Sublime

Thanks to increased consumer consciousness around sustainability, the circular economy, and fair labor, resale has become fashion’s hottest sector—and brands want in. But scaling and making resale profitable isn’t easy, and with increasing competition in the space, it’s only going to get harder. 

Summary: Size inclusivity is impeding Zara’s faster growth in the US market, a challenge that they are likely aware of. As of September 2021, Zara’s reported revenue is 11.84 BN euros in the first half of the year. This represents 49 percent YoY growth. Net profit for the same period was 1.27 BN euros. Zara’s estimated web sales are $5-$10BN, with ... See more

Proenza Schouler’s first big business win was the launch of its PS1 bag. Introduced in 2008 on the back of an investment, the schoolboy satchel — often rendered in a matte, worn-in leather — became a foundational piece in the wardrobes of thousands of women. For several years following the launch, the bag accounted for 80 percent of handbag sales, ... See more

Changes in retail are often a result of larger societal changes. Fashion insiders also have a responsibility to mitigate a growing problem. But until those larger changes occur, circular fashion (and sustainability as a whole) is just window dressing. As organic fabrics begin to adopt many of the technical capabilities of their new-aged counterpart... See more

To understand the current state of industry, you must consider the last shift of this magnitude in fashion retail. The boom of plastics in fashion retail closely resembles the turn-of-the-century availability of cotton-based goods in urban areas. Between 1840 and 1920, a number of developments accelerated fashion consumerism to unforeseen heights.

“Instead of a siloed system, [imagine] there’s multiple brands building on top of designs, and then those designs are being forked into different things,” Angelo says. The unsustainable season-by-season overhaul would give way to designers releasing remixes of their creations and those of others, while smart contracts ensure that creators can share... See more