Jill Manoff

Reed Krakoff is breathing new life into 50-year-old John Hardy, the fine jewelry brand majority-owned by L Catterton since 2014.

David’s Bridal is getting into the wedding-planning business, led by new chief business officer Elina Vilk.

For Nicky Campbell, pent-up demand for authentic fashion reviews has translated to more than 320,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.

Ten years ago, Vrai launched as a digitally native fine jewelry brand focused on controversial lab-grown diamonds. Now, with new ownership, nine global stores, A-list partners and a sold-on-the-concept consumer audience, Vrai is targeting “legacy luxury maison” status. 

As the largest retail and entertainment complex in the U.S., Minnesota-based Mall of America is currently experiencing its annual Super Bowl. Depending on who you ask, the holiday shopping season is already on — and, according to Jill Renslow, the center’s chief business and marketing officer, Mall of America is embracing every related opportunity. As in years past, its strategy for the season includes hosting dedicated events, charity initiatives and Black Friday festivities, all of which have contributed to making a holiday shopping trip to Mall of America a tradition for oodles of consumers.

Launched last week, with three clutch handbag styles priced $5,800-$7,800, Eittem was intentionally designed to straddle the line between fashion and art. Its pieces can just as easily be worn about town or placed on a coffee table as decorative objects. “They’re functional sculptures,” said Erin Saluti, the brand’s founder and creative director.

Discover how MeUndies CRO Ariel Stoddard plans to grow the brand while maintaining high customer loyalty.

Even in today’s unpredictable retail environment, it’s a safe bet that 42-year-old jewelry brand Pandora will have a successful fourth quarter. With charms as a company signature, the trend cycle is working in its favor. Plus, as of 2022, it’s behind a growing lab-grown diamond jewelry business, as people are pinching pennies and the stigma around the lab-grown option has all but faded. In diversifying its offerings, now catering to more customer demographics, it’s landed on “it” items at different ends of the pricing spectrum. And, at the same time, it’s been on a growth trajectory that’s expected to stick.

Brandon Brubaker, co-founder of the 10-year-old SoCal sneaker brand Clearweather, is somewhat of a sneaker legend. In the sneaker game for 30 years, he first designed iconic sneaker styles for Vans after being recruited by the company at age 20. He then went on to launch the multimillion-dollar skate sneaker division at Nike-owned Converse.  Today, Brubaker is hitting the gas on growing his own company, with a fresh round of funding, a new business partner, a relaunched website and big plans for international expansion.

Billy Reid, who started his company 20 years ago, welcomed 300-500 out-of-towners plus crowds of locals into his world set two hours away from the closest major airport — all Florence hotels hit capacity, he said. The brand’s best customers forked over at least $1,000 for an all-access pass, while ramped-up quantities of influencers and press were granted complimentary access.