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.
finance / Private Equity
Financial Markets
L Catterton: Finding Value in a Tough Market
Nikhil Thukral, managing partner at the LVMH-affiliated private equity fund, talks about the ingredients of winning companies, the dynamics challenging fashion's incumbents and how economic shifts are shaping investor strategies in the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2025.
L Catterton: Finding Value in a Tough Market
Nikhil Thukral, managing partner at the LVMH-affiliated private equity fund, talks about the ingredients of winning companies, the dynamics challenging fashion's incumbents and how economic shifts are shaping investor strategies in the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2025.
Financial Markets
The Year Ahead: The Future of Fashion Deal-Making
For fashion’s private market investors, deal-making may provide less-than-ideal returns and raise questions about the long-term value creation opportunities across parts of the fashion industry, reports The State of Fashion 2024.
The Year Ahead: The Future of Fashion Deal-Making
For fashion’s private market investors, deal-making may provide less-than-ideal returns and raise questions about the long-term value creation opportunities across parts of the fashion industry, reports The State of Fashion 2024.
Financial Markets
The Investment Giant Behind Some of Fashion’s Biggest Deals
L Catterton, the private-equity firm with close ties to LVMH and Bernard Arnault that’s preparing to take Birkenstock public, has become an investment giant in the consumer-goods space, with stakes in companies selling everything from fashion to pet food to tacos.
The Investment Giant Behind Some of Fashion’s Biggest Deals
L Catterton, the private-equity firm with close ties to LVMH and Bernard Arnault that’s preparing to take Birkenstock public, has become an investment giant in the consumer-goods space, with stakes in companies selling everything from fashion to pet food to tacos.
Technology
Can Indie Fashion Compete With E-commerce Juggernauts?
Brands struggle to adapt to wholesale partners like Ssense because of their rampant discounting, which some say threatens the entire livelihood of independent fashion. But individual brands and retailers may have their own tricks up the sleeve.
Can Indie Fashion Compete With E-commerce Juggernauts?
Brands struggle to adapt to wholesale partners like Ssense because of their rampant discounting, which some say threatens the entire livelihood of independent fashion. But individual brands and retailers may have their own tricks up the sleeve.
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Direct-to-Consumer
How the DTC Bust Could Play Out
Fashion and beauty start-up valuations appear to have stabilised after plunging last year, though it may be months or even years before many return to their old highs — if they ever do. But there are ways for emerging and established players to ride out the downturn.
How the DTC Bust Could Play Out
Fashion and beauty start-up valuations appear to have stabilised after plunging last year, though it may be months or even years before many return to their old highs — if they ever do. But there are ways for emerging and established players to ride out the downturn.
Direct-to-Consumer
Case Study | How to Build a Profitable DTC Brand
With the direct-to-consumer funding heyday now over, DTC brands need to turn a profit. Unlike their revenue-obsessed counterparts, DTC pioneers Marine Layer, Meundies and Trinny London offer a blueprint for achieving both top- and bottom-line growth.
Case Study | How to Build a Profitable DTC Brand
With the direct-to-consumer funding heyday now over, DTC brands need to turn a profit. Unlike their revenue-obsessed counterparts, DTC pioneers Marine Layer, Meundies and Trinny London offer a blueprint for achieving both top- and bottom-line growth.
Direct-to-Consumer
How DTC Brands Are Cutting Costs
Start-ups under pressure to operate in the black have logistics and marketing expenses in their sights.
How DTC Brands Are Cutting Costs
Start-ups under pressure to operate in the black have logistics and marketing expenses in their sights.
Direct-to-Consumer
The Next Wave of DTC Acquisitions
As the economy weakens and funding dries up, more digital upstarts will face pressure to sell. They’ll have no trouble finding buyers – if they can prove they’re more than just another money-losing start-up.
The Next Wave of DTC Acquisitions
As the economy weakens and funding dries up, more digital upstarts will face pressure to sell. They’ll have no trouble finding buyers – if they can prove they’re more than just another money-losing start-up.
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Beauty
Case Study | How to Build an Independent Beauty Brand
From fragrance to skin care to hair care, independent brands are making their mark on the beauty industry, but competition is stiff and scaling these businesses is more complex than ever.
Case Study | How to Build an Independent Beauty Brand
From fragrance to skin care to hair care, independent brands are making their mark on the beauty industry, but competition is stiff and scaling these businesses is more complex than ever.
Retail
Ralph Lauren Sells Club Monaco to Private Equity Firm Regent
The deal concludes a strategic overhaul announced last year.
Ralph Lauren Sells Club Monaco to Private Equity Firm Regent
The deal concludes a strategic overhaul announced last year.
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.
Luxury
All Eyes on Prada in Milan
This week, everyone will be talking about Prada rumours in Milan, the one-year anniversary of Karl Lagerfeld's death and a potential sale of Victoria's Secret. Get your BoF Professional Cheat Sheet.
All Eyes on Prada in Milan
This week, everyone will be talking about Prada rumours in Milan, the one-year anniversary of Karl Lagerfeld's death and a potential sale of Victoria's Secret. Get your BoF Professional Cheat Sheet.
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.