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.

This week on The Debrief, BoF correspondent Lei Takanashi explains why the industry remains tethered to a small circle of established rap stars and whether a new generation of talent can break through.

This week on The Debrief, BoF correspondent Lei Takanashi explains why the industry remains tethered to a small circle of established rap stars and whether a new generation of talent can break through.

Influencer marketing is bigger than ever, but it’s also become more complex as the number of creators multiplies, consumers grow more resistant to blatant ads, platforms like Substack gain traction and new tools for tracking performance appear. Fashion brands need to update their strategies.

Influencer marketing is bigger than ever, but it’s also become more complex as the number of creators multiplies, consumers grow more resistant to blatant ads, platforms like Substack gain traction and new tools for tracking performance appear. Fashion brands need to update their strategies.

With influencer marketing sector expected to hit $44 billion this year, The Business of Fashion is looking deeper at this rapidly changing industry with a special package on the stakes it’s facing today.

With influencer marketing sector expected to hit $44 billion this year, The Business of Fashion is looking deeper at this rapidly changing industry with a special package on the stakes it’s facing today.

After a year of experimentation and noise, 2026 marks a pivot for fashion marketers toward slower advertising, more thoughtful creative risks and human connection, as brands recalibrate how to entertain, engage and earn trust in an age of AI and consumer exhaustion.

After a year of experimentation and noise, 2026 marks a pivot for fashion marketers toward slower advertising, more thoughtful creative risks and human connection, as brands recalibrate how to entertain, engage and earn trust in an age of AI and consumer exhaustion.
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At BoF VOICES 2025, Susanna Lau, Bryan Yambao, Camille Charrière and Gstaad Guy reflect on finding their voices, speaking to their communities and how brands need to get out of the wider luxury malaise.

At BoF VOICES 2025, Susanna Lau, Bryan Yambao, Camille Charrière and Gstaad Guy reflect on finding their voices, speaking to their communities and how brands need to get out of the wider luxury malaise.

Even in the age of minimalism, shoppers still love logos — but many are trading big brands’ monograms for niche merch.

Even in the age of minimalism, shoppers still love logos — but many are trading big brands’ monograms for niche merch.

The company’s viral holiday aesthetic is boosting the brand’s visibility and sales, the result of years of strategic image refinement and product honing, writes Andrea Felsted.

The company’s viral holiday aesthetic is boosting the brand’s visibility and sales, the result of years of strategic image refinement and product honing, writes Andrea Felsted.

Once the preserve of a handful of high-end labels, world-building has become a powerful method for any brand to create a lasting impression and connect emotionally with customers. Pulling it off requires more than just consistent branding across channels.

Once the preserve of a handful of high-end labels, world-building has become a powerful method for any brand to create a lasting impression and connect emotionally with customers. Pulling it off requires more than just consistent branding across channels.
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Amidst the ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ craze, this season, fashion brands embraced traditional holiday storytelling, while celebrity casting choices helped classic themes feel fresh and engaging for younger shoppers.

Amidst the ‘Ralph Lauren Christmas’ craze, this season, fashion brands embraced traditional holiday storytelling, while celebrity casting choices helped classic themes feel fresh and engaging for younger shoppers.

The retailer’s holiday campaign, a follow-up to its viral, controversial hit featuring Sydney Sweeney, is its latest effort to maintain cultural momentum. “The enemy for retail is being boring,” said CMO Craig Brommers.

The retailer’s holiday campaign, a follow-up to its viral, controversial hit featuring Sydney Sweeney, is its latest effort to maintain cultural momentum. “The enemy for retail is being boring,” said CMO Craig Brommers.

The BoF Insights Brand Pulse Index benchmarks how fashion brands measure up across five core dimensions — Discoverability, Identity, Value, Connection and Love — revealing the new dynamics of brand performance in an AI-driven world.

The BoF Insights Brand Pulse Index benchmarks how fashion brands measure up across five core dimensions — Discoverability, Identity, Value, Connection and Love — revealing the new dynamics of brand performance in an AI-driven world.

From AI-powered personalisation to orchestrating cross-channel presence, fashion and beauty brands are deploying new strategies to build resilient, future-ready customer engagement models. BoF’s latest knowledge report, in partnership with Braze, reveals the practical approaches for building sustainable customer relationships.

From AI-powered personalisation to orchestrating cross-channel presence, fashion and beauty brands are deploying new strategies to build resilient, future-ready customer engagement models. BoF’s latest knowledge report, in partnership with Braze, reveals the practical approaches for building sustainable customer relationships.
Christine Hunsicker admitted she falsified financial statements to promote CaaStle Inc. as a valuable, growing business when in reality it was struggling.
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.
The Japanese brand is accelerating its expansion in India to capture a greater share of the rapidly growing apparel market and affluent consumer base.
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.
The retailer surpassed annual sales forecasts but expects a $60 million drag from import tariffs in the first half of 2026.
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.
Spend growth at off-price chains is among the strongest in retail, with gains across all income segments.
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.