According to market experts’ speculations, it is only a matter of time before Apple branches out into the world of high fashion. Scott Galloway, the founder of L2 and a clinical professor of marketing at the NYU’s Stern School of Business, told the audience this at the digital think tank’s conference last week. Galloway expects the tech. giant to expand into product categories such as apparel, handbags, jewelry, sunglasses, watches and even luggage. It makes sense.
The iPhone maker is reportedly already working on accessories (think: the iWatch) and the company recently made headlines after bringing two former-fashion execs. on board: Angela Ahrendts of Burberry and Paul Deneve of YSL. And this is after Apple teamed up with "it" Brit brand, Burberry, to debut its Spring 2014 collection via iPhones. (More about that HERE). While Apple has said that Ahrendts was brought on to expand and oversee the company’s retail stores, Galloway doesn’t buy it, saying: “There’s absolutely no way a woman running the most iconic brand in fashion is going to leave to run Apple’s stores. I just don’t buy it. Last year she made $26 million, and she’s the darling of the fashion world.” One question: Is Burberry the most iconic brand in fashion? I don’t think so.
As for Deneve, who joined the Apple team this summer to work on “special projects,” Galloway isn’t convinced. He suggests that Deneve is “in a design studio somewhere, designing a blouse or a handbag that is a) beautiful, and b) does something that leverages Apple’s innovation and technology.”
So, now not only does Apple have the whole minimalist-chic aesthetic that is so lusted-after among high fashion consumers and the ability to brand itself as well as, if not better, than any fashion brand on the market, it has resources. And those resources include two major forces from the fashion industry. Thoughts?