Apr 28
We’ve had it drummed into us many times. The only way to get through the recession is change. The ability to adapt can be the deciding factor in whether a company will sink or swim in the churning waters of today’s economy. But change isn’t always a good thing. Is it?
In recent published reports, Henry Holland is said to be in talks with Debenhams about joining the Designers @ Debenhams tribe. Say what you like about Debenhams, albeit a pillar of our British high street, it is not at the forefront of fashion and nor will it ever be.
Reassuringly, it may be that Mr. Holland is turning to the open embrace and security of a contract with the high street giant as he too is feeling the pocket pinch, but I would be very reluctant to follow Henry through the doors of Debenhams, whether Agyness is in toe or not.
Henry Holland is not alone however, as Chloe brings out its diffusion line, See by Chloe, with garments retailing at 30%-50% lower than its big sister line. So, are they simply supplying to the demands of their struggling consumers or simply forfeiting their uniqueness and covetable unattainability?
Head womenswear buyer at My-Wardrobe recently praised the new Chloe line in Drapers magazine for its “quirky yet wearable” edge, but where does that leave Chloe? If we all aspired to these mundane watered down versions of our favourite brands surely we are in danger of eradicating the exclusivity and lure of their main lines? As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt.
Apr 16
As an editor of a fashion publication, in some respects I pride myself in being reasonably fashion forward. In the upper echelons of fashion you might say, so why then did I see in SIZE the shoe store, a fifteen year old wearing the Norwegian knit jumper that I was looking for all last season!
This then led me on to taking the time to actually look at the style of the youth today, the group that I often refer to as the ’Skins’ kids that attend nights like Clique and find that they actually do have style!
As I wondered around Manchester looking for evidence to back up my theory I noticed if you look hard enough, these young symbols of the consumer generation really do have some apparel credentials. Perhaps it is my age that stops me from being so daring with colours and patterns, but some of these adolescence’s really can throw a mean outfit together. Yet in terms of fashion points they are often over looked, however to me they seem to be able to mix high street, mainly Topshop and H&M with Vintage and designer, surely the sign of a fashion Guru?
What do we think, am I over hyping this pebble dash of colours style, or am I just out of the savvy teenage loop?
Apr 09
In this time of fashion frugalness, should fashion brands be splashing the cash on AD campaigns or taking marketing back to the drawing board, using select techniques to home in on different market segments, a more ‘targeted approach’. The new Adidas TV advert is seen to be the most expensive TV AD of our time, containing no less than fourteen high profile celebrities, including Katy Perry, Missy Elliot, Tony Hawks and our very own David Beckham. Although this is a cynical attempted to tick all the boxes by Adidas, will it work?
