"Weekend Reading" is a weekly rundown of our favorite stories from around the web.
Is there a story worth scoping out that we missed? Discuss this past week's headlines, and share your favorite stories from the week that was in our comments section below.

A Theory Why Marvel Movies Don't Dominate Japan
"Marvel movies are successful in Japan. They are popular. But while Avengers: Endgame dominated theaters around the world for weeks, it was soon toppled in Japan by the latest Detective Conan anime. Why are American superhero movies less popular in Japan? Is there a reason? According to film journalist Koremasa Uno, yes there is. "

via: Kotaku

“Honest” Watches Dominate the Auction Scene. What Are They?
"Fixing up a watch that’s damaged, discolored, or nicked up sounds smart. But it wouldn’t be honest."

via: GQ

Amazon is "Upending" the $250 Billion-Plus Licensed Merch Business
"Amazon is “up-ending the traditional licensing model,” thanks to its Merch by Amazon printing service. Currently in its third year of operation, the Seattle-based tech giant’s on-demand printing arm “works by printing t-shirts once an order comes in,” per Reuters, “meaning content creators like video game makers and TV [networks] do not have to commit to large merchandise inventory upfront,” as is typically required when sourcing from manufacturers in far-flung locations, such as China, Vietnam and Indonesia."

via: The Fashion Law

Here’s How You Can Stop Deadlines from Stressing You Out
"Deadlines: We all have them, and we all dread them. Even when we meet them, there’s always another one just around the corner. It’s not hard to see why studies show that deadlines are the most common cause of workplace stress."

via: Fast Company

How Many Bones Would You Break to Get Laid?
"“Incels” are going under the knife to reshape their faces, and their dating prospects."

via: The Cut

Why Rihanna’s Fenty Is The End of the Star Designer
"Fenty has pushed the idea of the star designer to its logical conclusion — and breaking point. After all, who needs a star designer when you have a real star?"

via: Business of Fashion

Sneaker Fever Hits China
"Foreign and homegrown players alike are gunning for a slice of China’s multi-billion-dollar sneaker market."

via: Business of Fashion

Virgil Abloh and NikeLab Launch Chicago Re-Creation Center
"With the designer gearing up for his MCA Chicago exhibition, Virgil Abloh is introducing a variety of creative endeavors, with perhaps the most impactful set to begin tomorrow. In partnership with NikeLab, Abloh will launch a special outpost in his native Chicago, dubbed the Re-Creation Center."

via: Hypebeast

As Influencer Marketing Races to Become a $6.5 Billion Business, What Will Prompt Action by Regulators?
"Influencer marketing is expected to become a $6.5 billion business by the end of 2019, and no small number of those dollars are directly tied to marketing efforts on Instagram, prompting consultancies, non-profit organizations, and consumers, alike, to once again question the transparency associated with such a big business, particularly as the definition – and pool – of influencers continues to widen."

via: The Fashion Law

From FUBU to Virgil Abloh: The Legal History of "Canary Yellow"
"Proving that one color is not enough, Virgil Abloh opted to add a new one to his wheelhouse early this year: Canary Yellow. The name of a new Studio Temp-designed website, Canary Yellow serves as a comprehensive archive of the multi-hyphenate creative’s work – from “a section of his newest [DJ set] mixes, “Televised Radio” episodes, and a calendar showing upcoming events,” per Hypebeast to “notable highlights,” such as the Pyrex Vision “A Team with No Sport” video lookbook, imagery from Off-White’s inaugural S/S 2014 collection, and a recording of Abloh’s recent Harvard lecture."

via: The Fashion Law

Tags: weekend-reading