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.
The founder of the KKW makeup label announced on Instagram on Tuesday that the brand’s website will temporarily shut down on August 1 to make way for a “completely new brand with new formulas that are more modern, innovative and packaged in an elevated and sustainable new look.” Kardashian West — who signed the note with both her last name and that of her soon to be ex-husband, Kanye West — also said the relaunched site will sell both her beauty and fragrance in one place. Both categories are currently branded as KKW but sold separately.
In January, beauty conglomerate Coty completed its $200 million minority investment in the beauty brand, finalising a deal struck in 2020 to expand the brand into new regions and categories, including skin care.
By selling existing formulas under their own name, retailers can tap into the lucrative beauty market without investing in custom formulations. But that doesn’t mean the private label model is an easy win.
The San Francisco-based company is hoping to tap growing consumer demand for financing for cosmetic treatments among other services.
Once thought of as long-term disruptors who would change the way we shop forever, multi-brand online retailers that sell cosmetics, skincare, fragrance and more are facing multiple headwinds.
Prestige makeup is fashion’s category expansion du jour. But even the market’s most powerful players could learn a thing or two from its celebrity-backed competition.