theguardian.com
Coach and Luar at NY Fashion Week: Redefining Luxury for Gen Z
During New York Fashion Week, Coach and Luar showcased collections reflecting Gen Z's values, with Coach emphasizing affordability and sustainability, while Luar explored themes of heritage and resilience.
- How are Coach and Luar redefining luxury in their NYFW shows, and what are the immediate impacts?
- Coach's show featured upcycled materials and more affordable pieces, reflecting Gen Z's focus on sustainability and accessibility. Luar's collection, meanwhile, explored themes of heritage and resilience, celebrating Dominican culture and confronting the legacy of slavery. This resonates with Gen Z's interest in socially conscious brands.
- What broader market trends do these collections represent, and how are they impacting sales figures?
- Both collections signal a shift away from traditional luxury's emphasis on extreme polish and perfection. Coach's sales have risen 14% since January, reaching $1.43 billion, demonstrating the success of its strategy. Luar's focus on social and cultural relevance taps into a growing consumer demand for brands with values.
- What are the potential long-term implications of these design choices and brand strategies for the fashion industry?
- The success of Coach and Luar suggests a long-term move towards more inclusive and sustainable luxury. This may pressure other brands to adopt similar strategies, integrating social responsibility and affordability into their design and marketing. The emphasis on cultural heritage could also lead to greater representation and diversity in high fashion.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced view of Coach's success, highlighting both its innovative designs and its strategic pricing and marketing. While it focuses on Coach's Gen Z appeal and its financial success, it also includes information about Luar, a brand with a different aesthetic and social message. The framing doesn't overtly favor either brand, but the significant space dedicated to Coach's success could be perceived as giving it more weight.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and descriptive. Terms like "grit," "resilience," and "down-to-earth" are used to describe Coach's aesthetic, but these are not inherently loaded terms. The description of Luar's collection uses stronger language ("brutal legacy of slavery"), but this reflects the designer's stated intention and is presented as a direct quote.
Bias by Omission
The article could benefit from including more diverse perspectives on luxury fashion beyond Coach and Luar. For example, it could mention brands catering to different age demographics or socioeconomic groups. However, given the focus on New York Fashion Week and the limited space, this omission is understandable.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights Coach's sustainability initiatives, including the use of upcycled leather in its motorcycle jackets and a wider sustainability program launched in 2023. This directly contributes to responsible consumption and production by promoting the use of recycled materials and reducing waste. The focus on durable, long-lasting pieces also aligns with this goal by discouraging fast fashion and promoting longer product lifecycles.