While we’re talking about things I hate…

I do hate Hollister clothing but that’s not the point. Every time I come back to Buffalo I’m overwhelmed by the amount of people in the 14-30 year range wear this crap (why wear fake cali-surf-culture clothing when you’ve lived in Tonawanda your whole life?)…and it is nowhere nearly as worn around in the DC area or most places honestly.

And then my friend who just started working at the Galleria Hollister told me the CEO calls the store frequently to tell them to keep up the good work and how they are their best performing store in the nation.

So it really wasn’t my imagination…something about cheaper versions of Abercrombie clothing is very special to the youth of the Buffalo-Niagara region. As always-feel free to shed light on why this is the case.

I came across this hoodie and I found it to be amusing, although I must admit I’m not sure if the designer is being ironic or what?

Went to the Galleria Mall today to check up on how all the new stuff is coming along…actually just went there because I heard Urban Outfitters finally opened. The company is obviously urban minded and this is the first mall location I’ve ever seen although when open in a smaller region they usually just mall it as a rule. I’m curious to know if they ever considered Elmwood or Canal Side.

But anyways, if you go there be sure to pick up a copy of their soundtrack. I’m not a complete indie-snob so most of the music on there was unknown to me but absolutely great.

The rest of the new wing is starting to really take shape. Bebe, Oakley, Coach, Lucky Brand, Metropark and Bravo are open and it looks like the rest of the stores will be done before December. We’ll be seeing a lot more Ontario plates when word gets out over the border about the completed Galleria…that is for sure.

The more retail evolves in Cheektowaga and Amherst I become more and more concerned about what kind of retail Benderson could possibly bring to Canal Side in a shrinking region that is already well represented in the retail world.

But they say Bass Pro is an anchor…

American Apparel’s clothing doesn’t particularly interest me- I hate the 70’s. And if not for its sexual ads…
there’s no way in hell I’d see my urbanist/artsy peers busting out spandex, leotards and unisex clothing in 2007.

What fascinates me about their business model is that all the clothes are made in the USA. In downtown LA. Clothes made in the USA?! Wtf mate.

A large factory hosts workers who make about $14.00 an hour, get subsidized lunches, and a health care plan. This could clearly be replicated under the right circumstances.

As someone who is interested in opening a clothing store geared towards the same audience in downtown Buffalo after college, I’d love to be able to say that not only is my store downtown but my factory is too!

Sadly its’ highly unlikely. Unions are important but the Buffalo ones seem to be particularly crippling. I think a lot of people would love to have business here and even treat their employees with good pay and health care like American Apparel but simply don’t want to be tied down to the extensive pre-determined obligations of unions. And if the business is going out of its way to make their employees happy that should be a situation in which unions should step back and watch the local economy grow.