Sublime

Forerunner Ventures’ Kirsten Green , Into the Gloss co-founder Nick Axelrod (now at UTA Ventures), or Emily’s former assistant, Morgan Von Steen

Now, it’s Khaite’s turn. The Cate Holstein -designed label is now under the watch of Stripes, one of the few investment firms that regularly takes bets on fashion. Backstage at that show, I asked Holstein how the money has empowered her: I expected her to mention supply chain upgrades or more freedom with show budgets. (The Park Avenue Armory stagi... See more

For Coach, the biggest brand in the Tapestry portfolio, the show—a display of oversized leather blazers and pointy-toe jelly flats embossed all over with Cs, with J.Lo in the front row—is a customer acquisition cost.

Could they do it another way? Perhaps. But it’s part of the formula devised by creative director Stuart Vevers , who moved to the U.S... See more

To understand Khaite, you’ve got to view it like a merchant. (I liked the pin-tucked gazar dresses; they reminded me of this Marc Jacobs look from his Spring 1998 collection.) Holstein is very much in touch with what women with money want to wear. When I saw Yael Aflalo , founder of Reformation—another Stripes investment, which turned out very well... See more

The founders openly favored signing up the most physically attractive designers, saying they would be more appealing to clients.

Jeffrey Katzenberg relied on the entertainment model of yesteryears: banking on celebrity appeal. One example is Quibi shelling out $6MM to Reese Witherspoon. Don't get me wrong. I love her as much as the next person in Legally Blonde. However, no one is rushing to hand Quibi their money as she narrates a nature documentary.