I was recently walking around a local upscale-ish shopping mall I frequent fairly regularly, when I happened upon something new and intriguing. It was a store front, sporting Pella flooring-esque wood panels, rugged grey stone and trippy blue, back-lit glass instead of a more traditional window and mannequin set up. I was compelled to enter.

Passing through the altar of trendy modern design, I was informed by a cohort of mine that Martin + Osa, the retailer whose store-front I was still ogling from over my shoulder, was a sub-brand of American Eagle Outfitters and that it was relatively new. After a quick survey of the large store, populated with over-friendly monks patrolling the hip, earth-tone temple and pushing their wares with religious zeal, I realized that the clientele being targeted were more akin to shoppers of Banana Republic and Reuhl, than those that American Eagle attracts. I was shocked at the prospect that this was a new venture, considering the state of the turbulent, post sub-prime economy and unprecedented economic times in general. (more…)