Listed here are a few of this week’s information and options highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.vogue staff.
Seraphine enters administration with majority of employees made redundant
Information emerged this week that maternity vogue model Seraphine had entered administration after failing to safe new funding, ensuing within the redundancy of most of its 95 staff.
Advisors from Interpath had been appointed as directors on 7 July, with the enterprise ceasing buying and selling instantly. It follows a interval of buying and selling challenges for Seraphine, exacerbated by fragile client confidence that has negatively impacted gross sales.
It did come as a little bit of a shock, as the corporate had solely relaunched its model identification earlier this yr, with a renewed give attention to kind, operate, and match. Nevertheless, with strain on money circulate persevering with to mount, the administrators undertook an accelerated assessment of their funding choices, together with exploring a sale or refinancing – which in the end didn’t work out.
Because of the nature of the enterprise, buyer retention is inherently difficult for a maternity model, which presents important obstacles. Mixed with fragile client confidence – and an absence of much-needed funding – the enterprise confronted mounting strain that in the end proved too troublesome to beat. I believed the rebrand seemed sturdy, however maybe it got here too late.
Sophie Smith, Information Editor & Senior Author.
The Interview: Neil Primett, founding father of 80s Informal Classics, on opening a fifth retailer in Romford and launching model exclusives
80s Informal Classics is a fantastic instance of why we have to retain as many unbiased retailers as we are able to.
They merely do issues others cannot and after they get it proper, as proprietor Neil Primett very a lot has, they will have clients queueing around the block. That is precisely what occurred when Primett opened a brand new retailer in Romford not too long ago, the retailer’s first foray into the South. Followers queued as much as get in. Why, as a result of they will purchase issues right here that they cannot get from anyplace else.
Primett constructed his enterprise off the again of the 2005 Nick Love movie, ‘The Enterprise’, wherein its forged, together with Danny Dyer, Tamer Hassan and Geoff Bell, had been kitted out in old fashioned sportswear from the likes of Sergio Tacchini and Fila. A gross sales rep for Sergio Tacchini got here into the shop he then owned and requested him if he’d be concerned with stocking reissues that may be that includes within the movie.
The corporate then turned identified for its model exclusives with 80s Informal manufacturers and certainly ended up having a hand in resurrecting some together with Patrick, the 80s cagoule model. Primett is as soon as once more working with Dyer having kitted him out for the not too long ago launch Marching Powder movie, kitting him out in Sergio Tacchini and Gabicci amongst others.
The massive sports activities retailers cannot do that nor can Flannels, which has taken over so lots of our nice unbiased retail names. Let’s hope Primett manages to retain his independence and his many hundreds of followers. Learn all about him on this in-depth and entertaining interview.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
The unique Birkin bag was offered for €7 million: The historical past of Jane Birkin’s Hermès legacy
The unique Hermès Birkin bag, custom-designed for actress Jane Birkin in 1984 and thought of probably the most iconic vogue gadgets in historical past, has offered at public sale for €7 million (approx. £6 million) at Sotheby’s Paris. The sale units a brand new report for the most costly purse ever offered.
In case you’re something like me and may’t get sufficient of Birkin reseller Love Luxurious’s TikTok movies (regardless of a few of the questionable performing), you may know that these luggage are lifetime investments. However, this confirms the rumours are true, Birkins are value their weight – after which some – in gold.
This primary-of-its-kind Birkin, that includes Birkin’s initials, a uncommon shoulder strap, and a nail clipper she personally used (a tad grotesque however nonetheless iconic), was purchased by a thriller bidder after an intense eight-minute bidding battle. Its distinctive design and personalisation set it other than business variations, making it not solely a chunk of vogue historical past but in addition a cultural relic.
Initially impressed by an opportunity assembly between Birkin and Hermès’ then-artistic director Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in 1981, the Birkin has turn out to be the last word image of luxurious, with enduring demand from celebrities, collectors and vogue lovers alike. If there have been ever doubts about vogue’s monetary energy, this sale places them firmly to relaxation.
Chloé Burney, Senior Information and Options Author.
‘The vitality on the present ground has been unbelievable’: Supply Vogue celebrates ‘record-breaking’ opening day
Have you ever been to Supply Vogue but? If you have not, look out for the following version in early 2026. This commerce present from London-based organisers Hyve has been steadily rising and flourishing whereas others have struggled. It is attention-grabbing to me as it isn’t a present for writing vogue assortment orders, it is a present to introduce guests to moral suppliers from all over the world.
It is completely fascinating to wander the aisles and discover the individuals who make, say, socks for all the foremost excessive avenue retailers or soccer shirts for world sports activities giants. I like to have a browse round and, though I’m not a purchaser of this stuff, I all the time discover somebody pleasant who’ll chat me via what they do and add to my understanding of how vogue is made.
However the actual motive I’m going is for the content material. The present’s visionary is Hyve’s Suzanne Ellingham and she or he and her staff make investments an enormous quantity of effort and time within the content material of the present and the matters, audio system and staging are so partaking. In contrast to different commerce exhibits the place you may see a protracted speaker speaking rows of empty seats, the content material periods at Supply are all the time full and I’ve witnessed (and brought half in) some nice conversations about how we are able to create a extra constructive future for vogue.
Learn extra about this season’s present right here after which go and mark the following one in your diary.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
Retailers ramp up funding in AI and loyalty to safe customers, knowledge reveals
Because the UK vogue and sweetness industries proceed to develop, increasingly more companies are welcoming synthetic intelligence to entice shoppers and stand-out amongst the competitors.
New knowledge has revealed that British retailers are doubling down on buyer expertise as competitors intensifies in each bodily and digital areas. In reality, 87% of outlets are prioritising initiatives to draw and retain customers, from launching loyalty schemes to experimenting with AI-powered personalisation.
An annual American Specific survey additionally discovered that 82% plan to broaden in 2025 – up from 72% the earlier yr. This rising optimism is basically pushed by a give attention to buyer loyalty, with almost half of outlets aspiring to launch or improve their rewards packages to satisfy rising client expectations. Fascinating knowledge, effectively value a learn.
Sophie Smith, Information Editor & Senior Author.
