The reality is that both brands now manufacture overseas, CON jewellery, footwear and a large portion of garments are made in Asia, mainly Indonesia and China.

Both these companies have adopted very aggressive tactics with stockists in terms of competion – there are instances where these labels will efffectively push smaller independent labels they deem as direct competition or similar in ways out of retail stores. They do this by establishing themselves in a store, then threatening to pull out of stocking them if they continue to sell said competition. Of course it ultimately comes down to a decision by the stockist on whether to succumb to this, but these labels know they have the following, and often broader market coverage (for example, if Chronicles has clothing, jewellery, shoes and bags in a store and they want to push out a smaller jewellery label, the buyer will obviously opt to keep the label which covers more scope).

This was a strategy undertaken heavily by the Ksubi boys back when they were establishing themselves and it is a shame that the same tactics are being used by Gareth in the running of his business. What is more unfortunate is that with the clout these individuals have, particularly in Australia, it continues to work.

Finally I think it is important to remember that both these labels, in particular CON, have heavily appropriated what are very common and “done before” trends or aesthetics in Asia and Europe. The fact that they are worshipped as Gods back home, as someone wrote above, and feel they have the right to slander other brands or individuals they see as getting in their way is quite simply very underhanded and disgusting behaviour.

But having said that, it’s a business decision to keep the company alive; there will always have to be compromise in everything. Sure you might lose your “edginess”, but it’s better than keeping to your principles and then shutting up shop, never to be seen again.

I must point out though, in regards to the production quality; I’ll avoid any pairs of Ksubi’s that are made in China. You can still find some that are made in Australia and US (look for the different buttons, rather than the generic full-plus button they have on them these days).

But a point of interest regarding Chronicles of Never; my brother found a pair in a boutique store, and even though they’re made in Australia, the quality wasn’t so great. The buttons on the button fly, came off while trying them on! He still decided to buy a pair, and a couple of months later, the buttons on the button fly came off as well! Make what you will.

Buy what you like. Don’t buy things because other people do, or don’t have them. Trying to make a statement, just for the sake of making a statement, is just as bad as selling out / being mainstream…

Sad days all round.

I’m getting so sick of him repeating designs… If I buy something from one collection I don’t expect it to see it next season transferred from CON to BNWR and converted to a cheaper price point.

If he’s going to take the road of profits and create a diffusion line… don’t assume you can pull the wool over our eyes with mediocre rehash as well.

Ksubi have sold production overseas.
chronicles, and even its sister brand, even though more affordable, is still 100% australian made, with imported silks/denim etc.

Ksubi have sold production over seas and doesnt have the quality it used to have in the materials dept. Which saddens me, i liked ksubi.

Gareth is keeping that shit real, even if his sidebrand is in GP/DJs,Its still at the forefront of things in design terms, ksubi are just doing rehashes of old shit, and it saddens me so.

All hail the fashion gods of australia.

A little sad, but if all the jeans labels are on par in that they all stock at DJs I guess it levels things out a bit. All the Ksubi campaigns still scream street edge etc and so I think they will continue to only attract that particular demographic for the most part – most people who want to spend a sh*t load on a known label to look ‘edgy’ will just buy Nudies anyway *laughs*.

But do people really think that this makes Ksubis unwearable for those who want dress well and not look like you just walked into a department store? I don’t really think so but maybe I’m just holding on?

Thoughts…