I was and am a huge Gwen Stefani fan but the issue I had with her line was that it was a direct knockoff of John Galliano's signature line and his work for Dior. Vera Wang commended at the time that celebs get fashion cred by requesting pulls from the designers for free and than knock off those same designs they borrowed for free, in their own lines.
There one has always been quite outspoken against celebrity lines, she was quite annoyed at the Olsen twins when they released the row as well. But Galliano and Gwen Stefani were actually quite good friends, there’s a lot of pictures of them together. It’s a wonder how she didn’t realise that her brand was just a second rate version (or maybe she did, I don’t know)
@@understitchYT Well hold on there.. Galliano and McQueen are my favorite designers of all time BUT Vera Wang is my favorite business women in fashion of all time. Why? She owns her brand outright. She can't get fired and the control of her name will be with her and her family even after she dies. At the time Galliano worked for the Arnaults but Vera works for Vera. And she is STILL of the top wedding dress designers in the world. When it comes to business, put some respect on Vera's name. Also- She is absolutely right about celebs knocking off designer brands they borrowed clothes from to become known in fashion. Its cheap and hypocritical.
I was a consumer of LAMB somewhere around 2004/05/06. I owned several pieces - sweatpants with the logo printed all over, a jamaican inspired zip sweater, a green tshirt with the lamb logo, among other pieces. I was at the end of high school, a rocker kid at heart, with access to a recent small inheritenace, and obsessed with high fashion - particularly, Galliano's work. Seems by your video's assessment that I was the exact target audience, even though that was never particuarly nailed down by the brand. I never made the connection between Galliano and LAMB, so I found it fascinating to hear you connect the two in this video. I purchased my LAMB pieces at the Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street in Toronto - a high end luxury department store. At the time, this was one of the only shops in Toronto where you could purchase high fashion pieces. And I recall LAMB being located in the area of the store where there were more "junior" pieces and denim, as opposed to other areas of the store which were dedicated to high fashion brands like Chanel, Dior, etc. I also recall purchasing some pieces from Aritzia. Yes, back then, Aritzia was a popular boutique in Canada which sold pricier items from other brands alongisde their own TNA label. Some of those brands included True Religion, Rock n Republic, Junk Food tees, and they even sold books and CDs back then. They were like Canada's Kitson. This era of fashion and music, I believe, was the gateway into the blingy-leopard print-heavy era of 2005-09 --- think Jersey Shore, loud logos and prints, pink pink pink, blinged out victoria beckham jeans, etc.
I was obsessed with LAMB when it fist came out. I couldn’t afford it at the time because the purse I really wanted was like $300. I was recently on Poshmark and that same LAMB purse came up on my feed! The purse is still sellin for the same price. Idk if it’s nostalgia or because they’re in good condition after so many years but now that I can afford it it seems crazy to pay that much for a nylon purse.
Omg that's too funny, I too was just browsing y2k-esque bags on Poshmark and LAMB also popped up and imagine my surprise when it was still priced the same as when I saw it at Nordstrom 20 years prior! Interesting..I think it's definitely nostalgia! Just my opinion of course lol. Weird
I was the target Gwen fan who fell in love with the L.A.M.B. brand and then couldn't afford anything lmao but I would collect the look books and had a collage on my wall. This video was very nostalgic lol and well done!
Thank you so much. It is such a compliment to know that even when talking about why something fell I can do it in a respectful and kind way thats not just rage baiting fans 🥰
@ That’s so cool!! I’m just now getting into L.A.M.B. and there are a few collections (I forget which years exactly) that are hard to find original photos of online. I need to get my hands on these physical editions if I can find them!!!
I was that target Stefani fan. I lived in San Francisco at the time, and I could not find L.A.M.B except for a very select few lesportsac bags in Nordstrom, etc. I think there was interest, but I NEVER saw the products in the stores, and it almost became an urban legend that the L.A.M.B brand even existed…
another great deep dive ❤ I bought a pair of L.A.M.B. heels back when the hype was strong. They were beautiful to look at….and utterly horrifying to wear!
Do you know what’s funny? Is that those heels originally probably cost about $300, but the ones made for Zendaya‘s brand used to cost $75 and they were basically the same 🤣
I remember trying a pair of LAMB heels on at Nordstrom Rack in their "designer" section and they were so horrifically uncomfortable that I snatched them off.
I owned a women’s retail apparel stores with a mix of elevated contemporary and high end luxury. On the lower end, we bought LAMB for a couple of seasons (I don’t recall which years). I met Gwen and Zaldy a couple of times and attended one show in NY and a party in LA. I was not aware of the private label backstory but I did privately question whether she actually designed any of it. Ultimately, we tried but it did not sell for us and we dropped it after two seasons. Excellent video. It really took me back to the complicated LAMB era.
“In 2004, Debbie Shuchat worked with Air Canada to design new uniforms for its flight crews and airport employees. American pop singer Gwen Stefani also hired Shuchat to be the artistic director of her L.A.M.B. ready-to-wear brand. “ I interned in that office for 2 days in 2012 before I was fired because I couldn’t figure out the printer. But there were 3 VERY STRESSED OUT fashion designers ( not Gwen ) there . Designers and staff …I were told later, Shuchat allegedly made acry all the time there…by my fashion school professors. In my experience Debbie wasn’t nice at all and made me cry. Most toxic experience ever I had ….. I wish that when celebs sign off on a line, they make sure that the office/studio they pick has a healthy work culture/ environment. Because I can see how no creativity flourished there
what a FANTASTIC CHANNEL! i never ever ever ever ever thought a history of GS's fashion line would be interesting but this is riveting. like high likely to rewatch. kinda mind blown
It was also EXTREMELY hard to find the specific items desired! ….and I’m speaking as a woman who grew up in NYC. 😐🗽 Maybe a flagship store would have helped. The BabyPhat/PhatFarm store on Canal was EVERYTHING!
I honestly forgot about L.A.M.B but now seeing it I remember how much it shaped what I thought fashion was as a kid. I thought Gwen Stefani was so cool, but I was so young I had no idea about all the cultural appropriation or style knockoffs she was doing. I knew about the former coming into this video but I didn’t know about the line’s controversy. Thanks for another great documentary!
Omg. Childhood memory unlocked. I had the Love perfume bottle. I adored different asian cultures growing up and i remember that bottle so vividly. I thought i was mad that i couldnt remember what it was from. I never used it. Just loved the girl on it.
I was at a store in Palm Beach (Bloomingdales?) where LAMB bags were on clearance. Clearance. One tiny bag was $600 -- and that was 50% off. It was so badly made -- loose thread hanging off the zipper, cheap materials, etc. I passed.
I remember buying a LAMB shirt from a resale shop as a 13 year old and I remember it being my favorite shirt. It was like a more girly Ed Hardy, which I’m sure is another brand they borrowed designs from.
Gwen Stefani stole the shoes off my friend's feet! My friend is from Tokyo and Gwen stopped her on the street, told her she was filming a music video and asked her if she could borrow her shoes for a few scenes. My friend lent her the shoes and Gwen never gave them back. My friend had to make her way home shoeless. I think that tells you everything you need to know about Gwen Stefani.
@@jaradaniels9289working around celebrities I can attest to this type of behavior as very typical. They have an air of ‘Im the most important person’, ‘my project is the most important thing’ and ‘what I want & need is immediately’. They use their celebrity status to appear important when reality is they are abusing their position often view non celebrities as worker bees for their needs to be fulfilled at their whim and 100% will be upset if you look them directly in the eyes when communicating often they defer to their assistant/s &. Many many many celebrities are like this of course there are exceptions. Gwen was never going to give those shoes back! Empty promises for their immediate needs is normal in their world. She forgot the person as soon as she got what she wanted & she’ll never give her a credit. Very very typical.
Another amazing video! I love how you don't stick to just luxury fashion and give each brand the full breadth of your research, it's refreshing. Also love the details you put in your, the font being the same as the L.A.M.B. logo was such a great touch. Idk if you take requests but I'd love a deep dive into Norma Kamali or Todd Oldham.
I would kill to see your analysis on the music industry. The rise and fall of certain musicians, certain record labels, etc. I know it’s not your forte but your analyses are just always so well done and impressive!!!
the biggest surprise for me is that this was considered a luxury brand - I vaguely recall her brand as sort of "on trend" brand mentioned in Bravo and carrying Bratz doll aesthetic...
I loved L.A.M.B from around 2007 to 2010. I was a casual music fan of No Doubt but didn’t really follow Gwen Stefani’s solo career. It was mostly the bags I loved, which were really high quality. I still have four bags in my collection, and you know, they do not look dated at all. The leather is still lovely, the canvas has not peeled and the hardware is still shiny. Better than some premium luxury bags I’ve had! I had no interest in Harajuku Lovers. As a Jpop fan, I already understood Japanese street culture and purchased Japanese indie brands directly. Didn’t need her “white filter” packaging over popular culture from Tokyo. However, I must say the Harujuku Mini line with Target was awesome. I remember it all sold out. There was an absence of cool clothes for children back then. I have fond memories of the tartan jeans which my kid wore. He looked like a little punk rock star. Gwen should have done a children’s line instead.
Her L.A.M.B. fragrance was a blind buy at T.J. Maxx! The best fragrance/Summer fragrance that I've owned. Please, if you know a similar scent, I'd love to hear your recommendations!
Honestly, her bags were kind of a poor man’s version of a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag that was out in the early aughts. I worked as an account manager for a department store chain at the time. We loved her line, especially the bags. However, we headed to Saks to get an LVMH bag like or similar to one Jessica Simpson carried.
I still have the original LAMB perfume! Barely used , but much loved♥! I need to do a spritz to see how much the scent turned after all these years. LOL!
My husband lived in Japan for several years as an ESL teacher. He noted that the Japanese culture is ok-ish with other non-Japanese people exploring the dress, food, and rituals. They have tea ceremonies and theater/music performances that they want to share with people. But, this did not feel like that. They appeared; as an American who used to like Gwen's music, they were human accessories. I didn't know the ladies were not allowed to even speak English. Whew!
Thats insane that these women werent even ALLOWED to "break the illusion"...gwen's behaviour back then was really awful esp towards poc culture i love her style and music because she has good music and when shes not being ignorant, she has great style but the way she treated poc culture and asian women specifically japanese women as an asian femme its so racist
It says a lot when people were offended in the 2000s. That said, two of the women were actually at her wedding recently so I assume they must still be "cool" pun intended
Kind of pot calling the kettle black considering Japan fetishes European culture within its marketing advertising and anime but you don't see us complaining about it we kind of think it's cool. I don't know why Europeans seem to be the only culture on earth that don't mind having their designs celebrated used or copied everyone else seems to have some problem I don't understand it I really don't and I've worked high up in marketing and design
I also used to live in Japan. I also just wrote my Master’s dissertation on multiculturalism and immigration in Japan. The thing to remember with how Japanese people in Japan view issues of cultural appropriation is that Japanese people in Japan have never experienced race-based marginalization or oppression. They live in the Japan, where they are the dominant ethnic and cultural group. Also remember that Japan was never colonized. Japan was a colonial power that colonized Korea and much of SE Asia. Japan does not have a history being oppressed or marginalized. As a result, Japanese people in Japan don’t really “get” cultural appropriation because they have never been in a position of marginalization. In contrast, Japanese-Americans and other Asian Americans experience racism in the West and therefore have a different view on issues. As a result, you often get situations where Japanese-Americans are offended by acts of cultural appropriation while people in Japan don’t really get what all the fuss is about. One groups experiences racism and oppression regularly while the other does not.
That’s actually not true and all of the Harajuku Girls over the years have come out on social media refuting this. Yet, people still believe whatever the media reports on it because they apparently can speak for Asian women when it comes to suiting their own agenda rather than letting them speak for themselves.
I forgot all about LAMB. I think the best style Gwen Stefani showcased was the video Cool. Everyone in that video looked fantastic. It had a late 40’s/early 50’s with a 21st century twist. I wanted every piece from that video.
The album I adored when it came out, but that was the one so I always skipped, when she came out with the music music video for that exact song, I was completely shocked
@@understitchYT Ironically, I came back across your channel today after watching hautelemode. I had subscribed to your account years ago when I had a different account. Watching hautelemode randomly tonight made me want to remember the educational youtuber I had followed before, who interacted with his viewers. Sure enough, I searched "X designer analysis" and immediately found you again. I'm impressed to see that you still respond to viewers and have the same informational videos. I'm ecstatic to see your channel grow. You provide great content that is well-researched, and not pretentious or over editioralized. I appreciate that you're not "clickbaity" and cater to a wide audience. I wonder if we won't eventually find you're too demure to say your're behind some great label.
It always felt like one of the many things Gwen Stefani was doing at the time. She created her own clothes and people loved her style. She had the opportunity to create LAMB fashion, but like you mentioned, it was haphazard at best. If she had put her all into the brand, I think it would've been more successful. It felt like something that was fun for a time, then she got bored with it.
This was an unexpected video topic! It all seemed so closely tied to the L.A.M.B album, literally the same name and the Harujuku girls, that I didn't understand the longevity of it.
Yeah it was definitely mostly there as a tie in, I dont doubt that at all. But because it tried so long and so hard to be profitable, it ended ip being an interesting line from an analysis standpoint
I remember the LAMB autumn/winter collections in probably 2013 or 14 being available (at least here in Northeastern US) at Nordstrom and heavily marketed there. Some of the clothes were pretty cute: fun plaids in interesting color combos, flirty/romantic details (that I didn't realize at the time were very referential of both Galiano and McQueen). I never liked any of it enough to buy it though...... I also remember the Harajuku perfume being EVERYWHERE at that time.
That perfume of the five women as caricatures was in escapable, I remember having such a prominent space in so many stores. Genuinely, if these brands were ever profitable, I would assume it’s from that fragrance because as you said, the clothes were really uninspired
Would you consider a throwback series all based in the 90's with designers such as Gianfranco Ferre, Gianni Versace, Escada, Thierry Mugler, and many others that are no longer around. Love your ❤ channel.
Not my entire teenage world view being rocked on a random Saturday morning! I definitely thought LAMB was a huge deal back in the day. Apple Bottoms and House of Deron were things you could find in Burlington, which is absolutely not shade because that was the spot to go to for your club outfits, but things like LAMB and the fancy Baby Phat outfits were fancy mall finds.
When L.A.M.B debuted I was hoping she just did a purse line. The bags were fire. But I also wish Gwen would have collaborate with Vivienne Westwood doing her lamb project. I think she would have made it high fashion and I also wish she made it affordable it would still be around today. I use to ripe the pages out fashion magazine of lamb ads post them on my wall the ads were dreamy to me. Harajuku was cute but it didn't fascinate me wish she would of made lamb more affordable. Can you do a video on Eve the rapper clothing line it was called Fetish.
I lived on a military base & they did sell some LAMB items back in the 2000s. Do remember seeing Harajuku Lovers in a lot more places though. The perfume is pretty much the lasting legacy of this venture because the bottles were so distinctive.
I'm just gonna share my opinion, you can agree or not, but I vividly remember Gwen saying that the Harajuku girls came to her in one of her dreams and when asked about them in interviews she often replied with "what? you can see them too?", so I guess that was the point of them not speaking, not because white supremacy over another culture, but because they were meant to be "a vision" so on another level not the interactive one (if that make sense). I can totally understand how this Harajuku girls thing is seen now (in 2024), but I also do remember the amount of respect she had for the Japanese culture, how much she was thrilled to visit japan everytime, the street culture in areas like Harajuku etc, and she made us aware of that scene (back in the days, early early internet) so we started digging and being fascinated too thanks to her. So yea, I get how this period of her creative journey is seen now, but she did put some respect above all on Japanese culture, I think some points are missed if we reduce everything with "appropriation" cause this was a little different, more layered and nuanced
Absolutely agreed. I discovered Japanese fashion because of her. People will complain that the problem with appropriation is that white people take something from a different culture and claim is as their own, but when someone life Stefani very blatantly gives credit where it's due, they'll still find something wrong with it; just say you dislike the artist and move on, you don't need to have the moral high ground...
@@miaferrari958just say you like the artist more than you care about minorities 🤷♀️ she made money off Japanese culture while at no point crediting or highlighting or even financially supporting the country or its people. How many of Gwens fans even know what "harajuku" IS? Like its lovely some of y'all became weebs because of her but that absolutely doesn't mean she was in the right to play pretend in Japanland.
@@mxich8791 I'm speaking not as a huge fan of her tbh, so is not that I'm defending her. I just really liked her during this album period mainly because I discovered Japan street culture thanks to "Love Angel Music Baby". That was something totally different at the time (I think I was 12) and I was so impressed by those Harajuku Girls. She had in her main single of the album the phrase "I can't wait to go back and do Japan.... Osaka, Tokyo, you Harajuku Girls damn you've got some wicked style", she said the country and listed the cities, those are literally credits no? :)
I just think it's funny how the vast majority of us learned about Harajuku from Gwen, then so many turn around and stab her in the back with these accusations. Let's see, did those same people buy Utada's English album? Would they ever have noticed this subculture if Gwen didn't reference it? Yes it wouldn't be appropriate for her to live in the Harajuku subculture forever, but scolding her for spotlighting it enters weird segregation territory
I was such a huge Stefani fan at that time. However, the LAMB line was so out of reach for me but I was alllll over HARAJUKU!!! Still own several of the bags, and use them to this day.
Wow. Im 2 years older than Gwen is now. So, i as a 30 something professional definitely had income for occasional lux items. I kept seeing celebrities with that dang giant tote!! So i got one!!!! With tax and shipping it was about 150.00 It was cool - but honestly, it felt like a 5 beach bag you buy at the dollar store. It did have the guitar strap - and "LAMB" tag hanging - lol. I still havs it somewhere 😅
Geez….this is such a thorough dive into this brand. I still have two pieces from 2007. I still wear the henley shirt with all the city names on it and people stop me all the time to tell me how much they like it. I had a great 100% wool coat that I sold on Poshmark last year. It was a fab coat but way too hot for LA winters. Never did the shoes though. I also still have a fitted straight legged pant. Not quit a legging but for sure a cousin…its made from 100% wool gaberdine and although I can not remember how much it cost it was not cheap and I bought it from the Nordstroms on Michigan Ave in Chicago. It is really well made so I decided to save them when this style comes back around. You do such a great job on your deep dives and I really do appreciate them. Just trying to learn more about fashion..including the basic business practices of manufacturing distribution etc. Always loved fashion but old school parents were certainly not supportive of “fashion careers” so now I can learn about fashion to my hearts desire and the luxury eye opening I have been getting from you, Roadman and a couple of others has been much appreciated. I feel like I need to give you a tip or something as this is great content you are providing for free. Thanks again so much for this video as well as past and future video’s.
Harajuku Lovers was when I thought the Lamb line of clothes, it’s image & Gwen took a left turn. It was weird the way she was promoting it. I was working in fashion, cosmetics, & retail & L.A.M.B was great when it first appeared in stores especially the shoes
I remember wanting a L.A.M.B clutch (in the early aughts) so badly but they were always over my price point. There was a big section in my local Nordstrom and I'd go try out the merchandise, which were generally of good quality.
I still own all my purses, cardigans, hoodies, t-shirts, tanks, purses , heels and jewelry. I just don’t use it. Purse buckles eventually wouldn’t even hold anymore and the strap would just come undone and purse hit the floor. My daughter also had almost every item from her target Harajuku line. Her Harajuku perfume was my favorite.
It would have been one thing for Gwen to hire actual Harajuku icons to walk the red carpet with her. Instead she hired Japanese-Americans to cosplay stereotypes. But at the time other designers were doing similar ripoffs, I think Gwen was just extra obnoxious about it. You should look into DSquared and their awful 2010 collection that ripped off First Nations and Inuit culture AND titled it with a slur. Their collections are generally a mishmash of cultural appropriation but that one ranks right up there as one of the worst, most racist moments in fashion for me.
That brand has the most interesting history though, it was part of really extremely early aids event in Toronto, before they were even titled DSquared2, then it was all about shock marketing which obviously was popularised by McQueen and Galliano and now it’s almost gay fetish. It’s a really interesting brand to look over the years of
Does anyone know what the problem was with her Harajuku Lovers Jewelry line? I remember seeing it at Dillards Department Store years ago, but then disappeared.
20:48 Those baby shoes came to our stores at Bloomingdale’s on the west coast in late 2006 or early 2007; I remember them because a woman tried to return them in my department (fashion jewelry) hoping she’d get away with taking the 18k gold charm attached to them and that we wouldn’t have noticed. L.A.M.B. had a notoriously low sell-through at our store, and could not compete with the big players in our department at the time (Juicy Couture, Tarina Tarantino, Marc by Marc Jacob’s, and even Moschino Cheap+Chic). The Juicy Coiture bracelet charms were traumatically popular; one day during Christmas of 2007, I sold almost $10k worth of those little baubles, and they retailed for $50-70.
When I was at university, one of the lecturers told us that she was a stylist on that video, I’ve had to verify it, but it’s always a fact I tell people 🤣
i’ve been a gwen stefani/lamb girl since i was 7 years old, i snagged a lamb lesportsac bag off poshmark about 3 years ago and i remember when i was looking for it, it was hard because there was little to no trace of it. what she really needs to bring back is those tank tops that said LAMB on them.
I was in college getting a fashion degree when L.AM.B. came out & I could not take it seriously at all. Even though I hadn’t graduated yet I had enough knowledge to see that it wasn’t going to last because the price point was too high for her target market and the quality wasn’t good enough to demand those prices.
This was pure cheese to me and the final nail for me as a fan. I thought the branding was dumb, the way she used Japanese women as pets was offensive, and mentioning the brand in her music made her solo album a joke. I will never forget the sweatpants that said "Uh oh in the backseat" which made it sound like you pooped your pants. It wasn't just watered down Galliano, it also ripped off Primps and Juicy Couture. Awful all around. TJ Max crap.
I feel that the Brand was too expensive for the Demographic she & her Music represented at the time which was Mid GenX to Older Millennials & it wasn’t accessible in stores or online
Ive always been a Gwen fan but she really made out like a bandit. Aside from L.A.M.B. (which I feel also took a lot from Vivienne Westwood) her diffusion line, Harajuku Lovers, was a straight up clone of Hysteric Glamour & Super Lovers. Japanese brands that were even more exclusive to get 20 years ago. I really feel they had no idea she was completely taking their ideas because had every right to sue.
I’m not a huge fan, but I did like a lot of the pieces in the first LAMB collection which I still own. It was released in the early days of elevated sportswear, commanding a higher price among the Contemporary fashion lines. These were also the days of trucker hats and Ed Hardy w rock tees and faux tattoos sleeve shirts everywhere. The quality of the original LAMB collection was very good and the designs had subtle detailing that made them unique among everything else at the time. I have a printed cashmere hoodie dyed beautifully with loose threads that create a fringe effect that still looks great and was so soft and comfortable. The main problem with the collection as I remember was not just price, but sizing and fit. The line fit so few people that it just wasn’t accessible but for a very few people. The sizes were sooo much smaller than other R2W lines and fit only very slim figures like Stefani, so the more fitted pieces just wouldn’t sell. The second collection was good too, but I hated everything after that, including the Harajuku line as it looked cheap and mass market, losing everything special and details present in the original designs.
Thank you for another fantastic video! I was wondering if it would be possible, in a future video, to study Coach’s case? Themes such as its rise in the 2000s, its fall in the 2010s, and its new rise in recent years would be interesting! I work in the luxury sector, at Christian Dior, and I noticed that several of my very wealthy clients wear Coach bags. Would it be possible for the brand to gradually become a luxury brand? I would be very interested in your point of view on this matter given your university training in the field! Thank you, Lyna
I still have my LAMB Le Sportsac wristlet after all these years. Side note - Courtney Love once said that the whole fashion thing wasn't actually really just Gwen but that her then husband Gavin Rossdale was a big part of it on the down low.
When those bags came out I worked at Robinson’s-May. I waited until they went on sale and used my employee discount. I went ham and bought 5! I still have them too. 😅
I actually think L.A.M.B is more similar to Vivienne Westwood than Galliano. Only the font is the same, but then No Doubt uses the same too, don't know who came first then.
the harajuku girls definitely messed with my development as a ten-year-old japanese canadian at the time. I had a burned cd of l.a.m.b. and I loved her, and I specifically remember an interview where she had the harajuku girls posing around the room and told the interviewer not to talk to them or even look at them, and I was like oh so that's what gwen stefani wants from me okay.
Thank you for sharing. There are so many comments saying "but she appreciated the culture" or "she was just sharing!" They and you know who they is, don't understand the lived repercussions things like this have.
If i could've found the collection in Houston, my friends and I would've bought something from the line. We never found it as much as we searched and called stores to at oeast get a shirt, jacket, shoes.
From the sounds of it, even the stores she was in didnt sell enough to get repeat orders, it makes me wonder if the quality was low to the point it put the curious off, but idk if thats true just me thinking
If there one designer that influence LAMB more than anything, it's Vivienne Westwood than John Galliano. Also, Zaldy was the primary designer for LAMB up until after her Spring 2007 fashion show. He worked on his own fashion line while working on this brand. Andrea Lieberman, Stefani's stylist was also heavily involved up until she started ALC. the brand Harajuku Lovers was more of merch line to coincide with the LAMB album. As for cultural appropriation, it was not a big deal back then. Cultural appropriation issues became more apparent in the past 10years more than anything. Although Margaret Cho's made those statements, for the most part Stefani was well loved by different cultures regardless if they were Asian, Latinos or Mexicans. If that issues was such a big deal, she would have not been in the cover of Vibe magazine with Pharrell, would have not have a fundraiser for Tsunami in Japan, have collaborated with Rappers Eve and Slim Thug. Back in the day, there was not a lot of Asian representation in music, the Harajuku girls showcase that Asians can be formidable in the dance arena. Gwen' design language much like her music was about mixing and matching different styles, cultures, and music genres no different than the kids in Harajuku. It was about collaboration. This was no different from Pharrell or Nigo from referencing other styles and cultures in their designs. They only single her out because she is white. Back then diversity was treasured and celebrated, instead of today toxic political correct climate.
Im in Disneyland rn so I cant give you the long reply you really deserve, but in a nutshell, Vivienne influenced Galliano and so thats why there is Westwood-by-proxy in LAMB. And also, you are right about the conversation about cultural appropriation. That wasnt really the scandal, it was more about her specific way of using the culture that made people feel weird, the following around of the four women, the constant references to Harajuku, all of that, people just found her obsession offputting and rude, that was more the conversation than cultural appropriation
I had a few of the LeSportSac bags and really wanted some clothes but they were cut VERY small. I couldn’t even fit into the tees as a size 14 when I finally found some in Boston. And it was very expensive and elusive. I still have the HP camera! And the LAMB perfume is actually great! I have some in a cool dark place that I bought a few years ago.
I think you forgot to mention the watches. I have a lamb timepiece, which I remember being really expensive, and several harajuku lovers watches, which were kind of affordable
It’s rare I hear a mention of my hometown in such a random place! I was wondering why I felt like I saw L.A.M.B. stuff fairly frequently around that era. Do you remember which place it was?
@@understitchYT 😂😂😂😂😂 I absolutely laugh out loud at this comment. I’m sure if I actually used it. It would be a disaster, but it’s mostly been in my closet because I was obsessed with Gwen for years and didn’t wanna ruin it
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I was and am a huge Gwen Stefani fan but the issue I had with her line was that it was a direct knockoff of John Galliano's signature line and his work for Dior. Vera Wang commended at the time that celebs get fashion cred by requesting pulls from the designers for free and than knock off those same designs they borrowed for free, in their own lines.
There one has always been quite outspoken against celebrity lines, she was quite annoyed at the Olsen twins when they released the row as well. But Galliano and Gwen Stefani were actually quite good friends, there’s a lot of pictures of them together. It’s a wonder how she didn’t realise that her brand was just a second rate version (or maybe she did, I don’t know)
@@understitchYT Well hold on there.. Galliano and McQueen are my favorite designers of all time BUT Vera Wang is my favorite business women in fashion of all time. Why? She owns her brand outright. She can't get fired and the control of her name will be with her and her family even after she dies. At the time Galliano worked for the Arnaults but Vera works for Vera. And she is STILL of the top wedding dress designers in the world. When it comes to business, put some respect on Vera's name.
Also- She is absolutely right about celebs knocking off designer brands they borrowed clothes from to become known in fashion. Its cheap and hypocritical.
LAMB ripped off Vivienne Westwood BIG TIME too…Harajuku lovers ripped off Japanese lines like Hysteric Glamour and Super Lovers
@@janew6812 big time. It was such a combo of so many high end brands.
Not just Galliano but some Westwood too. One of Westwood's team even uploaded a photo of a signature pair of their shoes with a pair from Lamb.
I was a consumer of LAMB somewhere around 2004/05/06. I owned several pieces - sweatpants with the logo printed all over, a jamaican inspired zip sweater, a green tshirt with the lamb logo, among other pieces.
I was at the end of high school, a rocker kid at heart, with access to a recent small inheritenace, and obsessed with high fashion - particularly, Galliano's work. Seems by your video's assessment that I was the exact target audience, even though that was never particuarly nailed down by the brand. I never made the connection between Galliano and LAMB, so I found it fascinating to hear you connect the two in this video.
I purchased my LAMB pieces at the Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street in Toronto - a high end luxury department store. At the time, this was one of the only shops in Toronto where you could purchase high fashion pieces. And I recall LAMB being located in the area of the store where there were more "junior" pieces and denim, as opposed to other areas of the store which were dedicated to high fashion brands like Chanel, Dior, etc.
I also recall purchasing some pieces from Aritzia. Yes, back then, Aritzia was a popular boutique in Canada which sold pricier items from other brands alongisde their own TNA label. Some of those brands included True Religion, Rock n Republic, Junk Food tees, and they even sold books and CDs back then. They were like Canada's Kitson.
This era of fashion and music, I believe, was the gateway into the blingy-leopard print-heavy era of 2005-09 --- think Jersey Shore, loud logos and prints, pink pink pink, blinged out victoria beckham jeans, etc.
Aritzia has a useful escalator still. 😉
We need to see the rise and fall of Baby Phat next.
I was obsessed with LAMB when it fist came out. I couldn’t afford it at the time because the purse I really wanted was like $300. I was recently on Poshmark and that same LAMB purse came up on my feed! The purse is still sellin for the same price. Idk if it’s nostalgia or because they’re in good condition after so many years but now that I can afford it it seems crazy to pay that much for a nylon purse.
100!!
Omg that's too funny, I too was just browsing y2k-esque bags on Poshmark and LAMB also popped up and imagine my surprise when it was still priced the same as when I saw it at Nordstrom 20 years prior! Interesting..I think it's definitely nostalgia! Just my opinion of course lol. Weird
I heard that!
At $300 it's still a bargain compare to nylon purses sold by prada and the likes lol@@iheartvalkenvania
@@mercedesvelasquez8781 look at Miss Richie Rich over here can drop basically an energy bill payment on a bag 😂
I was the target Gwen fan who fell in love with the L.A.M.B. brand and then couldn't afford anything lmao but I would collect the look books and had a collage on my wall. This video was very nostalgic lol and well done!
Thank you so much. It is such a compliment to know that even when talking about why something fell I can do it in a respectful and kind way thats not just rage baiting fans 🥰
Omg they had physical lookbooks in print?
@@rachelbang3173 Yes! They were very cute. I think I kept a few in my teen memories box. You have motivated me to check the next time I fly home.
@ That’s so cool!! I’m just now getting into L.A.M.B. and there are a few collections (I forget which years exactly) that are hard to find original photos of online. I need to get my hands on these physical editions if I can find them!!!
I was that target Stefani fan. I lived in San Francisco at the time, and I could not find L.A.M.B except for a very select few lesportsac bags in Nordstrom, etc. I think there was interest, but I NEVER saw the products in the stores, and it almost became an urban legend that the L.A.M.B brand even existed…
The Venn diagram found its target 🤣🤣🤣
I was in San Diego and also couldn't afford it. I still look for it sometimes. Glad to see it in this documentary.
I was in SF at the time; I found LAMB bags in Marshalls, and occasionally, Ross on Market (at the time)…
I lived in NY and it was pretty much everywhere with the purses but the clothing was unicornish
@@laniyalumpkin4907 clothing was always at Nordstrom and also Kitson in L.A.
another great deep dive ❤ I bought a pair of L.A.M.B. heels back when the hype was strong. They were beautiful to look at….and utterly horrifying to wear!
Do you know what’s funny? Is that those heels originally probably cost about $300, but the ones made for Zendaya‘s brand used to cost $75 and they were basically the same 🤣
@@understitchYT absolutely!!!! shoes constructed entirely of (flimsy) publicity
I still have a pair. Worn once or twice. 😂
I remember trying a pair of LAMB heels on at Nordstrom Rack in their "designer" section and they were so horrifically uncomfortable that I snatched them off.
Yep still got a pair I only wore a few times
I owned a women’s retail apparel stores with a mix of elevated contemporary and high end luxury. On the lower end, we bought LAMB for a couple of seasons (I don’t recall which years).
I met Gwen and Zaldy a couple of times and attended one show in NY and a party in LA. I was not aware of the private label backstory but I did privately question whether she actually designed any of it.
Ultimately, we tried but it did not sell for us and we dropped it after two seasons.
Excellent video. It really took me back to the complicated LAMB era.
Oh how interesting, thank you for sharing that. Do you remember which pieces sold?
“In 2004, Debbie Shuchat worked with Air Canada to design new uniforms for its flight crews and airport employees. American pop singer Gwen Stefani also hired Shuchat to be the artistic director of her L.A.M.B. ready-to-wear brand. “
I interned in that office for 2 days in 2012 before I was fired because I couldn’t figure out the printer. But there were 3 VERY STRESSED OUT fashion designers ( not Gwen ) there . Designers and staff …I were told later, Shuchat allegedly made acry all the time there…by my fashion school professors. In my experience Debbie wasn’t nice at all and made me cry. Most toxic experience ever I had ….. I wish that when celebs sign off on a line, they make sure that the office/studio they pick has a healthy work culture/ environment. Because I can see how no creativity flourished there
If you weren't paid, then they were exploiting you for your labor.
@@leahtv7778 was not paid …. It was a horrible experience
what a FANTASTIC CHANNEL! i never ever ever ever ever thought a history of GS's fashion line would be interesting but this is riveting. like high likely to rewatch. kinda mind blown
It was also EXTREMELY hard to find the specific items desired! ….and I’m speaking as a woman who grew up in NYC. 😐🗽 Maybe a flagship store would have helped. The BabyPhat/PhatFarm store on Canal was EVERYTHING!
I honestly forgot about L.A.M.B but now seeing it I remember how much it shaped what I thought fashion was as a kid. I thought Gwen Stefani was so cool, but I was so young I had no idea about all the cultural appropriation or style knockoffs she was doing. I knew about the former coming into this video but I didn’t know about the line’s controversy. Thanks for another great documentary!
Omg. Childhood memory unlocked. I had the Love perfume bottle. I adored different asian cultures growing up and i remember that bottle so vividly. I thought i was mad that i couldnt remember what it was from. I never used it. Just loved the girl on it.
Which one did you buy?
I was at a store in Palm Beach (Bloomingdales?) where LAMB bags were on clearance. Clearance. One tiny bag was $600 -- and that was 50% off. It was so badly made -- loose thread hanging off the zipper, cheap materials, etc. I passed.
I remember buying a LAMB shirt from a resale shop as a 13 year old and I remember it being my favorite shirt. It was like a more girly Ed Hardy, which I’m sure is another brand they borrowed designs from.
Gwen Stefani stole the shoes off my friend's feet! My friend is from Tokyo and Gwen stopped her on the street, told her she was filming a music video and asked her if she could borrow her shoes for a few scenes. My friend lent her the shoes and Gwen never gave them back. My friend had to make her way home shoeless. I think that tells you everything you need to know about Gwen Stefani.
Thanks for sharing this story!! Very revealing into her personality... not a very nice one it seems!
Omg what music video was it ?
I'm sure she forgot to return them. Probably not on purpose.
@@jaradaniels9289 not on purpose give me a break if someone takes your shoes and they don’t give them back that’s on purpose
@@jaradaniels9289working around celebrities I can attest to this type of behavior as very typical. They have an air of ‘Im the most important person’, ‘my project is the most important thing’ and ‘what I want & need is immediately’. They use their celebrity status to appear important when reality is they are abusing their position often view non celebrities as worker bees for their needs to be fulfilled at their whim and 100% will be upset if you look them directly in the eyes when communicating often they defer to their assistant/s &. Many many many celebrities are like this of course there are exceptions. Gwen was never going to give those shoes back! Empty promises for their immediate needs is normal in their world. She forgot the person as soon as she got what she wanted & she’ll never give her a credit. Very very typical.
Another amazing video! I love how you don't stick to just luxury fashion and give each brand the full breadth of your research, it's refreshing.
Also love the details you put in your, the font being the same as the L.A.M.B. logo was such a great touch.
Idk if you take requests but I'd love a deep dive into Norma Kamali or Todd Oldham.
I would kill to see your analysis on the music industry. The rise and fall of certain musicians, certain record labels, etc. I know it’s not your forte but your analyses are just always so well done and impressive!!!
I really dont know anything about music at all. I wouldnt want to speak on topics I dont feel I can well represent
the biggest surprise for me is that this was considered a luxury brand - I vaguely recall her brand as sort of "on trend" brand mentioned in Bravo and carrying Bratz doll aesthetic...
Yeah, I don’t really think there was much luxury about it, but that is how it was presenting itself, seems almost silly in retrospect
Great work and deep dive. Thank you for crediting our image of the 2005 L.A.M.B t-shirt!
I loved L.A.M.B from around 2007 to 2010. I was a casual music fan of No Doubt but didn’t really follow Gwen Stefani’s solo career. It was mostly the bags I loved, which were really high quality. I still have four bags in my collection, and you know, they do not look dated at all. The leather is still lovely, the canvas has not peeled and the hardware is still shiny. Better than some premium luxury bags I’ve had!
I had no interest in Harajuku Lovers. As a Jpop fan, I already understood Japanese street culture and purchased Japanese indie brands directly. Didn’t need her “white filter” packaging over popular culture from Tokyo.
However, I must say the Harujuku Mini line with Target was awesome. I remember it all sold out. There was an absence of cool clothes for children back then. I have fond memories of the tartan jeans which my kid wore. He looked like a little punk rock star. Gwen should have done a children’s line instead.
She did
Her L.A.M.B. fragrance was a blind buy at T.J. Maxx! The best fragrance/Summer fragrance that I've owned. Please, if you know a similar scent, I'd love to hear your recommendations!
Following because I’d like to know too!
And it was a great bottle too.
Same! I bought the Gwen one at TJ Maxx I think for $17 over a decade ago and still use it sparingly.
Honestly, her bags were kind of a poor man’s version of a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag that was out in the early aughts. I worked as an account manager for a department store chain at the time. We loved her line, especially the bags. However, we headed to Saks to get an LVMH bag like or similar to one Jessica Simpson carried.
Better than l v
That perfume was one of my best friends favourites. She was so upset when it was discontinued.
The harajuku one?
@@understitchYT I think they mean the “L” perfume…they just wrote it in lowercase
@@understitchYT it was under the love Angel music Brand and it was in a cold square bottle. The other ones you can still get this one is long gone.
@@baldbookgeekI have it a huge bottle of it ..the original lamb perfume..brown bottle big gold square top..still smells good too ha
I still have the original LAMB perfume! Barely used , but much loved♥! I need to do a spritz to see how much the scent turned after all these years. LOL!
I still have my Harajuku perfume! I got it in 2005 when i was in 8th grade. ❤
My husband lived in Japan for several years as an ESL teacher. He noted that the Japanese culture is ok-ish with other non-Japanese people exploring the dress, food, and rituals. They have tea ceremonies and theater/music performances that they want to share with people. But, this did not feel like that. They appeared; as an American who used to like Gwen's music, they were human accessories. I didn't know the ladies were not allowed to even speak English. Whew!
Thats insane that these women werent even ALLOWED to "break the illusion"...gwen's behaviour back then was really awful esp towards poc culture i love her style and music because she has good music and when shes not being ignorant, she has great style but the way she treated poc culture and asian women specifically japanese women as an asian femme its so racist
It says a lot when people were offended in the 2000s. That said, two of the women were actually at her wedding recently so I assume they must still be "cool" pun intended
Kind of pot calling the kettle black considering Japan fetishes European culture within its marketing advertising and anime but you don't see us complaining about it we kind of think it's cool. I don't know why Europeans seem to be the only culture on earth that don't mind having their designs celebrated used or copied everyone else seems to have some problem I don't understand it I really don't and I've worked high up in marketing and design
I also used to live in Japan. I also just wrote my Master’s dissertation on multiculturalism and immigration in Japan. The thing to remember with how Japanese people in Japan view issues of cultural appropriation is that Japanese people in Japan have never experienced race-based marginalization or oppression. They live in the Japan, where they are the dominant ethnic and cultural group. Also remember that Japan was never colonized. Japan was a colonial power that colonized Korea and much of SE Asia. Japan does not have a history being oppressed or marginalized. As a result, Japanese people in Japan don’t really “get” cultural appropriation because they have never been in a position of marginalization. In contrast, Japanese-Americans and other Asian Americans experience racism in the West and therefore have a different view on issues. As a result, you often get situations where Japanese-Americans are offended by acts of cultural appropriation while people in Japan don’t really get what all the fuss is about. One groups experiences racism and oppression regularly while the other does not.
That’s actually not true and all of the Harajuku Girls over the years have come out on social media refuting this. Yet, people still believe whatever the media reports on it because they apparently can speak for Asian women when it comes to suiting their own agenda rather than letting them speak for themselves.
I forgot all about LAMB. I think the best style Gwen Stefani showcased was the video Cool. Everyone in that video looked fantastic. It had a late 40’s/early 50’s with a 21st century twist. I wanted every piece from that video.
The album I adored when it came out, but that was the one so I always skipped, when she came out with the music music video for that exact song, I was completely shocked
I watched this video last night because the aesthetic of it is just so good
@@Tina-ts9wv Maybe I need to revisit it
She was wearing McQueen and Westwood in the video for "Cool" 😎 which I recently learned was originally a song pitched to TLC!
Same!
The Mad TV parody is so good lol 😆
I still know every word
Gwen's L.A.M.B. and Eve's Fetish were all over the place in the 2000s.
I need to do one on fetish
@@understitchYTi still have a FETISH belt i bought at Nordstrom i believe, back in 2003-4
😅😮😂
@@rojorohr4723 I got the chain belt and bag!!!!
I loved Fetish!❤
Ahaa! Hence the line off E V E ,
“I Rock Fetish You rock The Lamb”
Yet another informative, balanced, well researched and very interesting deep dive into a slice of fashion history - keep up the good work! ❤
I can’t wait for someone in the future to make a video called “The Rise and Rise of Understitch.”
👏🏾
Don’t forget us when you hit 1M. ❤
Gosh, I think I’m many many years off of that yet, even Luke at hautelemode hasn’t hit that yet
@@understitchYT Ironically, I came back across your channel today after watching hautelemode. I had subscribed to your account years ago when I had a different account. Watching hautelemode randomly tonight made me want to remember the educational youtuber I had followed before, who interacted with his viewers. Sure enough, I searched "X designer analysis" and immediately found you again. I'm impressed to see that you still respond to viewers and have the same informational videos. I'm ecstatic to see your channel grow. You provide great content that is well-researched, and not pretentious or over editioralized. I appreciate that you're not "clickbaity" and cater to a wide audience. I wonder if we won't eventually find you're too demure to say your're behind some great label.
It always felt like one of the many things Gwen Stefani was doing at the time. She created her own clothes and people loved her style. She had the opportunity to create LAMB fashion, but like you mentioned, it was haphazard at best. If she had put her all into the brand, I think it would've been more successful. It felt like something that was fun for a time, then she got bored with it.
I forgot that Zaldy started at LAMB before becoming RuPaul's designer.
Zaldy has been RuPaul's costume designer since at least 1992. He made the iconic red dress from "Supermodel"
This was an unexpected video topic!
It all seemed so closely tied to the L.A.M.B album, literally the same name and the Harujuku girls, that I didn't understand the longevity of it.
Yeah it was definitely mostly there as a tie in, I dont doubt that at all. But because it tried so long and so hard to be profitable, it ended ip being an interesting line from an analysis standpoint
I remember the LAMB autumn/winter collections in probably 2013 or 14 being available (at least here in Northeastern US) at Nordstrom and heavily marketed there. Some of the clothes were pretty cute: fun plaids in interesting color combos, flirty/romantic details (that I didn't realize at the time were very referential of both Galiano and McQueen). I never liked any of it enough to buy it though...... I also remember the Harajuku perfume being EVERYWHERE at that time.
That perfume of the five women as caricatures was in escapable, I remember having such a prominent space in so many stores. Genuinely, if these brands were ever profitable, I would assume it’s from that fragrance because as you said, the clothes were really uninspired
Would you consider a throwback series all based in the 90's with designers such as Gianfranco Ferre, Gianni Versace, Escada, Thierry Mugler, and many others that are no longer around.
Love your ❤ channel.
Im not into fashion at all.
But your content is so interesting.
And well done
Thats the biggest compliment you could give
I love your docs! They're so interesting!
Thank you so much 🥰
Not my entire teenage world view being rocked on a random Saturday morning! I definitely thought LAMB was a huge deal back in the day. Apple Bottoms and House of Deron were things you could find in Burlington, which is absolutely not shade because that was the spot to go to for your club outfits, but things like LAMB and the fancy Baby Phat outfits were fancy mall finds.
When L.A.M.B debuted I was hoping she just did a purse line. The bags were fire. But I also wish Gwen would have collaborate with Vivienne Westwood doing her lamb project. I think she would have made it high fashion and I also wish she made it affordable it would still be around today. I use to ripe the pages out fashion magazine of lamb ads post them on my wall the ads were dreamy to me. Harajuku was cute but it didn't fascinate me wish she would of made lamb more affordable.
Can you do a video on Eve the rapper clothing line it was called Fetish.
I loved this brand. I wish it would come back now. As you say, her fan then were too young to afford it, but now, it’s a different story.
Would be interesting if it came back, Galliano (the brand) is certainly in the ditches now
Thank you for all your hard work. Loved the video 👍👍👍
I lived on a military base & they did sell some LAMB items back in the 2000s. Do remember seeing Harajuku Lovers in a lot more places though. The perfume is pretty much the lasting legacy of this venture because the bottles were so distinctive.
Great video. I always learn something when watching your content. Thank you!
I’m so glad, thank you so much
Her son was born in 2006 so they couldn't show up together in 2003 his son being a 6 year old. That photo must have been from around 2012.
Correct. That was Gwen’s niece who she took with her to the Grammys.
I'm just gonna share my opinion, you can agree or not, but I vividly remember Gwen saying that the Harajuku girls came to her in one of her dreams and when asked about them in interviews she often replied with "what? you can see them too?", so I guess that was the point of them not speaking, not because white supremacy over another culture, but because they were meant to be "a vision" so on another level not the interactive one (if that make sense). I can totally understand how this Harajuku girls thing is seen now (in 2024), but I also do remember the amount of respect she had for the Japanese culture, how much she was thrilled to visit japan everytime, the street culture in areas like Harajuku etc, and she made us aware of that scene (back in the days, early early internet) so we started digging and being fascinated too thanks to her. So yea, I get how this period of her creative journey is seen now, but she did put some respect above all on Japanese culture, I think some points are missed if we reduce everything with "appropriation" cause this was a little different, more layered and nuanced
Absolutely agreed. I discovered Japanese fashion because of her.
People will complain that the problem with appropriation is that white people take something from a different culture and claim is as their own, but when someone life Stefani very blatantly gives credit where it's due, they'll still find something wrong with it; just say you dislike the artist and move on, you don't need to have the moral high ground...
@@miaferrari958just say you like the artist more than you care about minorities 🤷♀️ she made money off Japanese culture while at no point crediting or highlighting or even financially supporting the country or its people. How many of Gwens fans even know what "harajuku" IS? Like its lovely some of y'all became weebs because of her but that absolutely doesn't mean she was in the right to play pretend in Japanland.
@@mxich8791 I'm speaking not as a huge fan of her tbh, so is not that I'm defending her. I just really liked her during this album period mainly because I discovered Japan street culture thanks to "Love Angel Music Baby". That was something totally different at the time (I think I was 12) and I was so impressed by those Harajuku Girls. She had in her main single of the album the phrase "I can't wait to go back and do Japan.... Osaka, Tokyo, you Harajuku Girls damn you've got some wicked style", she said the country and listed the cities, those are literally credits no? :)
@@mxich8791 you know that Japanese people DON'T MIND THAT? It's funny that the people who complain are mostly white people.
I just think it's funny how the vast majority of us learned about Harajuku from Gwen, then so many turn around and stab her in the back with these accusations. Let's see, did those same people buy Utada's English album? Would they ever have noticed this subculture if Gwen didn't reference it? Yes it wouldn't be appropriate for her to live in the Harajuku subculture forever, but scolding her for spotlighting it enters weird segregation territory
I was such a huge Stefani fan at that time. However, the LAMB line was so out of reach for me but I was alllll over HARAJUKU!!! Still own several of the bags, and use them to this day.
Wow. Im 2 years older than Gwen is now. So, i as a 30 something professional definitely had income for occasional lux items. I kept seeing celebrities with that dang giant tote!!
So i got one!!!!
With tax and shipping it was about 150.00
It was cool - but honestly, it felt like a 5 beach bag you buy at the dollar store. It did have the guitar strap - and "LAMB" tag hanging - lol. I still havs it
somewhere 😅
Geez….this is such a thorough dive into this brand. I still have two pieces from 2007. I still wear the henley shirt with all the city names on it and people stop me all the time to tell me how much they like it. I had a great 100% wool coat that I sold on Poshmark last year. It was a fab coat but way too hot for LA winters. Never did the shoes though. I also still have a fitted straight legged pant. Not quit a legging but for sure a cousin…its made from 100% wool gaberdine and although I can not remember how much it cost it was not cheap and I bought it from the Nordstroms on Michigan Ave in Chicago. It is really well made so I decided to save them when this style comes back around. You do such a great job on your deep dives and I really do appreciate them. Just trying to learn more about fashion..including the basic business practices of manufacturing distribution etc. Always loved fashion but old school parents were certainly not supportive of “fashion careers” so now I can learn about fashion to my hearts desire and the luxury eye opening I have been getting from you, Roadman and a couple of others has been much appreciated. I feel like I need to give you a tip or something as this is great content you are providing for free. Thanks again so much for this video as well as past and future video’s.
Harajuku Lovers was when I thought the Lamb line of clothes, it’s image & Gwen took a left turn. It was weird the way she was promoting it. I was working in fashion, cosmetics, & retail & L.A.M.B was great when it first appeared in stores especially the shoes
Hard to say no to 18 karat shoes 🤣🤣
Lol i just realized that LAMB stands for Love Angel Music Baby ... 🙃
Oh shit, me too lol
It was the name of Gwen’s animal growing up
I still get gasps and compliments over the shoes. I’ll never get rid of them .
Thank you for covering this! I remember the comment I made with another person on a video you did a few months back inquiring about Gwen's brand!
It was one of my most requested videos
I remember wanting a L.A.M.B clutch (in the early aughts) so badly but they were always over my price point. There was a big section in my local Nordstrom and I'd go try out the merchandise, which were generally of good quality.
Did it never go on sale?
Now I know why Gwen has never guest judged on RuPaul's Drag Race!
I loved Harajuku Lovers when I was in High School and still own a few of the Lamb x LeSportsac colab pieces. 🖤
Vintage now!! thats low key so cool
I still own all my purses, cardigans, hoodies, t-shirts, tanks, purses , heels and jewelry. I just don’t use it. Purse buckles eventually wouldn’t even hold anymore and the strap would just come undone and purse hit the floor. My daughter also had almost every item from her target Harajuku line. Her Harajuku perfume was my favorite.
Amazing work again
Thank you again Elle 🤍
Pls can u do zac posen?
I was shocked when he closed his brand down
It would have been one thing for Gwen to hire actual Harajuku icons to walk the red carpet with her. Instead she hired Japanese-Americans to cosplay stereotypes. But at the time other designers were doing similar ripoffs, I think Gwen was just extra obnoxious about it. You should look into DSquared and their awful 2010 collection that ripped off First Nations and Inuit culture AND titled it with a slur. Their collections are generally a mishmash of cultural appropriation but that one ranks right up there as one of the worst, most racist moments in fashion for me.
That brand has the most interesting history though, it was part of really extremely early aids event in Toronto, before they were even titled DSquared2, then it was all about shock marketing which obviously was popularised by McQueen and Galliano and now it’s almost gay fetish. It’s a really interesting brand to look over the years of
Does anyone know what the problem was with her Harajuku Lovers Jewelry line? I remember seeing it at Dillards Department Store years ago, but then disappeared.
could you do a video for Paul's Boutique ?
20:48
Those baby shoes came to our stores at Bloomingdale’s on the west coast in late 2006 or early 2007; I remember them because a woman tried to return them in my department (fashion jewelry) hoping she’d get away with taking the 18k gold charm attached to them and that we wouldn’t have noticed. L.A.M.B. had a notoriously low sell-through at our store, and could not compete with the big players in our department at the time (Juicy Couture, Tarina Tarantino, Marc by Marc Jacob’s, and even Moschino Cheap+Chic). The Juicy Coiture bracelet charms were traumatically popular; one day during Christmas of 2007, I sold almost $10k worth of those little baubles, and they retailed for $50-70.
I've had Rich Girl stuck in my head all week and this just made the rap verse make sense. I kinda had my head in the sand in the 2000s lol
When I was at university, one of the lecturers told us that she was a stylist on that video, I’ve had to verify it, but it’s always a fact I tell people 🤣
Rich Girl - the song that samples (appropriates?) a song that is in itself stereotyping another culture - sums up everything about Gwen Stefani lol
i’ve been a gwen stefani/lamb girl since i was 7 years old, i snagged a lamb lesportsac bag off poshmark about 3 years ago and i remember when i was looking for it, it was hard because there was little to no trace of it. what she really needs to bring back is those tank tops that said LAMB on them.
I was in college getting a fashion degree when L.AM.B. came out & I could not take it seriously at all. Even though I hadn’t graduated yet I had enough knowledge to see that it wasn’t going to last because the price point was too high for her target market and the quality wasn’t good enough to demand those prices.
This was pure cheese to me and the final nail for me as a fan. I thought the branding was dumb, the way she used Japanese women as pets was offensive, and mentioning the brand in her music made her solo album a joke. I will never forget the sweatpants that said "Uh oh in the backseat" which made it sound like you pooped your pants. It wasn't just watered down Galliano, it also ripped off Primps and Juicy Couture. Awful all around. TJ Max crap.
As in "i just did an uh-oh in the back seat"?😂
@@stellarjuju8788 lol yes, pretty sure the song was "Bubble Pop Electric" and it was a reference to sex in the car. It was not a good song.
The “uh oh in the backseat” sweatpants 😂🤣 sounds like a Spencer’s gifts baby onesie. You’re so right 🤣🤣🤣
That was one of the best songs on the album.
A highlight of the 2000s.
What
Really interesting, thank you. I would love if you could do a piece on the rise and fall of Meadham Kirchhoff. 💗
I adore them
@understitchYT Me too. Spring Summer 2012 RTW show was my absolute favourite.
I still regret not buying this amazing army-print, multi-green blouse in early 2006.
Fashion ones that got away are just awful
The Harajuku Lovers brand was sold in Macy's too cause I worked there then and I got a few really cute t-shirts lol
Ah interesting ty
I've been holding this comment in for a while but I love this channels narrator's voice, it's so posh and even.
I feel that the Brand was too expensive for the Demographic she & her Music represented at the time which was Mid GenX to Older Millennials & it wasn’t accessible in stores or online
Ive always been a Gwen fan but she really made out like a bandit. Aside from L.A.M.B. (which I feel also took a lot from Vivienne Westwood) her diffusion line, Harajuku Lovers, was a straight up clone of Hysteric Glamour & Super Lovers. Japanese brands that were even more exclusive to get 20 years ago. I really feel they had no idea she was completely taking their ideas because had every right to sue.
I’m not a huge fan, but I did like a lot of the pieces in the first LAMB collection which I still own. It was released in the early days of elevated sportswear, commanding a higher price among the Contemporary fashion lines. These were also the days of trucker hats and Ed Hardy w rock tees and faux tattoos sleeve shirts everywhere. The quality of the original LAMB collection was very good and the designs had subtle detailing that made them unique among everything else at the time. I have a printed cashmere hoodie dyed beautifully with loose threads that create a fringe effect that still looks great and was so soft and comfortable. The main problem with the collection as I remember was not just price, but sizing and fit. The line fit so few people that it just wasn’t accessible but for a very few people. The sizes were sooo much smaller than other R2W lines and fit only very slim figures like Stefani, so the more fitted pieces just wouldn’t sell. The second collection was good too, but I hated everything after that, including the Harajuku line as it looked cheap and mass market, losing everything special and details present in the original designs.
This is going to be good, I always wondered what happened.
I hope you enjoyed it
I had one of her perfumes here in the UK, though I didn't known at the time that it was her brand.
I just liked the bottle and the smell.
Probably the best way to buy a perfume tbh
Me too
Thank you for another fantastic video!
I was wondering if it would be possible, in a future video, to study Coach’s case? Themes such as its rise in the 2000s, its fall in the 2010s, and its new rise in recent years would be interesting! I work in the luxury sector, at Christian Dior, and I noticed that several of my very wealthy clients wear Coach bags. Would it be possible for the brand to gradually become a luxury brand? I would be very interested in your point of view on this matter given your university training in the field!
Thank you,
Lyna
I still have my LAMB Le Sportsac wristlet after all these years. Side note - Courtney Love once said that the whole fashion thing wasn't actually really just Gwen but that her then husband Gavin Rossdale was a big part of it on the down low.
That’s fascinating, I wonder how much truth there is to that
Cause Courtney is such a reliable source and slept with Gavin too while he was dating Gwen…yuck.
@@thedoublea147what
It was competing with Diesel at a Diesel price. Those things were not expensive, it was just the volume, they could not sell the volume they wanted.
NGL, I'd love to have one of those 18K lamb charms on chain
I feel like if you got a pair of the shoes on eBay, they’d be much cheaper than buying actual 18 carat gold 🤣
@@understitchYT solid gold? Surely plated
When those bags came out I worked at Robinson’s-May. I waited until they went on sale and used my employee discount. I went ham and bought 5! I still have them too. 😅
Oh my gosh, five bags is a real haul 😂😂
I actually think L.A.M.B is more similar to Vivienne Westwood than Galliano. Only the font is the same, but then No Doubt uses the same too, don't know who came first then.
Sure but galliano is like westwood too 😅
the harajuku girls definitely messed with my development as a ten-year-old japanese canadian at the time. I had a burned cd of l.a.m.b. and I loved her, and I specifically remember an interview where she had the harajuku girls posing around the room and told the interviewer not to talk to them or even look at them, and I was like oh so that's what gwen stefani wants from me okay.
Thank you for sharing. There are so many comments saying "but she appreciated the culture" or "she was just sharing!"
They and you know who they is, don't understand the lived repercussions things like this have.
If i could've found the collection in Houston, my friends and I would've bought something from the line. We never found it as much as we searched and called stores to at oeast get a shirt, jacket, shoes.
From the sounds of it, even the stores she was in didnt sell enough to get repeat orders, it makes me wonder if the quality was low to the point it put the curious off, but idk if thats true just me thinking
I happened to buy a LAMB sweater in a thrift store just because I thought it was an interesting design! I had no idea about the brand
Thats fully so cool
I forgot all about this line. Very interesting content. Cheers!
Im so glad you liked it
If there one designer that influence LAMB more than anything, it's Vivienne Westwood than John Galliano. Also, Zaldy was the primary designer for LAMB up until after her Spring 2007 fashion show. He worked on his own fashion line while working on this brand. Andrea Lieberman, Stefani's stylist was also heavily involved up until she started ALC. the brand Harajuku Lovers was more of merch line to coincide with the LAMB album. As for cultural appropriation, it was not a big deal back then. Cultural appropriation issues became more apparent in the past 10years more than anything. Although Margaret Cho's made those statements, for the most part Stefani was well loved by different cultures regardless if they were Asian, Latinos or Mexicans. If that issues was such a big deal, she would have not been in the cover of Vibe magazine with Pharrell, would have not have a fundraiser for Tsunami in Japan, have collaborated with Rappers Eve and Slim Thug. Back in the day, there was not a lot of Asian representation in music, the Harajuku girls showcase that Asians can be formidable in the dance arena. Gwen' design language much like her music was about mixing and matching different styles, cultures, and music genres no different than the kids in Harajuku. It was about collaboration. This was no different from Pharrell or Nigo from referencing other styles and cultures in their designs. They only single her out because she is white. Back then diversity was treasured and celebrated, instead of today toxic political correct climate.
Im in Disneyland rn so I cant give you the long reply you really deserve, but in a nutshell, Vivienne influenced Galliano and so thats why there is Westwood-by-proxy in LAMB. And also, you are right about the conversation about cultural appropriation. That wasnt really the scandal, it was more about her specific way of using the culture that made people feel weird, the following around of the four women, the constant references to Harajuku, all of that, people just found her obsession offputting and rude, that was more the conversation than cultural appropriation
I remember I bought the LAMB perfume, the bottle was so cute...and it smelled terrible. I kept it for over a decade because it looked so cool.
I had a few of the LeSportSac bags and really wanted some clothes but they were cut VERY small. I couldn’t even fit into the tees as a size 14 when I finally found some in Boston. And it was very expensive and elusive. I still have the HP camera! And the LAMB perfume is actually great! I have some in a cool dark place that I bought a few years ago.
Wooahhhh you got the HP camera?? Thats so sick! Such a collectors piece
yup! It’s still in the case and I will never get rid of it lol! It’s a little work of art as well as a great camera.
I have almost all the bags in all the sizes and prints and shapes as well as every tank in every color and some of the boots too 😅
I think you forgot to mention the watches. I have a lamb timepiece, which I remember being really expensive, and several harajuku lovers watches, which were kind of affordable
A boutique in Bakersfield, California carried LAMB.
It’s rare I hear a mention of my hometown in such a random place! I was wondering why I felt like I saw L.A.M.B. stuff fairly frequently around that era. Do you remember which place it was?
@@AlbinoAxolotl house of Talulah.
I still have my le sportsac lamb bag from 2004!
I suppose that’s one good thing about plastic, it never wears down 🤣
@@understitchYT 😂😂😂😂😂 I absolutely laugh out loud at this comment. I’m sure if I actually used it. It would be a disaster, but it’s mostly been in my closet because I was obsessed with Gwen for years and didn’t wanna ruin it
Love, Angel, Music, Baby, hurry up, come and save her!
I see Gwen and I think….Jamaica! lol. I actually had 2 pairs of those shoes….need to try and find and get that gold 😮
The price of this brand used pieces is starting to rise in the resale world. I can see a major celebrity wearing something in the near future
Would be kind of iconic if she wore a lamb vest to an event
I love Gwen Stefani Brand too bad I don't see the bags and what I love them. What a staple of fashion.
The little kid with her in the full LAMB outfit at 2:20 is her niece, not her son. I'm old. I remember.
I'm excited to watch this, i still have a pair or sneakers and a blazer from the brand
Which season though? Surprisingly difficult to date anything from the brand 🤣
I wish Gwen Stefani would bring this BRAND BACK
I can't see where using Japanese people as props would work today.
Yeah