The Business of Fashion

Web-Bargain Luxury Comes to Japan (WSJ) “For decades, the model for selling luxury imported goods in Japan has been simple: plush surroundings, attentive service—and the ‘Japan premium’… But the cozy system may be cracking, [thanks in part to] third-party websites to jump in with deep discounts.” Karl Lagerfeld cancels Paris show (Catwalk Queen) “Instead, the [...]

Well heeled: Manolo Blahnik and his left-hand woman (Independent) “As his exclusive collection for Liberty arrives, Manolo Blahnik talks footwear, films and fabrics with his niece and ‘left-hand woman’ Kristina…Since he set up shop in the Seventies Manolo Blahnik has become the world’s most famous artisan shoemaker.” The Evolution of the Fashion Film (WSJ) “‘This [...]

Asian-Americans Climb Fashion Industry Ladder (NY Times) “It was the first time that all three prizes given by the [CFDA] were awarded to designers who are Asian-American. That same night, the fashion council announced three scholarships, each for $25,000, won by student designers of Asian heritage.” Fashion brands are turning to the lucrative homewares market [...]

Jimmy Choo takes steps to possible IPO (FT) “The private equity owner of Jimmy Choo plans to appoint investment banks to advise on strategic options for the maker of stilettos for the stars, including a possible initial public offering valuing the company at about £500m.” Affluent, Generous Young Women Lead Recovery (Marketing Daily) “When it [...]

Copyrighting Fashion: Who Gains? (NY Times) “Paradoxically, the payoff from free copying has been enormous.  The fashion cycle turns faster, and the industry gets richer – and creates new designs more frequently. So why on earth would anyone want to change that?” Luxury brands wrest back China market, eye smaller cities (Reuters) “Many piled into [...]

Relocated labels (FT) “From individual consumers of luxury goods, the Chinese and Indians have become consumers of luxury companies, in a shift that has far-reaching implications for the $80bn (€63bn, £52bn) a year industry.” When luxury brands outsource, should they tell? (Today) “Italy’s Parliament has passed a law that [requires] manufacturers be able to prove [...]

Chinese people as identical Maoist robots? (Guardian) “If fantasy is part of the appeal of fashion, then wouldn’t it be worthwhile for Dior, Chanel, and other couture houses to figure out how Chinese people fantasise and see themselves?” Marketing’s New Rage: Brands Sponsoring Influential Bloggers (WWD) “Forget about just display ads. Increasingly, the future of [...]

Kate Moss and Topshop to end design deal (BBC) “A three-year design partnership between Kate Moss and Topshop is to end later this year. When the supermodel unveils her autumn and winter range in October – it will be her 14th and last collection for the chain.” Gucci opens its new luxury digital flagship store [...]

American Apparel: The public won’t wear it (Guardian) “[American Apparel] was now a vertically integrated company that seemed dedicated to getting women horizontal.  It turns out that, even in the fashion business, there’s such a thing as too much sex.” Burberry: Runway to Checkout (NY Times) “Burberry plans to offer customers a substantial portion of [...]

What Do Girls Want? (NY Times) “You can understand why brands like Chanel want to limit their Web exposure, but what happens to interest if the immediate outlet is blocked? This is not a generation that will wait to get a number for admission.” Style.com’s Faces Off With Vogue (WWD) “Right after Labor Day, Style.com, [...]

‘Shopaholic’ Brits amass £24bn debt during downturn (Guardian) “Despite the financial constraints, women have carried on copying the lifestyles and shopping habits of their idols and ignoring the debt they are racking up in the process.” Music and Fashion: Looking for Viral Synergy (Time) “Such forethought is key in a shoot like this, which is [...]

Nordstrom Links Online Inventory to Real World (NY Times) “The company wove in individual stores’ inventory to the Web site, so that essentially all of the stores were also acting as warehouses for online. Results were immediate… It also means that inventory is moving faster, and often at higher prices.” The Demand for Emerging Fashion: [...]

The Fall of the House of Ungaro (NY Times) “Ungaro was losing roughly $15 million a year, and [the Ferragamos] signaled to their bankers to look for a buyer. Abdullah was the only serious buyer who turned up. That was in 2005, and as you probably guessed, he had no experience in fashion.” Barneys Appoints [...]

Profiling the Value Retailers (WWD) “Stores, like people, have personalities. Whether that personality determines the customer, or the customer the personality, is one of those chicken versus egg questions that’s a matter of perennial debate (well, at least among retail nerds).” Selfridges and Dolce & Gabbana in ‘giant falling out’ (Telegraph) “From next spring, the [...]

Why e-commerce IPOs will soon be the smarter buy (Venture Beat) “In Silicon Valley, market-watchers are looking to digital media in its many forms — social networks, tablet apps, user-generated content — to revive the IPO market… But there’s a smarter bet for investors: e-commerce.” Pringle of Scotland: painting by jumpers (Telegraph) “To celebrate Pringle’s [...]

The Future of Public Relations and Social Media (Mashable) “In the past decade, the Internet has had a huge impact on how PR professionals function. As of late, social media is changing the face of PR, as well. We interviewed 14 PR pros on the future of public relations and how they see social media [...]

China’s Fashion Bloggers: Five to Watch (Jing Daily) “In the US and the UK, fashion bloggers have long been considered ahead-of-the-curve influencers… With China’s growing appetite for luxury, there’s room for China’s fashion bloggers to gain industry traction as well.” Frugality in Fashion Amid Economic Slump (WWD) “Never before has it been so chic to [...]

Targeting Younger Buyers, Liz Claiborne Hits Snag (WSJ) “In an effort to attract a younger audience, Mr. McComb decided to focus on the company’s contemporary brands with the most potential… But he made a series of strategic blunders… The decision to realign the company’s portfolio ‘was a disaster waiting to happen’.” Fashion Tries on Zero [...]

J.Crew Takes a Leading Role in Men’s Fashion (Bloomberg) “The men’s fashion landscape has long been dominated on one side by luxury brands… [or alternatives] that no longer seem au courant.  J.Crew has emerged in this void as the merchant of a new style that bridges work and leisure, youth and age, vintage and contemporary, [...]

Chanel’s luxury dream is turning to dust (Marketing Week) “According to the company’s 2010 estimates… [Chanel] lost 11% of its brand value over the past 12 months. It’s a rare glimpse into the actual state of Chanel’s brand health.” Chinese spending power underestimated, study says (Market Watch) “Chinese households have far more money than previously [...]