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.
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Latest News & Analysis
Retail
Ear-Piercing Studios Look to Fill a Claire’s-Sized Hole in the Market
With Claire’s in bankruptcy and closing hundreds of stores, there’s a void in the market that startups and a growing number of independent studios hope to fill. They’re turning what used to be a fast and casual procedure into one that prioritises health, hygiene and comfort.
Ear-Piercing Studios Look to Fill a Claire’s-Sized Hole in the Market
With Claire’s in bankruptcy and closing hundreds of stores, there’s a void in the market that startups and a growing number of independent studios hope to fill. They’re turning what used to be a fast and casual procedure into one that prioritises health, hygiene and comfort.
Technology
The Fashion AI Startups to Watch
BoF highlights 17 AI-powered startups that have raised more than $400 million in the last five years by offering design, operation and shopping services that promise to help brands and retailers reduce costs and increase innovation.
The Fashion AI Startups to Watch
BoF highlights 17 AI-powered startups that have raised more than $400 million in the last five years by offering design, operation and shopping services that promise to help brands and retailers reduce costs and increase innovation.
Retail
Ssense: What Went Wrong
Tariffs were the immediate cause of the Montréal-based company’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection. But insiders tell BoF that the downfall was a long time coming as the online retailer’s formula for appealing to Gen-Z shoppers with indie fashion brands and constant markdowns lost its edge.
Ssense: What Went Wrong
Tariffs were the immediate cause of the Montréal-based company’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection. But insiders tell BoF that the downfall was a long time coming as the online retailer’s formula for appealing to Gen-Z shoppers with indie fashion brands and constant markdowns lost its edge.
Direct-to-Consumer
How Brands Are Taking On Quince
The dupe retailer has become a $4.5 billion powerhouse by promising lower prices and comparable quality to labels that fall between fast fashion and luxury. Competitors fighting back by stepping up their brand building chops are already seeing results.
How Brands Are Taking On Quince
The dupe retailer has become a $4.5 billion powerhouse by promising lower prices and comparable quality to labels that fall between fast fashion and luxury. Competitors fighting back by stepping up their brand building chops are already seeing results.
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Technology
How Investors Fell Back in Love With Fashion Tech
With the rise of AI, Silicon Valley is going all in on a new generation of startups that promise to radically change how products are made and sold. This time, they’re backing founders with tech chops and are more patient in helping them grow.
How Investors Fell Back in Love With Fashion Tech
With the rise of AI, Silicon Valley is going all in on a new generation of startups that promise to radically change how products are made and sold. This time, they’re backing founders with tech chops and are more patient in helping them grow.
Beauty
How Crown Affair Became the Queen of It-Girl Hair Care
Dianna Cohen and Elaine Choi have built an insider favourite haircare label with signature products like the hair towel and brush-applied dry shampoo. Armed with a new funding round, they want to bring the brand to the masses.
How Crown Affair Became the Queen of It-Girl Hair Care
Dianna Cohen and Elaine Choi have built an insider favourite haircare label with signature products like the hair towel and brush-applied dry shampoo. Armed with a new funding round, they want to bring the brand to the masses.
Retail
What the Fed’s Big Rate Cut Means for Fashion
The US Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut since the pandemic will make borrowing cheaper. Ideally, it will ease pressure on some brands and retailers, encourage investment and drive more spending from shoppers.
What the Fed’s Big Rate Cut Means for Fashion
The US Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut since the pandemic will make borrowing cheaper. Ideally, it will ease pressure on some brands and retailers, encourage investment and drive more spending from shoppers.
Beauty
Exclusive: L Catterton Invests in British Fragrance Brand Vyrao
The niche brand, founded by former fashion buyer Yasmin Sewell, has closed its second round of funding with Manzanita Capital and Estée Lauder’s corporate venture capital arm also participating.
Exclusive: L Catterton Invests in British Fragrance Brand Vyrao
The niche brand, founded by former fashion buyer Yasmin Sewell, has closed its second round of funding with Manzanita Capital and Estée Lauder’s corporate venture capital arm also participating.
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Entrepreneurship
How to Grow a $100 Million Brand: Reinforcing Your Foundation | BoF Insights
In the third and final part of this series, BoF Insights spoke with investors and brand leaders about how to secure future growth before pursuing costly expansion activities in today’s tough financing environment.
How to Grow a $100 Million Brand: Reinforcing Your Foundation | BoF Insights
In the third and final part of this series, BoF Insights spoke with investors and brand leaders about how to secure future growth before pursuing costly expansion activities in today’s tough financing environment.
Beauty
How Bootstrapped Beauty Brands Are Growing
As the beauty industry has grown in value and saturation, emerging brands have often leant on outside investment to grow. But for those who don’t want – or can’t access – external funding, a more roundabout path is needed.
How Bootstrapped Beauty Brands Are Growing
As the beauty industry has grown in value and saturation, emerging brands have often leant on outside investment to grow. But for those who don’t want – or can’t access – external funding, a more roundabout path is needed.
Entrepreneurship
How to Grow a $100 Million Brand: Diversifying Your Offering | BoF Insights
Today’s brands are constrained by crises across direct-to-consumer and wholesale distribution and limited external funding pools. But it is still possible to scale a small label, even in today’s tough environment. In part two of this series, BoF Insights spoke with investors and brand leaders about how to translate cultural heat into commercial success via diversification.
How to Grow a $100 Million Brand: Diversifying Your Offering | BoF Insights
Today’s brands are constrained by crises across direct-to-consumer and wholesale distribution and limited external funding pools. But it is still possible to scale a small label, even in today’s tough environment. In part two of this series, BoF Insights spoke with investors and brand leaders about how to translate cultural heat into commercial success via diversification.
Entrepreneurship
How to Grow a $100 Million Brand: Building Buzz on a Budget | BoF Insights
The recent closure of some of fashion’s buzziest brands laid bare the many hurdles facing even the most promising designers. But it is still possible to scale a small label, even in today’s tough environment. In part one of this series, BoF Insights spoke with brands and investors and drew upon its own advisory experience to outline how to translate cultural heat into commercial success.
How to Grow a $100 Million Brand: Building Buzz on a Budget | BoF Insights
The recent closure of some of fashion’s buzziest brands laid bare the many hurdles facing even the most promising designers. But it is still possible to scale a small label, even in today’s tough environment. In part one of this series, BoF Insights spoke with brands and investors and drew upon its own advisory experience to outline how to translate cultural heat into commercial success.
The News in Brief
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.
Abercrombie & Fitch Forecasts Muted Annual Sales Amid Tariff Uncertainty
The retailer said it was accounting for the 15 percent tariff announced by US president Donald Trump after the Supreme Court struck down most of his earlier tariffs.