Lots of people want to be fashion designers.
Nepotism is a problem in all industries but Stella never gave what she was supposed to give and everyone know this.
Stella only got into CSM bc of her name and then she got a sliver of skills. Pinault wanted to be able to invite her dad over to dinner to impress his billionaire friends so he gave her a whole house. When Paul dies so will Stella's career because everyone wants to hear about Pauls heydey. Nobody cares about Stella.
Kerign sold part of her brand back to her. This experiment is over, they're shuffling her out quietly. You don't sell brands back unless they're not doing well...If Stella was doing well Kering would want to buy the rest of the brand. Not sell it back to her. Its like "here take this back it's not giving what its supposed to give"
Also in an age where everyone is doing Vegan somehow the originator Stella isn't running up the sales. The Falabella bag should be a top seller since it is allegedly what customers want these days. Yet it isn't running the numbers up.
How can the first "conscious" fashion brand be flopping in a world where everyone is looking for the next "conscious" thing? Because non fashion people don't see any value in SM. Non fashion people see it as very much a nepotism thing. I was in Vegas and was surprised she had a store there, a tiny one, smaller than Gaultier's store when he had one.
I think her sneaker collab is what is paying the bills still. Remember how Kering tried to set McQ up in the same way with that Puma line but it flopped, they were copying Stella's formula.
If it wasn’t for Tom Ford, the Gucci Group and the idea of Kering would have never been a reality tbh.
I think you have a biais towards Stella but I can tell you that I wish a lot of privileged kids (celebrities, editors, authors...etc) that I’ve encountered or heard about in the industry actually chose her route instead of, like some, become influencers on social media.
I actually think she was clever for buying back her brand as her and Lee had 50% ownership of their brands.
In the original Gucci Group, from Balenciaga to Stella, they were all supposed to represent a certain idea of niche instead of the standardized vision they all have today.
It’s clear that in the ambitions of Pinault, the capacities of expansion or growth, with Stella at the helm were kinda limited.
Arnault, unlike Pinault has an interesting portfolio of brands like Loro Piana or even Moynat that are not meant to become cash-cows. And the sustainability question, while totally not interesting for the father, is an issue that totally interest the children (it’s a generation issue).
So yes, Stella was clever and I think her issue today is in terms of consistency in the collections. Her products are good and well made but the sustainability thing is great for marketing, not really to drive sales. I have clothes and shoes from her because it’s beautiful and well made.
At those prices, no matter how sustainable it is, if it’s ugly and it does not fit either your taste or the aesthetic of the brand, you won’t buy it.
The most sustainable way to consume fashion is to actually not consume at all.