Must Read: Instagram Closet Accounts Are the Future of Fashion News, Madewell's Unclear Future
Plus, fashion's latest cutthroat competition is sustainability.
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Thursday.
Instagram closet accounts are the future of fashion news
While millennials remember anxiously awaiting fashion magazines to find out exactly what brands their favorite celebs were wearing, teenagers brought up in the age of social media can find out almost immediately from Instagram closet accounts. Closet accounts are breaking news sources dedicated sharing what specific celebrities or influencers are wearing. These platforms have proven to be effective in marketing to Gen-Z consumers. {The New York Times}
Madewell's future is unclear following separation from J.Crew
Madewell, once a small denim spin-off of J.Crew, has filed to go public and separate from its parent company, setting its value at $2-3 billion. Although Madewell's trendy workwear look resonates with its loyal female audience, investors and lenders have negotiated with their own proposal, keeping the separation in limbo. {Vogue Business}
Fashion's latest cutthroat competition is sustainability
Sustainability may have been the hottest trend at fashion month, with labels like Gabriela Hearst, Gucci, Missoni, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Alaïa, Dior, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and parent conglomerates LVMH and Kering making statements and fighting for the eco-trophy. But, sustainability in the name of self-interest may have its own repercussions. The fashion industry must change its sustainability guidelines as a whole to keep accountability overt. {The New York Times}
The comeback of 5,000-year-old fashion techniques in China
China's fashion industry is well known for its mass production of fast-fashion goods, but a collaboration between traditional artisans of the ethnic Miao minority of Southern China and Italian brand Marni showcases the culture's intricate 5,000-year-old techniques. The highly specialized art forms include embroidery, lace, pleating and silver headdresses. {Business of Fashion}
Birchbox and Refinery29 to launch hair and skin-care boxes for Black women
Beauty subscription box company Birchbox and Refinery29's Unbothered are teaming up to create two carefully curated hair and skin-care kits that will address Black women's biggest beauty priorities. Unbothered is Refinery29's channel created for and about Black millennial women, which is exactly who the beauty box partnership aims to celebrate. The kit products are crowdsourced and will help consumers efficiently discover the best beauty products. {Fashionista inbox}
LVMH invests in Madhappy
Madhappy is a two-year-old, Los Angeles-based streetwear brand that promotes an optimistic lifestyle. These factors make it all the more impressive that conglomerate LVMH is investing in the label. LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton, Dior and other high-end brands, seems to be rethinking the price of luxury, with Madhappy's T-shirts costing around $70 and hoodies at $185. {Business of Fashion}
LVMH sales are up in all regions, driven by fashion
In other LVMH news, the conglomerate released earnings for the third quarter and first nine months of the year. Revenue grew 16% (11% organic) over the last nine months, 17% (also 11% organic) in the most recent quarter. It saw growth in all categories and in all regions, including Asia, despite protests in Hong Kong. The highest growth (22%, 18% organic) was seen in the leather and fashion goods category, where Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior showed the strongest performance. {LVMH}
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