Today's Fashion Headlines: A.L.C. In Talks With Investors, French Connection Stops Use of Angora, Retailers Fret Over World’s Woes

Andrea Liberman, A.L.C. Collection
Andrea Lieberman In Talks With Investors
Andrea Lieberman’s ready-to-wear collection A.L.C. has held discussions with several potential investors. The designer has worked as a stylist for Gwen Stefani, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson and her “Nora” dress was recently seen on Emma Stone. InterLuxe is said to be one of the parties to have held tentative talks with the brand, although the investment firm declined to comment. They recently acquired Jason Wu business. It is unclear how far A.L.C.’s talks have progressed, and the names of the other would-be investors could not be immediately learned. The line, which launched in 2009 and is carried online by Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Nordstrom, Intermix and others, appears to have arrived at the right time. There are more investors than ever looking to get a piece of a young designer’s business that on its way up.
French Connection Halts Use of Angora
French Connection is the latest fashion label to stop using angora in the production of its clothes and accessories. The British retailer stated Thursday that it has ended its use of the product “with immediate effect.” French Connection’s move follows labels including Hennes & Mauritz AB, Topshop and Next, with Calvin Klein and Stella McCartney having banned the product as well. The labels took action following reports by animal rights activists that rabbits are routinely abused in Chinese angora farms.
The retailer said that while it had initially “taken steps to ensure that the angora used in French Connection clothing is carefully collected by shearling and…the rabbits are not mistreated,” the firm ultimately decided to stop using the material. “Despite the steps we have taken…we recognize some customers have concerns about the continued inclusion of these fabrics in our ranges,” the retailer said.
Retailers Fret Over World’s Woes
U.S. stock markets and retail shares fell only slightly Thursday but the feeling is that October will follow the historic norm and global markets will be lackluster. The worry is how that will impact the holiday shopping season, which is only 42 days away. There are crises to create uncertainties from the Ebola epidemic to deflationary pressures in Europe to worries over job creation in the U.S. Those are on top of ongoing pressure on discretionary incomes in the U.S. where real wage growth has been invisible. The key to holiday will be employment.
Scott Hoyt, Moody’s Analytics Senior Director of Consumer Economics said, “As long as jobs are being generated and consumers have income, those issues shouldn’t get severe. You’ll need a change in the trajectory of the economy before you see an impact on the ability of the consumer to spend and on businesses.” Even if consumers’ moods aren’t darkened by Ebola, ISIS and other crises, analysts are already certain it’s going to be a holiday more price-promotional than ever.
– Selicia Walker
Source & Photo: WWD

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