ARTICLES
Explore our latest insights on the beauty, luxury, and lifestyle industries. At Carrara Advisory, we combine decades of hands-on experience with deep market understanding to provide actionable perspectives on strategy, innovation, and growth. Here, we share our thinking on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of your business.
Performance: The Financial Backbone of Kering’s Transformation
Kering’s financial performance over the past two decades reflects the payoff, and limits, of its luxury-focused strategy, showing how margin expansion, working capital evolution, and leverage dynamics shaped the group’s profitability and balance sheet strength.
Reinvention: Kering’s Strategic Transformation
Kering’s evolution from a timber business into a focused luxury powerhouse reflects six decades of deliberate reinvention - driven by bold acquisitions, disciplined divestitures, and a constant reallocation of capital and talent toward high-value, brand-driven growth.
In-House vs Licensing: Strategic Choices and the Cost of Control
While licensing offers a low-risk, capital-light entry and in-house delivers greater control, profitability, and long-term brand equity, the most effective path is not fixed but depends on each brand’s context.
Bridal Fashion: Where Emotion Meets Billion-Dollar Business
The wedding dress market, a $60 billion industry driven by emotion, craftsmanship, and evolving consumer trends, is witnessing a dynamic shift as luxury designers, mid-tier brands, mass-market retailers, and disruptive newcomers compete for dominance.
The Brand Positioning Divide. Store Counts vs Revenues.
In the fashion and luxury industry, there’s a clear divide between high-end luxury brands and more accessible ones when it comes to store count and revenue. High-end brands show a steep, exponential growth curve, with revenue skyrocketing as the number of stores increases. In contrast, accessible brands exhibit a more linear growth, with a smaller slope. This analysis considers over 100 fashion and luxury brands.
Beauty vs. Fashion: Unpacking the Revenue Dynamics
While some brands, like Marc Jacobs and Moschino, are heavily reliant on beauty, particularly fragrances, others like Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. focus more on fashion, with beauty contributing a smaller share. The balance between these segments, influenced by heritage, strategic partnerships, and regional preferences, is key to aligning beauty with a brand's identity and market opportunities.
Luxury Groups Shake-Up amid Industry Slowdown
In August 24 Tapestry announced the intention to purchase Capri Holdings. The Federal Trade Commission is currently reviewing the case. Closing statement hence future of the two companies is expected by Sep 30th!
Tapestry’s Capri Holdings Deal Falls Short of a Game Changer
Even with combined revenues approaching $8 billion, the merger won't elevate the companies beyond Tapestry's current standing. While they'll inch closer to PVH and widen the gap with Prada Group, this is far from an industry game changer.