Apparel

We talk with Jason Gowans, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, about digital strategy and AI case studies at $6 billion Levi Strauss & Co.

Janet Sherlock recently wrapped up seven years as Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Ralph Lauren. We spoke with her as part of our research report, Creating New Value in Large Organizations, discussing her approach to digital transformation, the role of AI in retail, and strategies for strengthening customer experience in a competitive market.

Jay Topper, Chief Digital Officer of women’s clothing brand Chico’s, gives his insights on developing a digital-first mindset inside a large organization. He discusses failure, communicating with leadership, and trends for consumers and retailers to look for in 2023.

Anish Melwani, CEO of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) North America, discusses the company’s experiments with blockchain, NFTs, diamonds, luxury trains, and cultivating the artisan talent that the company relies on. 

At the National Retail Federation’s annual conference in Manhattan, Saks Off 5th CEO Paige Thomas discussed pricing strategy; its approach to trends in fashion; and new partnerships with companies like Rent the Runway.

H&M Group’s Chief Technology Officer, Alan Boehme, shares how the company is moving forward in creating customer experiences; addresses his thoughts on acting like a venture capitalist inside a corporation; and gives advice on creating aligned incentives.

Apple and Peloton are leading the home fitness boom, leaving the largest companies in tech, retail, and apparel racing to build up their own muscles — largely through acquisitions. Here are the biggest deals made recently in wearables and home fitness.

Nina Barjesteh breaks down the process behind building the new VRST menswear brand and shares tips on finding the right time to bring ideas to senior leadership.

Lululemon’s Chief Science Officer, Tom Waller shares why 2020 created lines out of their store doors and how the retailer keeps customers close when building new products.

As part of our recent Impact conference, Scott Uzzell, CEO of Converse, discussed the brand’s relationship with popular culture, its collaborations, and more.

How can teams use empathy to understand their customers? Irina Kozlovskaya, Director of Industrial Design at Fitbit, shares how her team uses empathy to design better products.

Carhartt specializes in work clothes for industries including construction. Their Director of Global Product Innovation, Collen Hau, explains how the team is creating prototypes and staying in tune with customers.

The traditional process for creating a shoe takes 18 months. New Balance’s new record, as a result of their Test Run program, is seven months…

Thought leaders with experience at Amazon, Ahold Delhaize, Roche Brothers, and L.L. Bean share industry trends discussed at Revolution Retail, a food retail pop-up.

At the National Retail Federation’s Big Show 2019, attendees discussed how to vie for attention from customers in the age of Amazon and thousands of options at their fingertips.

Watch this Master Class to find out the difference between “activity metrics” and “impact metrics,” where to start, and how to evolve your measurement regimen over time. 

Take a look inside W.L. Gore’s new Silicon Valley Innovation Center. In May, the company held the first public event in the space, bringing in startups in to pitch their ideas.

“[A]s a more established brand, there are a lot of headwinds out there,” Lindsay Angelo says. “[T]hink about how you can take advantage of that turbulence internally.”

Bill McInnis of Reebok says the company wanted “a lot more speed, a lot more local, and a lot more custom.” This inspired initiatives like the “Liquid Factory” and “Cotton + Corn.”

At a new “lab” store in Manhattan’s Noho neighborhood, customers are just a few steps away from the designers who work in the back half of the space.

Michael Perman formerly of Gap Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co. writes, “Yes, everyone needs to have EMPATHY, but in reality, innovation requires talent, passion, and tenacity.”

Friction often exists between innovators and operationally-focused departments. A program at Gore addresses the friction and trains employees to explore market opportunities.

Gap Inc.’s Dean of Global Innovation talks about creativity, co-creation, the Mindspark training initiative, and the importance of solving small problems first.

Stuart Jenkins of Deckers Outdoor, says it’s near-impossible to innovate if any one person can shoot down a good idea. Find out more about the power of no here…

Reebok’sPaul Litchfield discusses the challenges of making innovation happen within a traditional annual planning cycle; experiments with wearable technologies; and more…

“If someone on the team is not a little uncomfortable,” says Global Director of Innovation and Strategy Louis Joseph, “then it’s probably a little too safe.” 

Dean of Global Innovation Michael Perman explains how Gap Inc. has trained about 250 employees to be innovators, through a program called Mindspark…

Nicolas Petitjean talks about DBApparel Group’s “extra light” structure for managing innovation, his budget, and the challenge of creating a true culture of innovation.