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

Dec 14, 2022 · 14 min
Is ‘Vegan Leather’ Better?
A number of products made from leather alternatives have begun to hit store shelves. BoF’s chief sustainability correspondent Sarah Kent unpacks why it's so hard to market — and scale — these new products.
Dec 7, 2022 · 18 min
How The Frankie Shop Became Instagram’s Favourite Fashion Brand
In the past decade, the independent label has grown from downtown storefront to indie force with $40 million in net sales so far this year. BoF contributor M.C. Nanda breaks down how founder Gaëlle Drevet did it.
Nov 30, 2022 · 23 min
Luxury’s Battle With Counterfeiters
BoF retail correspondent Cathaleen Chen details the consumer shifts that have made it easier — and more popular than ever — to buy luxury dupes.
Nov 23, 2022 · 14 min
Why So Many Direct-to-Consumer Brands Are for Sale Right Now
As the economy weakens and funding dries up, digital brands may face pressure to sell from investors. To do so, they’ll need to prove they’re more than just another money-losing start-up.
Nov 16, 2022 · 28 min
Fashion’s Gen-Z Obsession
The BoF Insights team shares details from their recent report on why these young consumers are so crucial to the success of the fashion industry — and what brands can do to woo them.
Nov 9, 2022 · 32 min
The State of the Influencer Economy
A panel of experts, including BoF’s Lauren Sherman and Diana Pearl, detail how the business of influencing has evolved — and where it's all going.
Nov 2, 2022 · 16 min
Is Luxury’s Streetwear Obsession Over?
BoF’s Daniel-Yaw Miller discusses streetwear’s evolution from subculture to high fashion favourite — and whether the aesthetic’s waning influence spells its end.
Oct 26, 2022 · 21 min
What Makes Jacquemus So Successful?
BoF luxury editor Robert Williams unpacks how the French luxury brand has managed to grab the industry’s attention and maintain a sound business model without outside help.
Oct 19, 2022 · 24 min
Giorgio Armani, Fashion’s Most Successful Designer
BoF editor-at-large Tim Blanks describes the designer and businessman’s life, continuing impact on fashion, mysterious succession plans and newfound vulnerability. Over his decades-long career, Giorgio Armani has built one of fashion’s most...
Oct 12, 2022 · 30 min
Inside the $7 Billion Dior Phenomenon
How the 75-year-old luxury house tripled its revenue in just four years, according to BoF luxury editor Robert Williams. Background: In 1947, months after being founded, Christian Dior Couture revolutionised dressing with its “New...
Oct 5, 2022 · 16 min
Can Patagonia’s Radical Move Change the Fashion Industry?
Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard’s is giving away his billion-dollar company. BoF chief sustainability correspondent Sarah Kent explains why — and what influence the change could have on the culture of business. Background: ...
Sep 28, 2022 · 24 min
Inside the Luxury E-Commerce Race
After years of speculation, designer e-tailers are finally consolidating in an effort to increase profits and gain market share. BoF’s Robert Williams and Tamison O’Connor unpack what’s in store for major players including Farfetch, YNAP and...
Sep 21, 2022 · 15 min
Inside Banana Republic’s Bid to Regain Relevance
BoF’s retail correspondent Cathaleen Chen joins The Debrief to discuss how the mall brand plotted a turnaround that’s starting to pay off. Background: Gap Inc. has had a hard year, accented last week by a dramatic following an anticlimactic...
Sep 14, 2022 · 22 min
How Big Brands Choose their Creative Directors
Louis Vuitton is expected to name its Virgil Abloh successor within weeks. BoF’s Imran Amed joins Lauren Sherman to discuss what luxury labels think about when recruiting top designers. Background: Louis Vuitton has spent almost a year...
Sep 7, 2022 · 19 min
Fashion’s Hottest Jobs
BoF’s workplace and talent correspondent Sheena Butler-Young unpacks how fashion’s labour market has evolved in the past year, and what positions brands are hiring for now. Background: As companies confront...
Aug 31, 2022 · 21 min
What TikTok’s Rise Means for Fashion
BoF technology correspondent Marc Bain and contributor Chantal Fernandez join Lauren Sherman to discuss how TikTok took over fashion conversation — and what brands need to know to get the most out of the platform. Background: ...
Aug 24, 2022 · 16 min
The Transformation of the Black Hair Care Market
BoF’s Sheena Butler-Young and Tamison O’Connor join Lauren Sherman to discuss how a new generation of entrepreneurs are driving growth in this underdeveloped category. Background: Monique Rodriguez turned a series of...
Aug 17, 2022 · 25 min
Making Sense of the Direct-to-Consumer Reckoning
Mounting customer acquisition costs and a pressure to grow fast have made it hard to build a profitable DTC business. BoF deputy editor Brian Baskin and retail correspondent Cathaleen Chen join Lauren Sherman to analyse the past, present and future of...
Aug 10, 2022 · 30 min
Inside the Gap and J.Crew Comeback Attempts
BoF’s Cathaleen Chen and Marc Bain join Lauren Sherman to talk about retailers’ big hires, hopes and plans for bringing their brands back to life. Background: J.Crew and Gap defined how Americans dressed for much of the...
Aug 3, 2022 · 21 min
Can Gucci Become ‘Gucci’ Again?
In an effort to reignite consumer fire, the Italian megabrand has done some restructuring. Bernstein luxury analyst Luca Solca breaks down what it all means. Background: In the late 2010s, Gucci pulled off a successful...

The Debrief

Is ‘Vegan Leather’ Better?

How The Frankie Shop Became Instagram’s Favourite Fashion Brand

Luxury’s Battle With Counterfeiters

Why So Many Direct-to-Consumer Brands Are for Sale Right Now

Fashion’s Gen-Z Obsession

The State of the Influencer Economy

Is Luxury’s Streetwear Obsession Over?

What Makes Jacquemus So Successful?

Giorgio Armani, Fashion’s Most Successful Designer

Inside the $7 Billion Dior Phenomenon

Can Patagonia’s Radical Move Change the Fashion Industry?

Inside the Luxury E-Commerce Race

Inside Banana Republic’s Bid to Regain Relevance

How Big Brands Choose their Creative Directors

Fashion’s Hottest Jobs

What TikTok’s Rise Means for Fashion

The Transformation of the Black Hair Care Market

Making Sense of the Direct-to-Consumer Reckoning

Inside the Gap and J.Crew Comeback Attempts

Can Gucci Become ‘Gucci’ Again?