Brendon Babenzien Exits J.Crew
The New York City-based designer who elevated J.Crew’s profile amongst menswear enthusiasts said he is leaving the creative director role to focus on his own label, Noah.
Lei Takanashi
Lei Takanashi is a Correspondent at The Business of Fashion (BoF) covering menswear, streetwear, young consumer trends, and the intersection between fashion and culture. He is based in New York City. Prior to BoF, he primarily covered streetwear and hip-hop style as a Staff Writer in Complex magazine for five years. His work has also appeared in The Cut, Highsnobiety, Fader, Mass Appeal, and other culture magazines. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and history from Stony Brook University.
Entrepreneurship
How Some Founders Are Redefining Fashion’s Idea of Success
As the pipeline to scaling a fashion business grows more precarious, some designers are ditching the pursuit of global prestige in favour of a slower approach to growth they say is more sustainable — and more fulfilling.
How Some Founders Are Redefining Fashion’s Idea of Success
As the pipeline to scaling a fashion business grows more precarious, some designers are ditching the pursuit of global prestige in favour of a slower approach to growth they say is more sustainable — and more fulfilling.
Sports
Exclusive: Can This Skims’ Alum Make Columbia Sportswear Cool?
Scott Lloyd previously led growth at celebrity disruptor brands like Skims and Savage X Fenty. Now he’s tasked with bringing the same magic to the 88-year-old outdoor label.
Exclusive: Can This Skims’ Alum Make Columbia Sportswear Cool?
Scott Lloyd previously led growth at celebrity disruptor brands like Skims and Savage X Fenty. Now he’s tasked with bringing the same magic to the 88-year-old outdoor label.
Global Markets
Chinese Competitors Move Into Nike and Zara’s Core Markets
As domestic demand weakens and global consumers seek out lower-priced alternatives, Chinese challenger brands like Anta and Urban Revivo are rolling out stores from Bangkok to Beverly Hills.
Chinese Competitors Move Into Nike and Zara’s Core Markets
As domestic demand weakens and global consumers seek out lower-priced alternatives, Chinese challenger brands like Anta and Urban Revivo are rolling out stores from Bangkok to Beverly Hills.
Marketing
The Debrief | How Fashion Picks Its Hip Hop Style Icons
This week on The Debrief, BoF correspondent Lei Takanashi explains why the industry remains tethered to a small circle of established rap stars and whether a new generation of talent can break through.
The Debrief | How Fashion Picks Its Hip Hop Style Icons
This week on The Debrief, BoF correspondent Lei Takanashi explains why the industry remains tethered to a small circle of established rap stars and whether a new generation of talent can break through.
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Media
What to Do When Reddit Turns on Your Brand
With the platform’s posts now shaping Google search and AI chatbot results, fashion brands need to listen to the site’s millions of users – even when they don’t like what they have to say.
What to Do When Reddit Turns on Your Brand
With the platform’s posts now shaping Google search and AI chatbot results, fashion brands need to listen to the site’s millions of users – even when they don’t like what they have to say.
Marketing
How Fashion Picks Its Hip-Hop Style Icons
As fashion continues to tap into hip-hop for celeb marketing opportunities, it is searching for fresh faces beyond the same superstar partnerships.
How Fashion Picks Its Hip-Hop Style Icons
As fashion continues to tap into hip-hop for celeb marketing opportunities, it is searching for fresh faces beyond the same superstar partnerships.
Sports
Why Every Fashion Brand Thinks It’s a Sportswear Label Now
From Balenciaga to Old Navy, all sorts of fashion brands are attempting to capitalise on the activewear boom with collections of sweats, shorts and workout tees. Sometimes these clothes stick the landing, but it often comes off as just sweaty.
Why Every Fashion Brand Thinks It’s a Sportswear Label Now
From Balenciaga to Old Navy, all sorts of fashion brands are attempting to capitalise on the activewear boom with collections of sweats, shorts and workout tees. Sometimes these clothes stick the landing, but it often comes off as just sweaty.
Sports
The Sneakers That Mattered Most in 2025
The Business of Fashion crunched the numbers, polled readers and spoke with leading sneaker authorities to identify the shoes that defined the market this year – and pointed the way to what’s coming next.
The Sneakers That Mattered Most in 2025
The Business of Fashion crunched the numbers, polled readers and spoke with leading sneaker authorities to identify the shoes that defined the market this year – and pointed the way to what’s coming next.
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Retail
Streetwear’s First IPO, Explained
Human Made shares begin trading in Tokyo on Thursday, a milestone in streetwear’s evolution from a subcultural fashion trend to a mature fashion category.
Streetwear’s First IPO, Explained
Human Made shares begin trading in Tokyo on Thursday, a milestone in streetwear’s evolution from a subcultural fashion trend to a mature fashion category.
Retail
Exclusive: Kith’s Ronnie Fieg on Designing the Brand’s First London Flagship
The founder of the New York label discusses opening Kith’s first standalone UK store, which includes Fieg’s debut restaurant concept as the brand leans further into hospitality.
Exclusive: Kith’s Ronnie Fieg on Designing the Brand’s First London Flagship
The founder of the New York label discusses opening Kith’s first standalone UK store, which includes Fieg’s debut restaurant concept as the brand leans further into hospitality.
Sports
How Wolverine Worldwide Turned Saucony Into a Sportswear Challenger
Wolverine Worldwide’s CEO Chris Hufnagel explains how he’s kept two small sportswear brands, Saucony and Merrell, competitive in a category dominated by giants.
How Wolverine Worldwide Turned Saucony Into a Sportswear Challenger
Wolverine Worldwide’s CEO Chris Hufnagel explains how he’s kept two small sportswear brands, Saucony and Merrell, competitive in a category dominated by giants.
Retail
How Mining the Archives Became Fashion’s Go-To Strategy
Brands such as Mulberry and Banana Republic are reissuing vintage pieces – or even selling the originals – as they look to tap into consumers’ nostalgia.
How Mining the Archives Became Fashion’s Go-To Strategy
Brands such as Mulberry and Banana Republic are reissuing vintage pieces – or even selling the originals – as they look to tap into consumers’ nostalgia.
The News in Brief
Tracksmith Founder Passes CEO Baton to Converse Veteran
Matt Taylor, founder of the collegiate-inspired running brand will be succeeded by Jared Carver, Converse’s former CEO and president.
CFDA Announces Empowered Vision Award Finalists
The finalists for the award that supports emerging Black designers are Daveed Baptiste, Keith Herron of Advisry, Nana Kwame Adusei of Kwame Adusei, and Edvin Thompson of Theophilio.
Skims Secures $5 Billion Valuation
The shapewear label founded by Kim Kardashian announced it has obtained $225 million in financing on Wednesday.
Nigo Plans IPO for Streetwear Brand Human Made
Nigo is vying to raise $18 million through an initial public offering for the 15-year-old Japanese streetwear label.
Louis Vuitton Awarded $584 Million in US Counterfeit Case
The judgement, one of the largest of its kind ever, stems from counterfeit goods sold at a flea market in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ralph Lauren to Open Polo Bar in London
The company is expanding its hospitality portfolio during a moment when the American luxury label is on a hot-streak
VF Corp. Sells Dickies to Bluestar Alliance
VF Corp. sold off the struggling heritage workwear label for $600 million.