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.
digitisation
Technology
The Metaverse Crash Is Exactly the Moment to Take the Metaverse Seriously
Many of the high-flying concepts and companies that led the charge into the metaverse and web3 have come crashing down to earth. Ironically, this makes it exactly the right time to take these visions of the future seriously, argues Doug Stephens.
Partner Content
Making Augmented Reality Work for Fashion
At VOICES 2022, BoF and Snapchat hosted a conversation between fashion leaders and innovative thinkers on how brands can utilise augmented reality to increase acquisition and deepen relationships with consumers.
Partner Content
Streamlining Shipping and Customer Experience Through Data and AI
FedEx’s ShopRunner is an expedited shipping service offering retailers access to its software ecosystem and consumer insights to streamline their backend pain points. Now, BoF shares insight on how retailers can utilise operational data to optimise customer experience.
Technology
Case Study | How to Take the Friction Out of Commerce
Tools and services are helping fashion and beauty industries stem the billions of dollars they reportedly lose due to abandoned carts by taking the friction out of the checkout stage, online and off.
News & Analysis
BoF VOICES 2022: Technology For a Better World
The technology that will replace the smartphone, tools that enable us to be our best selves and tech-based solutions to address critical global challenges were among the topics discussed by speakers like former Apple designer Imran Chaudhri, Dame Stephanie Shirley and Shopify president Harley Finkelstein.
News & Analysis
The State of Fashion 2023: Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty
The seventh annual State of Fashion report by The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company reveals the industry is heading for a global slowdown in 2023 as macroeconomic tensions and slumping consumer confidence chip away at 2022′s gains. Download the full report to understand the 10 themes that will define the industry and the opportunities for growth in the year ahead.
Technology
Virtual Reality’s Best Use in Fashion May Be For Design
The technology is letting designers create 3D products in a 3D environment, speeding the design process and allowing early concepts to be more spatially accurate.
Technology
How Virtual Sampling Went Mainstream
There’s been an uptick in brands from footwear to luxury adopting the technology as they look to speed up their processes, cut costs and burnish their sustainability credentials.
Partner Content
Luxury’s Opportunities for Growth Through Innovation and Sustainability
In Paris, Shopify and BoF gathered executives from Jacquemus, Coperni, Isabel Marant, Patou, Giambattista Valli, Marine Serre, Paco Rabanne, Ami, Vestiaire Collective and Early Majority to discuss the strategic imperatives required to navigate the uncertain socio-economic environment, and reimagine how the industry operates.
Retail
How to Plan Your Retail Footprint
For up-and-coming brands, a few small, cleverly designed stores in the right locations can have a bigger impact than a giant flagship
Technology
AI Is Designing Clothes Now
Companies are starting to pitch AI tools that can generate new clothing designs from something as simple as a text description.
Luxury
Why Luxury’s Counterfeit Problem Is Getting Worse
It’s easier than ever for consumers to buy fakes online. But the spike in counterfeit sales may also have something to do with how brands themselves are pricing and marketing their products.
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.