It’s no secret that prices have been steadily rising on products across the board. Blame supply chain issues, blame plain old inflation, blame the presence of the pandemic (or a combination of the three), it’s starting to become clearer that we’ll need to pay more for things as we continue on through the 2020s. One brand that’s pumped up prices — but not paid the price for those increases among customers — is denim giant Levi’s. Having already increased prices about 10 percent across the board near the end of last year, Levi Strauss & Co. has a “stronger-than-expected outlook” going into 2022. In an interview with Bloomberg, CEO Chip Bergh said, “We’re feeling optimistic about the year ahead despite the inflationary pressures, despite the supply chain challenges, because of the strength and the health of the Levi brand.” While this confidence might not apply to other brands or industries (and we’re not happy to hear about the prices of jeans going up), it’s a good reminder that — when you have a well-designed, truly timeless product — you can weather nearly any socio-economic storm. Levi’s aside, wrap the week with the new beer from ex-Cowboys’ QB Troy Aikman, G-Shock’s Rubik’s Cube collab and the launch details for the Steam Deck game system. This is Today in Gear.
Today in Gear is our daily roundup of all the latest product announcements, drops and news. Want your question featured in our weekly “Ask an Expert” column? Send your most pressing product questions to [email protected].
G-Shock’s collaboration with Rubik’s Cube packs in the charm of the classic puzzle.
G-ShockIt’s not hard (unlike, say, a Rubik’s Cube) to see how G-Shock pulled off its new collab with the classic color puzzle. Rooted in the GA-2100 model and its octagonal shape, the watch face features a tri-color cube design with an orange pin and green strap holder (an obvious nod to the Rubik’s Cube’s colors) with an interchangeable bezel. The collab launches in the U.K. on February 9, but we’re hoping this makes its way stateside sooner than later.
