Mike Ashley’s Frasers Says It’s Taken Control of Hugo Boss
The British retail group has pushed its stake in the German apparel brand above 50 percent in a move that will turn Hugo Boss into a subsidiary of Frasers.
Artificial Intelligence
Latest News & Analysis
Luxury
Ralph Lauren Ties Executive Payouts to AI in Sign of Retail’s Shifting Priorities
The American brand has replaced sustainability targets with AI goals, among a series of other factors including sales growth, as a metric for executives’ annual incentive payouts.
Retail
The E-Commerce Basics Brands Need to Get Right
Brands may be racing to invest in new technology, but the biggest barrier to online sales is far more basic, finds BoF Insights and Amazon Fashion & Sports’ latest report ‘Inside Fashion & Sports E-Commerce.’
Beauty
The Indie Beauty Guide to GEO
While conglomerates like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder dominate chatbot recommendations, independent labels like Divi and Omnilux are boosting AI traffic by targeting niche queries and overhauling backend data.
Beauty
China’s Livestream ‘Lipstick King’ Confronts AI Disruption
For nearly a decade, Li Jiaqi has been the face of China’s livestream shopping industry, famed for selling billion dollars worth of beauty products. Despite slowing growth and artificial intelligence reshaping the sector, he bets live selling will still depend on people like him.
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Retail
Why Storytelling Is Brands’ Biggest E-Commerce Advantage
The brands earning shopper attention online are investing in content and cultural moments that entertain before they sell, finds BoF Insights and Amazon Fashion & Sports’ latest report ‘Inside Fashion & Sports E-Commerce.’
Beauty
The 5 Reasons Why Beauty Has Never Been Tougher
This week, Priya Rao contemplates beauty’s latest disruptions.
Workplace & Talent
Can AI Ignite a New Generation of Fashion Tradespeople?
As artificial intelligence reshapes perceptions of white-collar work and four-year degrees face greater scrutiny, fashion brands see an opening to rebuild a dwindling pipeline of skilled craftspeople.
Partner Content
Why Consumer Trust Will Determine the Future of Fashion E-Commerce
ESW’s annual ‘Signals’ report spotlights the forces reshaping international e-commerce, revealing that as shopping journeys fragment, trust remains the critical factor determining conversion.
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Marketing
As AI Floods the Feed, Fashion Marketers Tap Artists
From Hermès to Loewe, fashion houses are swapping hyper-polished digital graphics for watercolour, paper collages and craft to restore a sense of humanity.
Technology
Is Fashion Stuck in Its Simulation Era?
A garment’s image has become more important than the garment itself, commentator Eugene Rabkin argues in a new book. While technology helped create this situation, it could also be part of the solution.
Sports
Inside Fashion & Sports E-Commerce: Focusing on What Matters
This new flagship report reveals that fashion and sports leaders are chasing what’s new in e-commerce while fundamental challenges remain unresolved. Based on surveys of 10,000 consumers and 150 senior leaders across the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, it shows brands and retailers where to focus to innovate without losing sight of what drives success.
Creative Class
Nick Knight Is Building His Own AI
Rather than reach for AI tools trained on the open internet, Nick Knight is building his own. The SHOWstudio founder joins Imran Amed on The BoF Podcast to explain why — and what young image-makers need to do today.
The News in Brief
Shein Agrees to Pay $100 Million to Settle US FTC Probe
The settlement, equivalent to 44 percent of the ultra fast-fashion company’s second-quarter profit, is the latest blow amid regulatory and tax crackdowns in Europe and the US that have hampered Shein’s growth.
Kering Drops 12% as Luxury Braces for Tough Winter
The recovery long promised by luxury brands seems nowhere in sight, as the expansion of war in the Middle East, along with China’s tax crackdown on the wealthy, piled further pressure on the world’s biggest luxury conglomerates in the third quarter, and executives buckled in for a tough winter.
UK Retail Sales Fall 0.4% in September, More Than Forecast
Sales fell in September as above-average temperatures hit demand for autumn clothing.
Elle Launches Moroccan Edition
Hitting newsstands in October, the magazine marks Elle’s 51st international edition, published under licence by the Geomedia group.
David’s Bridal Plans Spinoff and IPO of AI Wedding Planning Platform Pearl
Pearl, a subsidiary of David’s Bridal, will own David’s Bridal and license its intellectual property back to the bridalwear brand. David’s Bridal CEO Kelly Cook will serve as Pearl’s CEO.
L’Oréal Sales Beat Expectations as Premium Products Surge
The French giant handily beat expectations on strong demand for hair products at salons and premium skincare from its dermatological division.
P&G Beats Revenue Estimates, Flags Bigger Hit to Annual Profit
The maker of Pantene shampoo was helped by strong personal care demand, but expects higher commodity costs to reduce profit by about $1.4 billion this year.