Gucci’s Post

Remember Gucci? The name synonymous with flamboyant fashion and A-list clientele? Well, 2024 hasn't been kind to the iconic brand. They just reported a whopping 20% drop in sales, and it's got the entire luxury fashion world buzzing. So, what went wrong? Here's the tea, folks: 👉 Shifting Winds in China: China, once a goldmine for luxury brands, hit a rough patch with a real estate slump and shaky consumer confidence. Gucci, heavily reliant on the Asian market (especially China!), felt the sting. 👉 Creative Crossroads: The departure of their flamboyant creative director and a shift towards a more minimalist aesthetic left some loyal customers scratching their heads. Did the new direction resonate with their core audience? The sales figures suggest not. 👉 Whispers of "Rainbow Capitalism": Some critics are questioning Gucci's commitment to LGBTQ+ causes after a quieter Pride Month campaign. Did performative activism backfire? Now, let's get real. This isn't just Gucci's story. It's a cautionary tale for all luxury brands. Here are some key takeaways: ➡️ Diversify Your Markets: Don't put all your Birkin bags in one basket! Spreading your reach across different markets can help weather economic storms. ➡️ Know Your Audience: Listen closely to your customers. Evolving, yes, but staying true to your brand DNA is crucial. A confusing shift might alienate your core fanbase. ➡️ Actions Speak Louder Than Logos: Consumers see through performative activism. True brand purpose requires genuine commitment to causes you believe in. This is where the conversation starts, friends! What are your thoughts on Gucci's situation? Do these lessons resonate with other brands? Let's chat in the comments! Follow Harsh Dhakar for more business talks ✅ 📌 #LuxuryFashion #Gucci #BrandStrategy #MarketingLessons #ChinaMarket #ConsumerBehavior #LVMH #CreativeDirection #LGBTQ+Marketing #BrandPurpose #RetailIndustry #DigitalMarketing #BusinessAnalysis #FashionTrends #FutureofLuxury

Transmission and community is key

Fashion Trends to Cultural Responsibility: Appropriation vs Appreciation Kim Kardashian changed her brand from "Kimono" to “SKIMS”. Dior faced backlash for a $3,800 skirt likened to a Chinese "mamianqun”. Do you buy craft decor or an embroidered handbag without knowing its origin? Enjoy Asian food without cultural connection? In our global world, the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation is blurry. Appreciation involves respectful engagement, recognizing significance, understanding value, collaborating with communities, and encouraging mindful shopping while appropriation trivializes important cultural symbols reducing them to mere fashion trends. Celebrate diversity mindfully. Share your thoughts below! #MindfulFashion #CulturalExchange

Recognizing women's contributions in the workplace is not just a strategic move that enhances innovation, creativity, and overall business success; it's a moral imperative. Let's celebrate companies like Gucci leading the way, setting a high standard for the industry, and proving that a diverse and inclusive workplace is a powerful driver of success. Happy International Women's Day!! #gucci #luxury #inclusion #womensday2024

It's 11th June, and the silence is deafening. Last year, on 1st June, Nike released a sneaker by non-binary designer and artist Zoe Schlacter, celebrating diversity and queerness. Once July came around, absolute silence... And not one post or collection dropped this year. I thought there was no sport without Pride, Nike?! Their BeTrue commitment, ongoing since 2012, has lost meaning and significance. The website hasn't even been updated with a new post... All are still dated 2023. People wonder why trust in brands is so low among the queer community. Brands often make a big song and dance about how progressive and inclusive they are—but the moment there's pushback (often from a vocal minority), they quickly retreat and apologise. If they were having a moment to "reflect" or to "consider how to make a meaningful action" then say that. Include others in the conversation. Don't keep it all internal and open up a void. Don't remain silent. Maybe take some of your own advice and just do it. When brands fail to back their words with consistent action, it’s no surprise they’re called out. It's just so brazen and frustrating! Trust isn't built on quick gestures—it requires a proper commitment, *especially* in the face of adversity.

Just a Fashion Minute • Diversity in Fashion We have been all too aware that Fashion and Luxury has a big problem with Diversity and Inclusion (or many of us have), but it seems that in the past two years that DEI appears to be moving backwards, with many companies, large and small reducing the effort and expenditure on DEI or winding up newly created departments altogether. DEI has been thrown into the charity or HR mix and never considered from a commercial perspective. Big business felt obligated or even shamed into admitting there is a problem and was quick to look like they were taking affirmative action - this has been short-lived. As a recent guest on my podcast suggested that post George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, "it's as if the establishment has said "OK Black and other POC, you've had your moment, and now it's time to move on" - which does seem to sum it up. Many of these mega-corporations, namely fashion have in no uncertain terms has exploited the Black culture through sport, music, media, style, and on the list goes but Diversity has once again been relegated to the bench! Is it just a fluke that Virgil Abloh put Louis Vuitton onto a global stage? What do we have to do to get fashion to sit up and take notice, and realise that it makes commercial sense to have a diverse organisation structure in today's society. David M Watts • Just a Fashion Minute

🌟 Exciting session today with Alejandra Rositto, CEO of the Americas for Bottega Veneta! With a stellar background in luxury, including 13 years at LV and 6 more at Fendi, Alejandra emphasized the importance of nurturing strong relationships and recognizing when it's time for new challenges. Key takeaways: - Embrace Challenges: Challenging environments can ignite passion and bring out the best in high performers. - Take Ownership: Lead your career path; make decisions that drive your personal growth. - Find Joy in Work: Seek organizations where you find joy and build meaningful connections with peers—a valuable asset for the future. - Work-Life Integration: Understand that work is part of life; prioritize when necessary but know you don't always have to choose between the two. Alejandra left us with empowering advice: "Act like a woman." Today's women are more prepared than ever, thriving in numerous fields. Embrace your femininity—it's a strength to be celebrated! 💪🚀 #WomenEmpowerment #CareerGrowth #LeadershipAdvice

According to J.P. Morgan, Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs and there’s no end in sight. If you know me, you know I love supporting Black businesses and brands. Vontélle is a luxury bespoke eyewear brand with an ethnic flair using unique African, Caribbean, and Latin print designs and textiles created by women of color. The luxury eyewear market is dominated by European brands, so it’s been refreshing to don a pair of Vontélle eyewear that are handcrafted and made for diverse faces. Their eyewear includes wider bridges for the nose, longer temples so there’s no pain behind the ears, and larger lenses for high cheekbones so every pair fits comfortably on the face. Even better, Vontélle is the first Black women-owned and operated eyewear company to obtain a licensing agreement from Nickelodeon. This brand is changing the narrative of who stylish eyewear is made for and putting Black and brown people’s unique physical characteristics and culture front and center in their designs. #blackbrands #blackhistorymonth #womanownedbrands #DEI #NikaWhiteConsulting

According to J.P. Morgan, Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs and there’s no end in sight. If you know me, you know I love supporting Black businesses and brands. VONTELLE is a luxury bespoke eyewear brand with an ethnic flair using unique African, Caribbean, and Latin print designs and textiles created by women of color. The luxury eyewear market is dominated by European brands, so it’s been refreshing to don a pair of Vontélle eyewear that are handcrafted and made for diverse faces. Their eyewear includes wider bridges for the nose, longer temples so there’s no pain behind the ears, and larger lenses for high cheekbones so every pair fits comfortably on the face. Even better, Vontélle is the first Black women-owned and operated eyewear company to obtain a licensing agreement from Nickelodeon. This brand is changing the narrative of who stylish eyewear is made for and putting Black and brown people’s unique physical characteristics and culture front and center in their designs. #blackbrands #blackhistorymonth #womanownedbrands #DEI #NikaWhiteConsulting

RALPH LAUREN BRAND REVOLUTIONISES RACIAL REPRESENTATION BEAUTIFULLY! Every so often I comment on #fashion…since, as a younger man - whilst still an intellectual - I “owned” a high fashion boutique in the #Bahamas for 11 months (before mother made me return to law school); through which I learned nearly everything that matters about fashion, design, economics and entrepreneurship. I remain involved as an #aesthete at the #finance and #educational levels; interested in the creative cultural impact of #style and fashion globally. Fashion historically and during my early years was segregated demonstrably: in those 11 months (I was 19 years old) travelling to #NewYork, #Tokyo, #Milan and #London, I came face-to-face with racial representations in the global fashion; specifically - as in films, then - it was thought that blacks could not be primary representatives of style for all races. But times have changed! Below is a #RalphLauren (RL) ad: its the first time in its history (so far as I have observed) that the iconic American brand features a Black man and woman in a loving embrace as primary agents of style. Often, RL ads feature black women mixed in with whites and the odd #Asian. Or a series of white men, in equestrian, tennis or surfing motifs with one black male. This is a departure for the brand and an upwelling of dignity in its racial representation: Its selling elegance for all peoples through a black couple. That is, just as it could feature - say Julia Roberts and George #Cloony in its Brand cover and expect blacks and Asians to see examples of elegance, now it’s saying whites and Asians should see elegance even if the image is of black people alone! It’s a beautifully gratifying thing for many reasons: 1. It deifies as it demystifies race as distinction and differentiation 2. Its message is deliberate, profound and accepted, without preaching 3. It’s the year-end feature, which sets a race-neutral tone for its global brand, using race! 4. As such, it treats and assumes the dignity of all people to see beauty in that image regardless of #race. How humane and lovely! One final notice to get at the heart of how the ad challenges us all: See the lady, yes, particularly the lady…she’s not what even blacks regard as traditionally “pretty”, forcing blacks themselves to confront their ideals of loveliness. This is how we teach #tolerance and #acceptance. It’s a radical move for the brand, done beautifully! Now…back to reading #Aristotle! VOGUE-UK GQ Magazine Ralph Lauren VOGUE Condé Nast Americas Hommes et Territoire TOM FORD FASHION FashionUnited Deutschland HAUTE COUTURE LMVH Saville Row Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Harrods Fashion Network Worldwide Harper's Bazaar FT Luxury Experience Club - Foolishtime Christian Dior Couture Oscar de la Renta Chavón | La Escuela de Diseño Giorgio Armani ZARA SA Charvet Bespoke Ranges Parsons School of Design - The New School The School of New Humanities & Design School of Design, Sushant University