Angelic Vendette

By empowering brands to create inclusive environments and advocating for diverse talent to not only access the fashion industry, but thrive in it, my goal is to be a catalyst for true progress. Read more from my feature in Vogue Business as one of this years’ 100 Innovators. DPK Inclusion Consulting & Coaching #VB100 #VogueBusiness #Fashion #Luxury #DEI #DEIConsultant #Coach

64

2 Comments

Ulta Beauty crafts AI-driven suggestions with Rokt 🔥 Ulta Beauty’s UB Media, started in 2022, now partners with 300 brands, growing brand investment by 35% annually. Through a new partnership with Rokt, Ulta uses #AI to showcase personalized ads from brands like Hulu and PayPal to 44 million loyalty members while they shop. Rokt’s AI adjusts ad displays, sometimes suggesting Ulta app installs or Rewards sign-ups instead of ads, making the experience feel more personalized. Retail media is set to hit $166 billion by 2025, and Ulta’s AI-focused approach aims to build customer loyalty while staying ahead in a crowded market. #AI #FashionBusiness #BeautyBusiness #AImarketing #AIads #CustomerLoyalty

11

1 Comment

Bloomingdale’s new CEO, Olivier Bron, is redefining the future of American department stores, and it’s about more than just shopping. Apparently, the key to reviving ailing department stores isn’t reinvention—the recipe is excitement, experience, a dash of newness, and mix. Think giant tomatoes, meatball-making classes, and denim collaborations with pizza joints. Perhaps nothing says luxury retail like cramming in carbs while shopping for $1,000 jackets. To be fair to Mr. Bron, since Marvin Traub’s leadership, Bloomingdale's has been about elevated experiences, themed events, and product and brand newness. Traub joined Bloomies in the 1950s and managed as if the company had its own foreign policy. He saluted China, Italy, France, Portugal, Ireland, and Israel with lavish productions that featured not only traditional furnishings, clothing, and gourmet foods but also displays of artifacts from antiquity, glittering dinner parties, and guest lists that included ambassadors, business titans, movie stars, presidents’ wives and sometimes royalty. Bron joins Bloomingdales from Parisian luxury retailer, Galeries Lafayette. Since taking on the CEO role at Bloomingdale's last fall, Olivier Bron has rolled out a growth strategy to modernize stores and tailor them to their respective markets. This strategy includes enhancing shop-in-shops, embracing smaller brands, organizing events with brand partners, and fostering unexpected collaborations. Bron wants to bring back the “joy of shopping” through elaborate pop-up events, revamping stores with more lighting, and investing in smaller avant-garde and smaller brands, including rag & bone and LUCALI. The goal? Surprise customers every time they walk in the door. And maybe, just maybe, convince them they’re not just there to spend money. Although, for the strategy to succeed, they must spend money before leaving. Joy, inspiration, and personalized, immersive experience are differentiators in a world where department stores are closing faster than you can say “Amazon.” Bloomingdale’s aims to be more than a destination for luxury—it wants to be a place where newness happens, where creativity thrives, and where customers feel welcomed into a casual, accessible, yet chic atmosphere. Recent months have witnessed significant consolidation in the luxury multi-brand market, highlighted by Saks Fifth Avenue merging with Neiman Marcus Group, and Mytheresa acquiring YOOX Net-a-Porter from Richemont. Should Bron succeed in his intended refresh, Bloomingdale’s could distinguish itself from its competitors. Can Olivier Bron bring back the magic, the revenues, and the profit to Bloomingdales with moments that customers can’t find anywhere else? Time will tell. I hope so… #retail #brands #businessmodels #strategy #innovation #departmentstores The Business of Fashion The Wall Street Journal

76

10 Comments

BeyoncéxLevi’s: Ceci n’est pas une collab! At the launch of Beyoncé's new album, one of the tracks was entitled "Levii's Jeans". Michelle Gass, CEO of Levi's® Footwear & Accessories, assured that the mention of the name was "completely spontaneous" and that the company "had nothing to do with it" in an interview with Bloomberg. But at the close of trading on Friday, the company's shares had already gained 31% since the start of the year, outperforming the S&P 500 index. Analysing our powerful data at Livetrend.co, we can see how #denim is always a must have for September drops. Representing 8% of global product range for men and 7% of women assortment. In the clip, #Beyoncé is wearing the iconic straight-leg jeans and we can see how the e-com assortment is mirroring her choice: For women, straight leg represent 18% of the range, followed by slim 17% and then skinny jeans at 15% and wide leg at 12%… Do you want to know more how to capitalise on denim for your collections? Ask for a demo via the link in the first comment! https://lnkd.in/eSQN7MUE

7

1 Comment

Today over on my Substack, I’m exploring the intersection of cultural cachet—the intangible prestige and social relevance a brand holds within society—Gen Z’s evolving luxury preferences, and why so many sustainable brands are missing the mark. 👀 I dive into why consumers are choosing brands like Revolve and Skims over sustainable options and how sustainability-focused brands can break into the mainstream by tapping into the same emotional and social drivers while staying true to their core values of environmental responsibility and ethical production. I also discuss Everlane’s new CEO, Alfred Chang, formerly of Fear of God. While both brands focus on minimalist basics, Fear of God has built incredible cultural cachet and exclusivity, making it highly desirable. Chang’s experience in creating that cultural relevance could position Everlane to reach a new level of influence and desirability. Will Everlane evolve toward a more fashion-forward, culturally relevant vision, or stick to its minimalist, basics-driven ethos? I’m definitely watching to see if they can break through! Plus, I touch on how early consumer habits complicate the shift toward sustainability later in life. With new legislation in the U.S. and abroad restricting children's access to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, industry experts expect brands to shift toward more traditional marketing methods or explore platforms like Twitch and Roblox to reach younger audiences... but should they? Oh, and I throw a little shade at a New York Times article on individual vs. corporate action… but just a little. 😏 Come hang out and join the conversation! 🤓🧠: https://lnkd.in/g8MEQxh7

40

4 Comments

Today over on my Substack, I’m exploring the intersection of cultural cachet—the intangible prestige and social relevance a brand holds within society—Gen Z’s evolving luxury preferences, and why so many sustainable brands are missing the mark. 👀 I dive into why consumers are choosing brands like Revolve and Skims over sustainable options and how sustainability-focused brands can break into the mainstream by tapping into the same emotional and social drivers while staying true to their core values of environmental responsibility and ethical production. I also discuss Everlane’s new CEO, Alfred Chang, formerly of Fear of God. While both brands focus on minimalist basics, Fear of God has built incredible cultural cachet and exclusivity, making it highly desirable. Chang’s experience in creating that cultural relevance could position Everlane to reach a new level of influence and desirability. Will Everlane evolve toward a more fashion-forward, culturally relevant vision, or stick to its minimalist, basics-driven ethos? I’m definitely watching to see if they can break through! Plus, I touch on how early consumer habits complicate the shift toward sustainability later in life. With new legislation in the U.S. and abroad restricting children's access to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, industry experts expect brands to shift toward more traditional marketing methods or explore platforms like Twitch and Roblox to reach younger audiences... but should they? Oh, and I throw a little shade at a New York Times article on individual vs. corporate action… but just a little. 😏 Come hang out and join the conversation! 🤓🧠: https://lnkd.in/g8MEQxh7 (Yes, I posted this already. Yes, this is a test to see what image performs better. Yes, I'll write about this at some point. 😅 Yes, I love my community!)

48

5 Comments

Would love to head back to SXSW with one of my favorites - Chris Anthony of Gallery Media Group! 🗳 Vote for our panels if you're interested in the evolution of experiential and the future of social commerce within the beauty industry and beyond! Experiential Alchemy: Turning Moments into Lasting Loyalty https://lnkd.in/ePsNZHJC 📝 In today's rapidly changing digital world, brands are no longer just selling products; they're creating cultural moments and establishing trends. Discover how industry-leading beauty brands and publishers are harnessing the power of unique, immersive experiences to forge deep emotional connections with their audiences, foster vibrant communities, and establish brand loyalty. Social Shopping: Is It Here to Stay? https://lnkd.in/erxAeB3P 📝 In the digital age where consumer behavior has taken many forms, social shopping has emerged as a powerful trend, with platforms like TikTok and Instagram leading the charge. But is this just a trend? Or can brands and platforms establish this as a permanent strategy within their marketing playbooks? Hear more as we explore the potential of social shopping and how brands and publishers can finally master the art of social and product conversion.

39

4 Comments

Big day for the sustainable fashion community! Attn: all apparel brands with $1M+ in California sales… California just passed the Responsible Textile Recovery Act, a groundbreaking bill that sets the stage for extended producer responsibility (EPR). This new legislation will ensure that producers take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products, reducing waste and increasing secondhand + recycling rates across the state. Each producer must join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to ensure the collection, transportation, repair, reselling, sorting, and recycling of their products. Fines for non-compliance will be $10k-$50k per day. California means business. This is a HUGE step toward a more circular economy. Regulation + innovation is the recipe for change. We're here to help. Treet can help brands navigate this transition to build custom take-back, resale, and recycling programs to get ahead of what's coming.

263

33 Comments

The resale market for the most exclusive sneakers has grown exponentially in recent years. It is a dynamic ecosystem where the culture of collecting and fashion merges with complex market strategies. Supply and demand determine prices and availability, but luck also plays an important role. After dedicating himself to sourcing the best sneakers to resell them on specialized platforms such as StockX and GOAT, David Camprubi Buxeda decided to focus entirely on his company Newcop Store, which had a turnover of almost 6 million euros at the end of its last financial year in 2023. How has your business model evolved from digital to physical channels?

13

Off-White, the brand Virgil Abloh built into a cultural movement, has been sold by LVMH to Bluestar Alliance. This transition marks a new chapter, prompting important questions about where Off-White is headed and what happens when a brand loses its founding creative force. Off-White was born in 2012, embodying a unique vision—a fusion of streetwear and luxury. Virgil Abloh’s innovative approach made Off-White a beacon for the new generation. In 2021, LVMH acquired a majority stake, aiming to elevate its luxury positioning. But months later, Abloh tragically passed away, and the brand’s creative direction wavered. Since then, Off-White has moved through multiple hands—LVMH, New Guards Group, and now Bluestar Alliance. Each transition highlights the challenges faced by a brand whose essence was deeply tied to its founder’s vision. Unlike heritage brands like Louis Vuitton or Dior, which have decades to solidify their identity, Off-White is still young. Without Abloh’s vision, it lacked the deep historical roots to sustain its cultural relevance. This highlights an uncomfortable truth: when initial creative flair is lost, especially for a brand without long-term heritage, there is a high risk of dilution. Unlike LVMH’s other brands, Off-White’s story was still unfolding. The absence of Abloh left it vulnerable, and subsequent ownership changes underscore the struggle to maintain relevance without a consistent creative anchor. Bluestar Alliance, known for managing mid-market brands, has committed to continuing Abloh’s legacy. But without the founding creative mind, the essence that made Off-White revolutionary may be transformed into something more commercially scalable but less culturally profound. The sale raises broader questions: Will Off-White manage to keep its creative spirit alive, or will it become more accessible, less exclusive? Are we witnessing its transformation into something fundamentally different? What lessons can we learn about balancing creative consistency with the corporate hunger for scalability? #OffWhite #VirgilAbloh #LVMH #BluestarAlliance #LuxuryFashion #BrandIdentity #CreativeVision #CorporateStrategy #FashionIndustry #CulturalRelevance

30

8 Comments

“If you look at consumer purchasing decisions, people choose the lowest price for the best perceived quality and style,” said Elena Bridgers, who launched her slow fashion line Hera California. “That’s rational. It’s a really small segment of people who live their values when it comes to sustainable fashion.” Is there room in the market for brands that put sustainability first? Is there a market space for truly sustainable fashion or is it just a dream of a few? Who can change this industry to be more sustainable for all the consumers? Will only the rules imposed by legislators be able to do it? What will be the role of the DPP in the evolution of a more sustainable fashion industry? #Sustainablefashion #sustainability #traceability #circularity Arcangelo D'Onofrio Natasha Franck Laure Betsch Martina Schiuma Romain Carrere Francesco Pieri Guido Mengoni Alois Bertona Gianpaolo Azzini Veronica Monni Amit Gautam Matthieu Hug Shameek Ghosh Jason McIntosh Piero Puttini Carlo Giardinetti, MBA giorgio macor

78

3 Comments

Luxury and fashion are experiencing profound challenges—economic pressures, shifting consumer expectations, and the pressing need for sustainable practices. This new landscape demands creativity, responsibility, and a proactive approach from every brand. Today, more than ever, brands must innovate, not only in aesthetics but in delivering authentic value. Generative AI is revolutionizing this approach by empowering design teams to experiment, iterate, and break new ground. imki | Augmented Creativity is at the forefront of this transformation, offering tailor-made AI solutions that amplify creativity while safeguarding and empowering proprietary data. Through bespoke AI, we help brands push creative boundaries responsibly, equipping them to stay agile and accountable in these times of change. Let’s shape the future of luxury and fashion together, where creativity and responsibility are truly aligned. DM for more information. Image generated by imki AI designers.

33

🌟 What happens when you mix fashion and tech? You get the #VogueBusiness and #Google #AI Summit 🌟 Very honored to be invited to the summit on Friday at Google France offices in Paris. The event was an incredible platform to explore how #ArtificialIntelligence is revolutionizing the luxury industry. Here are some key highlights and insights from the event: 🎤 Summit speakers: Axel de Goursac: Director of AI Factory, LVMH Group Joëlle Barral: Senior Director of Research and Engineering, Google DeepMind Yasmin Topia: CEO, Sociate AI Maxime Patte: CEO and Co-Founder, Veesual Lucas Patricot: Co-Founder, FAUME Audrey-Laure Bergenthal: CEO and Founder, EUVEKA Moderated by: Anusha Couttigane: Head of Advisory, Vogue Business Maghan McDowell: Senior Innovation Editor, Vogue Business Laure Guilbault: Paris correspondent, Vogue Business SUMMIT INSIGHTS: #Fashion and #Technology Integration: 🧵 88% of luxury shoppers engage with brands on 5+ digital platforms 🧵 60% expect more AI engagement in fashion over the next three years 🧵 AI is seen to improve brand craftsmanship (50%) and make designers more forward-thinking (53%) #Segmentation in #AIAdoption: 🌌 Purists (60%): Value authenticity and craftsmanship 🌌 Activists (15%): Prioritize sustainability and social impact 🌌 Expressionists (25%): Seek self-expression and unique designs #AITools and #ConsumerEngagement: 🛠️ Purists: Personalized AI recommendations (60%) 🛠️ Activists: AI enhances sustainability (50%) 🛠️ Expressionists: Unique AI-generated designs (50%) #SalesAI and #Marketing: 📊 Personalized deals can increase Purist spending by 17% 📊 Sustainable fabrics can boost Activist spending by 18% 📊 Customized design solutions can raise Expressionist spending by 16% #GenerativeAI and #Creativity: 🧠 Generative AI creates new content based on examples 🧠 Enhances customer service, design, and sustainability 🧠 AI tools can translate into 110 languages and accelerate scientific research #AIDesign and #CustomerExperience: 🤖 Joëlle Barral (Google DeepMind): AI helps in predicting protein structures, aiding drug discovery, and upcycling plastic waste for sustainability 🤖 Sociate AI: Developed the world’s fastest learning AI for fashion, enhancing online shopping experiences by learning and adapting in real-time 🤖 Euveka: Utilizes AI and robotics to create adaptive mannequins for all body types, reducing returns and improving production processes AI in #Luxury Brands: 🏆 LVMH's AI Factory: Enhances customer experience and product desirability, helping client advisors identify high-potential customers and optimize sales forecasting and logistics 🏆 Veesual: Uses AI for fashion image generation, enriching e-commerce and client engagement with tailored content 🚀 Your Turn: How is AI transforming the luxury industry? Share your thoughts in the comments! #GoogleAI #AInews #Innovation #LuxuryTech #WomeninTech #Paris #Frenchtech

53

4 Comments

One day after EssilorLuxottica announced its deal to acquire Supreme from VF Corporation, Meta, Facebook's owner, is in talks to acquire a stake of about 5% in the eyewear company. Based on recent market value, a roughly 5% stake could be valued at around $5 billion, a relatively small for Meta, given its market value of around $1.2 trillion. EssilorLuxottica makes Meta's Ray Ban smart glasses and sales of the glasses have exceeded expectations. The devices, an important part of Meta’s hardware strategy, allow users to take photos and listen to music with the frames of their glasses, among other features. Maintaining ties with Luxottica is crucial for the success of smart glasses devices and the company’s ambitions to build the so-called metaverse, which is a term used to describe people interacting in a 3-D version of the internet simultaneously. A third generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, expected to include a small screen display, is expected to be ready for consumers in time for the 2025 holiday season. The allure of Luxottica’s Ray-Ban brand is important to the success of a tech device that users are expected to wear on their faces. Luxottica’s ownership of LensCrafters, the prescription-eyewear retailer, also plays a key role in selling the Ray-Ban Meta to users who require prescription lenses. The two companies began working together several years ago for the release of the first generation Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, which went on sale in 2021. The initial device struggled to catch on with consumers, and among the glasses that were sold, only 10% of the Ray-Ban Stories were actively used by their purchasers. The second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses went on sale in September and have done significantly better than their predecessors. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses operate more quickly and have better cameras than their predecessor. The Ray-Ban Meta also includes nascent generative #AI technology that allows users to ask the device for information about the things in front of them, such as the breed of a cat. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses have proven popular for users who want to shoot hands-free videos of their children playing and first-person videos of themselves while going on roller coasters or riding bikes. Meta hasn’t said how well the Ray-Ban Meta glasses have sold, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in April that the device was doing well and that a market for that type of device was developing sooner than he would have expected. Meta sells its own devices to employees at a discount, and offers the Ray-Ban Meta glasses at a 15% discount with a limit of 3 pairs per employee. The new glasses have proven so popular internally that some employees have tried to get extra pairs from their colleagues after hitting the 3-pair limit. #strategy #technology #smartdevice https://lnkd.in/ePwG-bSc?

26

1 Comment

Accessible Luxury: Let's talk about a trending retail term, thanks to Tapestry Capri Holdings Limited merger and rising luxury prices. 🛍️Accessible Luxury: The Tantalizing Yet Risky Middle Ground 👀 I've been closely watching the rise of "accessible luxury" - that lucrative sweet spot price range of $200-$800 where brands can offer quality and style without astronomical luxury price tags. With recent acquisitions like Tapestry's pursuit of Capri putting this category under scrutiny, it's clear accessible luxury is where brands want to play. However, there are valid concerns about getting stuck in this middle ground. ⚠️ The tricky positioning: While accessible luxury fills the gap between fast fashion and true luxury, it's also a precarious place to be. In tough economic times, consumers on a budget may trade down to fast fashion, while the highest luxury spenders rarely change habits. Those stretching to buy accessible luxury risk being the ones most impacted by financial constraints. 👛 Feeling the Pricing Pinch: Brands operating in this middle tier also have less flexibility on pricing often because the quality is still very high. 💡 Curation is Key: Brands can't just haphazardly release pricier items and expect them to work. Curating an intentional collection with a true luxury aesthetic is essential. Brands like STAUD have found success through dedicated bridal lines capturing the upscale audience. There are also a number of handbag lines doing really well in the accessible luxury space: Mansur Gavriel LITTLE LIFFNER and Cuyana are a few examples. 🚀 The middle ground is always risky, but the rewards of hitting that accessible luxury sweet spot could be massive for brands that navigate it successfully. While economic conditions will continually pressure this segment, its growth potential remains stellar for those making the right investments and tradeoffs. ❓What's your perspective on the accessible luxury opportunity and challenges? I'm always eager to discuss this fascinating space. Let me know your thoughts! This article by Madeleine Schulz for Vogue Business is a great read on the Accessible Luxury space.

3

💪 How Dove stays resilient in a changing beauty landscape 💪 The beauty industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, but Dove remains a beacon of strength, boasting an 11.4% share of consumer demand vs the category average of 6.7%. With its Real Beauty campaign, Dove has turned cultural conversations into connections that resonate with consumers. In a competitive landscape filled with celebrity skincare lines and fast-moving trends, Kantar BrandSnapshot reveals how Dove’s consumer-centric approach sets it apart from competitors. 🔗 Discover how Dove has maintained its leadership in the beauty industry amidst evolving challenges. Link in the comments below 👇 #Dove #KantarBrandZ #BrandSnapshot #BrandGrowth #BrandEquity #Beauty #Skincare

2

Read about investing in fashion through the lens of culture and community in the latest article from our friend Dennis Price at ImpactAlpha And announcing the first three investments made by Upstart Co-Lab ‘s Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy: Willow Growth Partners, SoGal Ventures and True Beauty Ventures. #fashion #impactinvesting #creativeeconomy

8