That Fenty umbrella...ella | Fenty Beauty
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: “Entrepreneurial Rihanna is having a moment. And strange as it might sound, it’s got zero to do with her music.”

It’s true that social media makes it easier than ever to attract an audience and build wide reach. But remember: The barriers to entry are also incredibly low, and the floor is littered with the bones of far too many short-lived celeb endeavors to count. A myopic focus on social media as the only growth explanation ignores the complex web of factors that help to explain the rise and prominence of the Fenty brand collective.

READ MORE →
There's definitely a vibe going on here | Poolside FM
Subscriber Comment

Ben Young: “Poolside FM’s fresh new redesign is proof: There’s tremendous power in creating a distinctive vibe — and an experience that delights.”

There’s a reason why the new Poolside FM redesign has become an instant hit. It offers a distinct vibe, an unmistakable feeling. It feels familiar, fun, approachable, and tastefully retro. It delights you, and it’s all delivered in a tight, cohesive package. In a world where no one pays attention to the details, this is the luxury opportunity.

READ MORE →
Luke Scheybeler at the office | Time Out London
Subscriber Comment

Luke Scheybeler: “Modern luxury, status, and the death of discretion.”

As Kering’s François-Henri Pinault and LVMH’s Bernard Arnault publicly pledged €100M and €200M, respectively, to rebuild Notre-Dame after last month’s fire, Scheybeler couldn’t help but wonder whether it might have been better for this money to be given discreetly and without the publicity. And whether it was more “luxury” to give quietly––or to make a grand gesture and seduce others into supporting the cause––and what it might say about the modern luxury philosophy, given that we’re asking such questions.

READ MORE →
The very well-appointed and stylish Aesop store in Shaw, DC | Aesop
Subscriber Comment

Sara Bernát on today’s luxury fragmentation: “There’s almost no overlap between the Aesop shopper and the Lamborghini owner — and there’s a reason for that.”

A sharp, academic analysis on our current moment in the modern luxury timeline. Bernát’s argument: “Luxury in the Age of Fragmentation is a bit different. The gatekeepers no longer have much of a stronghold, so luxury definitions are unique and one group’s idea of it can vary wildly from another’s. The Maiyet customer’s socially sensitive and worldly view of the world stands in stark contrast, for instance, to the exclusive worldview of Lamborghini customer’s. These two brands will also most likely not share an overlapping consumer base.”

READ MORE →
Ushering in the new brand of entrepreneurship – with steely eyed resolve | Act + Acre
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: “How new botanical haircare brand Act + Acre represents a model for the future of entrepreneurship.”

Struggle porn and getting rich quick are no longer part of the responsible narrative. Instead of just being businesses, emerging companies must find a way to weave themselves into the fabric of society and culture. A new kind of entrepreneurship is looming, built around a “when you do well, we do well” sensibility.

READ MORE →
The Atomic team, with Hims CEO Andrew Dudum at center | Atomic
Subscriber Comment

The new reality: Hims as an incubator, Bonobos as an M&A shop, and Harry’s as a VC. What’s driving this new DNVB trend?

Subscriber Phil Soriano explores why some of today’s VC-backed ‘blue chip’ DNVBs are engaging in some unusual activity beyond the scope of brand and community development. In some way or another, the likes of Glossier, Harry’s, Bonobos, and Hims have each dabbled in acquisitions, incubation, or in-house VC expansion. Soriano explains why.

READ MORE →
Outlier is one of the most values-driven brands on the market today | Maekan
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: How Everlane, Outlier, and Patagonia are tapping into the ‘social activewear’ phenomenon.

Brands are proposing new ideas to society through fabric, and answering the new consumer desire to signal a shared belief system through luxury goods and clothing. Rather than being about logos and individual status signaling, social activewear is about identifying with the collective.

READ MORE →
Off-White's infamous red ripcord tag | Off-White
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: Off-White, Vetements, and the rise of the fashion trolls.

We live in a socio-political climate of anxiety. But what fends it off is having a clear identity of your own. IKEA does IKEA just fine. So does DHL. And so does the inner label on my jacket – without clever quotes.

READ MORE →
London's Hero connects online shoppers with in-store associates | Hero
Subscriber Comment

Solly Garber: ‘How is it that in 2018, e-commerce STILL only accounts for just nine percent of all US retail?’

Believe it or not, e-commerce represents a tiny sliver of total sales in the US. In the last two years, it’s increased from just seven percent to nine percent — and half of that is Amazon. In order for e-commerce to grow, brands must start solving shoppers’ problems by thinking laterally.

READ MORE →
Ana Andjelic holds court on stage | Netlife
Subscriber Comment

Ana Andjelic: Why visceral storytelling is the next brand-building territory.

Symbolic and visceral, smell is a powerful brand language that convincingly conveys identity and differentiation. It creates a direct, tangible connection between a brand and its consumers.

READ MORE →