Direct-to-Consumer

In London, where independent labels have been hit hard by the implosion of key stockist Matches, brands like Clio Peppiatt, Marfa Stance and Completedworks have grown direct-to-consumer businesses that peers can learn from.

Apparel start-ups founded on the promise of offering men the perfect T-shirt are proving resilient in an otherwise dreary DTC sector rampant with fire sales, bankruptcies and steep revenue declines.

Apparel brands Knot Standard and Billy Reid are teaming up in a move investors say we may see more of as fashion start-ups seek alternative funding routes to grow their businesses.

Warby Parker, Everlane and other brands are partnering with small, but buzzy fashion labels as an inexpensive way to find new customers, and regain some status with shoppers who have moved on.

The embattled athleisure brand has mounting cash problems, Sourcing Journal says.

An executive shakeup at the embattled sneaker seller adds a new layer of complexity as sales and profit continue to decline.

After reaching $300 million in sales last year, the 10-year-old DTC accessories brand is banking on a new line of higher-priced bags to increase customer loyalty and reposition the company as a destination for fashion-minded consumers.

Founder Michael Preysman and his investors are back in growth mode after implementing cost cuts and changes to the product mix last year. Whether Everlane can find a new leader to make it the sales juggernaut it's always dreamt of being will be a test case for whether late-stage start-ups can escape the direct-to-consumer curse.

The cost to advertise on Meta — once digital brands’ primary marketing channel — has finally come down. But start-ups will continue to decrease their reliance on social media, including investing more in offline advertising and in targeting customers on Google, where the intent to buy is higher.

Under new leadership, the denim pioneer will be tested to see if it can become a global DTC brand that’s known for more than its historic jeans.

While the DTC landscape’s turbulence isn’t completely over for brands, the prospect of a better economy in 2024 is encouraging profitable brands that shied away from M&A last year to start preparing for an exit.

Stòffa’s made-to-measure menswear has cultivated a devoted, influential following. Now, the brand is betting that its forthcoming flagship retail store is its next step on the long path to building a legacy luxury label.