Fashion Month and Smart glasses gaining traction
Digest #9 Who Won in the FW debuts, Girl Math and the launch of Ray-Ban Meta and Echo Frames.
Fashion
"Girl Math" is more than a meme.It's about how Gen-Z and Millennials approach spending, especially in luxury.
From Cost-Per-Wear calculations to justifying splurges, it's reshaping consumer behavior and even influencing fintech trends while giving way to a new generation of collectors focused on craftsmanship.
These individuals place a premium on heritage, quality, and the brand narrative. As we highlighted in our previous digest, the power of storytelling cannot be underestimated.
Who Won the Fashion Month debuts?
Peter Hawkings at Tom Ford: His collection was consistent with the brand's identity but did not indicate any significant changes or forward-looking elements.
Sabato De Sarno at Gucci: Well-received for its wearability and mass appeal. The collection also positively impacted Kering’s share price.
Daniel Lee at Burberry: Lee's second collection. While the collection had a darker, grungier tone, it was criticized for its high price tags and lack of accessories.
Upcoming Talent: Seán McGirr, formerly of JW Anderson, is set to take over from Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. His appointment has generated some controversy.
Tom Ford / Gucci / Burberry
Must Read Reports:
Shoplifting has become a growing issue in various markets. It’s not a US problem. In the UK, businesses lost $2.13 billion last year, with a 27% spike in thefts.
In response to this:
H&M is hiring additional security staff.
Zara found that the shoplifters had successfully outsmarted its newly implemented security system.
Primark along with other retailers, is taking a unique approach by equipping their staff with body cameras to deter theft.
One of the most underrated issues in retail theft is internal: employees stealing from their stores. This accounts for nearly 29% of all loss-related shrinkage.
Boohoo facing challenges. Reported a 17% revenue drop in its 2023 H1 to £729.1 million. Additionally, has downgraded its guidance due to weakened consumer demand and the need to lower prices amid Shein pressure (to reach 2.2% market share in the UK).
Meanwhile:
Ralph Lauren is stepping down as a CEO.
Moncler X Adidas Originals Collection.
Mango shuts down its marketplace after two years of operation.
Prada to design the spacesuits NASA Artemis III mission to the moon.
Peloton and Lululemon partner for apparel and fitness, following #LULU layoffs and discontinuation of mirror product line.
Bucherer exclusive partnership with Mytheresa for its fine jewellery.
Tous hires Rothschild to strategize growth and plan for Partners Group exit.
Pandora partners with BFC's Fashion Awards and sees a 7-9% CAGR by 2026.
ASOS sales fell -13% in Q4, but the CEO says it's on the right path.
Coty makes debut on Paris stock to strengthen European presence.
Golden Goose takes a step towards 2024 IPO at a US $10 billion valuation.
Fashion Tech
Smart glasses are gaining traction in the fashion industry, with multimodal AI significantly enhancing their capabilities beyond mere visual augmentation and blending technology with fashion, making them a stylish accessories.
This goes beyond simple visual cues to include voice commands, touch gestures, and even contextual awareness, making the glasses more versatile and functional:
Meta has launched new eyewear, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses with an embedded AI assistant, blending style, and tech.
Amazon is also making waves with its Alexa-enabled smart glasses Echo Frames, offering seven new styles in collaboration with Carrera.
Echo Frames / Ray-Bay Meta
One last bite:
Louis Vuitton lands on Discord for its treasure NFT Trunk holders.
Maybelline ups its Reddit investment after experiencing high engagement and enters Roblox.
Mango launches Lisa, the company’s own generative AI platform.
Snap to close AR division for enterprises months after launch.
Hugo Boss is creating workwear for the metaverse.
Until next time.Thanks for reading.
