The Best of BoF 2013 | Intelligence

LONDON, United Kingdom — As the temperature drops and holiday lights and decorations appear outside the BoF headquarters, just off London's Carnaby Street, we look back at the stories that surfaced the greatest insights and drove the most conversation in 2013. Over the coming weeks, we will showcase our top articles from each of our channels for readers who might have missed any of these pieces.

To kick off our annual retrospective, today we bring you our most insightful and thought-provoking Intelligence articles. In some of the best pieces of the year, we traced the life cycles of brands like Billabong and Juicy Couture, once category leaders, which have now lost their lustre. We also spotted and explored trends like fashion sweatshirts and winged handbags (à la Phoebe Philo's Céline). And, finally, we examined the ever-rising prices of luxury goods and the blossoming market for fashion education.

BoF will return with daily news and analysis from the front lines of fashion on 6 January, 2014. Until then, join us for some holiday reading. Best wishes for a happy, healthy and fulfilling new year!

On the Wings of Céline
Céline has become one of the most copied fashion brands on the planet and every critic's favourite. What's more, it has sales revenue to support the hype. How long can it last?

Will a Wave of Megastores Turn Bond Street into the World's Premier Luxury Showcase?
Following the arrival of Louis Vuitton's super-sized "Maison" on London's Bond Street in 2010, the thoroughfare will soon be home to a slew of high fashion megastores, transforming the once-quaint street into a larger-than-life global luxury showcase.

Has Logo Fatigue Reached a Tipping Point?
What does it mean when Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury brand, shifts its focus away from the very trademarks on which its success has been built?

With an Evolutionary Approach, Uniqlo Aims to Create New Category
BoF spoke to senior executives at the launch of Uniqlo's new Lifewear concept to understand the guiding principles and goals of an apparel company more rooted in technology than fashion.

Fashion Inflation: Why Are the Prices Rising So Fast?
From shoes to handbags to ready-to-wear, the price of designer fashion has increased precipitously over the last decade. What's driving the rising prices? And how high can they go?

Mikael Schiller on Acne's Unexpected Journey
As Acne opened its third London store, part of a wider global store rollout, BoF sat down with executive chairman Mikael Schiller to discuss the company's growth, the perils of private equity money and why he sees himself as a Caribbean fisherman.

The Rise of the Fashion Sweatshirt
The humble sweatshirt has been reborn as a high fashion statement piece for both men and women, striking a chord with consumers and offering fashion businesses unmistakable commercial opportunities. BoF investigates.

Wipe Out: How Things Got Gnarly for Surfing's Iconic Megabrands
Once flying high, Australia's iconic 'big three' surf brands – Rip Curl, Quiksilver and Billabong – now face shrinking sales and mounting debts. What went wrong?

The Burgeoning Business of Fashion Education
A career in fashion is a more visible and viable option than ever before. As a result, interest in fashion education is booming and a range of institutions, from design colleges to business schools, are seizing the opportunity.

The Fall of the House of Juicy
No brand before or after it captured the zeitgeist quite like Juicy Couture. So why did the brand, a business with almost $500 million in annual revenue, sell this autumn in a $195 million cash deal to a licensing group better known for working with brands like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley?

For more articles on industry-wide movements and trends, check out our Intelligence channel.