LOGIN
Recent Posts
-
Keri Russell Measures Up on the Red Carpet
POSTED 3:37PM ET | Jan 22 2010 -
Fresh Air Fun: Lingerie in January
POSTED 11:58AM ET | Jan 14 2010 -
Amy Adams and Co. Take a Leap
POSTED 6:36PM ET | Jan 12 2010 -
Betting Big on a Luxury Rebound
POSTED 5:58PM ET | Dec 28 2009 -
Jingle All The Way
POSTED 7:17PM ET | Dec 15 2009 -
Safe Port With Whitney of 'The City'
POSTED 10:34AM ET | Dec 15 2009 -
The Wright Stuff at the Guggenheim
POSTED 11:42AM ET | Dec 10 2009 -
Lots of Love
POSTED 6:33PM ET | Dec 4 2009 -
Holiday Netting
POSTED 2:20PM ET | Dec 3 2009 -
WWD Postcard: Rafe Totengco
POSTED 4:12PM ET | Nov 19 2009
Showing posts by Ross Tucker- Market Editor- Denim, Textiles and Trade
When WWD's editors met in mid-April to start brainstorming ideas for this year's Denim in Depth section, we thought one of our biggest challenges would be making sure every article wasn't about the recession. We've heard from more than a few readers over the past year who have had enough of the constant barrage of bad news in the media. While we report on and don't make the news, we can empathize.
The
story of the women's denim industry has, for almost two years, centered
on the overabundance of brands and the inevitable weeding out of those
that failed to perform.
As writers from around the world began filing stories for our annual WWD Denim in Depth section that ran May 22, a new and perhaps more troubling theme emerged - lack of confidence in retailers. Brands up and down the price ladder have adopted a do-it-yourself mentality when it comes to retail. Signature stores are widely being regarded as the quick fix to slowing sales. The weakening global economy has taken a hit on consumers' pocket books in developed markets like the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Europe. In response, retailers have cut assortments, tightened inventories and started playing it safe when bringing in new styles.
"Retailers are scared," said one vendor. Retailers selling their own brands cut back drastically as well. One denim fabric supplier said he recognized a problem last August when fabric orders for holiday merchandise didn't come in. "I knew it was serious by October," he said. "People were canceling Christmas orders." Back inventory didn't clear out until well into March.
This has left few options for those looking to position themselves as global lifestyle brands - Seven For All Mankind, True Religion and Joe's Jeans to name a few - to introduce customers to their growing array of products. The push to open signature stores isn't limited to premium players, either.
Moderate brand Silver Jeans will be opening its first store in Denver this summer and believes it can open up to 75 over the next five years. While some brands rush to open up shop for themselves, others are abandoning the premium ranks in the hopes of enticing price-conscious consumers. Vendors are hoping the $65 to $125 price range will be the next sweet spot in the market.
As writers from around the world began filing stories for our annual WWD Denim in Depth section that ran May 22, a new and perhaps more troubling theme emerged - lack of confidence in retailers. Brands up and down the price ladder have adopted a do-it-yourself mentality when it comes to retail. Signature stores are widely being regarded as the quick fix to slowing sales. The weakening global economy has taken a hit on consumers' pocket books in developed markets like the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Europe. In response, retailers have cut assortments, tightened inventories and started playing it safe when bringing in new styles.
"Retailers are scared," said one vendor. Retailers selling their own brands cut back drastically as well. One denim fabric supplier said he recognized a problem last August when fabric orders for holiday merchandise didn't come in. "I knew it was serious by October," he said. "People were canceling Christmas orders." Back inventory didn't clear out until well into March.
This has left few options for those looking to position themselves as global lifestyle brands - Seven For All Mankind, True Religion and Joe's Jeans to name a few - to introduce customers to their growing array of products. The push to open signature stores isn't limited to premium players, either.
Moderate brand Silver Jeans will be opening its first store in Denver this summer and believes it can open up to 75 over the next five years. While some brands rush to open up shop for themselves, others are abandoning the premium ranks in the hopes of enticing price-conscious consumers. Vendors are hoping the $65 to $125 price range will be the next sweet spot in the market.
