The Debrief

The Business of Fashion

Welcome to The Debrief, a new weekly podcast from The Business of Fashion, where we go beyond the glossy veneer and unpack our most popular BoF Professional stories. Hosted by BoF correspondents Sheena Butler-Young and Brian Baskin, The Debrief will be your guide into the mega labels, indie upstarts and unforgettable personalities shaping the $2.5 trillion global fashion industry.

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136 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes136

Newest first

March 4 · 22 min
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.
February 24 · 18 min
Tariffs Are Down, But Uncertainty Is Back
The Supreme Court struck down US president Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs, only for new levies to take their place. BoF reporters Marc Bain and Cat Chen unpack what this means for prices, refunds and the supply chain.
February 18 · 19 min
How Dior and Chanel Are Winning Back Aspirational Shoppers
Retail correspondent Joan Kennedy explains how Dior and Chanel are expanding lower-priced handbags and accessories to win back aspirational shoppers after years of steep price hikes.
February 11 · 23 min
How Fashion Brands Are Winning the Winter Olympics
Olympic rules spark creative marketing. BoF’s Haley Crawford and Mike Sykes explore how fashion labels use the Winter Games to sell winterwear, plus they dive into Bad Bunny and the biggest style highlights from the Super Bowl.
February 4 · 24 min
The New Rules for Influencer Marketing
This week on The Debrief, BoF’s senior news and features editor Diana Pearl explains why influencer marketing is entering a more mature, data-driven phase, and how trust, diversification and human creativity are reshaping the creator economy in 2026.
January 28 · 22 min
Making Sense of Fashion’s Brutal Job Market
Fashion companies are tightening return-to-office mandates just as entry-level jobs become harder to land. The Debrief explains what that means for workers trying to build careers in a cooling industry.
January 21 · 24 min
Have Sneakers Lost Their Cool?
BoF correspondent Mike Sykes unpacks why a Bank of America report calling a peak to sneaker sales has rattled the industry, and whether the decades-long trend towards casual dressing has anywhere left to go.
January 15 · 22 min
Saks’ Bankruptcy and the Future of Luxury Retail
Saks’ Chapter 11 filing listed $3.4 billion in debts, and the retailer is on its third CEO in two weeks. But the industry is cautiously optimistic. BoF’s Cat Chen explains how we got here and what a credible turnaround must look like.
January 14 · 20 min
Inside Beauty’s 2026 M&A Pipeline
Estée Lauder’s attempt to sell Too Faced, Smashbox and Dr. Jart is just the start of what’s likely to be a busy year for deals, as beauty editor Priya Rao explains.
January 7 · 25 min
The Themes That Will Define the 2026 Fashion Agenda
Brian Baskin and Sheena Butler-Young sit down with BoF correspondent Marc Bain to unpack why executives are calling 2026 a “challenging” year.
Dec 17, 2025 · 28 min
The Sneaker of the Year 2025
BoF’s Brian Baskin and Sheena Butler-Young sit down with Mike Sykes to unpack the elusive 2025 sneaker of the year.
Dec 12, 2025 · 16 min
What Happens When Women Lead
At VOICES 2025, senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young sits down with celebrated designers Clare Waight Keller and Maria Cornejo to discuss what it means to build a career in fashion as a woman today.
Dec 4, 2025 · 30 min
5 Big Questions About Luxury
Luxury editor Robert Williams joins The Debrief to discuss the latest developments in luxury, from Prada’s acquisition of Versace to fashion’s favourite restaurants.
Nov 27, 2025 · 27 min
Is This the Year Discount Mania Finally Ends?
Consumer sentiment is slumping, but spending hasn’t collapsed – it’s split. Brands are betting on desirability, newness and sharp pricing over blanket promos, while luxury stores court spenders. BoF’s Cat Chen and Malique Morris explain what’s working.
Nov 20, 2025 · 30 min
Can Fashion Still Meet Its Climate Promises?
As COP30 unfolds, BoF’s Sarah Kent and Shayeza Walid unpack why most big brands aren’t set to meet their 2030 goals — and what it would really take to get them back on track.
Nov 12, 2025 · 22 min
Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Accessories?
From Labubu charms to stacked bracelets, shoppers are using accessories to personalise minimalist wardrobes, boosting small labels and hinting at a lasting behavioural shift. Diana Pearl joins The Debrief to unpack this trend.
Nov 5, 2025 · 25 min
The Human Cost of Trump's Tariffs
A surprise 50 percent duty on Indian apparel has frozen orders and shuttered factories across key hubs. The Debrief asks reporter Shayeza Walid what’s happening on the ground, who’s bearing the brunt and what relief could actually help.
Oct 30, 2025 · 32 min
Would You Let AI Shop for You?
AI shopping agents promise to learn our tastes, style outfits and even check out on our behalf. The Debrief asks Malique Morris what it takes for these tools to move from hype to habit.
Oct 23, 2025 · 27 min
Does Fashion Still Know What Women Want?
As designers dial up spectacle, female critics question whether runways respect how women actually live and dress. BoF’s Cat Chen and Diana Pearl join The Debrief to unpack the practicality and spectacle of womenswear designs this season.
Oct 16, 2025 · 26 min
Can a Shop Truly Be a “Third Place”?
A growing number of retailers are adding listening bars, cafés and lounges to keep shoppers lingering — but can a commercial space ever foster real community? The Debrief breaks it down with retail editor Cat Chen.

The Debrief

How Fashion Picks Its Hip Hop Style Icons

Tariffs Are Down, But Uncertainty Is Back

How Dior and Chanel Are Winning Back Aspirational Shoppers

How Fashion Brands Are Winning the Winter Olympics

The New Rules for Influencer Marketing

Making Sense of Fashion’s Brutal Job Market

Have Sneakers Lost Their Cool?

Saks’ Bankruptcy and the Future of Luxury Retail

Inside Beauty’s 2026 M&A Pipeline

The Themes That Will Define the 2026 Fashion Agenda

The Sneaker of the Year 2025

What Happens When Women Lead

5 Big Questions About Luxury

Is This the Year Discount Mania Finally Ends?

Can Fashion Still Meet Its Climate Promises?

Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Accessories?

The Human Cost of Trump's Tariffs

Would You Let AI Shop for You?

Does Fashion Still Know What Women Want?

Can a Shop Truly Be a “Third Place”?