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GLOSSY

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A tale of 2 luxury sandals: Prada's and Chanel's footwear buzz reflects the brands' businesses, for worse and for better

In this week’s Luxury Briefing, I dig into Prada Group’s earnings as it deals with its Prada Kolhapuri scandal backlash, with comments from analysts on how Prada and Miu Miu are trying to revitalize while retail sales slip. Also, a look at a new Cubitts-led AI audio launch and a newly formed Irish luxury group. For tips or comments, email me at zofia@glossy.coPrada’s attempt to move past last year’s Kolhapuri sandal backlash has resulted in an awkward moment.On April 27, Prada launched Kolhapuri...
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Welcome to the golden age of thrifting

At eBay’s recent New York activation, shoppers couldn’t enter unless they listed an item for resale.The three-day event, which ran April 17–19, required attendees to upload something from their own closet before they could browse a selection curated by tastemakers, including New York Times writer Emilia Petrarca. The premise reflects how people are increasingly approaching fashion purchases. Listing, reselling and browsing secondhand options are becoming part of the same process, often happening...
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Luxury Briefing: How DeMellier is increasing demand while doing less

For this week’s Luxury Briefing, I spoke with DeMellier founder Mireia Llusia-Lindh about how the cult U.K. bag brand is leaning into craftsmanship and alternative materials to build loyalty in a tougher luxury market. Also, why Anya Hindmarch partnered with Sweet’N Low, and interesting takes from EssilorLuxottica and Moncler earnings. For tips or comments, email me at zofia@glossy.coAs growth slows across the luxury sector and aspirational shoppers pull back, brands are under increasing pressur...
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Nike’s marathon billboard backlash inspires new Asics and Ecco campaigns

Following Nike’s Boston Marathon backlash, competitors jumped on the opportunity to define “movement” on their own terms, beyond the marathon run.In the days leading up to Monday’s Boston Marathon, Nike installed a series of signs near its Newbury Street store, including one that read, “Runners welcome, walkers tolerated.” The message drew immediate criticism online, with runners calling out the wording as exclusionary, particularly given how common it is for participants at all levels to walk p...
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Uniqlo bets on neighborhood stores to scale US growth, starting in New York

Uniqlo is reworking its New York retail strategy, shifting from flagship-led growth to a network of neighborhood stores designed to capture daily foot traffic and repeat visits.In recent weeks, the company has opened stores in Bryant Park, Williamsburg and Union Square, building out a more functional, citywide presence.“If you look at Uniqlo’s New York strategy, you see the evolution from global flagships at Fifth Avenue and Soho to more neighborhood-based stores,” said Nicolas Cessot, head of m...
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At Coachella, Gap’s Hoodie House drove over 1 million views, a 5,000% search spike and packed lines during Weekend 1

Gap’s Hoodie House Coachella debut brought the kind of visibility most brands are chasing in their festival activations, especially as the event becomes more crowded. Coachella draws an average of 125,000 attendees per day, or about 375,000 visitors across a single weekend, making it one of the most concentrated brand marketing environments of the year. This year, attendees are even trying to manifest their way in. Hoodie House is Gap’s Coachella pop-up, where people can buy and customize the br...
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Luxury Briefing: Kering’s brand-by-brand reset, from Gucci to McQueen

This week for the Luxury Briefing, I tuned in to Kering’s Capital Markets Day, where CEO Luca de Meo laid out a detailed plan to reset each of the house’s brands, from Gucci’s product overhaul to McQueen’s store cuts. Also, ShopMy is betting on text-a-human styling, and Kendra Scott is shaking up its executive team. Plus, news to know. For tips or comments, email me at zofia@glossy.co.Kering’s reset under Luca de Meo is specific: fewer products, fewer stores and a much tighter definition of what...
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At Capital Markets Day, Kering outlines next step for beauty business, L’Oréal partnership

Kering is putting beauty at the center of its next phase of growth, but not in the way many expected.At its Capital Markets Day in Florence on Thursday, the group made clear that beauty will sit within “Kering Next,” a newly defined division focused on expanding into adjacent categories and unlocking long-term value beyond fashion. The move formalizes what has been building over the past few years: Beauty is no longer a licensing afterthought; it’s a strategic lever tied to scale, distribution a...
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Kering’s $3.9 billion quarter shows Gucci isn’t fixed yet

On Tuesday, Kering reported first-quarter revenue of €3.57 billion, or roughly $3.9 billion, down 6% on a reported basis and flat on a comparable basis. The numbers point to stabilization at the group level, but the story remains unchanged. Gucci is still the problem, accounting for roughly 38% of Kering’s sales, and the turnaround is not landing fast enough.The contrast with LVMH, which reported earnings on April 13, is sharp. The group reported €19.1 billion ($20.7 billion) in revenue for the...
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Why bridal retailers are jumping into AI shopping before the model is proven

Retailers are moving quickly to lean into AI-powered shopping — even as the path from discovery to purchase inside chat remains inconsistent.David’s Bridal is the latest to act. On April 13, the retailer launched on Shopify’s “agentic storefronts,” enabling customers to discover products, receive recommendations and initiate purchases directly within platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. The integration includes real-time inventory, structured product listings with images, pricing and cu...
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For Mother's Day, Kendra Scott invests in its largest influencer activation to date

Kendra Scott is expanding its approach to Mother’s Day.On April 13, the jewelry brand debuted “Mark It: Jewelry for the Moments That Matter,” a social-led campaign fronted by Sara Foster, co-founder of Favorite Daughter and co-host of The World’s First Podcast. Spanning TikTok, YouTube, Meta and Pinterest, the effort includes more than 200 video assets featuring Foster alongside dozens of creators, marking the company’s largest influencer activation to date.According to a 2026 report from influe...
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Luxury Briefing: Luxury brands proceed with retail plans in the Middle East

For this week’s Luxury Briefing, I spoke to Trevor Hardy, CMO at Chanel-owned Orlebar Brown, about how the brand is strategizing around the luxury travel circuit. Also, an update on Saks, insights into Brunello Cucinelli’s earnings, and new executive moves at Tiffany & Co. and Fear of God. For comments or tips, email me at zofia@glossy.co.Luxury stocks jumped this week after a fragile ceasefire in Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz and eased pressure on global oil markets. After the ceasefire wa...
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At Coachella, festival fashion and brand activations get modern updates

This is an episode of the Glossy Fashion Podcast, which features candid conversations about how today’s trends are shaping the future of the fashion industry. More from the series →This story is based on insights from the April 10 episode of the Glossy Fashion Podcast, featuring international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska, editor-in-chief Jill Manoff and The Cut fashion news writer Danya Issawi. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • SpotifyCoachella returns to Indio, California, across two weekends, April 10...
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Cotopaxi taps FP Movement to bring its outdoor gear into everyday wardrobes

On April 9, Cotopaxi launched a limited-edition capsule with FP Movement. The goal is to expand its reach beyond traditional outdoor customers to a more style-conscious audience.The four-piece collection centers on accessories, including a travel pack, a messenger-style bag and a five-panel hat, which retail for $45-$150. All pieces come from categories that drive the bulk of Cotopaxi’s business — gear and packs account for roughly 60% of the company’s revenue, with travel packs being its No. 1...
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Origins' and Saie's new initiatives reflect a change in beauty's approach to sustainability

As Los Angeles braces for a hotter summer and tree canopy gaps widen across the city, Origins is rethinking its sustainability approach.On Wednesday, the brand announced a new partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation focused on urban tree planting, student programs and local climate projects. Since 2009, Origins has helped plant more than 2.5 million trees globally, but the new initiative expands beyond reforestation to include local infrastructure and education.Sustainability has become harder...
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Luxury Briefing: Shanghai Fashion Week draws global attention again as China bounces back

In this week’s Luxury Briefing, I interview designer Susan Fang ahead of her Shanghai Fashion Week show, as local presenting brands focus on a variety of growth strategies. Also, an HSBC forecast for 2026 luxury growth; executive moves at Carven, Valentino and Kering; and news to know. For comments or tips, email me at zofia@glossy.coShanghai Fashion Week ran from March 25 to April 1, drawing a stronger international turnout than in recent seasons. International buyers and editors returned to th...
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Macy’s reset: Bloomingdale’s momentum, beauty bets and the new department store model

This is an episode of the Glossy Fashion Podcast, which features candid conversations about how today’s trends are shaping the future of the fashion industry. More from the series →Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • SpotifyOn this week’s episode of the Glossy Podcast, international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska is joined by senior beauty reporter Emily Jensen to unpack Macy’s latest earnings and what they signal for the future of department stores amid the Saks bankruptcy. Macy’s reported $7.6 billion in...
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Exclusive: Fenty Beauty launches WhatsApp AI advisor as messaging becomes beauty’s next commerce channel

Fenty Beauty is taking its community-first strategy into messaging. On Wednesday, the Fenty Beauty brand launched “Rose Amber,” an AI-powered beauty advisor built for WhatsApp, marking its first formal partnership with the platform in the U.S.The experience allows users to chat directly with the brand in Whatsapp to get product recommendations, tutorials and reviews in a conversational format. It is designed to feel like texting a friend.“We’ve always wanted to partner with Meta more deeply,” sa...
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The 'Love Story' effect: Calvin Klein’s '90s reset drives demand for PVH

PVH is getting an unexpected boost from television.On Tuesday’s fourth-quarter earnings call, CEO Stefan Larsson pointed to the cultural impact of “Love Story”, the Hulu series that has reignited interest in Carolyn Bessette Kennedy-era style and, with it, Calvin Klein’s 1990s aesthetic. “It’s almost impossible to have a conversation about Calvin right now without ‘Love Story,’” he said on the call.And the timing of the series launch couldn’t be better for the brand’s results. PVH beat its fourt...
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Mejuri builds on its fastest-selling collection, with most shoppers buying 3 products

When Mejuri launched its Puzzle stacking rings last year, the collection quickly outperformed expectations. Within months, it became the brand’s fastest-selling product to date, driven in large part by how customers shop it. Rather than purchasing a single ring, 60% of shoppers buy three or more at once, turning the collection into a repeat purchase driver from the outset.On March 31, the brand built on that momentum. Mejuri expanded the Puzzle collection into sterling silver and introduced modu...
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Stitch Fix is targeting people mid-transition, from GLP-1 users to newly divorced men

For many consumers, getting dressed has become more complicated, not less.Weight-loss drugs are reshaping bodies faster than wardrobes can keep up. Dating apps are putting new pressure on how people present themselves. And in parts of the U.S., access to fashion retail is disappearing altogether.For Stitch Fix, those moments of friction are turning into opportunity. As the styling service works to reposition itself after a multi-year reset, CEO Matt Baer is betting less on traditional fashion de...
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The Glossy Podcast: As Middle East conflict escalates, luxury faces mounting pressure

This is an episode of the Glossy Fashion Podcast, which features candid conversations about how today’s trends are shaping the future of the fashion industry. More from the series →Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • SpotifyOn this week’s episode of the Glossy Podcast, senior fashion reporter Danny Parisi and international reporter Zofia Zwieglinska are joined by Achim Berg, founder of the fashion and luxury think tank FashionSights and former senior partner at McKinsey, to unpack how escalating conflic...
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Lancôme gets serious about longevity with new skin-care line

Longevity has quickly become one of beauty’s most crowded areas, fueled by demand for preventative health, supplements and clinic treatments. Now, Lancôme is making its play, and it’s doing so in a way that puts its claims under immediate scrutiny.On March 27, the brand will unveil its Absolue Longevity MD range at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Denver. The launch will coincide with the introduction of a Longevity MD Advisors Board, including David Luu, Tiffany Moon, Gabri...
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Luxury Briefing: In a volatile Middle East, the $250,000 bag charm is catching on

This week, I spoke with designer and founder of Bag Bijoux Ashna Mehta about why high jewelry is moving onto handbags. As charm culture scales at the entry level, a new category is emerging at the top end, shaped by Middle Eastern demand and ultra-wealthy clients. Also, Thom Browne x Asics and the Karla Otto Fall-Winter 2026 report. For tips or comments, email me at zofia@glossy.co.A new category is emerging at the intersection of jewelry and accessories: fine jewelry designed specifically for h...
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