Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
THE CHEAT SHEET
Changes in Fashion's Top Ranks
Anna Wintour attends the Michael Kors Collection Spring 2020 show | Source: Getty Images/Lawrence Busacca
- Numerous executive and editors have stepped down amid accusations of racism or fostering a hostile work environment
- Increasingly it's companies' own employees leading public pressure to change leadership and practices
- On Friday, Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch said there was "no truth" to rumours that Anna Wintour would resign
Fashion’s powers that be have managed to survive wave after wave of criticism about how the industry treats its employees, particularly women and minorities. This time feels different, even if speculation about Anna Wintour's departure proved baseless last week. One reason even the most powerful figures are feeling vulnerable is the fusion of outside pressure from consumers and activists with long-simmering internal dissent. Many employees feel they have little to lose by telling the world about what they've experienced, which helps feed campaigns on social media and convince more consumers that the industry has yet to reckon with systemic racism.
Where will it all end? Companies were caught flat-footed by the backlash this month, but Wintour's refusal to budge is a reminder that those who wish to topple the industry's power structure will need more than Instagram comments. The initial wave of resignations is likely to give way to a more protracted conversation — or battle, depending on the company — about how to make fashion more inclusive.
The Bottom Line: Just as important as who gets forced out is who replaces them. It will be up to the next generation of leaders to safeguard the gains made this spring and take further steps to make their workplaces more inclusive.
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Pride Without the Parades
Levi's caravan at San Francisco Pride Parade in June 2019 | Source: Shutterstock
- Parades, parties and other events scheduled for Pride Month have been cancelled due to the pandemic
- Retailers have sent 58 percent fewer Pride-themed emails compared with a year ago, according to Edited
- Brands are under pressure to show support for minority groups that go beyond messages on social media and themed merchandise
Fashion has taken Pride Month marketing to almost absurd heights in recent years, prompting some criticism that brands were invested in the LGBT community only so far as it drives sales. There are no worries about that this year. Brands are taking a more muted approach without the usual parades, concerts and parties, and the sponsorship opportunities they bring. The Black Lives Matter protests have also opened marketing around social justice causes to greater scrutiny; companies that come off as superficial or insincere risk a backlash from customers or even their own employees.
The Bottom Line: Some brands have pivoted to supporting LGBT causes year-round, or adapting Pride events for a digital audience. However, some of the marketing dollars usually devoted to Pride appear to have simply melted away, victim to budget cuts during the pandemic.
The Future of Fast Fashion Is Online
Source: HM
- H&M Group reports sales for the three months ending May 31 on June 15 (a full accounting of its financials for the first half of the fiscal year come on June 26)
- Last week, Zara owner Inditex reported its first-ever quarterly loss and said it would close 1,200 stores
- Coresight Research predicts up to 25,000 US stores could close this year
When the pandemic hit, many retailers furloughed workers and temporarily closed stores. The industry mostly held off on more permanent changes while waiting to see how the recovery would shake out. Last week's move by Zara owner Inditex to close 1,200 stores, as well as similar moves by Starbucks and other global brands, was a sign that the long-feared retail downsizing is underway. The reduced appeal of in-store shopping and generally dour consumer mood are to blame. Sales figures from H&M Group, which operates over 5,000 stores across its brands, will be another key indicator of just how bad this next phase is going to look.
The Bottom Line: Retailers like Zara that move swiftly to close underperforming stores will free up resources to invest in e-commerce, which is booming right now.
Editor's Note: Last week's newsletter stated that London Fashion Week is sponsored by Ordre. This is incorrect. It is sponsored by Joor.
SUNDAY READING
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The Week Ahead wants to hear from you! Send tips, suggestions, complaints and compliments to brian.baskin@businessoffashion.com.
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