Latest news with #ASSC
The Star
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
MSPO-ASSC deal to drive demand for Malaysia's sustainable palm oil in Japan
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), formerly the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan's Global Alliance for Sustainable Supply Chain (ASSC) to boost demand and expand market access for MSPO-certified palm oil across Japan's premium industrial sectors. According to a statement from the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, the collaboration is significant in Malaysia's efforts to strengthen the global positioning of its sustainable palm oil industry. "This partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities in Japan's high-value industries and enhance Malaysia's presence in global sustainable supply chains,' the statement said. The partnership positions the MSPO at the centre of Japan's sustainable procurement ecosystem, providing Malaysian producers with direct access to buyers who prioritise responsible sourcing, the ministry said. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said: "This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in Malaysia's efforts to champion sustainable palm oil on the global stage. It reflects growing international recognition of MSPO as a credible and inclusive certification that meets the highest environmental and social standards. "At its core, MSPO is not just about markets, it is about people. This collaboration opens up real opportunities for our smallholders, empowers our workers, and uplifts rural communities by ensuring that their palm oil can reach high-value, sustainability-conscious markets like Japan,' he said. The ministry said the partnership builds on the outcome of a comprehensive human rights impact assessment (HRIA) conducted in 2023 by Ajinomoto Co Inc and ASSC which validated the MSPO framework as robust, inclusive and well-aligned with international expectations, particularly in safeguarding smallholder livelihoods and protecting workers' rights. "ASSC will serve as a core knowledge and advocacy partner for MSPO in Japan, helping to build industry awareness, influence procurement decisions, and drive the adoption of certified sustainable palm oil in one of the world's most quality-conscious markets,' the statement said. - Bernama
Hypebeast
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Anti Social Social Club Opens First Global Flagship in Seoul
Summary Anti Social Social Club (ASSC)has officially opened its first global flagship store inSeoul's vibrant Dosan neighborhood. This launch marks a significant milestone for the Los Angeles-born streetwear label, solidifying its international presence and offering a direct, immersive brand experience in the heart of South Korea. Under the 'Step into the 'Weird Seoul' of ASSC' slogan, the store offers an immersive brand experience that blends fashion, culture and curated eccentricity. The space showcases an eclectic mix of products, which includes globally recognized Quickstrike collaborations likeAssassin's CreedandWWE. In addition to that, the brand also unveiled the 'Chapter Dosan' collection that is exclusive to their Seoul store. Adding to the store's distinctive offbeat charm is a dedicatedWeirdArchiveexhibition. The exhibition features a playful array of non-apparel items, spanning lanterns, camping gear as well as nostalgic past collaborations like the Playboy cushion and sleep mask. To celebrate the opening, founder and creative director Ian Coates hosted a talk session with Korean artists and fashion insiders, delving into the emotional and cultural DNA of the brand. The Seoul team also introduced a flagship-exclusive customization program, inviting visitors to create their own 'weird fit' in line with the brand's ethos of self-expression and unpredictability. With new product drops planned weekly, the store is designed to be a dynamic, ever-evolving space. Anti Social Social Club Seoul Flagship Store27, Apgujeong-ro 42-gil,Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
South Ayrshire Council to abandon controversial tourist tax plan
South Ayrshire Council is set to abandon plans for a tourist tax in the region. The local authority mooted the prospect of charging for overnight stays in a bid to boost its a public consultation into the plan was heavily negative, with only 15% of respondents supporting the proposal compared to 79% critical comments included doubts Ayrshire was attractive enough a location for the levy to work. Officials recommended the plan be abandoned for two years and the decision was agreed at a council meeting on decision is subject to call-in, meaning other councillors have 48 hours to object to the decision before it is finalised. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) both submitted formal objections to the South Ayrshire proposal, with residents, hotels and B&Bs providing most of the other respondent wrote: "I don't believe that Ayrshire is attractive enough as a destination to warrant a tourist tax/levy."I can see how this works in very popular places like Barcelona or Athens." Many expressed fears that the region's tourist sector was already fragile, and that small businesses would suffer if there was any further financial have reviewed the survey findings, along with developments in other areas, and recommend dropping the project from its transformation programme and not considering development until August 2027 at the said the two year delay will allow time to assess how the levy affects other regions and whether such a scheme could work in South future return to the plan would need a full public consultation and a locally tailored approach, including decisions on rates, exemptions, and use of revenue.A number of other regions in Scotland are looking at similar plans, with Edinburgh councillors deciding to push ahead with a 5% levy earlier this councillors will decide on a similar scheme on approved, tourists will be charged £4.83 per night from January 2027.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anti Social Social Club Unveils First Global Flagship in Seoul
LONDON — Anti Social Social Club, the direct-to-consumer streetwear label, is expanding into brick-and-mortar on Friday with its South Korean distributor, Kasina, to open its first global flagship in Dosan, a trendy neighborhood in the Gangnam area of Seoul. The flagship space, designed by Seoul-based studio Archi@mosphere, is adorned with industrial pink anodized aluminum, glass-paneled walls and a cement floor. More from WWD Yahoo Mail Unveils AI Mobile App Feature and Collabs With Anti Social Social Club From K-beauty to J-beauty and Beyond - Inside Asian Beauty's Next Chapter Peter Kim Brings Taverniti on Board as Creative Director of D-R-G-N It features a selection of the brand's ready-to-wear offerings, like the Quickstrike lines with Assassin's Creed and WWE, and a Seoul exclusive 'Chapter Dosan' collection. The store also will showcase a rotating display of rare vintage cars. Romney Jacob, vice president of brand at Marquee Brands, which acquired Anti Social Social Club in 2022, said the store has some of the best neighbors in the street fashion scene in Seoul: Supreme, Palace and Noah. Coinciding with the opening, the store will host an archive exhibition featuring playful items such as camping gear, frying pans, lanterns and past collaborations, like the Playboy cushion and sleep mask. Ian Coates, founder and creative director of Anti Social Social Club, will host a series of talks with artists and fashion industry professionals in South Korea to explore the brand's evolving identity. Jacob said South Korean culture has been integral to the brand since its inception. 'According to our lore, a bad breakup with a Korean girl was the motive behind the founding of the brand, and Korean graphics and characters have been frequent design motifs. It's fitting to commemorate our 10th anniversary with the opening of our first flagship in the country that inspired it all,' she added. The brand and its Seoul team have also codeveloped a customization program exclusive to the flagship, allowing visitors 'to immerse themselves in the ASSC ethos in the physical world that will add richness and texture to the experience in a way that just isn't possible online,' according to Jacob. 'Our retail environment will have ASSC Easter eggs hidden around the store, constantly changing, allowing us to create an experience that keeps both our superfans and new customers coming back. Combine that with a full slate of activation programming for future collaborations, and we will take the ASSC experience to the next level,' she touted. A new lineup of products is planned to be released every week. The international expansion comes after Anti Social Social Club had largely stuck to its direct-to-consumer, drop model since its inception. In addition to tapping Kasina for a South Korea partnership, it last year signed on Luke 1977 in the U.K. to bring the brand to a larger customer base. The brand first started offering three drops a year, with each drop lasting roughly two hours. Anti Social Social Club was founded in 2014 by NikeTalk forum member Neek Lurk, who is no longer associated with the company. Looking ahead, Jacob said the brand's next 10 years will be reinventing the category once again. 'Much as the brand has pioneered the drop model and the use of Instagram as a marketing channel, we will continue to be at the forefront of culture and technology, figuring out the best way to hack the latest developments in these areas to enrich our customers' experiences and build our brand exponentially,' she said. 'More practically, the next decade will definitively be characterized by dedicated ASSC stores around the world, executing on a business model that is equal parts globalized and localized — a model that our 'born of the internet' brand can uniquely deliver,' she added. Jacob confirmed that the company is actively looking for like-minded brands to 'join our cause and see our future business as an accelerator of a portfolio of meaningful and commercial youth brands, providing all the capabilities necessary to allow them to fully meet their global brand potential.' Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns
Time Business News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Is Anti Social Social Club Still Cool? A Brutally Honest Comparison with Comme des Garçons
Let's be real—streetwear is no longer just a niche. It's high fashion, it's luxury, it's lifestyle. But with so many brands competing for attention, only a few manage to stay relevant. Anti Social Social Club (ASSC) once ruled the Instagram feeds and hype forums. But now? Things feel… different. Enter Comme des Garcons (CdG)—the Japanese powerhouse that's less about followers and more about forward-thinking fashion. So, is ASSC still cool in 2025? Let's get brutally honest and compare it head-to-head with Comme des Garçons. Back in 2015, ASSC was the underground brand. With cryptic captions, sadboy aesthetics, and minimalist designs, it felt raw, relatable, and rebellious. Neek Lurk turned a hoodie into a statement of emotional detachment. And it worked—for a while. Comme des Garçons didn't need internet hype. It thrived on mystique . Since 1969, Rei Kawakubo's label has challenged the norm with genderless silhouettes, torn fabrics, and asymmetry that makes runway critics swoon. While ASSC screamed on social media, CdG whispered in fashion houses—and still got heard. Let's be honest: once you've seen one Anti Social Social Club piece, you've seen most of them. The font stays the same. The slogans—'I Miss You,' 'Get Weird,' 'Mind Games'—do rotate, but the design concept doesn't evolve much. CdG doesn't follow trends—it sets them. Think deconstruction, abstraction, surrealism in clothing form. One collection could be punk; the next, a wearable sculpture. It's unpredictable, and that's the charm. ASSC's cool factor relied heavily on scarcity. But the repeated drops, lack of innovation, and sketchy order fulfillment have caused hypebeasts to move on. Let's face it—ASSC isn't at the center of the culture anymore. Meanwhile, CdG sits comfortably on a pedestal in both high fashion and streetwear circles. It doesn't need to be flashy—it's respected because it consistently delivers something different. Frequent complaints about slow shipping, missing orders, and underwhelming fabric quality plague ASSC. It's one thing to be cool, but another to be trustworthy. Crafted largely in Japan, CdG pieces hold up to scrutiny. Stitching, fit, finish—everything screams premium. You're not just buying a piece of clothing; you're buying a concept, meticulously constructed. ASSC's cultural currency has dropped. The novelty of its ironic statements has worn off, and other newer, bolder streetwear brands are filling the void. From Paris Fashion Week to collaborations with major labels like Nike and Supreme, CdG keeps climbing. It's shaping culture while others are struggling to keep up. Sure, Kanye, Travis Scott, and Kim Kardashian gave ASSC a push. But that was years ago. Celebrity attention is fleeting unless the brand evolves with them. CdG doesn't chase celebrity endorsements—they come naturally. Pharrell, Rihanna, Drake, Frank Ocean—all have worn CdG not because it's hyped, but because it's iconic. Hello Kitty. Formula 1. USPS. Fragment. Too many collabs dilute a brand's identity. ASSC's strategy sometimes feels more like quantity over quality. CdG collaborates less often, but when it does—people pay attention. Nike, Converse, Junya Watanabe—it's about synergy, not stunts. ASSC is cheaper—around $60–$120 per piece—but the value is questionable when shipping delays and fabric issues keep stacking up. CdG costs more, but it's a legitimate investment. Pieces retain value, both financially and artistically. ASSC thrived on limited drops and FOMO. But now that the mystery is gone, so is much of the excitement. CdG doesn't fade. Its designs from the '90s are still discussed today. It doesn't ride the wave—it is the wave. Type 'ASSC shipping' into Reddit or Twitter—you'll find a graveyard of complaints. Orders taking months? Not cool. CdG isn't Amazon-speed fast, but it's reliable. Whether you're shopping online or in a flagship store, the experience feels deliberate and high-end. ASSC built its brand on Instagram. It still has a solid following, but engagement has dipped—and that's telling. CdG doesn't chase clout. Its fanbase is smaller but fiercely loyal. They're not just buyers—they're believers. You used to see ASSC everywhere—now, not so much. It's become more common on resale sites than on streets. CdG is worn by everyone from artists to fashion editors to sneakerheads. Its cross-demographic appeal makes it perpetually relevant. ASSC sticks to basics. CdG dares to explore. One is comfort; the other is challenge. Let's be honest—ASSC's appeal feels very 2016. CdG? It's ageless, because it's art—not just apparel. Same font. Same hoodie. Different color. Repeat. ASSC hasn't shown much willingness to evolve creatively. CdG isn't afraid to be weird . And that's exactly why it keeps breaking new ground and influencing other designers. So, is Anti Social Social Club still cool? If you're asking from a 2025 lens, probably not as much as it used to be. The hype has fizzled, the designs are stagnant, and customer trust is shaky. In contrast, Comme des Garçons continues to innovate, inspire, and influence. While ASSC was once the face of internet-era streetwear, CdG is the soul of experimental fashion. One is a trend—the other is a legacy. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
