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Judith Russell

About Judith Russell

Judith Russell is a marketing and strategic planning consultant specializing in the retail apparel industry, and a frequent contributor to The Robin Report.

Beyond Recycling: How to Mend Apparel’s Unsustainable Ways

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Ask any consumer how to be more environmentally conscious when buying apparel, and he or she will almost certainly tell you to buy products made of recycled or organic materials from reputable fashion brands that share a commitment to the planet. But according to global sourcing giant Li & Fung, the $13 billion Hong Kong-based company that manages supply chains for thousands of the top apparel brands and retailers around the world, there is far more to the story than that. The company builds and manages customized, end-to-end supply …

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Li & Fung: Digitalization of the Apparel Supply Chain, One Megabrand at a Time

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With the apparel market several years into its profit-crippling period of disruption, some of the biggest names in the business are finding that digital technology, the explosion of which led to the near-destruction of traditional retailers and brands, may now hold the key to their salvation. Brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Kohl's, Lululemon and Ann Taylor are rapidly transforming their design and product development processes to keep up with consumer expectations of getting exactly what they want when they want it. Leading the …

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Li & Fung: A Radical Playbook

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Today, the term "Supply Chain" refers all too often to an obsolete process with an antiquated mindset, a huge barrier to an efficient, sustainable 21st century process empowered by new-world technologies. This legacy model is forecast-driven, with production planned at least nine months before goods appear in stores, making it a veritable crapshoot in today's take-no-prisoners marketplace. Often called "the back end of the business" (the double entendre is not lost on those who are trying to elevate its stature), traditional supply chain is …

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Millennial Brand Preferences: A 2018 Update

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Erica Lopez, 31 years old, is having growing pains. "My tastes are growing more expensive," admits the executive recruiter from Ann Arbor, Michigan. "I'm making more money and buying nicer clothes, accessories and shoes that better reflect my position in my life and career. A lot of my friends and colleagues are doing the same. We feel like we need to keep up with our peers." Erica's situation is not surprising, according to a recently-published report from Goldman Sachs co-authored by Alexandra Walves, Jason English, Heath Terry, Matthew …

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What Upscale Outlets Can Learn from Prada

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I’ve been to a lot of outlet and off-price stores in my life, but nothing prepared me for SPACE, the cavernous emporium in Tuscany that is referred to by its more-descriptive nickname, the Prada Outlet. Recently, a business friend and I were in Florence for a trade show with a Sunday morning to kill. I’d heard about SPACE for years, and even the most jaded of my industry colleagues had been gushing about it, so I decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Getting there from Florence by car took about 40 minutes with no …

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Modest Moves Mainstream

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At a much-anticipated show in New York in February, models sashayed down the runway in loose-fitting dresses made of opulent textiles adorned with jeweled trims and accessories. Was it a Marrakesh-inspired collection of evening gowns in homage to Yves Saint Laurent? No, it was the New York Fashion Week debut of Vivi Zubedi, an Indonesian designer whose styles are all abayas, or loose robe-like dresses worn by women in parts of the Muslim world. Modesty is having a fashion moment. Skimpy, tight-fitting clothing that leaves nothing to the …

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Beyond Sustainable: The Growing Demand for Ethical Fashion

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When Vogue Australia quietly hit the newsstands in its home country and abroad earlier this month, its theme, which as recently as three years ago would have raised eyebrows among serious fashion-watchers, caused nary a ripple of controversy. Entitled “Designing Our Future,” and guest edited by Emma Watson, the fashion bible’s most recent edition is completely sustainability-focused, with features on pioneers like Tim Flannery discussing the Great Barrier Reef and Stella McCartney touting sustainable style. The issue comes at a pivotal …

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Loving LiketoKnow.it

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For a long time, Rachel M. had neither the time nor inclination to stay up-to-date on fashion trends. Always too busy with work and school to read magazines or actively seek out blog posts for inspiration, she resigned herself to be slightly out of touch. However, now that social media and style trends are more integrated, her interest in fashion has shifted. “I’m finding it really fun to stay current with the latest looks…simply by going through my feed,” said the 27-year-old health care professional, referring to her Instagram account. “By …

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