It's the battle of the BLOGSPOTS, or rather, what two blogspot addresses became: HYPEBEAST and HIGHSNOBIETY. What began in KEVIN MA and DAVID FISCHER's mutual passions (and obsessive posting) in streetwear circa 2005, blossomed into two of today's preeminent streetwear/culture/content media entities. Really appreciate how both sites bootstrapped. Both have maintained connections to their independent roots, while at the same time being likened to "machines" that churn out 24/7 content to audiences all over the world. Man and machine, indeed. 032C's THOM BETTRIDGE went to HONG KONG and BERLIN to speak to the founders, and it's great. Bettridge's observations about digital media and the "amateur zeitgeist" are spot on... Some of the buzziest "direct-to-consumer" companies have been around for nearly a decade now, and yet, in many ways the space still feels nascent and rapidly evolving. D2C companies are looking to upend retail's traditional wholesale model, putting tech and efficiency at the core of their businesses. As they continue to scale and new brands enter the space, have they instituted a seismic change for retail? FashionSET, "Straight at You: Direct-to-Consumer Labels"... "Made in CHINA" has as much stigma as "Made in the USA," and LIZ SEGRAN's piece on the changing landscape of manufacturing in China is an in-depth look at how far standards of labor and quality have changed. China has clear competitive advantages in manufacturing, and it's having to adapt to its own dominance in the global circuit of making stuff... I am all about CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA. Can't wait to see the V&A's exhibition on Balenciaga, which opens May 27. The museum released a behind-the-scenes with NICK VEASEY on his X-ray scans of garments in the exhibition... The AMAZON bookstore is opening in NYC with a setup nearly identical to the original SEATTLE location. There are some takeaways for retail here—the stores do a great job of integrating Amazon, the site, with goods in the store. Would be great if Amazon could further push the algorithmic capabilities from site to store. Top-rated books are fine, but zZZzzzZZ—oops sorry, dozed off there. Other stores are chasing this kind of integration, but don't have Amazon's agility. Yet. It's competent, but I want it to be visionary. Still light years ahead of most other stores. In fashion-focused retail, FARFETCH seems to be closest with its ambitions. We'll see... Comments from INSTAGRAM account holders at the forefront of the SUPREME phenomenon... BOB MACKIE, the legend.