Since it was revealed the Ralph Lauren-designed opening ceremony uniforms for the US Olympic team were made in China, a member of Congress has openly suggested burning them, a move some outraged Americans immediately endorsed — it didn't take long for a "Burn the New USA Olympic Uniforms" Facebook page to pop up, naturally.

According to one estimate, USOC's outsourcing of Team USA's apparel manufacturing to China cost the U.S. about $1 billion. While others have come to the Team USA's defense of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Team USA, the Christian Science Monitor argued against corporate panhandling altogether. "While China is harvesting farm girls from remote provinces to be canoeists, gymnasts, and weightlifters — training them in state-owned facilities and paying top dollar to lure top coaches — the USOC is panhandling on the doorstep of corporate America." 

Ralph Lauren, which prides itself on being an All-American brand, is smarting from the outcry. Its namesake founder has vowed that the brand will produce the 2014 Winter Olympics Team USA apparel in the U.S., according to a statement released Friday that was backed up by USOC:Continue reading...

Adidas reintroduces Originals in new campaign.

Apple officially exceeds Exxon to take the biggest market cap crown.

Borders and Waldenbooks brand auction is now scheduled, with bids due by Sept. 8.

CBS sees "EcoAd" unit gain traction.

Cisco shares soar as company earnings beat analyst projections.

Facebook traffic declines in the U.K.

Gap expands Athleta brand with bricks-and-mortar stores.Continue reading...

YouTube jumped to 3 billion ad-linked views weekly, integrates with LG mobile devices. Online video viewing overall rose 47% in January, with Nielsen naming Netflix #1 for time spent per viewer on its streaming site, up 23% from December to over 11 hours.

Twitter looks to expand language versions.

Chrysler dealers will offer “Imported from Detroit” merchandise related to Eminem's Super Bowl video.

Allstate bets on soccer sponsorship.

Apple audit details changes at Foxconn.

Barnes & Noble woos Amazon affiliates burned by state sales tax.

Berkshire Hathaway pull-out a vote of no-confidence for Bank of America. 

CBS continues to deal with Two and a Half Men mini-drama.Continue reading...

Two of the biggest names in New York fashion are on the move, as Barneys busts a move to Brooklyn today and Ralph Lauren expands its Upper East Side flagship in Manhattan.

Barneys' new Brooklyn flagship is tied to the CO-OP brand's 25th anniversary, crossing the East River in a major endorsement for the borough as a fashion destination.

"When I joined the company 25 years ago the CO-OP was just beginning," said Simon Doonan, Barneys New York's creative director.. "It was all about creativity and self-expression, an alternative to the big designer brands. Over the last quarter of a century the CO-OP has become synonymous with a certain New York downtown sensibility. It's always 'downtown' even when it's uptown."

Brooklyn's first CO-OP store (and Barneys' 21st) will carry the entire CO-OP anniversary collection. Ralph Lauren's expansion uptown, meanwhile, is part of a bigger brand-building effort.Continue reading...

After his New York Fashion Week spring/summer 2011 collection failed to wow critics, Ralph Lauren released a video, above, offering insight into his creative process.

In a voiceover, the veteran fashion designer shares the season inspiration and angst involved in "bringing his dreams to life each season on the runway." He also expresses his insecurities about digging "deep enough" with each collection as he opens up in a rare public communication about the brand, which fell off Interbrand's 2010 Best Global Brands ranking (from 99th place last year).

See Lauren's New York Fashion Week runway show after the jump.Continue reading...

BP is expected to announce today that embattled CEO Tony Hayward will be replaced by American Robert Dudley. Hayward will leave with a hefty financial package.

Apple's white iPhone 4 delay buys time to fix antenna issue.

Barclay's and other European banks respond to stress test results.

BlackBerry security questioned by UAE authorities.

Disney, Ford, Goldman Sachs & more after the jump.Continue reading...

Criticism of BP has shifted in full force to CEO Tony Hayward, who has cancelled a planned speech tomorrow in London, and was criticized by the White House for taking time off to go yachting on the weekend.

The damage, to date, to BP's brand? An estimated $1 billion, according to reputation management firm General Sentiment. Adweek, meanwhile, calls BP's social media marketing "aggressive," while Brand Republic reiterates the need for more "brand humility" at BP and beyond.

In other brand news, Bavaria Beer's so-called ringleaders of the orange dress-clad ambush marketing stunt at the World Cup appear in court tomorrow.Continue reading...

Apple faces FTC probe over mobile ads, while its "secrecy irks Congress," says Politico. Apple also buys Siri, a voice tech startup, to compete with Google Voice.

AT&T sent a letter last night to iPad owners, explaining last week's security breach.

Cablevision is buying smaller U.S. cable operator Bresnan Communications.

Cambio, an MTV-style website, launches tomorrow from AOL and the Jonas Brothers.

Polo Ralph Lauren extends Wimbledon sponsorship.Continue reading...