The Business of Fashion’s Post

A $2.65 billion merger of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus Group, two of America’s largest department stores, with involvement from Amazon and Salesforce, is a bet that scale and technology can breathe new life into an ailing business model. Read more. https://lnkd.in/ecUngVJb

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Maria Sharapova's first Wimbledon title, The Business of Fashion hosted an intimate dinner together with Aman Essentials. Imran Amed and Aman Essentials CEO, Kristina Romanova co-hosted the dinner at The Twenty Two, London yesterday evening. Guests included HRH Princess Beatrice, Malala Yousafzai, Rita Ora, Taika Waititi, Idris Elba, Sabrina Elba, Daniel Lee, Emilia Wickstead, Sonam Kapoor, Jefferson Hack and more. 📷 Getty

Diane von Furstenberg and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy sit down with BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed to discuss the new documentary “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge” and the lessons they learned in creating it. Listen now.

While it remains to be seen if there’s consensus across member states to take action, the effort adds to the growing momentum of protectionism against Chinese companies as its cheaper goods threaten local producers. Read more.

BAGGU and COLLINA STRADA are the most recent targets of ire among consumers opposed to the use of generative AI designs, and they won’t be the last. What does it mean for an industry that has already embraced the innovation with open arms? Read more

One/Size and IGK Hair are evaluating their next steps. As 2024 revenues are projected to reach $115 million for One/Size and $80 million for IGK, Miami-based brand incubator Luxury Brand Partners, LLC Partners has tapped investment bank The Sage Group, LLC (US) Group as a financial advisor. One/Size, created in partnership with O.G. YouTube influencer Patrick Starrr, and IGK Hair have seen considerable growth as of late. One/Size's business has quadrupled in the last two years, while IGK Hair grew its direct to consumer sales by nine times between 2021 and 2023, said Luxury Brand Partners founder and chief executive Tev Finger. Before founding LBP, Finger got his start at Bumble and Bumble, which later sold to the Estée Lauder Companies in 2000. The company had a continued track record of getting deals done in the late 2010s – it sold Becca Cosmetics to ELC and hair care label Oribe to Kao in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Now, Finger said both One/Size and IGK Hair are carefully weighing a number of options. BoF's Daniela Morosini has the scoop on how LBP has scaled One/Size and IGK Hair and what it is looking for next.

The brands that are most understood by their customers are those that maintain consistent codes even in the face of changing trends, according to the latest reading from The BoF Brand Magic Index, powered by Quilt.AI. Read more.

Owner LVMH has appointed Louis Vuitton executive Alessandro Valenti GIVENCHY’s new chief, opening a ‘new chapter’ for the French couture house as the industry awaits a successor to former designer Matthew Williams. Read more.

Looking for a new role in fashion? Tapestry, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, Coach and more are hiring: Visual Merchandising Manager at Tapestry: https://lnkd.in/evFjQkBV Digital Commerce Senior Manager at Kate Spade: https://lnkd.in/eHmR_qXZ Retention Marketing Senior Manager at Stuart Weitzman: https://lnkd.in/e7Dncafp Sustainability Operations Associate Manager at Coach: https://lnkd.in/eZr6-v4Y #Careers

BoF speaks to five BIPOC designers based in New York, LA, Chicago and London on the non-profit’s Brand Fellowship programme to learn more about how RAISEfashion’s educational programming, network and financial resources are helping them strategically grow their businesses across the US and further afield.