and I can't,' said Brian Mildenstein, owner of Fin & Feater in Iowa City, during the panel. 'It's impossible for me to do that, so we'll just focus on ourselves and do our own thing to make sure we're still relevant.' Adler acknowledged that Merrell has been strict about MAP pricing, sometimes even 'too diligent at times,' but said the brand is open to working with retailers if something's not working. 'We're trying to become more channel agnostic,' Adler said. 'DTC is a good test run for us to see what works — how do we connect [it] and see if it's worth scaling, how do we continue to build upon that faster with our wholesale channel. It's no longer about just having these transactional relationships in wholesale. It's really about partnerships and strategic partnership and understanding that alignment.' Specialty retailers have the advantage of being able to educate consumers in-person, and both sides of the panel expressed a desire to work together more on community-building events such as run clubs and pint nights. There's also a strong desire to return to more face-to-face interaction, which Switchback was able to provide. A Monday afternoon presentation from Kelly Davis, director of research for Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), put forth a new system of categorization for consumers: Core, Active and Casual. Whereas consumers were previously categorized purely based off of frequency of activity, this system also accounts for intensity of approach, spend levels and desired effect. Core consumers average an annual spend of $2,200 on gear and apparel, while Active and Casual come in $1,600 and $1,400 respectively. But the Core consumer, the hardcore participant so often the emphasis of marketing and product design, accounts for just 5.1 percent of the market. What remains is a vast majority falling into either Active (49.7 percent) or Casual (42 percent). Decreasing sales from 2021 to 2024 can be attributed to a misunderstanding of the Active and Casual consumers who account for the most purchases. Whereas the Core consumer is seeking excitement, the two other categories are motivated by something else. 'We are happiness dealers,' Davis said. 'We're not selling climate, we're not selling a running shoe, we're not selling any of that. We're selling experiences and beyond experiences, we're selling happiness, calm and balance.' Brands, retailers and consumers are all waiting to see where tariff policies land. The announcement of tariffs, the reversals and the ongoing windows for negotiations have made it hard to plan for the long-term. A presentation from Jaclyn Levy, senior directory of advocacy and government Affairs for OIA, zeroed in on what can actually be done in this period of uncertainty. Levy underlined the importance of reaching out to elected representatives to advocate and educate. Noise needs to be made to highlight how the outdoor business will be affected by tariffs, as 98 percent of apparel and 99 percent of footwear sold in the U.S. is imported. 'It's easy to close your eyes if somebody's not sitting in your office telling them exactly how many jobs were lost in their own constituency,' Levy said. Innovation is also at the core of the outdoor business, the expense of which becomes harder to tackle with the threats of tariffs. To help businesses communicate with their representatives, OIA has resources available including webinars and toolkits on top of the advocacy it's undertaking on its own. Even among the uncertainty, some brands such as Arc'teryx and Birkenstock made the point of noting that their prices are already set for spring 2026. Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Tara Larson
Tara Larson is a freelance writer and editor with expertise in covering footwear, men's and women's style, streetwear, culture, and lifestyle. She worked as an intern for Esquire and Traditional Home before joining Footwear News as an editorial assistant. Outside of Insider Reviews, her freelance work can be found in Stylecaster, Highsnobiety, Women's Wear Daily, and more. She graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She left the cornfields for New York City, where she currently resides. When she's not writing, pitching story ideas, or attending industry events, you can find Tara dining at one of NYC's endless restaurants, discussing pop culture with friends, perusing Pinterest, or bingeing a Bravo reality show. Find her on Instagram @taralarson13.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sneaker Shock: Yes, Nike Is Raising Prices Too on Select Products Amid Trump's Tariffs
Nike Inc. is in price-adjustment mode, but it's also being strategic on which items will see an uptick in cost. The sports apparel and footwear brand is raising retail prices at its U.S. stores — on average between $2 and $10 — but it won't be for all goods. Nike apparel and equipment will see price increases at between $2 and $10, while footwear prices currently between $100 and $150 will see increases up to $5 and those starting at $150 and higher will see increases up to $10, according to a source familiar with the slated increases. More from WWD How Leaders Tackle Tariffs, Supply Chain Costs and Geopolitical Uncertainty Inside Kecia Steelman's Far-reaching Vision for Ulta Beauty Assessing Modern Luxury With Bluemercury's Maly Bernstein This person told Footwear News that a large portion of the merchandise assortment will remain at their current price range. There are no increases on any kids' products, whether footwear or apparel. In addition, there will be no price increases for any Jordan product, whether apparel or accessories. And any product under $100 will remain at current price points. In addition, Nike's Air Force 1 sneaker, which is priced at $115, will not see any increase. 'The AF1's are a popular shoe and is the work-horse' among service providers such as restaurant workers and UPS staff, this individual said. The person also emphasized that Nike is not raising prices on kids' products because it is cognizant of the needs of 'families and the upcoming back-to-school season.' 'We regularly evaluate our business and make price adjustments as part of seasonal planning,' Nike said in a statement. On the wholesale side, price increases reportedly will start in July when the fall 2025 season is set to begin. News of the price increases was first reported by Complex. Nike is following in the steps of most footwear brands and retailers, selectively increasing prices based on the product and design features. Brands normally review their cost structure before each selling season and adjust as needed. In recent years, much of the change has been due to inflationary spikes. This year, with the return of Donald Trump as U.S. president and under his administration's new trade policies, raising prices selectively could be the norm as they grapple with higher tariff rates. Reciprocal tariffs are a big problem for shoe brands, particularly the 46 percent duty levied on Vietnam and the 145 percent that was later placed on imports from China. While there is currently a 90-day pause on most global goods that ends on July 9 and a separate 90-day pause on goods from China ending Aug. 14, there's still much uncertainty over what will happen once the freeze on those periods end. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this past Sunday that tariff rates will return to 'reciprocal levels' if countries don't negotiate new trade deals with the U.S. Nike competitor Adidas reported first-quarter results on April 29, and its CEO Bjørn Gulden said during the company conference call that the expectation is that 'people will start to raise prices should these duties or all the duties be confirmed, and that's what we follow.' Steve Madden CEO Edward Rosenfeld said during the company's fourth-quarter earnings conference call in February before reciprocal tariffs were announced that some price increases were likely for the fall back-to-school season. The company, which recently completed its $360 million acquisition of Kurt Geiger, was already shifting production outside of China. Companies were expecting tariff increases as Trump made that a big talking point during his campaign stops last year ahead of November's Election Day. Crocs Inc. CEO Andrew Rees said May 8 during the first-quarter conference call that pricing is a potential lever to mitigate against tariff impacts, noting that Vietnam remains a big concern. 'Depending on the level of incremental costs that may come from tariffs and other factors, we do expect the industry to go up in terms of price,' he told analysts. He also said that what the 'whole industry is worried about if a reciprocal tariff remains in place [is] Vietnam. That's a huge amount of production for us and everybody else. That would be incredibly hard to mitigate.' Crocs is being 'super strategic' on pricing and has implemented some 'targeted price increases,' he said. While China remains the country where much of the lower-end shoes are produced, Vietnam is the key manufacturing hub for sneakers and other athletic performance shoes. View Gallery Launch Gallery: 50 Years of Nike Through TV, Film and Celebrities Best of WWD Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Crocs Collaborations From Celebrities & Big Brands You Should Know Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FDRA, AAFA, NRF, RILA: U.S.-China Tariff Pause A Welcome Start, But More Needs To Be Done
While the U.S.-China tariff pause is a step in the right direction for fashion, footwear and retail, there's still more that needs to be done in terms of trade deals to ease the tax burdens. That's the consensus from fashion and retail trade groups, which said on Monday that they continue to push for better trade deals over the long haul that protect American firms and consumers. More from Footwear News Steve Madden, Foot Locker and More Shoe Stocks Soar on Trump's Latest 90-Day Tariff Deal With China U.S. And China Hit 90-Day Pause On Tariffs, Begin Trade Negotiations The truce followed a round of intense negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend, with the two countries issuing a joint statement Monday on their agreement to substantially lower tariff rates. Starting on Wednesday, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will be 30 percent, down from 145 percent, while China's duties on American imports will be 10 percent, from 125 percent. The parties plan to continue with talks over the 90 days that hopefully will lead toward a new trade agreement. American President Donald J. Trump has been decrying trade imbalances and on April 2, disclosed the implementation of reciprocal tariffs. That left footwear manufacturers who produce in Vietnam and China wondering how to deal with their new cost structure. While much of the footwear for mass merchandisers and those targeting the lower-income consumers are made in China, the athletic performance shoes and sneakers have mostly moved to Vietnam as their main manufacturing base. Trump later declared a 90-day pause to give countries time to negotiate new trade deals with the U.S. While the pause is seen as a plus by some on Wall Street, fashion and retail trade organizations say more can be done by the Trump administration. 'We're encouraged by President Trump and his administration's progress in the U.S.-China trade negotiations—this is a good step toward easing tensions, which is important for American businesses and consumers,' Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) president and CEO Matt Priest said. 'But we're not across the finish line yet. Some shoes still face duties approaching 100 percent, and that's unacceptable. We've outlined clear, reasonable exemptions in our letter to the Administration, and we urge them to take action to ease the burden on Americans further. Our industry needs relief—and so do the families we serve.' More than 80 companies signed a letter sent to Trump on April 29 by the FDRA urging him to exempt footwear from his administration's reciprocal tariff plan. The signers included Nike, Adidas, Puma, Steve Madden, Skechers, Caleres and more. 'The 90-day pause is welcome and may temporarily help unstick the effective trade embargo that has been in place with respect to U.S.-China trade since April 9,' American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) president and CEO Steve Lamar said. 'Sadly, the residual 30 percent tariff, stacked on top of the existing Section 301 and 'most favored nation' tariffs, will still make for an expensive back to school and holiday season for most Americans.' Lamar said that if freight rates spike due to the tariff-induced shipping disruptions, which will take months to unwind, costs and prices could creep up even further. 'What's needed now is a long-term deal—not just with China but with all our trading partners—so we can predictably make long term trade, investment, and sourcing decisions,' he said. The AAFA CEO said news of the 90-day freeze follows weeks of advocacy by AAFA and others urging de-escalation and deals, as well as 'explaining how the current tariff policy does not support more U.S. manufacturing in our industry or the 3.5 million U.S. workers in industry currently employs.' National Retail Federation president and CEO Matthew Shay said his retail trade organization is 'encouraged' by these constructive negotiations. 'This temporary pause is a critical first step to provide some short-term relief for retailers and other businesses that are in the midst of ordering merchandise for the winter holiday season,' he said. 'And over the long term, this lays the foundation for substantial progress in achieving truly fair and balanced trade relationships with both China and our other trade partners around the world.' Shay noted there was still much for the two nations to discuss regarding ongoing issues, including working on the removal of 'remaining national security tariffs and provide long-term stability between the two largest global economies.' 'President Trump's announcement of an immediate de-escalation and 90-day pause to negotiate a long-term trade deal with China is welcome news to retailers grappling with tariff shocks and enormous disruption in supply chains ahead of seasonal and holiday ordering,' said Blake Harden, Retail Industry and Leaders Association vice president, international trade. 'We are hopeful the deal reached last week with the U.K. and today's announcement with China will build momentum for trade deals that protect American innovation and family pocketbooks.' Harden also emphasized that retailers and its customers value the stability of permanent agreements over temporary policies. 'We applaud the administration for remaining at the negotiating table with China and the rest of our trading partners, including Canada and Mexico, to craft long-term deals that give businesses the certainty they need to invest, hire, and grow the economy,' he said. According to Morningstar's chief U.S. economist Preston Caldwell, 'We had previously expected the average tariff rate to drop to 18 percent at end-2025. As of today's announcement, it's at about 16 percent, which is a faster tariff reduction than we had baked in. This takes a lot of the recessionary risk off the table.' The de-escalation was seen as a plus for some footwear and retail firms, including shares of Nike Inc. and Five Below Inc. Jefferies analyst Randal J. Konik recommended buying shares of Nike and Five Below, the deep value retailer that sells goods—including sandals and slippers—at prices between $5 and $10. 'These companies offer several mitigating strategies and now face lower costs in the interim,' he wrote in a research note. Konik added that the two are strong brands that can mitigate tariff impacts due to their scale. 'As trade discussions progress during the 90-day pause, management teams could witness significantly fewer costs, as most businesses have opted to plan with the assumption of a 145 percent tariff in place,' he said. According to Konik, 50 percent of Nike's footwear production and 28 percent of apparel is in Vietnam, and for China, the percentages are 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Nike also produces 27 percent of its footwear in Indonesia, and 15 percent of apparel in Cambodia. At Five Below, a significant majority of its merchandise is manufactured outside of the U.S., with China as the largest single source of imported goods. TD Cowen's John Kernan has a 'Buy' rating on shares of On Holding AG, with a current price target of $58.00. On has been trading in the $50 range. Kernan said the business 'has pricing power and nimbleness to offset a 10 percent to 20 percent tariff over time.' While Kernan is presuming a baseline 10 percent tariff on Vietnam and other Far East Asian suppliers, the final percentage remains up for debate. Trump noted on Truth Social that the Vietnamese government, which was initially allocated an additional 46 percent in reciprocal tariffs, was quick to make overtures on April 4 that indicated an openness to find a solution that aims for a zero tariff (both ways) alternative. And for retail's two upcoming key selling seasons, there is hope that the 90-day pause will allow them to get needed goods in time for back-to-school (BTS) and holiday. Deborah Weinswig, CEO of Coresight Research, said that brands that have 'continued manufacturing and that have shipped containers of products to tax-free zones or bond warehouses are in great shape will be capable of quickly pivoting to move product into the U.S. in time for BTS.' Not so for those that hit the pause button as they will need time and money both to get people back to work and to restart the factories. Moreover, they'll likely have to rely on air freight—and incur added costs—to get goods into the U.S. in time for BTS 'We've been recommending that brands and retailers raise prices to reflect the higher cost of goods versus pausing manufacturing and shipping, and this new tariff pause is a perfect example of why that approach is critical to have goods on hand for prime shopping periods,' Weinswig said. Investors on Monday welcomed the trade truce, even if temporary, as a sign that further talks could ease the tension between the two countries. The Dow Jones Industrial Average skyrocketed 1,160.72 points, or 2.8 percent, to close at 42,410.10, while the S&P 500 rose 184.28 points, or 3.3 percent, to 5,844.19. The top gainers among the footwear firms saw shares of Caleres Inc. spike up 15.5 percent to $17.40. It was followed by Steven Madden Ltd., up 14.9 percent to $26.41, and Genesco Inc., which rose 12.6 percent to $23.79. Amer Sports Inc. rose 11.4 percent to $30.04, while Wolvering Worldwide Inc. gained 9.0 percent to $16.67. Crocs Inc. was up 8.3 percent to $118.85 and Nike Inc. rose 7.3 percent to $62.58. Among the retailers, Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. skyrocketed 18.3 percent to close at $46.39, followed by DSW parent Designer Brands Inc., up 14.9 percent to $3.79, and Boot Barn Holdings Inc., which gained 13.3 percent to close at $133.30. Shares of Dick's Sporting Goods rose 11.3 percent to close at $212.42, Foot Locker Inc. was up 10.6 percent to $13.28, and Shoe Carnival Inc. rose 8.9 percent to $19.58. Best of Footwear News A Complete Calendar of All the Footwear Trade Shows in 2025 A Timeline of Nike's 5 CEOs That Have Held the Role Since 1972 These Theories About How Black Friday Got Started Will Surprise You
