Principles of Fashion Marketing

[Kslim]

Taking a principles of fashion marketing class and wanted you guys to answer this question that was presented to us on the first day of class. Interested to read what SF members post. Thanks for helping a student out!

What do you predict will be the future growth categories for (apparel) fashion retail?

 

[SpooPoker]

Accessories. There is no significant signs of growth per category in RTW.

 

[alphaO888]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

There is no significant signs of growth per category in RTW.

Not sure if I'd agree with this part of your statement.

Just my own projection here:

There will probably be a growth in shoe sales, esp dress shoes, and middle to higher end clothing.

There is a growing middle class in areas such as China and hopefully other countries (i.e. India) should follow suit. As these groups grow and as there is a labor shift towards more "skilled" labor, demand for business attire, and especially shoes should increase. Poorer and more industrious populations generally don't wear dress shoes, they wear boots, sandals, or anything else they can get their hands on.

Of course this is all a theory but there have been established correlations between other goods and population development. One example would be alcohol consumption; as a country moves from worse off to better off you can see a pattern of movement from hard liquor, to beers, and then ultimately to wine, champagne, and other specialty drinks.

 

[SpooPoker]

Originally Posted by alphaO888

Not sure if I'd agree with this part of your statement.

Just my own projection here:

There will probably be a growth in shoe sales, esp dress shoes, and middle to higher end clothing.

There is a growing middle class in areas such as China and hopefully other countries (i.e. India) should follow suit. As these groups grow and as there is a labor shift towards more "skilled" labor, demand for business attire, and especially shoes should increase. Poorer and more industrious populations generally don't wear dress shoes, they wear boots, sandals, or anything else they can get their hands on.

You have some points, but he said "fashion" apparel. Like, not business wear, not specifically mens clothing either. I read it as more of a womens fashion question question than a mens one tbh. OP, correct me if I am wrong.

 

[ktrp]

Niche brands. As people move (some of the time) away from B&M, they can seek out more specialized brands that can survive/exist by selling to a small global community rather then trying to be established enough in a single area to survive. We certainly see it through small brands that get talked up here, but I imagine it's happening elsewhere, and in women's fashion as well.

You end up with the gap/Jos A Bank's + a thousand little online stores. Maybe that's an improvement.

 

[JakeLA]

Find some tacky white trash bimbo on a reality show and build a brand around her.

Jessica Simpson's clothing/perfume line had $750 million in revenues this year and is set to break the $1billion mark.

 

[jessis]

Oooh, this is a good one - big can of worms opened her on SF!

 

[Gus]

I would agree that accessories are the growth area. I recently returned from trade shows where all the action is around jewelry, scarves, and similar accessories. For men and women.

 

[Tck13]

A lot of bullshit with sports, athletes and men's clothing.

 

[Lel]

Originally Posted by Kslim

Taking a principles of fashion marketing class and wanted you guys to answer this question that was presented to us on the first day of class. Interested to read what SF members post. Thanks for helping a student out!

What do you predict will be the future growth categories for (apparel) fashion retail?

General populace always seems about two years behind whatever Styleforum/Supertalk are trending.

**** like selvedge denim, desert boots, and garment replicas (think Margiela, right down to the wording) are being sold everywhere now from Urbanoutfitters to even American Eagle. A few years ago at the height of Hedi-era Dior Homme even stores like Hollister were slowly phasing in slim/skinny cuts.

Now there's a lot of terrible budget goth ninja making the rounds through the Urban Outfitter scene, like the sudden explosion the amount of stores selling tapered drop crotch pants. This'll probably continue for a while, albiet extremely watered down unless the likes of AE begins to churn out fugly Rick Ownes knock off designs. But the current trend of this will follow the pathway of clunky sneakers, distressed leather footwear, drop crotch pants, and cock bib shirts sans nice leather.

Beyond that, who knows.

PS: I have no idea if this is the kind of answer you're looking for.

 

[Kslim]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

You have some points, but he said "fashion" apparel. Like, not business wear, not specifically mens clothing either. I read it as more of a womens fashion question question than a mens one tbh. OP, correct me if I am wrong.
This question applies to both men and women's fashion.

Originally Posted by Rufino

There are some books about fashion marketing.
This is the required textbook for the class.

 

[Makoto Chan]

That thread about SF retailers should be relevant... it's here.

I haven't looked at in a while (and I didn't participate) but here's an interesting quote from tj100 on the first page:

A lot of what the 'SF entrepreneurs' are providing are things that are in such low demand in any given city, that as a retail proposition, they could not survive. But as an online business serving the world, they can. Over time, we'll probably see an increasing number of these kind of long-tail specialty businesses emerge, particularly in mature industries where proverbial corners are cut to increase profit (or just lower prices).

It works for Kent Wang and Sam Hober and I imagine it will become more prevalent with mass-market fashion, too.

 

[twistoffat]

I envisage a trend back towards smaller local companies with individual clothing. The big brands are starting to become way too mainstream and uniform like. Smaller companies with personal service will grow. I don´t see a Savile row thing happening as its too expensive for most and the big brands will always be around but I feel people are looking for something more individual in between

 

[alphaO888]

Originally Posted by twistoffat

I envisage a trend back towards smaller local companies with individual clothing. The big brands are starting to become way too mainstream and uniform like. Smaller companies with personal service will grow. I don´t see a Savile row thing happening as its too expensive for most and the big brands will always be around but I feel people are looking for something more individual in between

Not sure if I agree with this either -

http://www.economist.com/node/183330...ry_id=18333093

Big money in fashion is more of an economy of scale. Tthe specialized shoemakers and luxury companies will be around but true growth will be in companies that make fashion available to the masses. Zara, H&M, etc.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

You have some points, but he said "fashion" apparel. Like, not business wear, not specifically mens clothing either. I read it as more of a womens fashion question question than a mens one tbh. OP, correct me if I am wrong.

I could have totally made this up, but didn't you say at some point that you work in the fashion industry?