If Burberry suffers, it's bad news for small labels
There’s a seductive narrative here: that buying old clothes is inherently more ethical. But the moment something becomes cool, capitalism finds a way to repackage and resell it.
Why does luxury brand Balenciaga sell a $2,000 purse modeled after a $1 blue Ikea shopping bag? What’s behind the craze for seemingly distressed and worn-out Gucci sneakers? What is Sarah Jessica Parker doing rummaging through the dusty clothes in Rome’s Via Sannio flea market? Why is Cracco, a Michelin star–winning Italian chef, using commercial p... See more
Silvia Bellezza • The Mystery of the $2,000 Ikea Shopping Bag
In a highlights reel of the past six years we’ve had: #MeToo, Brexit, Trump, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, the Capitol riots, Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis, #partygate, the protests against SARS in Nigeria, the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Taliban r... See more
marie-claire chappet • ‘What’s the point?’ syndrome, and why we all feel so disconnected right now
There’s a lot going on here at once: The materials, their recyclability, the impact that has on design, aesthetics, and performance, the “circular” concept, the pricing, the idea of renting shoes vs. owning them, the direct consumer relationship vs. buying from a local store, and of course, the subscription business model.
Dan Frommer • Would you subscribe to these shoes?
“Merch” is dead (allegedly) so people are really just going back to concept of apparel. Streetwear is no longer counter culture. Like running, it’s been a bit co-opted. Funny enough it’s the upstart running brands that have co-opted streetwear culture.
Clothes are clothes outside of high fashion at this point. High fashion are “pieces” again
In... See more
It’s been a complicated year for luxury. The sector was already grappling with slowing growth but now American tariffs have disrupted global supply chains, driven prices upwards and dented consumer confidence. But there’s another, deeper long-term challenge that the industry needs to contend with: the perceived trivialisation of high-end fashion. Some brands have been able to overcome this value erosion by placing craftsmanship at their core, therefore connecting with customers in a deeper way. Mexican designer Carla Fernández (@carlafernandezmx) has long been at the forefront of ethical, craft-based fashion. Her eponymous brand collaborates closely with Indigenous artisans across Mexico, promoting traditional craftsmanship and advocating for policies like collective intellectual property rights. After experiencing first-hand how the fashion industry overlooks contributions from the Global South, Tunisian entrepreneur Kenza Fourati (@kenzafourati) co-founded OSAY The Label (@osaythelabel), a brand focused on elevating artisan footwear crafted in Tunisia and using sustainable materials and traditional techniques. This week on The BoF Podcast, in a riveting conversation from BoF CROSSROADS 2025, Carla and Kenza Fourati discuss the power of craft-based fashion, how to collaborate ethically with artisans and indigenous communities while redefining what true luxury means. 🎙️ Listen now #linkinbio #BoFPodcast
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