These are the stories making headlines in the fashion industry on Thursday.
Meghan Markle invests in Cesta Collective
Meghan Markle is the first investor and strategic partner in handbag brand Cesta Collective. Cesta Collective works with female artisans in Rwanda who hand-weave each bag using locally sourced materials. “Courtney and Erin have a truly incredible and strategic business,” Markle said in a statement. “The quality of a brand’s products, supply chain, ethical standards and practices – these are all things I consider before making an investment. With Cesta, I really began to understand how many women’s lives have been impacted and improved by their work. That was incredibly important to me. Erin and Courtney have a great track record of success through their careers in the fashion industry and have created beautiful products that help just as many others. That was something I could stand behind and support.” {Fashionista Inbox}
Alexa Chung and Madewell revive collaboration
An author, designer, style icon and self-proclaimed “geriatric It Girl,” Alexa Chung has spent many lifetimes in the fashion industry and is now working with Madewell again after last working with the brand in 2010 and 2011. The first half of the nearly 30-piece capsule collection drops on Sept. 4 and includes high-waisted flared jeans, button-down shirts, long denim skirts and dresses ranging in price from $128 to $850. The collection is full of timeless basics that are more understated than some of the designs Chung has previously created, and the second half of the collection is set to drop in November. {The New York Times}
Fashion returns to modesty
Following the maximalism trend of the post-Covid era, modesty is back in fashion due to a weak stock market, cost of living crisis, the trend toward quiet luxury and the rise of content for traditional wives. Economist George Taylor developed the hemline index in 1926, which assumes that the stock market rises as the hemline length of clothing increases. As the U.S. anticipates an upcoming difficult economic environment, fashion brands such as Valentino, Ferragamo, Moschino, Gucci and Alberta Ferretti are turning to more modest silhouettes. {WWD/Paywall}
RaiseFashion puts BIPOC designers in the spotlight with return to NYFW
RaiseFashion, a nonprofit organization that offers resources and support for BIPOC-owned brands, will host a New York Fashion Week event centered on Black creativity on September 4 at the House of Sound. This event is designed to help retailers, editors, brands and media professionals connect with RaiseFashion’s designers, which include Fe Noel, Charles Harbison, Advisry and many more. Along with partner Abercrombie & Fitch, the event will feature previews of the designers’ Spring 2025 collections. {WWD/Paywall}
What to do if your product goes viral?
Having a viral product can be both a dream and a struggle for emerging brands, as they achieve major exposure at the cost of flooding orders and constant re-supplies. The journey from a small brand to an overnight sensation can be difficult, and surviving the upswing is crucial to achieving longevity. While it’s hard to predict which product will take off, brands that spot a trend and respond accordingly can increase their viral momentum. {Fashion store/Paywall}
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