A round-up of everything you might have missed in relevant fashion, retail and tech industry news over the past week.
TOP STORIES
- Farfetch acquires Stadium Goods: Why sneaker resale is becoming big business [Forbes]
- Milestone fashion industry charter for climate action launched [UN]
- ASOS issues profit warning as Christmas sales falter [The Industry]
TECHNOLOGY
- China’s retailers turn to real-world surveillance to track big spenders [Wired]
- Alexa wants you to answer questions [Cognition X]
- Is the face-swapping robot with multiple ‘personalities’ cool or just plain creepy? [Mashable]
- Racist, sexist AI could be a bigger problem than lost jobs [Forbes]
- Is tech too easy to use? [New York Times]
SUSTAINABILITY & PURPOSE
- Kering launches first ‘regenerative sourcing’ standard for fashion suppliers [Edie]
- Francisco Costa is back—with the chicest sustainable beauty brand you’ve ever seen [Vogue]
- The first “plastic-free” supermarket aisle [BBC]
- Lacoste joins list of brands banning mohair [Fashion United]
- Companies used to stay quiet about politics. In 2018, social causes became integral to their branding. [Vox]
- Is online shopping better or worse for the environment? [WWD]
RETAIL & E-COMMERCE
- Here’s how Nike, Alibaba and Walmart are reinventing retail [Wired]
- The future of fashion is made-to-order, according to Farfetch CEO José Neves [Fast Company]
- Amazon Go eyes London’s West End for first UK store [Retail Gazette]
- Why Starbucks is experimenting with experience-based retail [Digiday]
- E-commerce is thriving in Africa despite hurdles to the “last mile” [Quartz]
- ‘It’s a big data game’: Startups compete to reinvent the convenience store [Digiday]
- Lululemon expands test for 1st loyalty program [Retail Dive]
MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA
- You can try on the latest Adidas sneaker drop on Snapchat [Engadget]
- Mall of America debuts holiday AR scavenger hunt [Mobile Marketer]
- Mr Porter launches gift assistant with Facebook Messenger [Fashion Network]
- Lululemon and Strava team up to launch a series of virtual races [Runners World]
- Calvin Klein kills print ads — will other fashion brands follow suit? [Footwear News]
PRODUCT
- H&M teams up with cult brand Eytys for unisex collection [Fashion United]
BUSINESS
- Millennial consumers rule the luxury market – how are brands coping? [SCMP]
- Samsung’s Supreme collaboration in China is with a “counterfeit organization,” Supreme says [Quartz]
- LVMH expands portfolio with $2.6B Belmond travel deal [Retail Dive]
- H&M says full year sales increased by 5 percent [Fashion United]
- Alberta Ferretti under investigation by Italy’s antitrust authority [Fashion United]
CULTURE
- Self-Portrait is growing in the age of streetwear — without flashy logos or sneakers [Fashionista]
- Prada pulls monkey designs following outcry over racist imagery [Complex]
- Diversity on magazine covers increased by a record double-digit percentage in 2018 [Fashionista]
–
How are you thinking about innovation? We’re all about finding you the perfect partners to do so. TheCurrent is a consultancy transforming how fashion, beauty and consumer retail brands intersect with technology. We deliver innovative integrations and experiences, powered by a network of top technologies and startups. Get in touch to learn more.
Want to know more about how our technology partners can help you reach your innovation goals? The Current Global is a transformation consultancy driving growth within fashion, luxury and retail. Our mission is to solve challenges and facilitate change. We are thinkers and builders delivering innovative solutions and experiences. Get in touch to learn more.