Must Read: Versace Sues Fashion Nova, Gift Guides Are Taking Over the Internet
Plus, plastic hangers have become fashion's equivalent to plastic straws.
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Wednesday.
Versace sues Fashion Nova
Versace is suing online retailer Fashion Nova after the fast-fashion brand knocked off its iconic "Jungle Pattern" dress most notably seen on Jennifer Lopez. The Italian fashion house is alleging copyright and trademark infringement on not only the Jungle Print design but also its black and gold Barocco and Pop Hearts designs. The luxury brand claims that "consumers will be 'confused and deceived' into thinking the Fashion Nova designs are the real thing, which will lead to the 'tarnishing and degrading' of Versace's image." {The Hollywood Reporter}
Gift guides are taking over the Internet
With the holidays approaching, many publishers release gift guides to encourage readers to shop products specifically curated by its editors. Many publishers now use gift guides as a means to sell sponsorships or blend content and commerce through affiliate deals with the stores they link to while pocketing a portion of the sales. Because of this, shopping and gift guides have started to expand to appeal to every type of consumer. {The Atlantic}
Plastic hangers have become fashion's equivalent to plastic straws
Much like plastic straws, plastic hangers are mostly discarded after one use. They end up in landfills, contributing to 300 million tons of plastic the planet produces every year; about 85% of temporary hangers made from polystyrene end up in a landfill where they can take centuries to break down. Brands like Target, Burberry and Stella McCartney have begun testing alternative, reusable hanger options to reduce its environmental footprint. {Business of Fashion}
Louis Vuitton has increased its prices in China, Japan and the U.K.
Besides a 6% rise in 2018, prices at Louis Vuitton were flat for the last four years. Over the last year in China, the median price for the brand's products has increased by 4% and the assortment has also seen a rise in Japan and the U.K. Louis Vuitton is often viewed as the price-setter for the industry, and brands like Chanel, Bottega Veneta and Dior have also recently raised prices in China. {Vogue Business}
The new meaning behind Black Friday
Black Friday has a new meaning. While the annual sales event once happened exclusively the day after Thanksgiving, now it can start up to weeks before the big event. The notorious shopping day has escaped its original meaning – when stores begin making a profit and "go into the black" – and has spread to other countries outside of its American roots. Is it time for Black Friday to get a rebrand? {The New York Times}
Fashion's contribution to the rapid decline in biodiversity
The fashion industry not only has increased the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, but it is also a contributing factor to the decline of biodiversity. Since 1970, our Earth has lost about 60% of vertebrate animal populations. Currently, less than 20% of the world's ancient forests are large enough to sustain any biological diversity that lives there and plant-based materials like viscose and cellulose-based fibers have been linked directly to the deforestation of the Amazon. {Vogue Business}
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