Sling Pants Brand Ranking

VF Apparel (China) Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1966, The North Face® is an important member of the VF Group, a listed American company. It is headquartered in a LEED Platinum-Certified Energy-saving and Environmental Protection Industrial Park in California, USA. It is committed to every time for outdoor athletes. Severe adventures provide professional equipment. As the world's leading outdoor sports brand today, The North Face® helps the world explore and challenge the limits of human potential with products that have been tested and explored by athletes and adapted to various outdoor needs. At the same time, the brand has always been committed to protecting the outdoor environment and reducing the impact of human beings on the natural environment to a lower level through various sustainable development projects.

PVH Corp

CalvinKlein is a global lifestyle brand that embodies bold and enterprising ideas, embodying modern fashion styles while maintaining authentic purity, naturalness and the most minimalist aesthetic. As a global fashion lifestyle brand, Calvin Klein has four major brands: CK Calvin Klein (high-end garments), Calvin Klein Jeans (jeans), Calvin Klein Underwear (underwear), Calvin Klein Performance (fashion and sports), and also operates perfumes. , watches, jewelry, glasses, pajamas, swimsuits, socks, shoes, home accessories and other third-party products. Calvin Klein is the largest designer brand in the United States. It has won four consecutive well-known clothing awards; its related products are emerging one after another, with an amazing momentum. Calvin Klein has always adhered to perfectionism, and every Calvin Klein fashion looks perfect. Because it embodies a full New York lifestyle, Calvin Klein's clothing has become a favorite among the brand choices of a new generation of professional women. Calvin Klein is known for its urban simplicity. Since its rise in the 1970s, its usual modern urban style has been loved by the taste community. The clean and perfect image is made of natural materials and neatly tailored to present a noble style, and it has not changed until today. Calvin Klein has three major brands: "Calvin Klein Collection", "CK Calvin Klein" (high-end clothing), and "CKJ" (denim), and also operates casual wear, socks, underwear, pajamas, swimsuits, perfumes, and glasses. , watches/home decorations, etc. Calvin Klein, founder of Calvin Klein, was born in New York, USA in 1942 and studied at the famous New York Fashion Institute (FIT). In 1968, Calvin Klein "Caven Klein" company. Calvin Klein is well deserved to be the most well-known fashion designer in the United States. In addition to high-end and high-quality classics, Klein is also an advocate for fashionable genderless perfumes and denim clothing that targets young people. Calvin Klein has three major brands: Calvin Klein (High Fashion), CK Calvin Klein (High Clothing), and Calvin Klein Jeans (Denim), and also operates casual wear, socks, underwear, pajamas, swimsuits and perfumes. , glasses, home decoration products, etc. In 2010, Calvin Klein launched the ck one brand again. Make it a comprehensive lifestyle brand. Calvin Klein, a global franchise company that operates Calvin Klein underwear and Calvin Klein jeans and swimwear, will cooperate with Warnaco, a brand new lifestyle brand, including men's and women's denim clothing, underwear and The brand name of the swimsuit series continues to be based on the brand name of the original perfume brand ck one. Since establishing its own company in 1968, Calvin Klein has been in the fashion industry for forty years, enjoying a reputation and is considered a representative figure of American fashion today. He believes that today's American fashion is modern, minimalist, comfortable, gorgeous, casual and elegant, which is also Calvin Klein's design philosophy. He said: "I also found that the essence of American style is also international. Just like New York, it is not a typical American city, but a typical international city. The same is true for London, Tokyo or Seoul. Living in People in these cities will respond to my designs because their lives and needs are very similar. Modern people have their commonalities no matter where they live. "In 1968, Calvin Klein first launched women's coats, and immediately Favored by New York department stores and placed a large number of orders, Calvin Klein became famous; afterwards, Calvin Klein's clean lines and restrained design not only won the recognition of buyers and fashion media, but also a comfortable and pleasant dressing. Attitude lays the foundation for the huge fashion industry in the future. Calvin Klein likes a clean and perfect image, so it is also reflected in clothing. It uses natural materials such as silk, satin, linen, cotton and wool, and is neatly tailored to present a noble style, which has never changed to this day. Calvin Klein is quite keen on fashion. In the late 1970s, Calvin Klein launched an original denim suit series, with Brooke Silk as the spokesperson. She said in a TV commercial: "There is nothing between me and my Calvin!" Provocative words immediately stimulate sales. Similarly, the Underwear underwear series published in 1982, paired with highly provocative advertisements (such as Mark Waberg), changed the global view of underwear and became a fashion that everyone pursued. Perfume is undoubtedly also a representative work of Calvin Klein. Obesession, Eternity and Escape in the 1980s added many topics to Calvin Klein. The cK One neutral perfume, first launched in 1994 and the cK be later, broke the concept of gender barriers. Let the brand career reach its peak again. Minimalist style is a registered trademark of Calvin Klein in design and is also a popular trend today. But when minimalist style is no longer a trend, will it change? Regarding this question, the confident Calvin Klein once said that I feel that my design philosophy is more modernist, and I will continue to focus on aesthetics, one by one, tend to emphasize a pure, simple, relaxed and elegant spirit. I always try to be pure, sexy, elegant, and I also try to be consistent in style and be true to my dreams. I think people will understand more about what I want to present because of this, and they will appreciate and respond positively. Advertising is the best focus of Calvin Klein's creativity. Since its launch, the "sexy" presented by a strong visual impression has always been synonymous with Calvin Klein's advertising. Calvin Klein is also very good at shaping characters, and he has made it famous by himself. Models such as Christy Turlington and Kate Moss are both popular. Calvin Klein prefers nude images. Whether in underwear, fashion or perfume advertisements, models can often be seen as having a naked or semi-nude posture. The visual impression of being provocative is very sexy and not vulgar, so Calvin Klein remains the first place in the fashion industry at any time. Wire. One of the important styles of Klein's products is sexy, so this feature is fully utilized in his advertising: his advertising often uses nude portraits, aiming to create perfect, artistic images; but sometimes Klein can Playing some edge balls, such as using a female model who looks like a minor in her underwear advertisement to pose with a erotic underwear, has caused a lot of controversy and has been interfered by the British Advertising Standards Agency. In Calvin Klein's concept, sexy is diverse, so recently his advertisements have disappeared from the skin and decadence of the past, replaced by a group of energetic, youthful and healthy young people with bright smiles. The enthusiasm of enthusiasm easily captured the hearts of consumers. Calvin Klein said he wants to design clothing for modern women who are active in social and family life and seek balance in it. They are a group of women who value their souls and look kind and don’t spend much time in front of the dressing mirror. They want a relaxing, casual and elegant outfit, which I believe is what fashion trends in the future. In terms of appearance, Calvin Klein women are fresh, natural and beautiful, not an unreal charm.

Jishi Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Founded in the United States in 1981, it started to make a fortune in denim clothing. Its products are known for its wild and American sexy and European romance. Its denim clothing and silver jewelry are more famous in the industry. Guess represents adventurous spirit, sexy and pure American style! The spirit of curiosity, enthusiasm and freedom is Guess's claim. Since Guess was originally based on denim clothing, the tone of the design has always had a western flavor, and in terms of texture presentation, it is a rough feeling of comfort, nature, and adventure. Later, influenced by popular elements, Guess gradually appeared with some close-fitting, sexy, simple and urban designs. As the consumption age group that loves Guess gradually increases, the Guess Collection, which can enter and exit social occasions and express personal taste, is loved by many people. Therefore, Guess decided to separate the Guess Collection under the name of designer Marciano and become a higher texture. Designer clothing. The logo representing the Guess brand symbol is often found in clothing designs, while the inverted triangle cloth is often found in the back pocket of jeans. Guess' silver jewelry is also very special and can show a strong personal taste. Guess' advertising design is like Sisley, another young women's clothing brand, always full of surprises and amazing people. Many supermodels were born from print advertisements that shot Guess, including Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. Guess' print advertisements often impress models. . Guess Story The founder of Guess, the Marciano brothers grew up in a passionate southern region of France. The French-style design and lifestyle have long been deeply rooted in their hearts. The Marciano brothers also appreciate the direction of life in the West Coast of the United States. They moved to the United States in the 1970s to launch their fashion dream in California. In the early 1980s, the outlook for clothing design was bleak, and denim tannins were believed to be an outdated product. However, Marciano combines European style and American traditional spirits to re-given the denim product’s new look and becomes a representative of elegance, decent, innovative and time-sensitive sexy. At first, retailers were very suspicious of Guess' product direction at that time. All buyers agreed that denim items had declined. However, the Marciano brothers believed it and launched a tight-fitting "Monroe" woman named Guess Jeans have created a new concept with sexy and unique design style. After negotiations, Bloomingdale Department Store was finally willing to sell 2 dozen Marilynjeans, which meant to help the Marciano brothers. As the Marciano brothers expected, the merchandise was sold out immediately within a few hours. From then on, the Marciano brothers began to build this American brand full of French sentiment. This new development of denim products also makes jeans a fashion representative that is not affected by time.

Dingsailong (Shanghai) Commercial Co., Ltd.

DIESEL is a company dedicated to internationalization and innovative lifestyles, producing a wide range of products including jeans, clothing and accessories. Since its founding in 1978, DIESEL has experienced extraordinary growth, from a pioneer in denim clothing to a world of high-end casual wear, and evolved into a true choice for the established luxury market. Despite DIESEL's continuous development, its philosophy has remained unchanged since its inception: Renzo Rosso envisions a brand that represents passion, personality and self-expression. Product ranges include: DIESEL, DIESEL BLACK GOLD (a contemporary line designed by Andreas Melbostad) and DIESEL KID. DIESEL is not only clothing and denim: it is a lifestyle, through licensing cooperation with leading companies (under the creative leadership of Andrea Rosso), developing watches and jewelry (with Fossil), glasses (with Marcolin), spices ( Working with L'Oréal), helmet (working with AGV), headphones (working with Monster), bicycles (working with Pinarello), strollers (working with Bugaboo) and a complete furniture collection (working with Foscarini, Moroso, Zucchi, Seletti, Scavolini Cooperation)

Carhartt, Inc.

Carhartt is known for its rugged workwear, including gloves that are waterproof and insulated, designed for durability and warmth in tough conditions.

Eddie Bauer, LLC

Eddie Bauer provides classic and durable outdoor clothing, including versatile outdoor pants for various activities.

H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB

H&M is a Swedish multinational clothing-retail company, offering fashion-forward and sustainable apparel for all ages.

J.Crew Group, Inc.

An American clothing company famous for its casual and professional attire, including suits, blazers, and accessories.

Kontoor Brands, Inc.

Wrangler is a leading denim brand specializing in cowboy and western wear. Established in 1947, it is popular for its durable and stylish denim jackets.

Patagonia, Inc.

The world-famous fleece, rib down jacket and C-series functional underwear are from the American outdoor sports brand - PATAGONIA . Founder Yvon Chouinard began his business journey in the 1950s by designing, manufacturing and selling mountaineering equipment. He learned from French climbing technology and improved the icebreaker, which became the basis for the design of modern icebreaker. In 1973, he founded PATAGONIA Clothing Company, which has now developed into a comprehensive high-end brand including clothing, backpacks, and shoes. Patagonia is a brand with a high sense of social responsibility. During the production process, its products pay great attention to the use of various environmentally friendly materials including recyclable and recyclable fabrics. PATAGONIA insists on its original intention: "Use low damage to produce good products." No matter from any perspective, PATAGONIA is like a willful child in the business world.

Columbia Sportswear Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear originated from Portland, Oregon, USA. As a pioneer in outdoor clothing brand technology, the company's philosophy is Connect active people with their passwords. We are committed to conveying the essence of its brand through its products and through various original technologies, allowing consumers to enjoy the outdoor fun for a longer time. In the autumn and winter of 2015, Columbia promoted its brand to consumers worldwide under the new slogan "Tested Tough". It is not just an advertising slogan, it is the brand commitment of Columbia to every customer in the past 80 years since its establishment. After in-depth research on the main audience groups in the Chinese market, in the spring and summer of 2017, the new Chinese brand slogan "Tested Tough If You Want to Play" officially met with consumers. Columbia's consistent field testing culture ensures that the product is in a real outdoor environment. Countless tests have been conducted to ensure high quality of the product and the functions of keeping warm and waterproofing, allowing consumers to enjoy the outdoor fun for a longer time.

Fast Retailing (China) Trading Co., Ltd.

UNIQLO is a powerful core brand under the FAST RETAILING Group. We insist on providing modern, simple, natural, high-quality and easy-to-match products to consumers around the world. The "versatile" concept advocated is also well known to the world. The full name of UNIQLO is UNIQUE CLOTHING WAREHOUSE. Its inherent meaning refers to providing the products that customers want at reasonable and credible prices by abandoning unnecessary decoration warehouse-type stores and adopting supermarket-type self-service shopping methods. UNIQLO brand Fast Retailing Company was established in 1963 and was a small clothing store selling suits. The company's current chairman and general manager, Tada Yanai graduated from Waseda University in his early years. He joined Fast Sales Company in August 1972 and became the company's chairman and general manager in September 1984. In 1982, Yanai, who was already a specialized director of the company, was in the United States when he was in the United States. Inspired by the warehousing-style sales methods on American university campuses, he proposed to try to sell clothing in a clothing store in a storage-style self-service shopping method, and introduced it. The hypermarket-style clothing sales method achieves low cost in store operations through a unique product planning, development and sales system. In June 1984, UNIQLO storage clothing store officially opened in Hiroshima, Japan. At that time, when the Japanese economy was in a recession, UNIQLO's business strategy was to provide fashionable casual clothing to all consumers at low prices. In order to gather popularity and attract customers, when the business was first opened, UNIQLO also provided a free breakfast to customers who came to shop: bread and milk. This trick really attracted a large number of customers. Every morning, there are always many people gather in front of UNIQLO's store, line up to get breakfast, and then go to the store to choose. In 1991, the company quickly began to launch chain business and proposed the development plan to establish 1,000 branches to realize the UNIQLO chainization. Stores such as Limited and GAP in the United States, which have their own characteristics, have become a model for UNIQLO expansion; in 1994, UNIQLO was in Hiroshima. It was listed on the stock exchange and then listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange; in 1998, UNIQLO Harajuku store opened, and the wool sweater promotion was successful, and the era of "casual clothing is directly for consumers". The so-called "casual clothing is directly for consumers" is to correct business processes such as planning, production, circulation, and sales, and strive to establish a business model suitable for consumers. The key is to mass production according to consumers' needs. In this way, relying on its uniqueness. UNIQLO has developed its business philosophy and business model.

Gap (Shanghai) Commercial Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1969, the American fashion brand Gap has always adhered to the reshaping of classics and interpreted the exquisite American style. After landing in China in 2010, Gap will continue to carry forward its original classic and creative fashion style, and convey the "bold, simple and real" fashion culture to more people! GAP once used the Chinese name: "Gap". The brand officially entered China in October 2010 and was renamed "Gapap". Gap was born in California, USA. Gap brand clothing brings people a casual temperament, allowing unrestrained American youth to enjoy a natural and comfortable life. In 1969, Don Fisher, the founder of Gap, was in a fashion store in California, USA, choosing jeans that suited her, but she couldn't find a suitable one after another. Driven by this motivation, Don Fisher created this historic American brand - Gap. Gap's first store was sold side by side with jeans and audio tapes, but the results were not ideal. Many people are interested in just audio tapes. As for jeans, due to their wear resistance and wearability, people will choose Levi's, a famous denim brand tycoon at that time. Therefore, nearly 4 tons of Gap jeans can only be sold at purchase prices. Until the second Gap store opened, when Don Fisher turned his focus to young people, emphasizing a younger shopping atmosphere, and the products sold only include casual clothing, such as round collars. T-shirts, short and lean pure cotton tops, jeans, etc. In the 1980s and 1990s, Gap developed rapidly. Gap's brands include: Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic (acquired by GAP in 1983), Piperlime and Athleta, and the product series ranges from The initial denim expanded to women's clothing (GAP Men), various accessories, children's clothing (Gap Kids), maternity clothing (GapMaternity), baby clothing (babyGap), and occupied the American casual brand in the shortest time. The market has been recognized by the United States and overseas. Gap has more than 3,100 direct-operated stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and other countries.

ZARA Commercial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

In 1975, Amancio Ortega, an apprentice, opened a small clothing store called ZARA in a remote town in northwest Spain. Now, ZARA, which was once unknown, has grown into a global fashion clothing brand, covering 86 countries and regions around the world, with 1,808 stores. Group Profile Inditex's global sales in 2005 were 6.741 billion euros, with sales of 429 million units and a net profit of 803 million euros. As of June 2006, it has opened 2,899 stores in 64 countries and regions around the world, with a total of 8 clothing retail brands, including ZARA, Pull and Bear, Kiddy's Class, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and ZARA Home. ZARA was founded in 1975 and currently has 1,757 specialty stores in 72 countries around the world (self-operated specialty stores account for 90%, and the rest are joint ventures and franchised specialty stores). As the world's largest fashion retail company, Inditex has more than 4,600 stores in 76 countries in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. In addition to the retail chain Zara, Inditex also owns seven other brands: Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterqüe. In addition, the group also has more than 100 companies engaged in textile and clothing design, production and sales related businesses.

VF Apparel (China) Co., Ltd.

DICKIES was born in Texas, USA in 1922. In the spirit of tribute, we provide generations of creators with more tenacious and durable work clothes, and protect the creators and their creative spirit. As a member of VF Group, DICKIES has developed into a representative brand and spiritual leader for global creators. Continuously inspire creators to create their own unique style. Until today, DICKIES has been manufacturing tooling for a hundred years and is sold in more than 100 countries around the world. From a small tooling manufacturing plant, it has become a world-renowned brand. After a century of experience, DICKIES has not forgotten its original intention. Based on the spirit of classic workwear, it has continuously absorbed new cultural trends, created a new world of workwear, redefined classic workwear, and made it more modern, fashionable and trendy with a sense of design.

Levi Strauss & Co. (Shanghai) Commercial Co., Ltd.

People often say that the most popular and often the easiest to date, but Lev's has created an immortal legend. Since the birth of the first pair of jeans in 1853 , the world has experienced 150 years of turmoil, and Leⅵs has interpreted the 150-year bull king myth. As jeans become a fashion logo around the world, with the evolution of denim culture, Levs maintains its original spirit and courage and is still recognized as a world-renowned denim brand. In 1853, LEVI STRAUSS founded LEVI STRAUSS&CO (LS&CO) in San Francisco, which was in the gold rush. In 1873, he and JACOB DAVIS in Reno City, Nevada successfully obtained the patent for the use of copper rivets on men's work pants. The first blue Colorful jeans were born. Since the double horse leather label in 1886 confirmed the durability of rivet clothing, LS&CO was founded in 1890. Among all the products, one of the button jeans called WAIS OVERALLS is divided into 501, which is the classic jeans Levs501 jeans. Over the past 150 years, Levs' continuous creativity has maintained the original traditional design of LEVI STRAUSS, and has created an international brand suitable for both young and old according to trends and people's needs. While providing customers with comprehensive service, they also bring their jeans to the world. Because of its strong tolerance, jeans play an elusive role in the fashion industry: on the one hand, they are always popular classics, and have never faded for 150 years, but on the other hand, they are praised by consumers of all countries and ages, becoming the essence of civilian fashion. , always appearing with an unruly expression, becoming a representative of anti-popularity. Different brands of jeans have their own expressions, and the classics in the lock are still the Leⅵs brand that just celebrated its 150th anniversary. I don’t know if LEV STRAUSS dreamed that such sturdy pants would walk into everyone’s wardrobe. Now, Levi’s has become synonymous with American jeans. Les has many jeans series, and 501 is the legend of the legend.

LeeWig Clothing (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Lee is a cowboy legend originated from 1889. Since Mr. Henry David Lee founded HDLee Mercantile in 1889, Lee has been destined to be a legendary brand that has created history. From the launch of the protective Lee Bib Overall strap work pants; to the classic 101 series made of 13 ounces of heavy tannin; to the refined jade and cool denim series, it has been innovative and change for more than 130 years. Sew all your efforts on denim, all this is just to be seen by you. Stand Tall, I'm just that. In 1889, HDLee Mercantile was founded in Kansas, USA, and Mr. HDLee discovered the huge market potential of durable work clothes. So he started his ready-to-wear business, which also made Lee one of the world's successful clothing companies. In 1913, the car repair technician inspired by Mr. HDLee, the one-piece workwear "UnionAlls" was released. The product became famous as soon as it was launched. In 1924, in order to meet the American denim community, Lee introduced a pair of jeans with a heavy 13 ounces tannin according to their living needs. This is the well-known 101 series. To this day, it is still popular. In 1926, the zippered jeans 101Z series was officially launched. The customized inner cut makes it extremely comfortable to stand or sit, and the U-shaped crotch cut also adds comfort. In 1936, horse fur cards began to appear on the back waist of jeans. It quickly became an important symbol of Lee and a certification of his unique identity; it also became a symbol of the cowboy's lifestyle. In 1944, Lee created the S-shaped stitching on the back pocket, which looked like a pair of American bison horns from a distance. In the same year, denim jackets also began to use the LEE Riders trademark, which became the symbol of Lee's pure bloodline. In 1949, Lee provided women with comfortable fit and comfortable clothing, and launched the slim women's jeans Lady Lee Riders series. In 1995, Lee logged into China and developed rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region. It opened special stores in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and other places, becoming one of the important denim brands in the region. In 2011, the UrbanRiders Urban Riders series, which draws inspiration from urban cycling, combines Lee's traditional chivalry with modern cycling trends, while also having practical and fashionable innovative clothing series. In 2015, Lee launched the series of refined jade and cool denims, which combines jade and yarn to keep cool during the hot seasons. In 2016, Lee has been curious and constantly innovating. Together with vision scientists and denim designers from VF Design Science Lab in the United States, he has developed a breakthrough and innovative design for Asian women's figures through a large number of experiments: the U-shaped denim series. Create a 360-degree, excellent shape, and 3D curve. In 2020, Lee, who has been founded for more than 130 years, will integrate his chic and high-spirited attitude into every carefully crafted clothing, show excellent denim qualities, and awaken everyone's inner energy - "Stand Tall, I'm just this one] together Strolling with one's head and live a confident and extraordinary life. Today, LEE has been sold well in more than 200 countries and regions around the world.

Ralph Lauren Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Ralph Lauren is constantly expanding its reputation and building a unique brand image in the growing global products, brands and international markets. Its brands include Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Boutique Collection, Double RL, Polo Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children's Clothing, Ralph Lauren Home, Lauren Ralph Lauren, RLX, Chaps and Club Monaco, which together create a globally renowned consumer brand family. . We firmly believe that a wide global presence, abundance of product categories and a variety of sales channels are the key to our victory in all luxury and apparel companies. As a lifestyle brand with lofty ambitions, it demonstrates a unique American style. Led by the internationally renowned designer Ralph Lauren, we have brought a profound impact on people's dressing and fashion promotion methods, and have won praise from the whole world. We integrate consumer needs into our design, sales and brand image, and work with our partner brands to improve our lifestyle product series.

Tommy Hilfiger (Shanghai) Apparel Co., Ltd.

Since its establishment in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger has been a highly recognizable international designer brand, constantly evolving traditions, creating diverse and individual lifestyles and classic cool trends. Tommy Hilfiger includes two brands: TOMMY HILFIGER and TOMMY JEANS, and is one of the widely recognized design and talk style groups in the world. Its focus is on designing and marketing high-quality custom clothing and sportswear for men; women's clothing and sportswear, children's clothing, denim series, underwear (including robes, pajamas and home clothing), footwear and accessories. Tommy Hilfiger also offers lifestyle products such as glasses, watches, perfumes, swimsuits, socks, small leather goods, household items and suitcases. TOMMY JEANS product line includes jeans and men's and women's shoes, accessories and perfumes. TOMMY HILFIGER and TOMMY JEANS offline stores, department stores, and Palace.com provide products and services to consumers around the world.

Carter's, Inc.

OshKosh B'gosh is known for its classic and durable children's clothing, particularly its iconic overalls and denim wear.