Small businesses are the heart of the wedding industry. So what do the florists and caterers and photographers and event planners do now? As retail sales drop precipitously, designers and fashion brands have started producing masks and hand sanitizer in lieu of couture and perfume, to support their businesses and essential workers. Some bridal boutiques have taken a cue from the rest of the industry, refashioning their Chantilly lace scraps into pandemic-chic masks that evoke The Handmaid’s Tale . For $45 or less, you can don a mask dotted with pink sequins or black lace trim from Los Angeles bridal shop Katie May, which is donating utility masks to essential workers for each purchase. (“Hiding from rona or a chin breakout? No one has to know,” reads a recent Instagram post .) And some designers are still trying to court customers through social media and virtual showrooms . Read Full …

The underwear-as-outerwear trend makes a play for your face. A slew of fashion brands have pivoted their manufacturing to meet demand for fabric masks, which can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. But one Japanese brand has adapted apparel that rarely sees the light of day under normal circumstances—and may have unwittingly brought back an ’80s trend in the process: underwear as outerwear. Read Full Story

Whether you’re looking for silk or cotton, prints or solid colors, these face masks make everyday PPE easy Over the course of the past two months, you’ve probably fashioned some sort of face mask that has allowed you to venture outside while meeting CDC recommendations for cloth face coverings. But if your experience has been similar to mine, you’ve realized that the homemade masks we’ve devised out of hair ties and cut-up tshirts and bandanas aren’t going to cut it for the long run. So, it’s time to invest in well-made, reusable, non-medical face masks. It’s just a matter of finding the right ones. Though much of what’s for sale online is questionably made or completely sold out (before the pre-sale even ends), there are still plenty of reputable brands offering cloth face masks that are durable—and stylish—enough for everyday wear. These are eight you can buy right now. Read …

For the sake of public health, this is good. A few weeks ago, I ordered five masks from the ethical fast-fashion brand Reformation . The price was $25—which, if you’ve been following the price of masks, is a steal. After it arrived, I was disappointed to see that my batch was polyester, while most scientists say cotton is the material of choice for a homemade mask . But $25—or just $27.50 with tax!—was still the best deal for a mask I’ve seen. Read Full Story

Looking for a mask? Ministry of Supply has a Nelson Labs-certified filtrating mask that puts your cotton bandanna to shame. As restrictions begin to loosen in the coming weeks, getting “back out there” is going to look a little different. Companies including Uber and JetBlue are requiring masks for all passengers, while places like Washington, D.C., and L.A. have mandated wearing them in grocery stores. That’s not to mention city- and statewide ordinances that mandate that anyone who is outside—for any reason—must wear a mask. Plus, it’s the CDC’s official recommendation . While homemade bandanna and T-shirt masks were great in a pinch (and technically pass regulations), we’re betting you and health experts would both prefer something robust as the world reopens. And while some masks made by fashion and shoe companies are very stylish, it’s hard to tell what’s actually effective from what’s just aesthetic. Read Full Story

Can the brand that pioneered fast fashion undo the environmental devastation its business model has caused? The world is drowning in clothes. While curbside recycling programs have existed for half a century, there’s no easy way to recycle jeans or dresses, which means many of the 100 billion garments bought each year get thrown out: 92 million tonnes annually, in fact. By 2030, that number is expected to go up to 134 million tonnes. Read Full Story

Have you ever seen a Facebook ad for Chanel? Or an Instagram ad for Lamborghini? Me neither. That’s because luxury marketing strategies don’t follow the same rules as mass-market brands. Selling to high-end consumers requires a different approach. But that doesn’t mean popular digital channels are off-limits. SEO, PPC, even some social media sites can drive online sales for your luxury brand. Today, I’m going to show you exactly how to take your luxury brand online with the best luxury marketing strategies. What Qualifies as a Luxury Brand? Gucci, Rolex, Ferrari. For the most part, you know luxury brands when you hear them. But what does it take for a brand to qualify as a luxury? In my opinion, it’s down to the three Es: Expensive, Excellent, and Exclusive. Luxury products are synonymous with high price tags. This is the most common indicator of luxury, but it is also the …

Posted by MrLukeCarthy COVID-19 has switched up life as we know it, and it’s unlikely to stop doing so for some time. E-commerce shopping is a perfect example of how things have changed, and in a number of ways. If you feel like Shopify has been dropping huge, disruptive news bombs practically each week now, you’re right! And who’d have guessed that in the UK, the exclusively online supermarket, Ocado, is now worth more than brick-and-mortar grocers Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Marks and Spencer combined. The speed of transformation in e-commerce since the COVID-19 outbreak (an already fast-paced industry) has been savage. Supply chains are under strain for many brands selling online (especially where demand is high and supplies are low). How do you best manage expectations and maximize every opportunity to sell to your target audience? With your consumers now relying on the world of online shopping more than ever, …

Reformation and Blueland have partnered on a line of fig-scented, eco-friendly cleaning supplies that includes hand soap, laundry detergent, and a multi-purpose cleaner. Reformation , the eco-friendly fashion label known for its flowy, patterned dresses has a new product in its lineup: Soap. Read Full Story

Posted by MrLukeCarthy COVID-19 has switched up life as we know it, and it’s unlikely to stop doing so for some time. E-commerce shopping is a perfect example of how things have changed, and in a number of ways. If you feel like Shopify has been dropping huge, disruptive news bombs practically each week now, you’re right! And who’d have guessed that in the UK, the exclusively online supermarket, Ocado, is now worth more than brick-and-mortar grocers Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Marks and Spencer combined. The speed of transformation in e-commerce since the COVID-19 outbreak (an already fast-paced industry) has been savage. Supply chains are under strain for many brands selling online (especially where demand is high and supplies are low). How do you best manage expectations and maximize every opportunity to sell to your target audience? With your consumers now relying on the world of online shopping more than ever, …