Latest news with #Anthropologie
Web Release
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Elissa Studio Launches at Anthropologie
Elissa Studio, the unique fashion label born from the success of Elissa Stampa, is proud to announce its exclusive launch at Anthropologie stores in the UAE and Qatar. The new collection reflects Elissa Studio's signature aesthetic – timeless, sensory and elegant infused with Mediterranean warmth and effortless sophistication. Founded in 2023, Elissa Studio is driven by a deep understanding of ready-to-wear fashion and a passion for marrying craftsmanship with modern ease. The brand's newest collection continues this mission with pieces that are inspired by the sun, the sea and calm rhythms. Each garment in the collection is designed with refined lines, expressive prints and a tactile quality that evokes natural beauty and leisure. By balancing natural elements with technological precision, Elissa Studio delivers pieces that are as comfortable as they are captivating – light yet strong, simple yet impressive. Whether you are strolling through the city or lounging by the sea, Elissa Studio's latest collection invites you to embrace a slower pace, a distinct personality, and a sense of curated escape. Shop Elissa Studio at Anthropologie instore or online on and follow them on Instagram at @anthropologie_arabia
Business Insider
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Wait, is Walmart cool now?
I have a question — a serious one, don't laugh: Is Walmart actually cool now? On TikTok and Instagram, people are showing off Walmart"hauls" — particularly for kids' clothing. These videos tend to be similar: excited shoppers going through a bag of clothes still on the hanger and admiring each item, often expressing surprise or shock that the piece of clothing is so cute or trendy, considering it's from Walmart. One TikTok creator who posts videos of fashion and home items mostly from Target recently posted a video of her cart at Walmart with the caption "WALMART IS THAT GIRL 👏🏽 ." In another video, a woman shows off the plastic tumbler glasses in the Walmart home section, marveling, "Doesn't this scream Anthro vibes?" nodding to much more expensive Anthropologie. In the comments on her video, someone writes, "Walmart is really stepping it up!" Maybe Walmart really is stepping it up. Breann Day, a mom of two, recently made one of those haul videos — not sponsored by Walmart, she confirmed to me — expressing surprise at the "elite" baby clothes she picked up. She held up a tiny pair of baby shorts. "Three dollars! Target could never!" "I like it more than Target," Day told me. She said a house brand at Target, Cat & Jack, seems to "never change," especially for boys' clothes. The selection for girls' clothes is still better at Target, she says, but "I can find just as cute — and cheaper — from Walmart." Personally, I can say that I, too, have found the appeal of Walmart's Wonder Nation kids' line. It rivals the slightly higher-priced Cat & Jack line from Target, which was previously a staple for my two kids. For instance: My daughter loves a poufy dress; at Walmart, there is a dress that comes in 14 different colors for $9.98; Target's Cat & Jack has a similar dress that comes in only three colors for $15.00. After her $27.99 light-up Elsa sneakers from Target sprang a hole, I replaced them with nearly identical non-light-up "Frozen" sneakers for $13.96 from Walmart. As I have shopped Walmart for kids' clothes, I've also picked up some clothing for myself. I have a pair of pajama sets from Walmart's Joyspun label, which is cheaper than the comparable version from Target. I even wore a floral print shirt dress from the Free Assembly line — a Walmart house brand! — to a casual outdoor wedding. Online clothing sales are up 23% this year at Walmart Something must be working when it comes to clothes at Walmart. Sales are up a lot over the past year. In 2017, Walmart hired Denise Incandela, an executive from Ralph Lauren and Saks Fifth Avenue, to attempt to revamp its fashion offerings. By 2020, Walmart had launched two apparel brands, Scoop and Free Assembly. Both had trendier clothes than dowdy Walmart had come to be known for. Incandela overhauled the in-store displays, decluttering racks, and using mannequins for a more department store vibe. ("Every time we put stuff on a mannequin, it sells," Incandela told Fortune in a recent interview.) Walmart didn't respond to my request for comment. In its most recent earnings call, US division CEO John Furner called out its fashion specifically, saying he was "really proud of the progress in apparel." This isn't the first time Walmart has tried decluttering to compete with Target. There was its 2009 "Project Impact" initiative, for instance. This time, something seems to be working. Walmart got me in one of its dresses, after all! EMARKETER, BI's sister company, reports that Walmart's e-commerce sales for the apparel, footwear, and accessories category were 23% higher in 2024 than in the previous year. And the analysts there are projecting 18% growth for 2025. In comparison, EMARKETER projects that Amazon will see 3.9% growth in 2025 for its clothing category. And Target will see only a 1.5% rise in its online apparel sales, they predict. Exactly what is driving Walmart's growth in clothes is a mix of things. Shoppers may be more price-sensitive overall, looking for clothing bargains. Tariffs had a bigger impact on retailers like Shein, which makes and ships much of its clothing directly from China. Wealthier shoppers come to Walmart for deals on eggs, and stay for the clothes Walmart has seen notable growth in its wealthier customers. In a recent call with investors, CFO John David Rainey told investors that one of the biggest contributors to its sales had been households that made more than $100,000 a year. He said high-income customers had also been looking for deals as inflation took a bite from all but the biggest of budgets. Lots of growth has come from its private-label grocery items — and food and beverage make up about 60% of Walmart's overall sales. Some of those people are browsing the aisles for clothes, too. Walmart is getting trendier in other categories, too It's not just clothing where Walmart seems to be trending. Its BetterGoods private-label foods are meant to rival Target's Good & Gather brand, and there are more high-end offerings in food, too. Eater reported that Walmart has started carrying some of the trendiest new pantry items. Packaged items that you'd expect to see at Whole Foods or shoppy-shops — things like Fly by Jing chili flake sauce, Magic Spoon cereal, Van Leeuwen ice cream, and Bachan's Japanese barbecue sauce. In the beauty category, Walmart has added more prestige brands, although its offerings in that category are much slimmer than Target, which has an Ulta partnership to bring more high-end makeup and hair care brands into stores. Target might be losing some sparkle This all comes at a time when Walmart's chief rival, Target, is struggling in some areas. For a long time, Target had the appeal of "Tar-zhay," a place you could get stylish items for cheap. Their well-publicized designer collaborations for clothing would often sell out quickly. Lately, Target seems to have lost some of its sparkle. On social media, people talked about boycotting the retailer over changes to its corporate DEI policies. Target's net sales were down about 2.8% in the first quarter of this year from the same time last year. Target's CEO at the time said he was "not satisfied" with its performance and had a plan for stronger growth. Walmart is stealing some of Target's thunder As for me and Walmart, I see the allure of its clothing. I come in for the cheapest organic milk around and always seem to end up browsing the new kids' clothes. And as a bargain fiend, my favorite part about wearing a Walmart dress to a wedding was telling people it was from — can you believe it? — Walmart.
Fashion United
4 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
The White Company joins Cotton Recycling Initiative as B Corp status pushes circular goals
As sustainability imperatives tighten across the retail landscape, The White Company, the British home and lifestyle brand known for its monochrome minimalism, has taken a new step in its post-B Corp journey. The 30-year-old retailer announced its participation in the Cotton Lives On recycling programme during its inaugural Sustainability Week, reflecting a broader push in UK retail to curb textile waste and demonstrate ESG credentials beyond rhetoric. The move aligns The White Company with a growing cohort of UK fashion and lifestyle brandsm including Whistles, Anthropologie, ME+EM, and Bianca Saunders participating in the initiative, which aims to repurpose unwearable cotton textiles into roll mats for individuals facing homelessness. Since its UK launch in 2022, the Cotton Lives Onprogramme, created by Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated, has collected nearly 8,000kg of cotton, equivalent to around 56,000 old T-shirts, and produced over 100 mats. Each mat uses approximately 6.4kg of shredded cotton fibres. The White Company's internal pilot has already yielded 35kg of discarded cotton from its office network, contributing to the production of six roll mats. While modest in scale, the gesture underscores a strategic focus on circularity that is gaining traction among middle-market brands. Speaking on the brand's longer-term ambitions, Ethics & Sustainability Manager Alex Barnett cited 'transitioning to a more circular future' as a top priority, particularly given the company's reliance on cotton-rich materials. Notably, the announcement arrives less than a year after The White Company achieved B Corp certification, an increasingly influential signal of sustainability credibility in retail. Only around 1,500 UK businesses currently hold B Corp status, and within fashion, the designation remains rare. The certification process, which assesses governance, supply chain ethics, and social impact, has become a competitive differentiator as consumer expectations shift and regulatory pressures around greenwashing intensify. The Cotton Lives On programme also speaks to a growing emphasis on end-of-life solutions in the cotton supply chain, a fibre that comprises nearly a quarter of global textile production yet contributes significantly to landfill waste when not managed sustainably. While cotton's natural biodegradability gives it an advantage over synthetics, large-scale recycling infrastructure remains underdeveloped, making partnerships such as this a meaningful, if incremental, step toward systemic change.
Globe and Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
What's Driving the Record Gross Margin at Urban Outfitters This Year?
Urban Outfitters Inc. URBN reported a strong start to fiscal 2026, driven by improved profitability and greater operational efficiency. In the first quarter, gross profit rose 19.8% year over year to a record $489.1 million. This resulted in a gross margin of 36.8%, an expansion of 278 basis points from the prior year. The margin improvement included a 36-basis-point benefit from a one-time $4.8-million gain and a 38-basis-point lift from the absence of last year's impairment and lease abandonment charges. Excluding these factors, URBN achieved a core margin increase of 204 basis points. This was primarily driven by lower markdowns in the Retail segment, particularly at the Urban Outfitters brand. Additional improvements came from reduced delivery costs, supported by lower carrier rates and fewer packages per order, as well as improved leverage on store occupancy costs resulting from stronger comparable retail sales. Operating income surged 72% to $128.2 million from the prior year. As a percentage of sales, the operating margin moved up 340 basis points to 9.6%. Strong full-price selling, disciplined inventory management, and strategic marketing spend contributed to this outperformance. Anthropologie and Free People continued to deliver steady double-digit margins, reinforcing the strength of URBN's brand portfolio. Management expects the second-quarter gross margin to improve 50-100 basis points year over year. Gains from lower markdowns and occupancy leverage are expected to offset some pressure from reduced initial product margins due to higher U.S. tariffs. Also, the company remains confident in achieving its 10% operating margin goal for fiscal 2026. With solid execution across brands and momentum building in both revenue and margin performance, URBN appears well-positioned to meet its profitability targets and potentially set a new long-term standard for operational excellence. Urban Outfitters' Zacks Rank & Share Performance Details Shares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have rallied 38.4% in the past three months compared with the Zacks Retail-Apparel and Shoes industry's modest 4% growth. This leading lifestyle specialty retailer's ongoing strategic initiative and operational efficiencies have enabled it to outperform the broader Retail-Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 index's growth of 2.3% and 5.2%, respectively, during the same period. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Closing at $68.01 as of Friday, the URBN stock is trading 10.3% below its 52-week high of $75.80 attained on May 28, 2025. Technical indicators support Urban Outfitters' strong performance. The stock is trading above its 50 and 200-day SMAs (simple moving averages) of $58.41 and $49.65, respectively, highlighting a continued uptrend. This technical strength, along with sustained momentum, indicates positive market sentiment and investors' confidence in URBN's financial health and growth prospects. URBN Trades Above 50 & 200-Day Moving Averages Is URBN a Value Play Stock? Urban Outfitters stands out as a compelling value play within the industry, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.99, below the industry average of 1.65 and the sector average of 1.59. This undervaluation highlights its potential for investors seeking attractive entry points in the retail space. URBN's Value Score of A emphasizes its investment appeal. Estimate Revisions Favor Urban Outfitters Stock The positive sentiment surrounding URBN is reflected in the upward revisions in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings. In the past seven days, the consensus estimate has moved up four cents to $4.96 per share for the current fiscal year and by five cents to $5.45 for the next fiscal year, indicating year-over-year growth of 22.2% and 9.9%, respectively. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.) The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current and next fiscal year's sales is pegged at $6.02 billion and $6.42 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 8.5% and 6.6%, respectively. Other Key Picks Some other top-ranked stocks are Stitch Fix SFIX, Canada Goose GOOS, and Allbirds Inc. BIRD. Stitch Fix delivers customized shipments of apparel, shoes and accessories for women, men and kids. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Stitch Fix's current fiscal year's earnings implies growth of 69.7% from the year-ago actuals. SFIX delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 51.4%. Canada Goose is a global outerwear brand. GOOS is a designer, manufacturer, distributor and retailer of premium outerwear for men, women and children. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Canada Goose's current fiscal year's earnings and sales indicates growth of 10% and 2.9%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. Canada Goose delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 57.2%. Allbirds is a lifestyle brand that uses naturally derived materials to make footwear and apparel products. It carries a Zacks Rank of 2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BIRD's current financial-year earnings implies growth of 16.1% from the year-ago actual. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 21.3%. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN): Free Stock Analysis Report Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (GOOS): Free Stock Analysis Report Stitch Fix, Inc. (SFIX): Free Stock Analysis Report Allbirds, Inc. (BIRD): Free Stock Analysis Report
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Influencer insists they should get same credit for hard work as athlete does
A man who ditched the 9-5 to become an influencer has infuriated people after comparing his job to a professional athlete's and insisting it is harder work than you think People are furious after an influencer compared their job to being an athlete. In the modern world, many people make money from social media content. From 'get ready with me' videos to dance trends and prank videos, it has become a popular and sought-after profession. Not only can content creators make good money through viral content, they may also land brand deals or get sponsored by companies. That's not the only perk – as it's likely they'll get freebies and invites to swanky events. When compared to sitting behind a desk all day or working in manual labour, it sounds pretty glamorous. So since influencers became a thing, the role is often deemed to be easy and 'not a real job'. People who are not a fan of influencers tend to complain about the lack of effectiveness, transparency and ultimately, real value. However, those in the industry are quick to disagree with this common perception. One of these critics is a content creator named Brandon, who boasts 1.3 million TikTok followers on his Bran Flakezz page. The 28-year-old, who lives in Philadelphia, used to work at Anthropologie during his university studies. However, he decided to start posting "chaotic" videos online as he was struggling with money. Brandon, who has no regrets about ditching his 9-5, appeared on the aptly-named Delusional Diaries podcast to speak about his journey. Defending his profession, he boldly stated: "Influencing is never going to be seen as a real job. People will give us less credit than an athlete." It's not the only time he's spoken out about his career either. Back in 2024, he told fans: "Being an influencer isn't hard but becoming an influencer is hard". He claimed starting out "was hell" as he juggled a 9-5 job while also trying to grow his profile. Brandon added: "I realised I wanted to quit my full time job when I was making the same amount of money through influencing, but I was having so much more fun doing content creation/TikTok." Despite trying to highlight his struggles, Brandon didn't get much sympathy from viewers. People weren't happy that he'd compared himself to an athlete – as these sportspeople typically spend their whole lives training. A critic called Daadi sarcastically replied: "Serena Williams may have won the Australia Open while pregnant but she has never filmed a 'get ready with me' and a PR unboxing in the same day. Lebron James may have 55,000 total points but has he tried coming up with a clever caption every day for a year? Noah Lyles may have won a medal with Covid, but he's never survived a 14 hour TikTok ban." Another said: "I feel like influencers would be respected more if they were just honest. Like it's not hard to film videos compared to working a 10-hour straight shift in retail or anything else. They confuse something being time consuming to being hard and it's so annoying." A third wrote: "What's crazy is that a lot of athletes do actually navigate everything an influencer does they perform their actual job. Like the brand deals are social media are literally their side job." However, others sprang to Brandon's defence. Despite agreeing it was an "insane" comparison to make, they added: "I agree with the sentiment but Bran is out here doing good work in the community. He's one of the good ones, he just made an off analogy."
