Gap Sales Miss Expectations After Old Navy, Athleta Fall Short
The brands Gap and Banana Republic beat comparable sales estimates.
diversity-inclusion
Beauty
The Business of Beauty Global Forum: Our Place in Culture
Now in its third year, The Business of Beauty Global Forum kicked off its first day with conversations around how culture is shaping today’s beauty industry, featuring SpaceNK CEO Andy Lightfoot, Lip Bar founder Melissa Butler and more.
The Business of Beauty Global Forum: Our Place in Culture
Now in its third year, The Business of Beauty Global Forum kicked off its first day with conversations around how culture is shaping today’s beauty industry, featuring SpaceNK CEO Andy Lightfoot, Lip Bar founder Melissa Butler and more.
Beauty
Why Hair Tools Still Haven’t Won Over Textured Hair Consumers
Hair tools have been thrust into the spotlight as brands try to create inclusive marketing campaigns that speak to the curly, coily and tight-textured consumers. But many are still falling short.
Why Hair Tools Still Haven’t Won Over Textured Hair Consumers
Hair tools have been thrust into the spotlight as brands try to create inclusive marketing campaigns that speak to the curly, coily and tight-textured consumers. But many are still falling short.
Marketing
Indigenous Designers Are Driving Brands to Collaborate, Not Appropriate
Though appropriation of Native art and traditions still exists in fashion, more brands are finding ways to ethically work with Native designers and communities.
Indigenous Designers Are Driving Brands to Collaborate, Not Appropriate
Though appropriation of Native art and traditions still exists in fashion, more brands are finding ways to ethically work with Native designers and communities.
Partner Content
At Raisefashion, Supporting Underrepresented Designers at the Forefront of Sustainable Fashion
With sustainability falling down the priority list for fashion executives in 2025, emerging designers are looking to meet demands for conscious consumerism — but face substantial challenges in an oversaturated market facing macroeconomic limitations. BoF sits down with Felita Harris, co-founder of non-profit RaiseFashion that provides financial, educational and community support for underrepresented designers focused on sustainability goals, to learn more.
At Raisefashion, Supporting Underrepresented Designers at the Forefront of Sustainable Fashion
With sustainability falling down the priority list for fashion executives in 2025, emerging designers are looking to meet demands for conscious consumerism — but face substantial challenges in an oversaturated market facing macroeconomic limitations. BoF sits down with Felita Harris, co-founder of non-profit RaiseFashion that provides financial, educational and community support for underrepresented designers focused on sustainability goals, to learn more.
Retail
Op-Ed | Target’s DEI Flip-Flop Came at a Price
Early data indicates Target and Walmart’s store traffic has declined since their DEI exit, while Costco’s has grown, signalling that we may be entering a new era of consumer boycotts.
Op-Ed | Target’s DEI Flip-Flop Came at a Price
Early data indicates Target and Walmart’s store traffic has declined since their DEI exit, while Costco’s has grown, signalling that we may be entering a new era of consumer boycotts.
Retail
Can Streetwear Still Be Political?
At a moment when attacks on DEI and immigrants have become widespread, streetwear brands founded on celebrating racial or ethnic identities are persevering.
Can Streetwear Still Be Political?
At a moment when attacks on DEI and immigrants have become widespread, streetwear brands founded on celebrating racial or ethnic identities are persevering.
Partner Content
Navigating Fashion’s DEI Setbacks and Charting a Path Forward With RaiseFashion
Felita Harris, RaiseFashion’s executive director and co-founder, Rachel Scott, founder and creative director of Diotima, and Mercy Amankwe, senior director of brand marketing and partnerships at Standard International, joined BoF’s Shenel Wickramaratne at The Standard, East Village to discuss how to uphold inclusion, empower underrepresented talent and drive meaningful change amid industry-wide row backs on diversity, equity and inclusion commitments.
Navigating Fashion’s DEI Setbacks and Charting a Path Forward With RaiseFashion
Felita Harris, RaiseFashion’s executive director and co-founder, Rachel Scott, founder and creative director of Diotima, and Mercy Amankwe, senior director of brand marketing and partnerships at Standard International, joined BoF’s Shenel Wickramaratne at The Standard, East Village to discuss how to uphold inclusion, empower underrepresented talent and drive meaningful change amid industry-wide row backs on diversity, equity and inclusion commitments.
Workplace & Talent
How to Future-Proof Your Fashion Career in 2025
Soft skills like agility, intellectual curiosity and an ability to work across departments and categories will be crucial in 2025 — but true success will mean playing the long game.
How to Future-Proof Your Fashion Career in 2025
Soft skills like agility, intellectual curiosity and an ability to work across departments and categories will be crucial in 2025 — but true success will mean playing the long game.
Beauty
Why the Dire State of Black Beauty Threatens the Entire Industry
A decade-plus of explosive gains for Black-owned brands has given way to a slowdown in everything from funding to representation to retail expansion — and the implications for beauty are far worse than loss of representation alone.
Why the Dire State of Black Beauty Threatens the Entire Industry
A decade-plus of explosive gains for Black-owned brands has given way to a slowdown in everything from funding to representation to retail expansion — and the implications for beauty are far worse than loss of representation alone.
Luxury
Luxury Fashion’s Designer Diversity Problem | The Debrief
BoF senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young and luxury editor Robert Williams dive into the ongoing struggle for diversity in fashion’s top creative roles.
Luxury Fashion’s Designer Diversity Problem | The Debrief
BoF senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young and luxury editor Robert Williams dive into the ongoing struggle for diversity in fashion’s top creative roles.
Workplace & Talent
Why Kamala Harris Isn’t Making Bold Fashion Choices – Yet
With her wardrobe of pants suits in conservative colours, the vice president has studiously avoided drawing attention to her style choices. Experts say that reflects the reality that, as a Black and Indian woman in the upper echelon of politics, self-expression carries risks.
Why Kamala Harris Isn’t Making Bold Fashion Choices – Yet
With her wardrobe of pants suits in conservative colours, the vice president has studiously avoided drawing attention to her style choices. Experts say that reflects the reality that, as a Black and Indian woman in the upper echelon of politics, self-expression carries risks.
Beauty
How New Laws on Textured Hair Education Will Shake Up Beauty
The hair services industry has a long history of discrediting Black hairstyles such as braids, locs and twists unworthy of study. Now, a new set of state laws will finally require cosmetology and barber schools to teach students how to style curly hair types.
How New Laws on Textured Hair Education Will Shake Up Beauty
The hair services industry has a long history of discrediting Black hairstyles such as braids, locs and twists unworthy of study. Now, a new set of state laws will finally require cosmetology and barber schools to teach students how to style curly hair types.
The News in Brief
Fashion Startup Founder Pleads Guilty in $300 Million Fraud
Christine Hunsicker admitted she falsified financial statements to promote CaaStle Inc. as a valuable, growing business when in reality it was struggling.
Victoria’s Secret Forecasts Its Best Year Since L Brands Split
The underwear company is anticipating net sales of at least $6.85 billion in the current fiscal year, exceeding analyst estimates and marking the highest revenue since its split from L Brands Inc in 2021.
Uniqlo Aims to Grow Tenfold in India With Summer-Centric Clothes
The Japanese brand is accelerating its expansion in India to capture a greater share of the rapidly growing apparel market and affluent consumer base.
Oasis Pressures Kao in Latest Japan Activist Investor Push
Activist fund Oasis Management Co. is calling on the Japanese personal care company to convene an extraordinary general meeting, seeking a probe into its supply-chain risk management and internal control.
American Eagle Forecasts Sales Growth Above Estimates on Demand From Wealthy Shoppers
The retailer surpassed annual sales forecasts but expects a $60 million drag from import tariffs in the first half of 2026.
Missoni Family Exits Namesake Brand
The transaction gives FSI, a Milan-based private equity fund, a controlling share in the Italian luxury house, as more founder-owned brands turn to investors to fund growth and weather a tough global market.
Ross Stores Forecasts Annual Sales Above Estimates on Resilient Demand for Discounted Apparel
Spend growth at off-price chains is among the strongest in retail, with gains across all income segments.