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Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Why There May Never Be a Gen-Z Glossier or Warby Parker

Instead of emulating the fast-paced growth favoured by their predecessors, the current wave of fashion and beauty start-ups are taking a slow-and-steady approach to brand-building.
A model lies in front of Topicals' products.
Skincare startup Topicals is among a cohort of Gen-Z-centric fashion and beauty brands carving out a niche in an increasingly crowded sector. (Topicals)

Millennial brands kicked off a decade-long direct-to-consumer gold rush, only to watch their prospects collapse with rising interest rates and the end of the pandemic’s e-commerce boom. Now, Gen-Z brands are trying to avoid the same mistakes.

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Further Reading

Is Mass Appeal Even Possible Anymore?

Brands like Maybelline and Budweiser face fallout when appealing to Gen-Z’s diverse, gender fluid values. But as younger shoppers get older, big corporations have to get comfortable with catering to fragmented audiences – unless they just tap Alix Earle.

Why Gen-Z Loves Dupes

Copycat products have shaken up the beauty industry as young consumers eat up inexpensive alternatives hawked on TikTok.

About the author
Malique Morris
Malique Morris

Malique Morris is Senior E-Commerce Correspondent at The Business of Fashion. He is based in New York and covers digital-native brands and shifts in the online shopping industry.

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