The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Kids are headed back to school in parts of the US, and from the look of the recently wrapped retail earnings season, they are exceptionally well-outfitted. Brands ranging from Abercrombie & Fitch to Urban Outfitters said the back-to-school campaign was a success, and even retailers that fell short on sales forecasts, including Macy’s and Target, cited the midsummer shopping season as a bright spot.
Next weekend’s Labour Day sales offer one last chance to lure procrastinating parents to stores. Then it’s time to start thinking about the all-important winter holiday shopping season. Retailers don’t want a repeat of last year, when they ordered too much merchandise they were forced to discount come January; those markdowns are still dogging some companies nearly two-thirds of the way into 2023. On the other hand, they also don’t want a repeat of 2021′s empty shelves, either.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach this year. The US economy looks headed for a soft landing, policymakers made clear at their annual Jackson Hole, Wyoming meeting last week (we’ll get an important data point on that front with August unemployment data Friday). That points to another season of robust consumer spending without the need to offer deep markdowns; it’s certainly what brands on the upswing are counting on.
There are warning signs, though, including disappointing sales at already struggling retailers like Gap Inc., Macy’s and Foot Locker. It’s possible consumers, already picky about where they shop due to inflation, get even pickier. For now, though, retail’s two-track economy looks to remain locked in place.
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Monday
US Open begins: Courtside at Grand Slam tennis tournaments is the new tunnel walk, thanks to young stars like Gucci-toting Jannik Sinner.
UK Bank Holiday
Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo begins
Tuesday
PVH, Brunello Cucinelli report results
Geneva Watch Days begins
Wednesday
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Venice Film Festival opens: The red carpet will be a tightrope walk for the industry’s striking actors
Victoria’s Secret reports results: Next month, the brand brings back its televised lingerie show
Thursday
Luluemon reports results
A Bathing Ape 30th Anniversary show in Tokyo
Eurozone releases inflation data for August
Friday
US August unemployment data released
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Designer brands including Gucci and Anya Hindmarch have been left millions of pounds out of pocket and some customers will not get refunds after the online fashion site collapsed owing more than £210m last month.
Antitrust enforcers said Tapestry’s acquisition of Capri would raise prices on handbags and accessories in the affordable luxury sector, harming consumers.
As a push to maximise sales of its popular Samba model starts to weigh on its desirability, the German sportswear giant is betting on other retro sneaker styles to tap surging demand for the 1980s ‘Terrace’ look. But fashion cycles come and go, cautions Andrea Felsted.
The rental platform saw its stock soar last week after predicting it would hit a key profitability metric this year. A new marketing push and more robust inventory are the key to unlocking elusive growth, CEO Jenn Hyman tells BoF.