Daily LInks
1. Neiman Marcus Rides a Rebound in Luxury Shoppers: CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck wants to focus on high-end luxury customers, including the 40% of Neiman Marcus shoppers who spend at least $10,000 a year with the chain, while also attracting new customers. – Read More on the WSJ
2. Mined diamonds to hold premium as lab-made market grows, gem expert says: “With jewelry, it’s about the emotion and building a strong brand. There’s been other options for jewelry buyers for years now with other stones … but it gets back to the whole marketing thing, that it’s a luxury item. You could ask, ‘Why do people want a $25,000 Birkin bag from Hermès? It’s not practical at all.’ But Hermès can sell as many as they want.” – Read More on S&P Global
3. “Either We All Win or We All Lose” – Gucci’s powerful message to the fashion industry: “We have decided to use our platforms and our voice because of the awareness of the Gucci brand worldwide. Like any other company or industry in the world, we need to understand it’s not even a choice – we just need to do it.” – Read More on Vogue
4. Fashion moves to the center of activist crosshairs: Rag traders have so far been largely sheltered from environmental activism. They shouldn’t be. At over 2 billion tons a year, cheap clothing production emitted 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, according to McKinsey, and causes 20% of water pollution. – Read More on Reuters
5. Got the jab, bought the T-shirt: ‘Vaxinistas’ and the rise of pandemic merchandise. Merchandise, and in particular slogan tees and pins, has been an expression of its wearers’ values for years. Vaccine merch serves a very particular purpose: at a time of wearing your political values on your sleeve, it gives physical form to a historic moment. – Read More on the Guardian
6. Retail Sales Dropped 1.3% in May as Pandemic Shopping Habits Shifted: Americans instead are spending more on services, which account for the bulk of economic output but are largely excluded from the retail-sales report. Spending on one service—restaurants and bars—rose 1.8% last month, sending food-service sales beyond pre-pandemic levels. – Read More on the WSJ