b-flywears.com is a nifty lil’ site where you can shop for fabulously hand-knitted and crocheted items for man, woman and child. Ms. Buttafly, the woman who personally designs, handcrafts and ships every item at b-flywears is heavily involved in all of her creations. Her various hats, scarves and bags come in a variety of colors. And if you don’t see a color you like, just ask her, she probably can accommodate you.

CHICKS DIG: TRACE Magazine
Item: Every Issue (Published six times a year.)

TRACE, a TRANSCULTURAL™ Styles and Ideas magazine, represents a new expression in culture that features diverse representations of music, fashion, film, art and politics. The glossy pages of this unique magazine unite the beauty in every race, religion, creed and culture. Every year the magazine releases a series of thematic issues focusing on music, fashion and film as well as the popular “Black Girls Rule” issue, which usually sells out within its first week on newsstands. TRACE lives up to its transcultural stance by dedicating an annual issue to covering a single country from an art, music, fashion, film, socio-economic, political and travel perspective. Past countries have included Brazil, South Africa, France and Mexico.

CHICKS DIG: Chuck Taylors by Converse
Item: Assorted Styles and Colors

The canvas Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor is the classic American athletic shoe. First introduced in 1917, the All-Star performance basketball shoe was officially endorsed and renamed in 1918, when Converse founder, Marquis Mills Converse recruited a young basketball player by the name of Chuck Taylor. Today the shoe comes in a variety of colors and canvases and can be seen on the courts, on the streets and even in some workplaces, worn by both men and women.

This story was originally published 25 October 2004 in VERBALISMS Magazine.

RESPECT ME features footwear, apparel and accessories that blend adidas’ street history and sports style with Missy Elliott’s personality, flare and originality. RESPECT ME also showcases a camouflage print based on Missy’s lips and eyes that adidas hopes will become a trademark for the collection.

Missy and adidas believe the lines distinct message of positivity and empowerment, will appeal to Missy’s core fan-base and the larger urban women’s market. The collaboration, is adidas’ first link-up with an entertainment artist since their 1986 collaboration with hip-hop icons, Run DMC.

The collection has three competitive components: Bass, Rhythm and Remix, targeting different looks and distribution channels, with sizes that range from XS to 2XL, for women of all sizes.

A percentage of the sales from the RESPECT ME line benefit Break the Cycle, an innovative non-profit organization whose mission is to end domestic violence by working proactively with youth. Missy, the national spokesperson for Break the Cycle, has pledged to raise $5 million for the organization via industry contacts and cause related marketing initiatives.

Missy’s determination to put hip-hop back on the positive path is undisputable. “I do believe when you reach a certain status in this business, you’ve got to be positive. You have to remember you are a role model,” she says.

For information on Break the Cycle please visit: www.breakthecycle.org.

This story was originally published 27 September 2004 in VERBALISMS Magazine.