How is Wal-Mart integrating new technologies and immersive commerce to improve its customers shopping experience, as well as to play a bigger role in their digital lives outside of online shopping.

Everybody knows about Temu, and how could we not considering how big their advertising budget is. Few brands can afford to spend over USD 3 billion in digital marketing and influencer partnerships, let alone operate at a similar loss for a sustainable period of time. The ecommerce giant seems intent on winning over the US market, but is their strategy working?

Recently, TikTok has been in the news for its heated fight with the US Government and its threats to ban the app should they not be able or willing to sell it to a different party, and breaking links with ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Regardless of what happens next, it’s impossible to deny the hold the app has on its users, especially with hashtags like #tiktokmademebuyit. But what are they buying on the social media platform? And who is doing all of these purchases?

Don Julio is the latest brad to jump onto the AR/VR wagon by creating an app on VisioOs that enables their customers to take a virtual tour around Mexico. Other brands like ELF, Snickers, AMEX, and Lego have also upped their technology game, but how are immersive technologies transforming brand’s connections to their customers?

In the face of climate change, the Spanish fashion retailer is focusing on transitional pieces and adaptable clothing to help customers cope with changing weather patterns.

France is introducing a new piece of legislation that seeks to lower the environmental impact of ultra-fast fashion juggernatu Shein.

Christian Dior has postponed its Men’s Fall fashion show in Hong Kong, landing a blow to the city who is trying to revive it’s former status as Asia’s World Ciy.

Lululemon and Samsara Eco just had a major breakthrough with its new enzymatic recycling technology of Nylon 6,6, which will facilitate not just more sustainable practices, but also puses forward the concept of circularity in Fashion.

It’s a sad day for eco-friendly and sustainable beauty, as The Body Shop has officially gone into administration and made a plan to close multiple shops in the UK and Germany, leaving in limbo stores in France, Sweden, and Austria.

VF Corp has been downgraded by S&P after posting negative sales growth for the second quarter in a row. Vans is leading sales decline for VF, but the pressure to offload other underperforming brands is mounting, and activist investors are pushing for not just “non-core divestitures”, but also aggressive cost-cutting.

Renewcell has filed for bankruptcy after failing to secure funding to continue operations.

Three weeks ago, a New York federal jury sided with Chanel in its case against second-hand retailer What Comes Around Goes Around. Following a two-week trial, the jury weighed in favor of Chanel in all four of its causes for action. Chanel is highly protective of its brand and trademark, and this will set a precedent for any reseller, including The RealReal, which is currently in mediation with Chanel over simiar accusations.

Customer acquisition costs are on the rise, and they do not seem that they will abate in 2024. Consequently, brands have turned to different approaches in the pursuit on gaining new customers.

Online luxury retailer MyTheresa is staying strong through the industry’s upheaval and spree of mergers and acquisitions.

Net sales grew by 8.3% in Q2, with the US market exceeding performance expectations, which indicates the return of American aspirational consumers

Persistently high inflation has pushed retailers to innovate on how to not only keep their existing customers, but also winning new ones. Whilst some brands have chosen to go the shrinkflation route, Target has decided to introduce a new private label brand, and to revamp Up and Up, their USD 3 billion brand.

Abercrombie & Fitch crashes the so-called “Magnificent 7’ party. The retailer is outperforming most tech stocks, and downright putting stocks like Apple and Tesla to shame.

DTC brands under bankruptcy watch. Rent the Runway is still expected to fail this year, and brands such as Peloton and Beyond Meat are also being closely monitored by financial investors after several rounds of layoffs.

Squishmallows launches an exclusive collection for H&M

Sustainability in fashion is not a radical subject anymore. Fashion houses, designers, retailers, and consumers alike constantly strive to make their supply chains more sustainable. Or at the very least, to greenwash it as much as possible. Jewelry and watchmakers, however, have taken a backseat, at least to the eyes of most consumers, but Leonardo DiCaprio (yes, THAT Leonardo!) might change all that.