As Fashion Week September 2025 comes to end here are some takeaways.
1. Kering is re-positioning Balenciaga to compete with Dior and Chanel. Gone are the oversized sneakers, in with old charm class for the prestige house.
2. Gucci does not know its buyers. This brand needs a top to bottom rethink. Can the “Demna Buzz” from fashion week generate sales? The once brand to have has been in a slump.
3. Dior is now radical. The problem with “Radical” is the novelty becomes boring, then the sales stop. Anderson’s looks will sale bags.
4. Now a part of Prada, Versace is going after a younger customer. The once flashy moniker is moving into sister Miu Miu’s direction.
5. First layoffs, now sale offs, unpaid bills, NEXT, call Taylor Swift for advice. Saks has no real business plan other than to survive from one quarter to the next. Maybe the merger with Nieman Marcus will work, but the ship is still taking on water.
6. Selfridges experienced a drop of 7% in sales. EEK! Without international tourist the giant London Store is struggling.
7. The brand client experience is different today than in the past. Customers want a new way to engage with brands, a new way of storytelling.
8. The hype is dying, customers have become weary of buying luxury products produced in sweatshops, sometimes poorly, then sold at high mark ups.
9. The same vexing question, what do shoppers, especially young shoppers, really want? Their wallets and commitments to justice, sustainability, are the opposite from their wallets. Meanwhile, Shein and Temu continue to grow. The former is opening brick and mortar stores.
10. At least the industry understands they have problems. The bigger challenge, the powers in charge are still unsure what to do about the problems. CHEERS!