1. Barneys at Saks: Resurrecting a Luxury Legend: Tracy Margolies, chief merchant of Saks, characterized the Barneys project as part of the strategy of the past five years to elevate Saks, in her words, into the “fashion authority delivering the best choices and the best edit, any way customers want to get it.” – Read More on WWD
2. Sephora has a sweeping new plan for combating racism. But will it work? Sephora conducted a yearlong study measuring systemic racism in U.S. retail environments, and created an action plan that includes reducing third-party security in stores, doubling the number of Black-owned brands that it carries, and creating a zero-tolerance policy when employees discriminate. – Read More on Fast Co.
3. These Fashion Influencers Say “Don’t Buy Anything.” During a year when women have been the hardest hit by the financial crisis triggered by the pandemic—accounting for all 140,000 of the U.S. jobs lost in December, big-name influencers’ lavish content appears increasingly out-of-touch. Enter: a new breed who are presenting a more realistic approach to fashion. – Read More on the WSJ
4. Redefining sustainability for 2021: The new priorities. “No amount of ‘circular economy’ or other techno-fixes will be able to sustain the current volumes without sustained damage to Earth’s systems. The next years — maybe a decade, maybe less — will determine which brands fit into this new world in which we will produce and consume radically less.” – Read More on Vogue Biz
5. Stilettos out, sneakers in: luxury designer shoes continue to pivot as pandemic accelerates trends. “Brands such as Louboutin, Sergio Rossi, Jimmy Choo and Stuart Weitzman saw their sales for elegant shoes decrease” in 2020. “They’ve had to adapt to the market and develop sneakers and lower heels.” – Read More on SCMP
6. From skinheads to the stock market: how Dr. Martens went mainstream. Six decades after its chunky, lace-up boots were first sold, the British company is preparing to walk on to the London Stock Exchange early this year. Its valuation could hit £3 to £4 billion. – Read More on the FT