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Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Ssense: What Went Wrong

Tariffs were the immediate cause of the Montréal-based company’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection. But insiders tell BoF that the downfall was a long time coming as the online retailer’s formula for appealing to Gen-Z shoppers with indie fashion brands and constant markdowns lost its edge.
A collage.
Once an innovative force in online luxury, Ssense's focus on Gen-Z and hyperdiscounting has reversed its fortunes. (Ssense)

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Further Reading

Inside Coupang’s Tug of War With Farfetch

A year into its ownership of the embattled luxury e-tailer, the South Korean e-commerce giant is whipping Farfetch into shape, reaching near breakeven in its latest quarter. But company insiders say Coupang has gone from cutting fat to cutting muscle, stripping Farfetch of its ability to compete for the attention and dollars of key ultra-wealthy shoppers who account for 30 percent of its annual sales.

Luxury E-Commerce: Who’s Surviving and Why

Experts say Mytheresa, Ssense and Moda Operandi have kept afloat in a challenged space by honing in on a particular consumer, curating their assortments and executing on retail basics. Still, the road ahead is tough, and the bigger they get, the harder it will be to sustain these strategies.

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