If you’re new here, welcome! Although I write a lot about motherhood and that journey, in the other part of my life I am a buyer in the fashion industry, so I also like to write about things I have my eye on, things I’m buying, and things I’m liking and seeing out there in the market.
I have had that Sezane button down for years and absolutely love it. It’s always packed for summer holidays and I love to use it to cover my shoulders on a baking hot day or over a bikini at the beach. I want it in the green stripe now. HOWEVER, after reading The Suffocation of Sezane on Total Rec and hearing how the quality has dipped since they took on investment I’m going to look for older, second hand versions in the hope of getting the best quality.
Oo I’ll have to read that! Without having done so already though, I have seen what investment and VC money has done to brands and it’s sadly always the same story. Quality in production and materials goes down, price goes up, marketing increases, popularity increases, demand and therefore production quantities go up leading quality to continue to decrease while margins continue to increase…and investors get happy while leaving loyal customers disappointed. I would SO love to see a system where independent brands can stay independent and don’t need to take on investment, but it’s just part of the cycle these days and next to impossible to operate without! BUT, good call on looking for resale of these shirts…I know what my next alerts are going to be for!
Yep, you've nailed it. That's pretty much the gist of the Sezane story. I think it poses an interesting question about the necessity of growth (versus profitability), which is something that's always bothered me since I did my economics degree. In entrepreneurial circles, particularly VC and investment entertainment like Shark Tank and Dragon's Den, "lifestyle businesses" are treated with such disdain but is there really anything wrong with running a little business that plods along successfully and grows organically? (Not appealing to investors, I get it, but exit strategy doesn't have to be the plan for everyone). Olivia Rubin in the UK has made some interesting decisions about slowing down her brand so she is experimenting with this conundrum!
100%. Where I struggle, unfortunately, is that it is SO HARD to be a little business that plods along and grows organically these days! The costs and barriers to both entry and growth are so high, that even reasonably successful shops (and I'm mostly referring to in NYC now as that's my area of knowledge) have a hard time keeping afloat because expenses get so high so fast, and customers and sales can be unpredictable at best. The biggest barrier to all of this being rent and labor. Rent in NYC is astronomical, and we already don't pay part time staff enough. It's a true challenge for any small business, not just apparel retail!
Love this post so much. I’m stripe-obsessed! I recently discovered Quaker Marine Supply Co while on Nantucket and got their seafarer tee. Might be my favorite striped tee of all time
This reminded me of those great front-of-book magazine round-ups from the “olden days” - thank you!!
That feels like the most flattering comment I could ever get - thank you! Petition to bring those back?!
I think you have brought them back! Can’t wait to see more!
I have had that Sezane button down for years and absolutely love it. It’s always packed for summer holidays and I love to use it to cover my shoulders on a baking hot day or over a bikini at the beach. I want it in the green stripe now. HOWEVER, after reading The Suffocation of Sezane on Total Rec and hearing how the quality has dipped since they took on investment I’m going to look for older, second hand versions in the hope of getting the best quality.
Oo I’ll have to read that! Without having done so already though, I have seen what investment and VC money has done to brands and it’s sadly always the same story. Quality in production and materials goes down, price goes up, marketing increases, popularity increases, demand and therefore production quantities go up leading quality to continue to decrease while margins continue to increase…and investors get happy while leaving loyal customers disappointed. I would SO love to see a system where independent brands can stay independent and don’t need to take on investment, but it’s just part of the cycle these days and next to impossible to operate without! BUT, good call on looking for resale of these shirts…I know what my next alerts are going to be for!
Yep, you've nailed it. That's pretty much the gist of the Sezane story. I think it poses an interesting question about the necessity of growth (versus profitability), which is something that's always bothered me since I did my economics degree. In entrepreneurial circles, particularly VC and investment entertainment like Shark Tank and Dragon's Den, "lifestyle businesses" are treated with such disdain but is there really anything wrong with running a little business that plods along successfully and grows organically? (Not appealing to investors, I get it, but exit strategy doesn't have to be the plan for everyone). Olivia Rubin in the UK has made some interesting decisions about slowing down her brand so she is experimenting with this conundrum!
100%. Where I struggle, unfortunately, is that it is SO HARD to be a little business that plods along and grows organically these days! The costs and barriers to both entry and growth are so high, that even reasonably successful shops (and I'm mostly referring to in NYC now as that's my area of knowledge) have a hard time keeping afloat because expenses get so high so fast, and customers and sales can be unpredictable at best. The biggest barrier to all of this being rent and labor. Rent in NYC is astronomical, and we already don't pay part time staff enough. It's a true challenge for any small business, not just apparel retail!
Such a fun edit! Need those pillows asap ❤️
Thank you! So good right?
Love this post so much. I’m stripe-obsessed! I recently discovered Quaker Marine Supply Co while on Nantucket and got their seafarer tee. Might be my favorite striped tee of all time
Thank you!! Ohh I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for the rec!