Apple’s 2000s comeback is a masterclass in product design, filled with lessons from Jony Ive, the legendary designer with a vital role in various Apple designs. These designs included the iMac, Power Mac G4 Cube, iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and even aspects of the Apple iOS for mobile.
Ives was also instrumental in Apple’s major architectural projects, such as Apple Park, new corporate headquarters of Apple Inc., located in California, USA, as well as general layout designs for Apple Stores.
Here, we take a look at Ive’s designs and methodologies, and how to use them effectively for maximum impact.
Ive’s focus was always on minimalism + simplicity. He married that with the idea that “design takes depth”… form and materials require complete attention throughout the design process. This shaped Apple’s design language and was an integral part of their 1997 comeback.
Ive also had an emphasis on:
“Until you’ve actually pushed metal around and done it yourself, you don’t understand”
“Abstract ideas are great. Concrete objects are better.”
The results?
When the G3 debuted the buzz was deafening! Finally, a computer that wasn’t just a boring grey box.
Not only was this computer colorful, fun… cool. It had an operating system that was user friendly. The computer became a universal status symbol.
The sleek plastic design allowed users to see behind the curtain. No floppy disc drive, the addition of USB ports… Suddenly it was hip to own a PC.
Steve Jobs famously said:
“It looks like it’s from another planet. A good planet. A planet with better designers.”
It wasn’t the first mp3 player on the market, but the simple and sleek design captured the hearts of users.
The simple scroll wheel made browsing songs titles, artists or album titles a cinch. iPod virtually ended the portable CD player industry.
When the iPod Mini came along it not only added color to the design, but with a more affordable price tag it put iPods in nearly every pocket in America. The mini also introduced Apple’s famous click wheel.
The differences in material and feel are massive.
A flat desktop computer?
Ive managed to cram all of the computer’s innards into the dome-shaped base and the screen itself was suspended on an arm that could move around. Ive moved away from color bringing the iMac to a sleeker white-and-silver scheme.
If you start with a bright or large design… Transform that into a sleek, minimal design next. Same is true in revenue; if you launch in monotone, add color and material changes later. The product will FEEL next-generation.
In 2004 Apple created the blueprint for every future iMac with their G5 design. This all-in-one computer took the focus away from bright colors or other-worldly designs and made it about the very thing you spend your time staring at while on the computer: the display.
In 2009, Ive was famously quoted saying:
“There’s not a detail there that doesn’t need to be there. There are no visual interruptions, distractions. There’s just no other noise. Everything is about the display.”
This is the outcome of a relentless focus on customer experience.
There is a constant interplay in Ive’s innovations between:
Brands take note!
No device has changed the tech industry quite like the iPhone did. It revolutionized the way we think of cell phones (Sorry, Blackberry!).
Instead of a screen as part of the phone, the screen became the whole phone.
The iPad was met with lukewarm reception… critics thought it was just a giant iPhone.
Ive famously said of this,
“When something exceeds your ability to understand how it works it sort of becomes magical — and that’s exactly what the iPad is.”
The tablet category exploded.
With its high price tag and short battery life, this was another product that most didn’t believe they needed.
Without the signature face, crown, swappable bands and incredible overall brand ID, the wearable device wouldn’t have caught the same adoption.
Jony Ive’s designs aren’t all just about business; he has a few fun, non-Apple designs, too.
The ring is made of a single chunk of diamonds
I hope this inspires you to think differently!
– Oren
Every week I break down ideas, strategies, and inspiration for building products and brands on my Twitter Account. Follow along…
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What do F1 Monaco, League of Legends, and the Warrior’s NBA finals victory have in common? Their stylish Louis Vuitton trophy cases, of course.
As part of its partnership with Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), LV designed a special trophy case to celebrate the 79th Grand Prix. Handcrafted in LV’s famous Asnières Atelier near Paris, it includes the classic monogram pattern in red and black—the colors of Monaco’s flag.
Michel Boeri, President of the ACM, said, “Apart from being a major partnership with the flagship brand of the LVMH Group, we are delighted that the trophy awarded to the winner of the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco can now safely travel in ‘first class.”
Over Memorial Day weekend Formula 1 Driver, Sergio Pérez’s Monaco win was awarded the coveted prize as well as the luxury carrying case emblazed with a giant V to signify his victory. The gold trophy itself depicts all 19 turns of the 2.09-mile track.
In 2021 LV partnered with the NBA to create a carrying case for the Larry O’Brien championship trophy.
Complete with LV’s monogram canvas, a V for victory and signature brass fixtures, the inside of the case was coated in a rich cobalt blue.
Louis Vuitton is the first official trophy case provider for the NBA. Their multi-year partnership launched a LV x NBA collection in May of 2020, under the artistic direction of Virgil Abloh.
In 2008, Louis Vuitton unveiled their first laser-engraved titanium case for the FIFA World Cup trophy.
The trunk’s 8 corners are protected with the brand’s signature natural cowhide leather, and the lock and its 6 clasps are composed of ruthenium, a strong dark-gray metal.
The FIFA World Cup Original Trophy measures about 14 inches in height, weighs 13.6 lbs.
It is made of solid 18-carat gold with a base of semi-precious malachite.
Talk about a trophy worthy of a luxury carrying case!
In breaking with tradition, LV designed a bespoke case for the eSports League of Legends trophy in 2019.
The case took over 900 hours to make and utilized hi-tech elements within the design like screens on each of the 5 sides, LEDs lining each panel and a smoke machine.
LV’s design team said, “The work of the trunk was done in two stages. A first phase on the technical and innovative realization. A second phase of preparation… This required a work of about 900 hours of study and manufacturing with more than 25 people involved.”
These commissions are GREAT marketing for Louis Vuitton.
When it comes to transporting a treasured valuable celebrated by millions, and exposed directly to the richest athletes in the world, putting your brand right there is an excellent choice.
Speaking of luxury brands and trophies…
The NBA championship trophy is getting a controversial new look this season thanks to Tiffany & Co. and artist Victor Solomon.
Is this a break with tradition? Or a welcome change?
It says something about the Louis Vuitton brand that most people’s reaction to that case is “Of course it’s Louis Vuitton!”, no surprise there.
It’s a very natural fit. It supports the value of the trophy by associating it with luxury for the leagues, and raises the profile of LV.
Thanks for reading.
– Oren
Every week I break down ideas, strategies, and inspiration for building products and brands on my Twitter Account. Follow along…
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Lessons From Jony Ive: A Masterclass in Product Design
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Looking to start a private label sunglasses brand? You may think the niche is saturated, but it isn’t. In fact, there’s a long way to go and tons of unique designs just waiting to be developed!
I’ve done the research for you, and found all the links you need to succeed. Let’s take a look at the products, suppliers, strategies, and packaging ideas out there.
But first… this post combines two separate TikTok shorts I’ve done over the past 6 months in this niche. That alone should tell you the niche is burning for new ideas. Here’s the first part: my latest TikTok short, and you’ll find the second part at the start of the Product Development Guide down below.
@orenmeetsworld Excellent factories to launch your own sunglasses #ecommercetips #fashionbrand #sunglassbrand #factories #ecommercebusiness @orenmeetsworld #greenscreen
♬ Black Out Days – Future Islands Remix (Slowed) – Phantogram & xxtristanxo & Slowed Radio
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect in this post:
Let’s do this…
Sunglasses are a great product to have in your repertoire, whether your brand sells something else entirely, it’s a fashion brand, or you want to do something specifically in sunglasses. Sunglasses are an easy item you can add to your brand or corporate merchandise, and are always a welcome gift.
There are a lot of sunglass factories out there with tons of different styles to choose from. If those styles do end up getting popular, you can adapt your style and make it your own again.
NOTE TO THE READER:
I was going to change sunglasses every time I change in this video but I don’t have the attention span for that
These are acetate sunglasses, made in China.
This particular style is pretty easy to mimic. You take any style you see from a vendor, and minorly adapt them by either:
This is the cost of the acetate sunglasses above so you can see just how much margin there is in starting a private label sunglasses brand. In adapting your product, you’ll want to look at things like adding polarized or anti-fog lenses. Also, ensuring your sunglasses are of high quality so they sell well is quite important.
Considering this baseline cost may go up by a few bucks before you actually order, I’d just go ahead and ask any vendor you liaise with to make sure you get the highest quality version they offer. At the end of the day, your return on investment will make sure it ends up being worth a couple of extra dollars initially.
These are my top 4 choices for private label sunglasses vendors.
This is the vendor I’ve used the most. They have a 4.9 store rating, 99% on time delivery, and over 1,000,000 transactions to North America.
This is a great supplier for Alibaba. You can see a wide variety of styles, still at those low price points that you can use as a base.
Moving on to another good option you can have in your repertoire, as well.
This vendor has these super-fun, kind of vintage, bike-inspired sunglasses, as well. Some weirder styles (in case you’re trying to get odd/rare/truly bespoke designs out there).
Your 3rd option has some more basics.
It is a little bit more expensive, but definitely worthy of a look.
Overall, private label sunglasses is a super-competitive market but this is a great add-on product to apply your own patterns or looks to. It can complement your existing brand and it’s also a low-cost start.
If you’re considering selling your own products, getting a hundred sunglasses that showcase your customized designs aren’t going to cost you that much to test the waters in e-commerce.
If you’re on Instagram, you’ve seen sunglass brands ads selling for $40-80 a pair. The secret? They cost about $3-10.
Add:
That’s $25-65 profit each, and they’re selling THOUSANDS monthly.
Here’s how to develop your own…
First things first, order your favorite brand’s pair online. Write down EVERYTHING about the experience:
Note everything they’ve considered and what you think could be done better.
Next thing to do is find a private label sunglasses factory. Use Alibaba, and search for vendors with:
That’s going to ensure you have someone legit. Here’s an example of good and great.
If you’re looking for inspiration on designs, check these brands:
Let’s break down a few different product approaches with relevant factors:
Sporting sunglasses is a great opportunity for brands.
Anti-fog sporting sunglasses is also a great opportunity for niche sports – make a specific brand for golf, biking, running, pickleball, etc. Really, wherever you have a passion or see a need not being filled.
Back in step 1, you made notes about features, usability, colors, etc. Use these links and breakdowns to refine your selection, based on those choices made.
Factory: Wenzhou Zhiheng Glasses Co., Ltd.
I would recommend really going all out like this on the nicest of everything and trying to go over $100 in price point, but that’s just me 😉
Tangent-type goggles for about $20.
… Interesting opportunity. Resorts could crush with these handy.
The key to success with any of these is to do OEM (custom). Take one of these existing designs and modify them to be perfect for what you think will succeed.
Unrelated, here for this surrealist factory ad.
A fantastic option if you have an existing following is to brand hip styles. I’ve got a great factory that takes current hot looks and offers customization/logos.
Factory: Taizhou Three Hippos Glasses Co., Ltd
They start at about $1.20 a pair and you customize at 100 units.
Some current men’s styles at less than $2 with an MoQ of 300 pairs for custom
There are factories that specialize just in women’s and men’s contemporary styles:
Big winner if you have an existing audience.
Factory: Wenzhou Lenlook International Trade Co., Ltd.
Selling basics is ultra-competitive, but this is a great category for giveaways or corporate merch.
You’ll also find plenty of designer bootlegs.
The trick with these vendors is to ask them for the nicest, highest quality versions they can make, and apply your own changes.
They’re not a long term fit though. If they bootleg others… they’ll probably bootleg you.
Make sure to customize your product! Some quick ideas:
Also decide where you want to live on the value scale…
It's a golden age for selling your own products.
The Good, Better, Best framework helps you price and position to win 👇🏼
— Oren John (@orenmeetsworld) April 19, 2022
RECOMMENDED READING:
Ready to start a sunglasses brand?
Read Understanding Good-Better-Best Pricing for Products
Next you’re going to move on to packaging. Ask your vendor if they will wrap and box your product with a custom item. This is a cheaper option than domestic.
Here’s how to manage your packaging needs:
Now head back to the list you made when ordering your favorite brand in the development stage. Think through if your packaging, box experience, carrying, etc. matches up with the experience you’ve gotten from an existing brand.
This is a key exercise to constantly refer to as it helps prevent details from getting lost.
Once you’re ordering your product, we hit logistics.
Too much product for your house? You need a 3PL (third party logistics) or FC (fulfillment center) partner. Here’s my comprehensive list:
Best 3rd Party Logistics for CPG Businesses
When it comes to e-commerce there’s 100 quality followers on Twitter that can juice you up with great info.
I will say, in this niche in particular, photography is a huge part of what can make the product stand out when selling online. Moscot crushes this.
Check out some sample pics below:
The next 18 months are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a brand on Tik Tok.
Start a private label sunglasses brand now!
Thanks for reading. I regularly break down sourcing and developing different products to 5,000+ entrepreneurs on my Product People newsletter. You should join me there.
– Oren
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/orenmeetsworld
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/orenj/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orenmeetsworld
Check out 2 newsletters from my best friends, James & Colin
Free Smoke –A Cannabis business newsletter by Colin Landforce:
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https://www.nanoflips.com/
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If you’re looking to start your own clothing line but need a little nudge in the right direction, this is the tread for you.
Here’s my best vendors for elevated merchandise: beanies, hats, hoodies, sweats.
You want to make great clothing? Start here.
I consistently get this question on how to make elevated merchandise, and there’s tons of options!
I’ve waded through the chaff and I’m focusing on actual high quality, modern, cool stuff in this post.
Here’s my old list to start your own DTC online clothing shop with non-lux options, too.
https://www.productworld.xyz/2022/06/06/best-domestic-international-clothing-product-vendors/
Lets go!
Rue Porter is still the highest quality affordable blanks I’ve come across to start your own clothing line with.
They’ve got dope billboards in LA and had them in and out Coachella this year pushing “luxury blanks”.
Their fit is fire… modern and different. Quality high, tags are just size to make it easy.
You can apply to have a wholesale store right on their site.
The only downside is there is pretty hefty order delays often, and lots of sell-outs, but they’ve got the quality.
For Beanies, the best domestic solution I’ve found is The Studio.
Plenty of options from embroidery to patches and they take care of it all.
200 from $7.49/e
I’ve done lots of beanies overseas, they don’t have the reliable quality these guys do (especially with embroidery)
For jerseys… we’re going overseas. You want factories that do die-sublimation, and do thread embroidery just for jerseys.
Domestic middleman markups are insane.
The Healong Sportswear team in Guangzhou does it all: basketball, baseball, rugby, golf.
Pro tips for working with teams like the above:
This is crucial!
A gem I’m currently working on a product with right now is WATC Studio.
I love them because they have a digital studio for wholesalers. Upload logos and hit printed samples for $50-80.
Their quality is also very similar to Rue Porter.
Short run digital print samples are crucial for workflow. It means you can check designs fast, and be shooting content while your product is in production — as long as you’re willing to pay more for pre-production units.
Doing it all from in their store is a game changer.
If you have a solid following and want to focus on creative not operations, I’d also take a look at Pietra Studio.
They did these caps for Nostalgia Killer that just dropped, and they handle fulfillment, packaging, etc., too.
You can google any of these, or I’ll drop links directly in my Product People newsletter, a weekly ultra-resource of factories, playbooks, ideas, and inspiration for people that currently are or want to make products.
Any merchandising products you don’t see on here and want me to drop in this week’s newsletter, just comment below
As always, thanks for reading, and hope to see you on the newsletter!
– Oren
Every week I break down ideas, strategies, and inspiration for building products and brands on my Twitter Account. Follow along…
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Factories & Strategies To Start a Private Label Sunglasses Brand
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Luxury brands average 150% more margin and 200% more operating profits than mid-market brands. It’s easier – and cheaper! – than ever to create a luxury brand, so why wait?
Here’s my product playbook – with factory links – to make your own luxury goods. You can also read this thread on Twitter:
Luxury brands average 150% more margin and 200% more operating profits than mid-market brands.
Here’s my product playbook with factory links to make your own luxury goods: 🧵 pic.twitter.com/ManJY6lJUd
— Oren John (@orenmeetsworld) July 7, 2022
The key differentiator between a high-end good and a value counterpart is the quality. This narrows down to:
To achieve a real luxury brand, quality is just one cornerstone, you also need
The last one is the hardest, because you need to execute all the others for extended periods to achieve a true luxury regard for your product.
There are 3 types of high-end brands:
Major fashion houses were housed out of Italy forever, but due to changes in global positioning and various other factors, Portugal now produces a large amount of luxury goods. And they’re the perfect place to go if you want true luxury quality at a reasonable price.
Here are 4 premium factory options in Portugal to get you started:
I also highly recommend subscribing to Business of Fashion and following them on Twitter @BoF. They have classes and just tons of resources behind the paywall.
You don’t approach a factory without a plan, so here’s where to begin:
A good partner
But don’t expect all this before you’ve done a few transactions and proven legitimacy.
The goods themselves are just step one. Creating a premium or luxury brand requires a premium experience.
To charge a premium, your ethos from inception must be to:
Desirability is the x-factor in luxury. You can create amazing products, but how do you get customers to truly desire it?
Great tactics to consider include:
In addition, design is paramount:
Want to know more? Here’s the perfect tool…
It cost me $50k+ and multiple trips to Hong Kong & China to find my factories.
But now you can find any brand's overseas manufacturers for FREE.
The ultimate tool for finding the best overseas partners 👇
— Oren John (@orenmeetsworld) April 27, 2022
Have any questions? Drop me a comment below.
– Oren
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There’s not much that beats the convenience, peace of mind, and total reliability that the best luxury luggage brand offers you.
Luggage helps you get from point A to point B with all the comforts of home you need to feel at ease when you land on the other side. A good set of luggage can take you all the way from college to your first family holiday with the kids two decades later.
As a frequent flyer, I’ve come to rely on just one brand: Rimowa. Understand that there’s a lot of mileage between me and this decision.
The only luxury luggage brand I feel is the perfect universal status brand is Rimowa. They’re best known for the silver silhouette, which is ultra-recognizable and goes with just about any outfit, whether you’re going classy or wearing street wear.
Rimowa works, no matter what… Plus, the quality of the construction is just renowned.
Watch the TikTok short below…
@orenmeetsworld Rimowa is the perfect status luggage brand #luggage #trends #aesthetics #fashiontiktok #brandingtips #brandingstrategy
In addition to the standard silver above, they also do collabs like this one with Fendi
and this one with Moncler. I think Moncler in general has a killer collab across the board. This one isn’t my favourite of them but still a really good looking version of Rimowa.
I’ve done other videos on Moncler’s collaboration history. You can find those in my TikTok gallery.
It’s very common where you’ll actually see people sticking their Rimowa. There’s a culture around that, and you can buy sticker packs. I believe this is one of the sticker packs they sold themselves, which is particularly intriguing and a great way to add some identity to an otherwise really plain package.
Stickers offer a unique set of upsell opportunities for Rimowa as a brand because it’s a really smart idea that could do very well over time. If you have a suitcase, you can leave it plain and it will still look really classy… or you can go with stickers and create your own vibe.
Their collaboration with Virgil Abloh on a completely clear suitcase knocked it out of the park! Now you can see almost entirely everything you put in there, which is a great way for people to show off sneakers, etc. This should make for an interesting trip overall.
If you do want to organize or keep things out of the spotlight then definitely put some pouches in there, labelled in the trademark off-the-side in white. This is one of my favorite pieces of luggage of all time.
After the Abloh collab, they also launched a seasonal series, a neon pink and green clear version. The green goes really, really hard in person. When you see it in a photo, you kind of say “I don’t know if I can really go for that” but it’s just an incredible stand-out version in person.
Rimowa also did pastels this season, which I think is just mainly trying everything they can do to keep the brand new and fresh. I’m not a huge fan of this pastel but I’ve seen it around enough where I think it does complement if you have a really specific idea or concept for the fashion of your luggage in mind.
I do prefer this pearl if you’re going to go with a different color from a different season, but again, it requires a certain type of person to make it work versus the all-silver version – almost anything works with the all-silver version.
These bags are often replicated like this one from MVST, but that makes sense because the price points are always pretty high. That’s because people want the same style so they’re going to look for something more unique.
At the end of the day, I think with luggage, you’re going to be using it a ton. I’d go with the original because you’re going to want to have quality as something you can use for the rest of your life and it’s often worth the price.
You just can’t go wrong with Rimowa. If you’re looking for a piece of luggage that will last you for the rest of your life, then go ahead and get that Rimowa suitcase whether you end up with the clear, the silver, the pastel, etc., it’s up to you.
I would absolutely recommend having the silver suitcase that fits in the overhead bin and then keeping that around till you can pass it on to your children.
I appreciate you reading. Let me know in the comments below which Rimowa you prefer!
– Oren
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/orenmeetsworld
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/orenj/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orenmeetsworld
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Casio G-Shock has announced a new metal case line-up which looks awfully like another prestigious watch. Can you guess which brand that is?
@orenmeetsworld Is g-shock back in the conversation? #watches #gshock #audemarspiguet #audemars #trends #luxuryfashion @orenmeetsworld
Lets break it down…
So, secondary market metal cases for watches like Casio’s has been a thriving economy on sites like Etsy, and similar sites for years.
Basically, people are using metal casing for these modified watches to get as close to looking like an Audemars as much as they possibly can.
G-Shock did a pretty smart move and came up with this lineup, which looks extremely similar in color and texture to Audemars and takes advantage of this trend.
I’m not a G-Shock customer but this is a pretty good looking watch for the type of actual timepiece that it is; not trying to be too fancy or too prolific.
Obviously, the steel casing gives it greater protection, the kind you’re not going to get on a standard watch if you’re using it in ultimately rugged environments.
But if you check out the look and feel of these more premium – and obviously more expensive – watches, one thing stands out above all others… It’s become more interesting to see how more expensive brands are going to adapt if they want to be able to lean into this trend or think they’re going to have to dock their way out of it.
Some of these color patterns are super-similar. Obviously, G-Shock leaned into having that exact look and feel, not too close that you would consider it a problem but certainly hopping onto the trend.
I do think that the conversation around this release and the on-trend aspect of it is going to put Casio G-Shock back in the timepiece conversation in a relatively significant way.
I’m curious to hear what ya’ll have to say in the comments.
– Oren
Thanks for reading. I regularly break down sourcing and developing different products to 5,000+ entrepreneurs on my Product People newsletter. You should join me there.
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Does it seem like everybody’s graphic design is absolutely next-level on their brand identities right now? You’re not alone in thinking that. These 6 best design tools will help you elevate your brand’s style and make your designs really POP!
No time to read?
Check out my TikTok Short video below, or scroll to continue reading.
@orenmeetsworld These are the tools to make your brand’s style up to par in 2022 #brandingtips #brandingdesign #brandidentity #marketingtips #designtok @orenmeetsworld #greenscreen
♬ ASTRO Trap Beat – Hip Hop Instrumental – AfterInfinityMusic
This series of graphics was a collaboration between YouTube and 18 top creators – including Saint Urbain, a creative design and branding agency based in NYC and LA.
The designs were part of the YouTube Shorts snack challenge for VidCon 2022. The 18 designers that took part in the challenge had some really sick designs all throughout it.
Fonts are just getting better and better. Yours can, too.
Check out Type Department. They have a wide selection of fonts that are really sick and instead of having these massive, expensive $900+ licenses to get the good stuff like other foundries do, Type Department is really affordable. Go grab yourself a good license for $30-$60 and get the hot fonts you need.
The world of the PDF brand guideline is completely dead now that brand guidelines are online and collaborative.
BrandPad is a great way for you to get your brand into this new generation of having all your design assets in the cloud and collaborative, which also means the people you’re working with will be able to work together better and faster.
Speaking of working together better and faster, Figma is an online, all-in-one graphic design tool that helps you create flow charts, user journey maps, and more. It’s like having a collaborative Photoshop in the cloud…
It’s a really simply and easy way for people to design. If you’re on a team and collaborating but not using it, I highly recommend you make the switch.
Stock images are one of the biggest things that help you stand out but not when they make it look like everyone shops the same images off iStock.
What I really love about DeathToTheStockPhoto is they have a super-unique library, very distinctive style, and a well-curated collection that’s refreshed monthly. At just $12 a month, it’s super-cheap and best of all? Usage is unlimited! Vote on what the next photoshoot is and be a part of the community-driven process to get the perfect photo your brand or next project needs.
Sign up to Creative Market and get pre-made assets and packs once-off and cheap. Get graphics, icons, textures, web elements, fonts, presentations, logos, branding templates, wireframe kits, and so much more.
The free account gives you access to free assets or sign up for monthly drops worth every bit of the $19-95 subscription fee. This is the tool every serious designer needs!
Leverage the best design tools and see what good designers are using to elevate their designs. If you have an existing brand or are in the middle of creating a brand, you need to think about how you’re going to make sure you’re operating at this level of quality to stand out from the crowd.
Contiue to iterate because brands aren’t permanent anymore; they’re at this permanent state of flux which provides a really interesting state of environment for design teams to work in.
Thanks for tuning in and reading to the end. Let me know in the comments below if there’s a tool you think we should add to this list!
– Oren
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/orenmeetsworld
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/orenj/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orenmeetsworld
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Opening a luxury brand is one of the hardest things that you can do in the brand creation space. My secret luxury brand playbook breaks down all the components that make up a luxury brand, including where the difficulties are and how to have them all work in harmony to get to a success level.
Let’s do this.
@orenmeetsworld The luxury brand playbook Pt. 1 #luxurybrand #luxurybrands #luxuryfashiontiktok #brandingtips #marketingtips @orenmeetsworld #greenscreen
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The single, most discerning, and most important thing for any luxury brand is going to be quality. No matter what, if the actual quality of the user experience isn’t there, people just aren’t going to pay the premium it takes to be able to execute luxury at a high level.
Take La Mer, for example. This is a go-to product for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and used daily in his skincare routine.
While it’s possible he’s been paid handsomely to say so, it goes without saying that one of the world’s most iconic faces wouldn’t put anything of doubtful quality on his heavily-insured body!
Aesop is a great example. I’m not going to pay $40 for just any soap, but I’ll pay that for Aesop.
The extra margin that brands get from selling it at a higher price point helps them trend-set. That means:
What luxury brand playbook would be complete without fashion icons? Louis Vuitton’s a perfect example of how to use the extra margin to chase or create trends.
They’ve been a top brand in the world for so long, so it’s no wonder they continuously invest in trendsetting, perfecting their craft, and improving or adding to their extensive product line-up across existing operations.
LV is also well-known for collaborating with industry icons like the late Virgil Abloh and new creative directors and involvers in the brand to make it popular and keep it trending.
But you can’t just chase trends; You also have to develop things that are timeless, that people will use again and again until it becomes recognizable as a luxury brand.
Cartier is my favorite luxury watch brand. The Cartier worn by Jake Gyllenhall here is an absolutely timeless wristwatch, and a brand that never lost its cool by doing something completely out of whack with trends at the time. Whether 20 years ago or 100 years from now, Cartier hot the sweet spot with this one.
Desirability is another one, if people don’t actually want it and want to have it, its not going to be a luxury brand. Its just going to sit there on the shelf.
Which leads us to retail value. Luxury brands always have to be able to keep up with the least of relatively close-to-market resale value to show that the desire exists for their products. This lets customers know they’re making an investment, not just buying another product off the shelf.
There’s a lot of high quality interesting brands that you can purchase but you’re not going to be able to resell it on another market. Luxury customers look at almost everything they buy as something they can resell at the same rate or higher later on.
There’s also a degree of lore and storytelling inside each luxury brand, both in the previously published narrative and the narrative that’s been written currently.
A perfect example of this is La Mer’s mythical background story also goes a long way in the marketing division and part of what’s helped position the brand to be such an exclusive luxury powerhouse inside the cosmetics and skin-care space.
One of the hardest things to process for new entrepreneurs in the luxury space is that building a luxury brand takes time. Longevity is huge… You can have a really cool brand for 5 or 10 years, but luxury is built over decades.
If you’re not thinking of your brand from a decades-long stand point, then you’re not building for the true luxury experience.
Brands like Telfar have done a great job at matching some old democratization and exclusivity in the things that they’ve released so they’re more approachable, but overall… Your luxury brand needs to have something that people want to do, see, be known for, yet not just anyone can own that exclusivity.
Thanks for tuning in and reading to the end. If you’d like to see more like this, check out my TikTok channel (link below) and be sure to subscribe for early access to Part 2 of the Luxury Brand Playbook.
– Oren
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/orenmeetsworld
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/orenj/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orenmeetsworld
Check out 2 newsletters from my best friends, James & Colin
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This is how you take a standard product and make it stand out. Satisfy Running is a great example of how to nail down on your customers’ user experiences, and create a fantastic product you can sell for a premium. There’s also my free product development guide on building a private label activewear brand in this niche.
Let’s do this.
By the way, if you missed my TikTok short on this, you can catch it below, or scroll to keep reading here on the blog.
@orenmeetsworld How do you take a basic product and make it work for your niche? Lets start with how to make a stsndout activewear product @orenmeetsworld #fashionbrand #fitnessbrand#activewear #productdevelopment #ecommercetips #trends
There are dozens of companies on Alibaba that offer basic polyester shorts for activewear. These designs are relatively well thought-through and modern, in an affordable price range.
These above will run you about $7.75 each for 200 pairs.
This pair from Satisfy costs $270 because they’ve really zeroed in on the intense, long-distance runners’ user experience.
So, how do you take a short and customize it to be effective for a target niche?
This comes down to the user experience for exactly the sport or whatever active lifestyle element that your customer is looking for. So, what Satisfy has done is to make all of these little features that are perfect for the long-distance runner.
These features include things like this sweatproof back zipper pocket so you can carry your credit cards and cash with you. It also has inner key pouches to stop your keys from jingling in your pockets as you run.
As any long-distance runner knows, these are really annoying things that you need to think about while you’re running.
Follow this up with hip pockets that carry the gels you use to hydrate and get fuel in on a 10+ mile run.
There’s also a sweatproof phone pocket that’ll keep your screen dry. The pocket is on the inside (not the outside) which is key for running.
The drawstrings tuck into the double waistband to avoid chafing, and also so you don’t have them just flying around while you run. A great addition is the mini carabiner you can use to clip in valuables or jewelry while you run, which can also be stashed in the double waistband.
All of these visible benefits add up to the perfect user experience while you’re running.
So, if you’re designing activewear for a specific niche like yoga, baseball, lacrosse, etc., how can you find all these little details and add to the base short so your customer feels your product is speaking directly to them?
As a distance runner, I’d look at this product and think, “Okay. I’m about to run a marathon. I’m going to be wearing these because they have the perfect user elements for what I need as a distance runner.”
Now, how can you achieve that in your target niche?
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In this cheetah print (that I love, by the way!), you’ll see the detachable care label. I don’t have to remove the tag to avoid chafing, but the option is there if I want it. There’s also the unique style and design of it to consider, as well.
A super-crucial thing to consider is materials. All of those Satisfy designs are using 100% polyamide, or 72% polyamide and 28% elastane blends, which they’ve actually created themselves as part of their process.
All the shorts I’ve shown you are usually going to start off as polyester, but what you’re going to want to do is identify other high quality products and ask your vendor if they can find similar materials or things that will produce a similar effect.
Polyester really isn’t a great material, and I believe there could be a great opportunity to offer these shorts in linen and some other, more-natural fabrics. Either way, experiment with this, look at what the blends are (because they’re listed on almost any product listing these days) and then ask your vendor for what that better material is. That’s going to be the big thing that sets your product apart.
Hope this introduction to private label activewear was helpful for your product ideation. Let’s take a look at product development next.
So, what separates one product from another larger, more successful product is:
I’m breaking this down with a particular emphasis on activewear. The factory link below is the perfect vendor to get started with your own private label activewear brand.
I break all of this down in my TikTok short on product development for private label activewear brands, using Satisfy products to guide you. Watch it now or scroll to keep reading here on the blog:
@orenmeetsworld If you want to start an activewear brand, heres things to consider #fashionbrand #clothingbrand #fitnessbrand #sportswearbrand #activewear #ecommercetips #ecommercebusiness @orenmeetsworld
This is a $220 pair of running shorts from Satisfy Running, a cult brand who makes super performance items for specific sport niches.
Here’s where the real brand advantage is:
This is a pretty extreme example of a premium for a pair of running shorts, but this is an activewear vendor from Alibaba. Most of the scaled activewear is made in Vietnam or Cambodia (not China) and you can get some pretty decent, high quality stuff on the platform.
You’re looking at $7.74 at scale for those. They’re also a blend in a similar way, featuring customized pockets, etc. While they’re not quite as customized as Satisfy is, you can still take a vendor like this and work with them.
One of the key things in your design that’s a major differentiator is materials. That’s also definitely one of Satisfy’s key differentiators, and that’s because they’re made of 72% polyamide and 28% elastane.
There’s a significant difference between these and say, a typical polyester short. The blend is definitely of better, more-durable, and longer-wearing quality than plain polyester is, for instance, in the long-distance running niche.
You can take information like this and approach manufacturers to find out of they can replicate it. Send them links to the shorts, or better yet, send them a sample of the shorts and ask if they can improve on the materials, design, or user experience.
There is currently a big, untapped advantage in linen or non-polyester/non-poly-based activewear, really. There are so many runners and athletes getting into the idea that comfortable may not always be good for you line of thinking, and that includes their clothing.
The big opportunity is to niche-down in this, and here’s what I would do:
This is a great approach to get you started on building an activewear brand of your own.
If you’re looking for a vendor to do it with, I recommend Guangzhou Jinfeng Clothing Co., Ltd.
Their designs have been featured here in some of the images above. They also have a bunch of ongoing sales and lots of existing styles to choose from.
Talk to them and work with them on what you can customize. Let me know how it’s going in the comments below or anywhere you see my tips and tools.
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You’ve got this!
– Oren
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/orenmeetsworld
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/orenj/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@orenmeetsworld
Check out 2 newsletters from my best friends, James & Colin
Free Smoke – A Cannabis Business newsletter by Colin Landforce:
https://freesmoke.xyz/
NanoFlips – Learn the art of buying, growing and selling websites:
https://www.nanoflips.com/
READ NEXT:
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I write about tools and ideas to bring winning physical products to life.
Whether you have a brand or want to build one in the future, I highly recommend joining the 6,500+ happy subscribers on my Product People newsletter!