CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

E-Commerce or making purchases via your computer, is a tough, increasingly overcrowded and horribly competitive industry, but if you listen to the smart money it’s not only the way of the future but if done correctly a lot of money is there to be made and lets not even start to discuss M-Commerce and urging us to use our smart phones as our new retail best friend.

The Fashion retail sector of this industry has to be its most competitive element of this game.  Why only last week we saw on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den all four dragons fighting over a male e-commerce concept and recently in the US we saw the Trunk Club sold to the retailing giant Nordstrom for $350 million…Plus since Christmas alone we at Clothes-Make-the-Man have covered three different clicks (exclusively internet) retailers or e-tailers as the boffins like to call them. So how do you stand out from the on-line crowd and make your presence felt in the cyber jungle ?

Well, one such platform doing so is Dappad a new online destination launched in January, which aims to change the way men shop for clothes. In the fast-paced world we live in, Dappad aims to solve stressful shopping problems with a far more enjoyable process for men who prefer not to shop, so pretty much all of us who hate overcrowded confined spaces, sweaty environments, bad customer service etc.

It all starts with a a couple of simple questions allowing Dappad to collate as much information about a client’s personality as possible. The stylist will then create a ‘style profile’ complete with likes, dislikes, sizes and measurements, which leads to the creation of a parcel of specifically selected items sent directly to the client’s door. Once the parcel arrives the client is free to try on all the garments in the privacy of his own home and without rude people banging into him, then and only then pay for what is kept, any unwanted items are collected completely free of charge.

By offering men personally selected clothing from desirable, quality labels, Dappad will save you time and money. It provides men with a personal shopping service that builds a stylish and lasting wardrobe to suit individual needs and preferences. Priding itself on the notion that with a carefully and correctly selected wardrobe every man can look good.

The Dappad gentleman can expect a variety of brands to cater for everyday work-wear through to weekend casuals and one-off eveningwear pieces. It’s currently stocking AG Jeans, Orlebar Brown, Cheaney Shoes, Garment Project, Eton Shirts, Gant Rugger, J Lindberg and Tiger of Sweden with more brands being added constantly.

TOMS are a brand who really do give a damn, they are in the business to genuinely  improve lives. That means they identify global needs and wants, and create products to help address them. Their latest mission is to have the bag that you carry every day help our Giving Partners deliver the materials and training needed to help provide a safe birth.

Working with a network of Giving Partners, TOMS will help provide training for local birth attendants, along with vital materials, like soap, gloves, gauze, a cord clamp, surgical blade and a clean surface, to help a woman safely deliver her baby. The reasons for this is because 40 million women across the world give birth each year without the help of a trained birth attendant. With the training and the materials to provide a safe birth, mothers are 80% less likely to develop an infection and almost half of newborn deaths can be prevented.

The brand supports a network of Giving Partners with maternal and child health programs, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), BRAC and AYZH. These Giving Partners provide materials and training for safe births in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti and India.

The Collection is inspired by the handcrafted bags TOMS employees were bringing back to the office returning from trips in Latin America, South Asia and Africa after charitable work in these areas. The entire line reflects the ethos of these bags: hand-beading, rich materials, hand-woven embroidery and functional beauty – while conveying our passion for everyday utility and our pledge to make a difference in the lives of others. TOMS Bags are offered in three distinct categories: Artisan, Travel Inspired Fashion, Campus & Tech.

The luxury Parisian brand, Sandro, known for its clean lines and sophisticated aesthetic, was established by Evelyne Chetrite, founder and creative director since 1984, who developed a new women’s aesthetics: modern and sophisticated with a hint of androgyny. Evelyne’s son, Ilan, launched Sandro Homme in 2008 focusing on revisited classics with a modern twist. With this in mind for Spring 2015 the French label has teamed up with a Sporting legend Reebok Classic.

The collection centres on Reebok Classic’s iconic InstaPump Fury, fusing the distinct but complementary design attitudes of the brands to create two limited edition styles for both men and women. The collection’s simple iconic aesthetic, features strong lines and first-class design details.

Debuted in 1994, the InstaPump Fury quickly made a name for itself as one of the most directional looking and technologically advanced sneakers in the industry. The silhouette has since garnered cult status and is a firm favorite with fashion and trend hunters.

The Reebok Classic x Sandro collection draws inspiration and design references from two influential decades- the ‘70s and the ‘90s- adding up-to-date details through the use of technical materials. The men’s collection draws inspiration from the 90’s, capturing the retro futurism and technical achievement that revolutionised the sneaker world with InstaPump Fury’s introduction. Each shoe has a sportswear foundation and structured silhouette, which is refined though simplicity of design and the use of premium materials to produce a daring yet elegant design.