HBS Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship’s Post

IN THE NEWS >>The fashion industry is struggling to scale circular business models, but it’s not because of a lack of consumer interest. Most initiatives fail to scale because they’re not rooted in business reality. In his piece for Just Style, Matthew Hawthorne, a footprinting expert on our Fashion + Sporting Goods team, examines what brands are getting wrong and shares how to build successful #circularity programs that drive both business transformation and systemic change. Read the full article >> https://lnkd.in/eHwH3Dhe just-style.com | The apparel industry news & information site

Starting your own fashion brand is an exciting venture, but it's easy to stumble. Here are some common mistakes: 👉 Overlooking market research 👉 Ignoring cost management 👉 Underestimating the importance of quality 👉 Neglecting marketing and branding 👉 Forgetting about sustainability 👉Rushing to launch Remember, knowledge and preparation are key to success in the fashion industry. Steer clear of these pitfalls and set your brand up for a thriving future! #FDAI #FashionDesign #FashionStartUp #FashionAdvice #FashionBusiness #FashionEntrepreneur #FashionIndustry

This week's Authenticity Report → LeBron James, a genuine force of Inspiration → Authenticity 500 ranks apparel and fashion brands → Curated insights in Authenticity Roundup → Reclaiming Afrobeat’s Heart: battle for Authenticity Subscribe and Read the report at https://grpy.us/3Emz5YI #authenticity #authenticitymatters #authenticityiseverything #authenticity500 #brandauthenticityindex #brandauthenticity

Co-Founder Erin had the chance to talk briefly with Vogue Business earlier this week, about the current state of rental fashion. The questions were about the reality of untapped potential hiding in closets and wardrobes all around the world: Whether more people would rent their fashion if they knew that it would generate direct income on the side rather than the current model of businesses acquiring and then renting to consumers. If people could rent to and from each other, the idea of rental might be more widely accepted and adopted. What are your thoughts? #fashionrental #feimso #fashiontech #circularfashion #sustainablefashion

"Slow fashion has always been an experiment — will people pay more for clothing they can buy with a clear conscience? To many in the movement, the recent rash of closures raises fears that the answer to that question is no." - The Business of Fashion and Isabel Slone. This week, my substack reflects on the recent barrage of independent brand closures from #marahoffman to #vampireswife and even my own, Public Habit. Would love to hear from other founders and brand owners. How are you feeling about your business outlook moving forward? What about your personal journey? Is it worth it? Eleanor Turner Samantha Rose Kris Myllenbeck Erin Cavanaugh Zakhar Ivanisov #smallbusiness #slowfashion

First thought: If you're not watching what's happening to small brands right now, start. It's so tough out there. Founders that built businesses with heart and personality, and a swimming pool's worth of sweat equity, are having to make the final tradeoff—shut it down, give it up to someone else, or keep grinding in the hopes of a better landscape in a few months. Sydney's take is spot-on. Second thought: A strategic trade-off of higher COGS for lower working capital requirements makes sense for emerging brands—buy small and use the extra cash on hand to build your growth flywheel, instead of having it locked up on a shelf. But for the business to work, that cost has to be reflected in higher retails, or painfully absorbed into margins. Getting customers to bear a higher retail price means needing to communicate a value that's one or two steps removed from the customers themselves, which is... just. so. hard. And so often, their commitment to sustainability ends right when they see an extra couple bucks in the purchase price. Third thought: Sustainability is referendum, and customers need to vote with their wallets to make it happen. Last thought: Go follow Sydney if you care about fashion (fast or slow), supply chain, and the business of both.

Starting your own fashion brand is an exciting venture, but it's easy to stumble. Here are some common mistakes: 👉 Overlooking market research 👉 Ignoring cost management 👉 Underestimating the importance of quality 👉 Neglecting marketing and branding 👉 Forgetting about sustainability 👉Rushing to launch Remember, knowledge and preparation are key to success in the fashion industry. Steer clear of these pitfalls and set your brand up for a thriving future! #BAFD #FashionDesign #FashionStartUp #FashionAdvice #FashionBusiness #FashionEntrepreneur #FashionIndustry

I was going to write something profound and thought provoking about this feedback. I'm not the best in sharing the 'great' things about me. But that's ok.. The 'proof is in the pudding' when clients share anyway, right? It's really a privilege to 'hold space' (with coaching), so my client can feel safe and comfortable to share. Giving her the opportunity to be able to explore and reflect, how to then develop her sustainable fashion business. #sustainablefashion #fashionbusiness #fashionstartup #fashiondesigner

Without a solid identity, any emerging fashion or beauty brand is just BLENDING IN with everyone else. If you wanna make a REAL IMPACT in the fashion world, you need to slow down, babe. Take a step back, and focus on building a brand that will 💯 SET YOU APART because without that solid foundation, you're just setting yourself up for failure. Ready to make your mark? Comment 'YES' below if you want to chat about how we can make your brand STAND OUT ⬇️ #branding #brandingmarketing #socialmediamarketer #socialmediamarketingagency #fashionbiz #fashionbrands #fashionbusiness #fashionstyle #socialmediahelp #socialmediastrategy

💼📈 Boosting Productivity! Vince is taking a bold step forward with a US$30 million cost-cutting initiative. This strategic move is set to enhance efficiency and productivity. Learn how Vince is reshaping the future of fashion and business. 💰👕 https://lnkd.in/dF9KM6pu #VinceFashion #CostCutting #ProductivityImprovement #globaldevelopment #FashionInnovation #BusinessStrategy #EfficiencyBoost Nayab Islam #contentwriting #searchengineoptimization #newsupdate #globalnews #globalnetworking