As the shopping experience is gradually moving from the physical retail store to online shopping platforms, stores are fighting to stay relevant in an increasingly digital world. Many retailers are now exploring high-tech gadgets as a sales tool to compete with online sellers for shoppers’ attention. Tommy Hilfiger is the first international retailer to make use of Virtual Reality gadgets: during fall fashion week 2015, they introduced the Samsung Gear VR Headset in their Manhattan store. This virtual reality headset gave shoppers a three-dimensional, front-row view of the fashion show, held at New York’s Park Avenue Armory. The shopper would sit a few virtual feet from the models while they…
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The Business of Fashion Books: An ever-growing market, or old news?
Would you believe me if I said that there are more fashion books published each week than blog posts…? Now I’m sure that’s not true, but it sure feels that way! Every day I hear news of a new book being published by bloggers, stylists, fashion designers, models or even just your regular celebrity (turned lifestyle/blogger) that I just can’t keep up! If you haven’t already heard the famous Naomi Campbell is publishing a fashion book, soon to be on shelves May 1st! Growing up (before the e-book) I loved reading magazines and special edition books focused on fashion because I felt that I was part of some exclusive club…
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A Thousand And One Reasons Why Dubai Can Be The Next Fashion Capital
Dubai as the capital of a new-born fashion industry? Here is why I think it is possible. 1. THE RETAIL MECCA Dubai’s alluring and exotic modernity is tempting travellers from all over the world, making it one of the most desired holiday destinations. Market data are astounding: according to Bain’s luxury report, the Middle East is the tenth largest luxury goods market, with sales exceeding 6 billion euros. Dubai alone accounts for 30% of this amount. Those consumers bear an international trademark: market studies demonstrate that the city is the second favourite shopping destination in the world, overstepping even NYC. This success is partly due to Dubai’s affirmation as an…
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Lineapiù Italia
Disclaimer: The following is not an advertisement for Lineapiù. The author visited Lineapiù as part of a school excursion. People often think of big brands and corporate-styled conglomerates when it comes to the business of fashion. However, manufacturers and contractors play an important role in the fashion ecosystem too. Without them, it would be difficult for companies that run on a horizontal system (put simply, they do not own their own mills and ateliers) to sustain themselves because owning everything cost money. Despite the importance of these manufacturers, there is little awareness on their creativity and the innovation they bring to the fashion industry. Lineapiù Italia is a great example. A Florentine based company,…
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Fitness in Fashion
As the warm weather draws closer (well it snowed the other day here in Canada so maybe I still have to wait a while…) we all start to think about the famous bikini that we will have to dig out of our drawers soon. When I hear the word bikini I get all nervous because I know that I am SO not ready to look at myself in the mirror in one. Don’t get me wrong – I love my body and would totally hit up a beautiful beach in southern Puglia tomorrow if I had the chance, I just know that I could feel so much better if I…
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The Cult of Counterfeits
China is going to be one of the next luxury producing countries. It will develop its own brands and will conquer a substantial portion of the luxury market backed by the purchasing power of the ubiquitous Chinese consumer. This is a strong statement, but a closer look at emerging Chinese brands shows the opposite: the typical Chinese entrepreneur has a tendency to imitate rather than create, an attitude which could explain the impressive success of a “sector” that makes up 8% of Chinese GDP: the flourishing counterfeit business. Let’s take a short trip to Shenzhen, the capital of Chinese fashion. Just next to the train station, the naïf western tourist…
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From Yves to Hedi
Only a week ago I was discussing the fate of creative directors that nowadays don’t seem to keep their positions for long. Yesterday we saw the news about Hedi Slimane, and his departure from Saint Laurent is no April Fools. While Hedi’s four-year work is widely appreciated as revamping the iconic brand, looking at Yves Saint Laurent’s sketches I couldn’t help noticing similarities. Dropping the “Yves” from the brand’s name, the French designer still managed to keep the spirit, and today I suggest taking time to appreciate this. When I was writing about creative directors in fashion industry, I mentioned Hedi Slimane in connection with the buzz about him parting…
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Fashion + Technology = A Whole New World!
A few months ago I attended a super interesting conference called Decoded Fashion in Milan with a few other members from BS4F (check out the link to refresh your memory…so much has happened since!). The entire conference was focused on fashion in the digital and technological age. I previously shared my love for the new (already available in some Milan stores) Smart Mirrors aka basically a fashionistas bff. However just yesterday I learned that fashion and technology have merged again to create something that is even more important and useful than the Smart Mirrors (sorry all you Instagram selfie lovers out there)…the Smart Luggage! YES! Finally a luggage that brings…
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The Luxury Market Spectator: LVMH
(DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this article is merely to illustrate the performance of a luxury company that I care about. I’m not a market guru, manage your money wisely.) When I buy a bag, I try to expiate my sins (and to forget the negative balance on my bank account) by convincing myself that I’ve made a good investment which is going to last. But you know what? Why don’t’ you make a real fashionable investment buying a stock – of a luxury company, of course? The company I’m analyzing today is LVMH. Decrypting the acronym, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. The company, given its fame, doesn’t even need an introduction, but…
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Creative Directors: What’s Ahead?
Two days ago we were hit by the fresh news: Massimiliano Giornetti to exit Salvatore Ferragamo. Could have been striking, but with all the recent shifts in fashion houses’ creative reigns we just close the article tab thinking “agaaaaaaain”. Seems like in the world of fashion there’s just some kind of agreement to drive the observers crazy.. What’s going on? Alexander Wang, Stefano Pilati.. In between the whole buzz about Raf Simons. Shock and regret to wave goodbye to Alber Elbaz leaving Lanvin, speculation, rumors and guesses about the future of Hedi Slimane. While in case of the first events we reacted strongly, discussing, wondering and questioning, now it feels…
