LONDON, United Kingdom — This week, we examined the problems facing US specialty apparel retailers J.Crew, Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, as well as the technologies set to redefine fashion in 2017. Elsewhere, we sat down with Gosha Rubchinskiy to discuss the thinking behind his new multi-season partnership with Adidas Football. Also, Valentino's Pierpaolo Piccoli and Stefano Sassi on scaling the brand beyond €1 billion in annual revenue.

1. J.Crew, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch: The Trouble With America's Most Beloved Mall Brands

Source: Shutterstock

US specialty apparel retailers are running out of time to adapt before they die in a landscape dominated by price-conscious shoppers and fast fashion’s smarter supply chains.

2. How Gosha Rubchinskiy and Adidas Are Refashioning Football

Gosha Rubchinskiy A/W 2017 | Photo: Gosha Rubchinskiy

BoF can exclusively reveal the thinking behind Gosha Rubchinskiy’s new multi-season partnership with Adidas Football, launched Thursday in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, amidst growing geopolitical tensions.

3. Expect Experimental Evolution, Not Revolution, at Valentino

The finale of the Valentino Pre-Fall 2017 show at the Beekman Hotel | Source: Courtesy

In their first-ever joint interview, Pierpaolo Piccioli and Stefano Sassi, creative director and chief executive of Valentino, speak to Imran Amed about their strategy as the brand scales beyond €1 billion in annual revenue and stages its first Pre-Fall show in New York.

4. At CES 2017, a Glimpse of Tech Destined to Transform Fashion

CES, January 2017, Las Vegas | Source: Courtesy

From self-driving cars to artificial intelligence, CES 2017 offered not only a vision of the future, but solutions to many of the challenges facing the fashion business.

5. How Celebrity Image-Makers Capitalise on the Red Carpet

Actress Dakota Fanning at the 73rd Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2016 in Venice, Italy | Source: Shutterstock

Behind every carefully cultivated look, there is a series of deals that net stylists and their agents thousands of dollars.

6. How Co Mastered the Four Ps

Co, Spring/Summer 2017 | Source: Courtesy

Fledgling fashion brand Co used product, price, place and promotion to cut through the noise in a discount-driven, digital-first era.

7. Uniqlo Partners With Jeffrey Deitch on 'Art for All' Shop-in-Shops

Jeffrey Deitch | Photo: Kevin Trageser

The first iteration of the collaboration, featuring limited-edition non-apparel items all under $100, reflects the company's focus on building cultural IQ and local relevance in the US.

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