Gap Sales Miss Expectations After Old Navy, Athleta Fall Short
The brands Gap and Banana Republic beat comparable sales estimates.
venture-capital
Latest News & Analysis
Retail
Unpacking Rent the Runway’s IPO
The rental platform may have redeemed its unicorn status on the public market, but critics are wary of its long-term growth potential.
Unpacking Rent the Runway’s IPO
The rental platform may have redeemed its unicorn status on the public market, but critics are wary of its long-term growth potential.
Entrepreneurship
How One Fund Wants to Rethink Venture Capital’s Relationship with Brands
Former Nasty Gal executive and angel investor Deborah Benton has launched a new fund with investor Amanda Schutzbank, aimed to set founders up for long-term success in a competitive digital landscape.
How One Fund Wants to Rethink Venture Capital’s Relationship with Brands
Former Nasty Gal executive and angel investor Deborah Benton has launched a new fund with investor Amanda Schutzbank, aimed to set founders up for long-term success in a competitive digital landscape.
Retail
Op-Ed | The DTC Reckoning Is Real. What Next?
For founders of undercapitalised, unprofitable DTC brands, partnering with a strategic player earlier than anticipated is a success, not a failing, argues Matt Kaden.
Op-Ed | The DTC Reckoning Is Real. What Next?
For founders of undercapitalised, unprofitable DTC brands, partnering with a strategic player earlier than anticipated is a success, not a failing, argues Matt Kaden.
Entrepreneurship
Investing in the Sustainability Sisterhood
Female impact investors are putting their money where their mouth is, backing sustainable fashion companies and hoping their bets pay off in more ways than one. But how savvy are values-based investments in the post-pandemic reality?
Investing in the Sustainability Sisterhood
Female impact investors are putting their money where their mouth is, backing sustainable fashion companies and hoping their bets pay off in more ways than one. But how savvy are values-based investments in the post-pandemic reality?
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Entrepreneurship
Is Silicon Valley’s Love Affair With Direct-to-Consumer Brands Over?
As direct-to-consumer product companies confront an unsustainable focus on top line growth, their backers too are shifting gears, opting to invest more cautiously and with tempered expectations.
Is Silicon Valley’s Love Affair With Direct-to-Consumer Brands Over?
As direct-to-consumer product companies confront an unsustainable focus on top line growth, their backers too are shifting gears, opting to invest more cautiously and with tempered expectations.
Retail
The Direct-to-Consumer Reckoning
For fashion start-ups, raising money and growing sales came easily. But with costs rising and profits elusive, securing a happy ending for investors is proving much harder.
The Direct-to-Consumer Reckoning
For fashion start-ups, raising money and growing sales came easily. But with costs rising and profits elusive, securing a happy ending for investors is proving much harder.
Luxury
With $50 Million in Fresh Funding, Tamara Mellon Aims for Disruption
The Los Angeles-based, direct-to-consumer shoe label has a new investor and a new plan to fix fashion’s broken supply chain.
With $50 Million in Fresh Funding, Tamara Mellon Aims for Disruption
The Los Angeles-based, direct-to-consumer shoe label has a new investor and a new plan to fix fashion’s broken supply chain.
Entrepreneurship
Start-Up School | Chapter 2: Fund Your Business for Growth
A few lucky founders have all the money they need to launch their business. Everyone else needs outside funding. Founders must consider not only how much cash they need to raise, but which investors to bring in, and on what terms.
Start-Up School | Chapter 2: Fund Your Business for Growth
A few lucky founders have all the money they need to launch their business. Everyone else needs outside funding. Founders must consider not only how much cash they need to raise, but which investors to bring in, and on what terms.
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Financial Markets
Fashion's Top VCs Open Their Playbooks
A new breed of VC firms is backing next-generation digital lifestyle brands targeting millennials. BoF talks to five of the top players to decode their investment theses.
Fashion's Top VCs Open Their Playbooks
A new breed of VC firms is backing next-generation digital lifestyle brands targeting millennials. BoF talks to five of the top players to decode their investment theses.
News & Analysis
Success With Snap helps VC Firm Lightspeed Raise $1.8 Billion for New Funds
Lightspeed — the first outside investor in Snapchat — is eyeing expansion to Southeast Asia and wants to add investments in start-ups from cryptocurrency to beauty supplies.
Success With Snap helps VC Firm Lightspeed Raise $1.8 Billion for New Funds
Lightspeed — the first outside investor in Snapchat — is eyeing expansion to Southeast Asia and wants to add investments in start-ups from cryptocurrency to beauty supplies.
China
Adrian Cheng Launches C Ventures, an ‘Investment Club’ With Eye on Youth Culture
The Hong Kong-based entrepreneur is partnering with financier Clive Ng to foster a 'cultural ecosystem' of brands targeting Millennials and Gen Z in the West and China.
Adrian Cheng Launches C Ventures, an ‘Investment Club’ With Eye on Youth Culture
The Hong Kong-based entrepreneur is partnering with financier Clive Ng to foster a 'cultural ecosystem' of brands targeting Millennials and Gen Z in the West and China.
Technology
How Fashion’s Most Talked-About Start-Ups Are Actually Performing
From Rent the Runway to Refinery 29, BoF separates the break-outs from the flameouts.
How Fashion’s Most Talked-About Start-Ups Are Actually Performing
From Rent the Runway to Refinery 29, BoF separates the break-outs from the flameouts.
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.