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About Me: Cara Griffin

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:17:44 -0400

I write about many things. My professional focus is in the footwear, sporting goods, textile and active lifestyle industries, where I write about business, trends, products and people. Publications I write for include Running Insight, Footwear Insight, Sports Insight, Team Insight and Textile Insight.

I previously worked as the managing editor of the sporting goods industry publications SGB, Outdoor Business and Sporting Goods Dealer.

Reach me via email: caragriff@gmail.com

Boxed In ...

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:17:20 -0400

When people talk about sustainable and eco-friendly designs, the focus is not only on the product anymore. Especially in the case of footwear, when that product comes with some baggage — usually in the form of a shoe box. The outdoor industry is working on packaging guidelines for the industry and brands across the board now are likely to have a sustainable plan in place. The concept of “environmentally preferred” footwear packaging is evolving pretty quickly and not only does it involved “saving the environment”, but also, in many cases, saving money. Click here to read the version of this article that appeared in Textile Insight magazine.

A look at sourcing strategies for footwear and apparel brands....

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:11:46 -0400

A look at sourcing strategies for footwear and apparel brands. This was written for Textile Insight magazine at the end of 2008. The issues companies are facing have only become more complex since then. The focus of this piece is on the financial challenges of global sourcing, with the bulk of it all starting in China. Read it here.

Green Races

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:25:00 -0400

The buzz about the “greening” of the running industry often focuses on materials and product innovation. That’s understandable. It’s where the wow factor is. But increasingly, those on the event side of the business, in the form of road race organizers and participants, are embracing a green ethos…While going green on a larger scale can at first seem overwhelming, and in many cases can increase costs, the long-term benefits are undeniable…

From a recent article I wrote about the “greening” of race events. This is really taking off in triathlon and running circles. The article appeared in Running Insight. Read it here

A look at the textiles and design innovation in New...

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:24:45 -0400

A look at the textiles and design innovation in New Balance’s lifestyle footwear collection, designed in collaboration with DDC USA. This article explores design philosophy, trends, green practices and textile sourcing. I wrote this for Textile Insight magazine. Read it here.

A few little “personality” snapshots with running...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:45:00 -0400

A few little “personality” snapshots with running industry peeps who ran the 2008 Boston Marathon. I wrote this for Running Intelligence.

This is a Q&A I did with skate legend Steve Caballero for...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:46:00 -0400

This is a Q&A I did with skate legend Steve Caballero for the February, 2008 issue of Sports Insight. We talked about art and hot rods and skate trends. Cab is 43 and he’s an artist, a businessman and a skater. Plus he’s a dad. And he’s a born again Christian. Quite an interesting person.

VIDEO: Lo-fi store tour video I did for SGB at the opening of a...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:50:00 -0400

VIDEO: Lo-fi store tour video I did for SGB at the opening of a new Under Armour store in Maryland. The entryway to the store simulates a football stadium tunnel.

VIDEO: This is a lo-fi store tour video I put together when I...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:48:15 -0400

VIDEO: This is a lo-fi store tour video I put together when I worked for SGB. It’s a joint Nike and Foot Locker store on 125th Street in Harlem, called House of Hoops.

Skate Style - Textile Insight

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:30:11 -0400

Skate Style - Textile Insight:

An article I wrote for the May, 2008 issue of Textile Insight. Focusing on design and development of product for Etnies and its sister/brother brands at parent company Sole Technology.

VIDEO: This is from my trip to Taiwan in March, 2008. I went to...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:25:00 -0400

VIDEO: This is from my trip to Taiwan in March, 2008. I went to the TaiSPO sporting goods show, the Taipei Cycle show and visited a bunch of textile companies. This video is of a killer group of eight kids who were playing drums at the opening of the Taipei Cycle Show.

VIDEO: From my Taiwan trip in March, 2008. We were looking at...

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:22:00 -0400

VIDEO: From my Taiwan trip in March, 2008. We were looking at new fabric technologies at the Taiwan Textile Federation’s HQ, but the character on these shirts caught my attention. It is Mazu, the Taoist Goddess of the sea: she protects fishermen and sailors.