L’Oréal Joins Forces With Nykaa to Invest in Indian Beauty Brands
BOLD, the French conglomerate’s venture capital fund, will collaborate with retailer Nykaa to invest in the next generation of Indian beauty brands.
consumers
Technology
Luxury’s Customer Experience Is Getting a Tech Upgrade
Far from replacing the personal, face-to-face service at the heart of the luxury shopping experience, new technologies and digital channels are giving brands engaging and creative ways to enhance their customer relationships.
China
Luxury’s New WeChat Playbook
WeChat’s role connecting brands with Chinese shoppers is evolving fast as it introduces features like e-commerce aggregation and integrated clienteling platforms.
Luxury
Three Threats to Big Luxury
Top-tier luxury brands have come roaring out of the pandemic, but the return of experiences, the rising risk of a global downturn and growing ubiquity of widely distributed labels could spell trouble ahead.
News & Analysis
The State of Fashion: Technology — Download the Special Edition
The special edition of The State of Fashion report by The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company explores the great tech acceleration gripping the industry. Download the full report to understand the key imperatives that are spurring top brands and retailers to ramp up investments in technologies from AI to blockchain, to both address pain points and boost their competitive edge.
Retail
How Brands Can Deal With Rising Costs
From altering products to buying materials in bulk, brands and retailers are adapting to a volatile market.
Partner Content
Retail Reborn Episode 4: What Consumers Will Buy
In the final episode, professor of psychology Sheldon Solomon, Depop’s head of sustainability Justine Porterie, The Fabricant's head of content and strategy Michaela Larosse, and Chloé's chief sustainability officer Aude Vergne join retail futurist Doug Stephens to explore how evolving consumer preferences are manifesting in purchasing decisions.
Retail
Mango Plots Retail Expansion With 30 New Stores in US
The Spanish fast fashion retailer will grow its international footprint in the coming years with a focus on the US market.
Partner Content
Retail Reborn Episode 3: How Consumers Will Buy
Adjunct professor in global digital economy Winston Ma, design and Blockchain expert Marjorie Hernandez de Vogelsteller, and fashion tech lawyer Gina Bibby join founder of Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens, to assess the evolving payment space and behaviour.
Retail
What Happens When the E-Commerce Boom Ends
Online sales growth is slowing, returning to its pre-pandemic trajectory. As shoppers head back into the store, their new expectations around service set the stage for the next chapter of retail.
Partner Content
Retail Reborn Episode 2: Which Consumers Will Buy
McKinsey’s head of retail practises in Central and South America, Tracy Francis, luxury analyst Erwan Rambourg and Warby Parker’s SVP of retail, Sandy Gilsenan, join retail futurist Doug Stephens to examine the global forces shaping consumer behaviour and circumstances, and the implications on retail habits.
Workplace & Talent
Ralph Lauren, Race and How Fashion Can Embrace Discomfort
The brand’s collaboration with historically-black Morehouse and Spelman colleges was both celebrated and pilloried online. The fate of an ambitious attempt by a mainstream brand to tackle the issues raised in summer 2020 could influence future Black-focused campaigns for years to come.
Partner Content
Retail Reborn Episode 1: Where Consumers Will Buy
Retail futurist Doug Stephens, associate professor Thomas J. Campanella, ‘Godmother of the Metaverse’ Cathy Hackl, and Stôur Group co-founders Sonny Gindi and Eden Melloul discuss how physical and digital consumer landscapes are evolving to meet next-gen consumer demands.
The News in Brief
Private Equity Firm Inflexion Invests in Manucurist
The European investor, which previously backed Medik8, has taken a 49 percent stake in the premium French nail line.
H&M Profit Rises on Tariff Refunds as Sales Remain Sluggish
US tariff refunds drove an increase operating profit, even as the fast-fashion retailer has struggled to deliver consistent sales growth.
Arnault Clan to Change LVMH Holding Structure to Ensure Control
Under the plan, the world’s biggest luxury group will be controlled by one entity, Agache SCA, after Christian Dior SE, one of the current holding companies of LVMH, is delisted.
JD Sports Says Nike Turnaround Is Only a Matter of Time
Dominic Platt, chief financial officer of the British sportswear retailer, told Reuters, ‘Much as there's a lot of talk about Nike, it's still the most popular brand out there and it's still a very strong brand.’
Chanel Plans to Keep Investing in China Despite Demand Downturn
CEO Leena Nair pointed to the brand’s recent renovation of its Plaza 66 boutique in Shanghai, calling China ‘a market where the clients understand sophistication, refinement.’
Meta Expected to Unveil Smart Glasses Without Camera
Smart glasses have become a target of criticism in recent months amid growing concerns they can be used to record people without their consent.
Record Global Fibre Production Pushes Fashion’s Environmental Footprint Higher
Planet-warming emissions associated with the raw materials used to make fashion, footwear and home textiles have risen 30 percent since 2019, according to a new report.