Table of Contents:

see also:  textiles industry

Innovations, and new business models

fashion & beauty. Enjoy!

1. Full provenance sweaters: Brands are increasingly sharing detailed information on their products' sources and background. In the Netherlands, new knitwear brand Flocks gives customers details about the individual animals that provided the wool for their sweaters and mittens. More »

    

2. DIY dress design: Couture gets personal with StyleShake—a new online venture that lets creative customers design their own duds, picking from a selection of quality fabrics and putting together dresses from virtual pattern pieces to create truly personal pieces that can be delivered to their door in as little as 10 days. More »

    

3. Sampling salons for cosmetics: Given the overwhelming array of cosmetics and high price tags on many department store offerings, it's no wonder customers are wary of plunking down their hard-earned dollars without first trying a product. Department store make-up counters have long offered testers, but not without a sales pitch. Cosmetics shoppers in Tokyo now have an alluring alternative—sampling salons. More »

    

4. Socks with a story: Swiss Netgranny is a collective of 15 grannies who knit socks on demand and sell them online. Customers can choose their favourite granny from a gallery of Grosis. More »

    

5. Web retailer helps find the perfect fit: Every body is different, and just five or six percent of bodies fit the model that most designers use as their standard. Which is why MyShape, a women's apparel retailer, is using proprietary technology to customize selections to a customer's individual shape. More »

    

6. Baby clothes rental service: Since newborns grow out of a clothing size every month or so in the first half year of their lives, German Lütte-Leihen came up with a solution: a layette rental service for a fixed fee per month. Clothes are delivered by post. Once babies grow out of a size, the set can be exchanged for the next size up, free of charge. Like Netflix for baby clothes. More »

    

7. Cosmetics brand prices everything at $1: Take a high-margin product like cosmetics, and cut prices by at least half. Now add online accessibility with customization, community and values. Throw in a pinch of demystifying expert advice, and you've got e.l.f., which sells cosmetics for eyes, lips, face and nails for just one dollar per item. More »

    

8. A social marketplace for clothes hounds: Now that social networks have become a regular part of the fabric of modern life, segmentation is well under way, with communities popping up all over focused on specific groups and interests. Case in point: OURthreads.com, a social marketplace designed specifically for users interested in fashion, clothing and accessories. More »

    

9. Manicures on the go: In this perpetually time-crunched era, it's no secret that finding time for personal grooming services like haircuts and manicures can be a challenge. Which is why :10 Minute Manicure is going after consumers whose nails need some speedy attention in airports in busy commercial centres. More »

Selling just one product at a time (for luxury goods)?

We first covered "a deal a day" websites in 2006. Since then, the concept has proliferated, with niche and regional players joining the field. Nonetheless, Ideeli, which is due to launch next week, caught our eye.

Like Woot and others, Ideeli creates buyer excitement with deep discounts and by only selling one item at a time. Unlike Woot, Ideeli is members-only and new users need an invitation to sign up. Members are alerted by email when sales start. Premium (1st Row) members also receive a cell phone alert and have access to sales one hour earlier than 2nd Row members. The subscription service provides an additional stream of income for Ideeli—1st Row members pay USD 7.99 per week, billed to their cell phone. While in testing mode over the past 6 months, 10 percent of members chose to sign up for 1st Row access.

Besides making money through subscriptions and on items sold, Ideeli is also supported by sponsors looking to promote products. Brands can sponsor weekly giveaways or have Ideeli include samples with customer purchases.

The New York venture is focusing on the female market, selling luxury handbags, sunglasses and jewellery for 50 to 90% off the original price. As Ideeli puts it: "It's like a sample sale, but no getting elbowed."

Website: www.ideeli.com

Contact: support@ideeli.com

Existing companies

Coach - Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) is the largest retailer of premium handbags in the U.S. by market share. In addition, Coach sells accessories such as small leather goods, jewelry,... read more 1159 views | Related: Compounded annual growth rate - CAGR, Downturns in Asian economies, Key Fashion Trends	Estee Lauder Companies - The Estée Lauder Companies (NYSE: EL) is a conglomerate of 20 prestige (high-end) and 4 mass-market fragrance and cosmetics brands with $6.5B in revenue in 2006. The... read more 533 views | Related: Luxury Consumption in China, Target (TGT), Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)
Gap - The Gap, Inc. is a clothing retailer based in the United States, operating 3100 retail stores under three distinct apparel brand names – Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. The... read more 1101 views | Related: Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF), Aeropostale (ARO), American Eagle Outfitters (AEO)	J.C. Penney - Founded in 1902, J.C.Penney (NYSE:JCP) is one of the United States' most widely recognized department chains. The company underwent significant restructuring starting in... read more 526 views | Related: Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF), Aging Baby Boomers, Costco Wholesale (COST)
Kohl's - Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) is an specialty department store that sold $15.5 billion worth of apparel, home goods and other items to moderate-income families in 2006. The company operates... read more 596 views | Related: Cash or Credit, Macy's Inc. (M), Interest Rates	Limited Brands - Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) is an American retail conglomerate. Its holdings include such widely-recognized names as Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret. These two... read more 653 views | Related: Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF), Key Fashion Trends, Macy's Inc. (M)
Liz Claiborne - Liz Claiborne (NYSE:LIZ) is a multi-brand company that designs and markets women's, men's, and children's apparel, non-apparel items, fragrances, and jewelry. The company... read more 695 views | Related: Macy's Inc. (M), Jones Apparel Group (JNY), Key Fashion Trends	Macy's Inc. - Formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc., Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) sold nearly $27 billion worth of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and accessories,... read more 830 views | Related: Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF), Aeropostale (ARO), American Eagle Outfitters (AEO)
Nike - Nike is the world leader in sales of athletic footwear and apparel, athletic equipment, and non-athletic sneakers; in 2007, revenues totaled over $16 billion. While Nike's sales are... read more 1580 views | Related: Adidas AG (ADDYY), Celebrity Endorsements, Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS)	Target - Target Corporation (NYSE) is the sixth largest retailer in the U.S. by sales, and the second largest in the general retail industry, trailing only Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) (the largest... read more 907 views | Related: Cash or Credit, Costco Wholesale (COST), Direct Sourcing
Wal-Mart Stores - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is a singular force in the global retail landscape. As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart's FY2007 domestic revenues of $268 billion... read more 2233 views | Related: Aging Baby Boomers, Best Buy (BBY), BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ)