The most out of nowhere news of the summer had to be Band of Outsiders closing its doors. It was incredibly sudden and no one really saw it coming. The brand known for its skinny fit and indie celeb endorsements abruptly shut down with no further explanation. While the remaining property to BoO was auctioned off, there still hasn't been much closure in regards to how we go here. Well, The New York Times set out to get something—anything—and try to put the pieces together.
Somewhat surprisingly, there wasn't must else to be found, but we do get a slightly better picture of those final BoO days. The folks The Times spoke to all expressed shock when they first found out back in May. The offices were bustling and the clout behind the brand was strong. While Band might not have been at the heights it was a few years ago, it wasn't in the pits. It does sound like designer Scott Sternberg wasn't overly interested in expanding Band beyond a niche label, putting sales and profits somewhat secondary to creative vision. That combined with Band's middle of the road look, skinny silhouette being co-opted by bigger, fast fashion brands, small sales volume, opposition to discounts and the eventual expansion into retail, which involved a lot of investment money, seem to have brought the final conclusion. While Band's intellectual property and inventory remains, is it anything without the man who made it? Sternberg has been a ghost since he shut the doors for good, so who knows where he'll pop up next. Either way, it may still be a while before we hear the full story.
