Retail Random Roundup - Sarah's Retail Diary
A full grab bag of fashion and retail news round-up this week. Retail news, Fall Fashion Trends and a bunch of new fun collabs announced this week.
This Week's Topics:
Sustainability in Fashion
Gap makes headlines
Retail News Round-Up
New launches, collabs & fundraising
Fall Fashion Trends
What else I ❤️️
Sustainability in Fashion
The biggest news in fashion/retail worth talking about right now is Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard announcing that all profits from the brand will now be put into a trust for the environment. Compare that to funding personal rocket ships.
Rothy’s launches a recycling program for future credit on new purchases.
Puma is launching a new sustainable collection made with 20% - 100% recycled materials. Puma aims to use 75% recycled polyester for all of its clothing and accessories by 2025.
Gap makes headlines
There is more Yeezy Gap drama. Yeezy and Gap are ending what was supposed to be a 10 year partnership. They are only about 2 years into the partnership.
Surprising very few, the reason for the breakup, "“Simply put...while we share a vision of bringing high-quality, trend-forward, utilitarian design to all people through unique omni experiences with Yeezy Gap, how we work together to deliver this vision is not aligned,” said the email, which was sent to Gap Inc. employees by Mark Breitbard, president and chief executive of the Gap brand. “We are deciding to wind down the partnership.”" as quoted in the Business of Fashion.
Other Gap news, while they continue to work on a turn around for the total Gap organization, a layoff impacting about 500 employees has been announced.
Retail News Roundup
Love this @stylenotcom roundup of the Fendi Baguette 25th Anniversary Show during NYFW.
And Tiffany's collab on a Tiffany's blue Fendi Baguette. Did you spot the mini baguette? It is so adorable.
To push DTC acceleration, Ralph Lauren is opening 250 stores in the next 3 years. This sounds more like a push for small format stores to support BOPIS and returns.
Tibi Founder/Designer/Creative Director Amy Smilovic is celebrating 25 years in the business. I love to follow Smilovic, for style advice and how to put together looks with a personal touch - check out her instagram here.
New launches, collabs & fundraising
Launched:
Eloquii is launching a bridal collection. A 50 piece collection sizes 14 and above.
C. Wonder is bringing on Christian Siriano to be the Creative Director to launch future collections.
Let's call this a launch, Founder and Jewelry Designer Kendra Scott has a book that came out this week. Born to Shine. WSJ has an article/interview with Kendra Scott on growing her business with a focus on sisterhood, college/Bama Rush and accessibility.
Collabed:
Obsessed!! La Ligne for Target!!
Read more about the upcoming Target collabs (Sergio Hudson and Kika Vargas in addition to La Ligne) from Vogue and from Fashionista.
$ Raised:
Hill House Home (aka the Nap Dress) has raised $20 million This week founder Nell Diamond has been sharing in Instagram Stories as she visits possible locations for new stores. She was touring Charleston, SC this week.
Fall Fashion Trends
Last Retail Diary I included a section on my favorite sweater style for Fall. High-end Khaite and how a 2019 trend inspired a 2022 Gap Sweater (now out in black. And yes, I ordered this color too.) I want to share a few other fashion trends you should know about.
Stripes! Stripes are always in style, but here are some fresh styles that can't be missed:
Toteme and the Gap Version.
Similar vibes from Zara.
More Zara stripes here.
Khaite high-end stripes (here too) and the polo stripes look for less at Zara.
And on your feet:
Loafers are looking chunky. I love this round-up from Fashion Influencer Alicia Lund.
The Zippered Row Boot from LY is sticking around and now there is this cute Freda Salvador Rain boot version that shouldn't only be worn in inclement weather.
Uggs - this is more a retail/business strategy comment. Each year early in the Fall season Ugg's strategy has been to get a model or celeb photographed in a new style of Ugg. To drive the demand for a new fresh pair. This year Bella Hadid had papparazzi snap her wearing these Uggs so now they are going viral and will be selling out. LY Bella's sister Gigi helped the Tazz slipper go viral.
This hair style, has been all over style and pop culture news this week. The flip bun, the pony bun, the bun pony....a few different names. Incredibly easy to recreate on your own (it is my every day workout hairstyle.)
What else I ❤️️
Love, love, love this round-up. It is like a fashion history lesson and I agree with so many of these. The 25 most influential postwar women's wear collections from the NYTimes with an expert fashion panel. What I love is that the designers whole career doesn't have to be a stand out (many are) but this is outlining the single collection that feels like it was a change in the direction of fashion.
Love that catalogs are a thing again. Below is a photo of my mail from a recent weekday.
My friend shared an update I wanted to pass along - End of summer sale with Dawne Florine x Janie & Jack
DTC Retail Mail
What's Next?
Fashion Week is now in Europe and I can't wait to see what excitement comes from Paris.
Thanks for reading Edition 119.
Sarah Shapiro
Written by Sarah Shapiro, a retail and digital merchandising leader, consultant and owner of Rosie Bold. Interested in all things fashion, CPG (consumer packaged goods), fitness & consumer disruptors. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. You can contact me through my website here.