Question:
Hi guys and gals,
I have a friend who is a fashion journalist and today she's been assigned an article for the spanish edition of GQ about brands that are popular in a country but exclusive in others. For example, Gap is extremely common in the USA but much less known in Spain, hence it's considered kind of a cult brand here. Same happens with Levi's jeans. On the other side, there are Zara shops in every corner of Spain, while in other countries we understand they have a higher status.
I hope I have explained myself clearly, and will thank any input on this question.
Gustavo.

Answer:
Look at Burberry.
Here in America, Burberry has seen a massive resurgance as suddenly the plaid and English cliche dress has come in fashion again, yet over in England it's considered just another brand, and not even necessarily a good one.
Here in a America there also a division among economic classes. To a hell of a lot of people, Tommy Hilfiger is still a good brand, a fashionable brand. If you go to the upper class fashionistas, however, most would probably tell you it's a crap brand. That's not all inclusive, keep in mind, but at the mall I work at there's more Gucci, Prada, and Coach than Tommy, so I see that attitude all the time. It doesn't matter if Tommy made the best clothes in the world (which I don't think he does, but for the sake of argument he might), the perception is still that it's crap.
Weird how that works, isn't it?

Answer:
I appretiate your contribution, Informer, but this is the first time I post on this forum and I have just noticed there isn't as much activity as in the other ones. Do you know of another place where I could find more responses?
Thanks again.

Answer:
Sorry, but I'm not sure of another place.
http://www.duroi.com/fashionforum/
I googled "fashion forum" and that was the first place. I guess it's worth a shot, but that's all I have. Sorry.

Answer:
Thanks again, I'll give it a try.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Gus Hi guys and gals,
I have a friend who is a fashion journalist and today she's been assigned an article for the spanish edition of GQ about brands that are popular in a country but exclusive in others. For example, Gap is extremely common in the USA but much less known in Spain, hence it's considered kind of a cult brand here. Same happens with Levi's jeans. On the other side, there are Zara shops in every corner of Spain, while in other countries we understand they have a higher status.
I hope I have explained myself clearly, and will thank any input on this question.
Gustavo. I think you could work H&M into this equation, throughout northern Europe, it is common as can be, and is as ubiquitous as the Gap PLUS Starbucks are here in the States. However, since H&M is less available here, it is somewhat culty. It is more fashionable than your average American consumer gravitates toward, and so it is somewhat niche-y. To be sure, their stores are cropping up in malls throughout the country, and thier business model clearly intends to become as available as the Gap, to say nothing of the fact that their price point prevents them from ever being considered Exclusive, but none the less, H&M holds a very different market position in the States vs. in Europe

Answer:
Thanks for your input Joel, I'll tell my friend about H&M, we hadn't thought of that one.

Answer:
Living on this island, we are a literal desert of labels, so everything bog standard o/s is cult/high end here. List includes, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Shu Uemura, Cargo, Stila, Tommy Hilfiger, SFAM, COH, Joe's Jeans, Gap, MNG, Zara, M&S, Campers, Paul Frank, etc.
A pair of SFAM's or COH jeans cost $400 here, are less than $150 US, and makeup markups are at least 2x the original retail price o/s. Even cult aussie brands (Becca, Laura Mercier) are cheaper o/s.
You'd go bankrupt living in Oz :

Answer:
Thanks from your antipodes, elysium, though $150 for a pair of jeans is not what I mean by cheap!

Answer:
Not really a reply to the original question but to your second one about fashion forums. Try 'Ask Andy'. A quick google search should bring it up. The Ask Andy about Clothes forum is great
Hope this is helpful - but be warned its as addictive as BN.....
Trot