President Trump enthusiastically tours new Louis Vuitton workshop that will employ 500 in Texas flanked by his chic daughter Ivanka

President Donald Trump toured the new Louis Vuitton leather workshop in Alvarado, Texas on Thursday
Trump was joined by his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner 
The family toured the new Louis Vuitton facility and spoke with workers
Just prior to arriving at the plant, Ivanka had been photographed clutching a Chanel bag 
The bag, however, was noticeably absent when she arrived with her father at the Louis Vuitton plant 
Following the tour, Trump was scheduled to headline a campaign rally in Dallas 
Trump began his trip to Texas on Thursday at a fundraiser in Fort Worth that raised about $5.5 million for Trump Victory

Trump arrived at the Louis Vuitton plant in Alvarado on Thursday afternoon where he toured the new facility and spoke with workers.
Just prior to arriving at the plant, Ivanka had been photographed clutching a Chanel bag.
The bag, however, was noticeably absent when she arrived with her father at the Louis Vuitton plant.
Looking to promote new jobs, the first family were spotted touring the Louis Vuitton plant and being shown various production lines.




President Donald Trump toured the new Louis Vuitton leather workshop in Alvarado, Texas on Thursday




Trump was joined by his daughter Ivanka as they toured the new plant and spoke to workers

Just prior to arriving at the plant, Ivanka had been photographed clutching a Chanel bag. The bag, however, was noticeably absent when she arrived with her father at the Louis Vuitton plant



Trump and Ivanka participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new workshop alongside Chief Executive of LVMH Bernard Arnault, CEO of Louis Vuitton Michael Burke and Alexandre Arnault (left to right)

'I've seen that before,' Trump told his tour guides while pointing to one of the iconic bags set up on a table.
Trump went on to address a crowd at the plant for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
'This workshop will soon employ 500 of the most highly skilled workers anywhere in the world,' Trump said.
'No one can match the precision and perfection of an American artisan.'
During his speech, he heaped praise on his daughter and son-in-law and made them stand so the crowd could applaud them.
Trump said Ivanka was 'responsible for 14 million jobs this year'.
Following the tour, Trump was scheduled to headline a campaign rally in Dallas.
Trump began his trip to Texas on Thursday at a fundraiser in Fort Worth that raised about $5.5 million for Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee benefiting the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.
The Texas visit comes at a critical time for Trump, whose dealings with the president of Ukraine are the subject of a quickly unfolding impeachment inquiry run by House Democrats.
While Republicans have largely defended Trump, they have sounded alarms over his decision to pull U.S. troops out of northeast Syria - a move that paved the way for Turkey to invade and assault the Kurds, who'd fought alongside the U.S. in its campaign against Islamic State militants.




Trump, chief executive of LVMH Bernard Arnault (center),  Bernard Arnault (second from right) and Ivanka listened as workers spoke during the tour




Trump arrived at the Louis Vuitton plant in Alvarado on Thursday afternoon where he toured the new facility and spoke with workers




I've seen that before,' Trump told his tour guides while pointing to one of the iconic bags set up on a table




Trump tours the Louis Vuitton workshop with Bernard Arnault (right), Alexandre Arnault (third from right), Ivanka Trump and Michael Burk (second from left)
Upon landing in Texas on Thursday, Trump credited his threat of sanctions on Turkey and the violence that has taken place for the announcement of a cease-fire, though critics say Trump green-lit the incursion and put the Kurdish forces in danger by announcing a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Trump described the cease-fire as an 'incredible outcome' that could not have occurred 'unless you went somewhat unconventional.'
A White House meeting between Trump and congressional lawmakers to discuss the situation devolved into an insult-fest on Wednesday, with the president calling Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a 'third-grade politician' and Pelosi storming out.
Trump and Pelosi continued to trade jabs after the meeting, with each accusing the other of having a meltdown.
Texas is an important state for Republicans.
Trump carried the Republican stronghold and its 38 Electoral College votes by 9 points in 2016. But Democrats have pointed to demographic trends as well as the fact that Republican Sen. Ted Cruz won reelection by just over 2 points last year as evidence that the second-most-populous state could soon be in play.
Trump's campaign and the RNC have been raking in money, raising a record $125 million in the third quarter of this year.
By comparison, former President Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee raised just over $70 million in the third quarter of 2011 for his reelection campaign.




Trump speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Louis Vuitton workshop




During his speech, he heaped praise on his daughter and son-in-law and made them stand so the crowd could applaud them. Ivanka was spotted waving to the crowd as they clapped




Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were front row for the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Louis Vuitton workshop in Texas on Thursday




Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross listen during an event with Trump on Thursday




Trump waves after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington after returning from a campaign rally in Texas




White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump arrive at Andrews Air Force Base to board Marine One for a short trip to the White House. The couple traveled with President Donald Trump to Texas for a rally and to tour the Louis Vuitton Workshop
President Donald Trump has toured a new Louis Vuitton leather workshop in Texas with his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner in tow.

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Madewell Is Reselling Its Own Used Jeans Via a Partnership With Thredup

Photo: Courtesy of Madewell

Madewell began its commitment to extending the lifecycle of clothing long ago with its "Blue Jeans Go Green" denim recycling program: When you donate any pair of jeans, you're given $20 off a new pair. (Could that then fuel unnecessary consumption? Sure, but few recycling/sustainability programs are perfect.) It also launched a fair-trade denim capsule earlier this year. Starting Monday, Madewell is taking that commitment to circularity a step further through a partnership with ThredUp, the massive secondhand online retailer.
They've collaborated on "The Madewell Archive," a collection of pre-owned jeans that Madewell sourced from Thredup. Each pair was hand-selected, washed and refurbished and, now, placed into select stores for sale for $50 a pair — quite a bit cheaper than a new pair of Madewell jeans, which are typically around $130. They'll be available in select stores in Austin, Chicago, Nashville and NYC starting on Oct. 14 and California starting on Nov.1.
"At Madewell, we're on a mission to create the longest, most sustainable lifespan for our denim, whether you're purchasing a new pair that are made through sustainable practices or recycling old ones through our longstanding denim recycling program," said Anne Crisafulli, head of merchandising at Madewell, in a statement.
"At ThredUp, our mission is to extend the life of clothes through resale," added Karen Clark, VP of partnerships at Thredup. "When a brand as loved as Madewell embraces secondhand, it says a lot about the evolution of fashion and the promise of a more circular future."
The news fittingly follows parent company J.Crew's recent announcement that Madewell is being spun off into its own company, which will be taken public with an IPO. As part of that process, the brand released a prospectus that majorly emphasizes the brand's commitment to sustainability.
Meanwhile, as Thredup has raised money and expanded, it's pursued a number of partnerships, including with Reformation and Cuyana, wherein Thredup essentially powers recycling programs for each brand: Shoppers receive or can print a Thredup shipping label, send in unwanted items and receive credit to use at that brand. More recently, it partnered with Macy's and J.C. Penney, both of which are selling used items from Thredup in their stores. Madewell marks the first brand to resell its own items via Thredup, but it's a model we could see becoming more common so long as the items aren't overly trendy and are, well, made well, so that they hold up — both qualities we should all be looking for in our clothing anyway to ensure it lasts.  oa here

Real Authentication Launches New Apple & Android App

     

You can find the Real Authentication App in the Apple App store 

You can find the Real Authentication App in the Google Play store  

Fast fashion is out. Renting and resale will become the new normal

Around the globe people become more aware of the trade off between buying fashion items, wearing them a few times, disposing and what it does to our planet. Many new (online and physical) retail platforms have started concentrating on second hand items and renting out. Some even say that the second hand fashion market will outgrow fast fashion by 2028.

The end of ownership.
Second to oil, the clothing and textile industry is the largest polluter in the world. The carbon footprint from textiles production in 2015 was greater than the CO2 equivalent of international flights and shipping combined. Three-quarters of our clothing will end up burned or buried in landfill. Some say that more than half of the fast fashion produced around the world is thrown away within one year. New circular techniques are being used in the production processes. But in a world where people are more conscious and aware of what and why they buy, it is normal that new retail concepts enter the market place. Enter, second hand and rental.

Resale and rental are changing the script.
Fashion is big, really big. The world market is estimated around $1,3 trillion, bigger than Russia's GDP. The market of resale fashion is tiny, but developing quite fast. From just thrift stores and buying on platforms as e-Bay, to a vast array of new brands. Resale apparel used to be the domain of bargain hunters, some were treasure hunting. Now early adaptors are browsing the many new (online) platforms entering the market place.
Some crucial facts and data from US based Thredup:

• the US resale market will grow from $7bn in 2019 to $23bn in 2023
• including already existing thrift stores total market will grow to $51bn by 2023
• resale apparel has grown 21x faster than the retail apparel market in the last 3 years
• 2/3 of all women shoppers have bought or are willing to buy resale
• 40% of consumers now consider the resale value of an item before buying it, a 2x increase from 5 years ago
• Millennials and Generation Z are adapting 2.5 times faster, compared to other groups.
• second hand, rental and subscription are projected to be the top 3 fastest growing categories in the 2019-2028 timeframe
• in 2018 the US fast fashion market was $35bn, compared to $24bn for second hand. By 2028 the second hand market will have grown to $64bn, whereas fast fashion's growth is projected at $44bn
• According to Mintel 44% of young women said they would like tone more eco friendly in their approach to fashion

Why own stuff?
There are multiple drivers for this massive shift. There is the obvious penetration of social media and the importance of influencers. Female fashion buyers are increasingly savvy on updating their wardrobes to the latests crave of the catwalks. With real buying power mostly being flat, in many economies, this obviously create tension. Add the increasing consciousness on sustainability and the fact that a new perception has been growing on possession and ownership (why own stuff?, aka the sharing economy), it's easy to see why things are moving. Some also mention smaller housing as a driver for change, with the average number of items in consumers' closets declining from 164 items in 2017 to 136 in 2019.
Elizabeth Cline, author of the Conscious Closet: “Resale offers the wardrobe-rotating fun of fast fashion without the guilt or waste. By driving preferences away from disposable fashion towards higher-quality clothes, reuse is a boon for our personal style and the planet.”

Rental is different, a closet in the cloud.
For many online fashion retailers "wardrobing" or "ASOS parties" are a huge problem. The demand for fresh looks is prompting many people to order online, wear it and return it later ("after the party"), often for free. Fashion industry returns hoover around 40-50% of items being bought online. Many new platforms persuade consumers from wardrobing into hiring. The US apparel rental market is relatively small, estimated to grow to $4,4bn by 2028, just 1% of total clothing sales. But it grew 24% in 2018 compared to 5% for the wider clothing market, GlobalData shows.
These rental platforms are buying clothing wholesale from brands, some are introducing revenue sharing models allowing brands to upload items, the platform taking care of cleaning and delivery in return for a share of revenue.
Rent the Runway redefined the fashion rental market already in 2009, starting with one offs like a dress for a gala. Many platforms have evolved now to a monthly subscription model and are positioned mostly upmarket. Some even IPO-ed recently, because investors love the recurrent revenues of the subscription business model.
Some examples. Both second hand and rental. Physical and online.

The diversity of brands and formats serving second hand and rental customers is immense. Round Two in the US is a resale outlet, with only two stores. A tactile experience with overflowing racks, but not as in the old thrift stores, where you would occasionally meet a bargain hunter. Round Two is different, young people and kids are roaming the racks, with brand new items and slightly worn ones. A brand new $300 T-shirt by Supreme, next to a vintage bootleg Janet Jackson T-shirt ($250) . It's a place where you can buy and sell. Nothing is on consignment (in that case the seller retains ownership).

Vintage Brands store in Monnickendam (Netherlands) is doing the same as Round Two, though aimed at a different customer. Yearly over 700 women offer their personal fashion and accessory items, from Zara to Gucci, in consignment in this cosy store. Loyal customer find an extra reason for visiting the store: the social aspect is important, talking with the owner and other customers, on what's "new" and hot. You can sit down and read a magazine, drinking coffee. Sellers are often buyers. Vintage Brands' main marketing channel is word-of-mouth and social with a look book on Facebook and Instagram. The annual catwalks are famous and people drive over 100 miles to see models showing off.
Hirestreet is the UK first high street rental service and aims at budget conscious students. Hirestreet offers 10 day rentals for prices as low as £7. Most stock refreshes every week. Users will enter event date and choose outfit filters (with the "occasions" filter ranging from date night to maternity...) and Hirestreet will generate available rentals. Isabella West from Hirestreet found out that young women were spending over £500 a year on fast or disposable fashion and if they hired rather than bought they could save £400: "I found this amazing. £400 is the price of a holiday."

In the US the two dominant platforms are Rent the Runway and the RealReal, both very successful and growing fast. Rent the Runway (valued at $1bn) is a fashion subscription platform offering premium and exclusive fashion and accessories brands. It claims 10 million members. Its "unlimited plan" at $159 per month will offer unlimited access to as many items as a customer wants. If you love the idea of wearing premium brands like Gucci, Kates Spade and Diane Von Furstenberg RtR is a great option. RtR merchandise arrives in a garment bag with a prepaid UPS label for returns. Next to its platform they operate 5 stores and multiple drop off locations, but it is essentially a technology (and logistics) company. With the data being used both on the returns and via its "virtual closet" RtR is perfectly positioned to personalise its offering.
The RealReal is a premium luxury resale platform, with a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of $710mm in 2018, processing 1,6 Million orders from 400,000 different buyers. Items are authenticated and researched before being offered on its online platform or physical stores. In many cases professionals (authenticators) are visiting the seller, and discuss which items could be sold on the RealReal's platform, they are also advising on price. The merchandise is held in consignment for sellers. The company takes a 40 per cent cut of each sale, which is reduced for high-value items or for consignors who sell more than $10,000 per year. 56% of the RR's consignors count environmental impact as a key reason to sell on the platform. Buying a second hand Fendi bag for the price of the new Michael Kors bag ($300) is probably equally important.
In a complete reversal of things 7 years old Le Tote, a US based rental fashion platform, bought 190 years old Lord & Taylor department stores, some 35 locations located in the Midwest of the US. An old legacy company absorbed by a new one. Le Tote's proposition is different from RtR's. Most of its customers spend just $69 per month for mid-market brands like J Crew and Zara.
Meanwhile high street brands as Scotch & Soda, Rebecca Taylor and Urban Outfitters (with Nuuly) have started renting out items in a comparable scheme as RtR.
H&M could rethink it's $4bn unsold stock and put in on a rental platform. They just announced a limited rental service for its new premium collection from recycled fibers in a Stockholm store. Express, a fashion mall brand with 600 stores in the US, started a rental service with a $70 monthly subscription. Ikea even launched a furniture rental service earlier this year.
Rental and buying secondhand fashion is beyond icky.
So things are definitely moving. This business is beyond the icky feeling people used to have with wearing items somebody else had worn before. It's still early and it is probably harder to persuade consumers to hire affordable apparel than catwalk creations, just because there are just too many cheap alternatives available. Some platforms are growing too fast, causing some hiccups. With young and conscious consumers growing up and becoming more influential this will change. The sharing economy is here to stay. oa here

Farfetch partners with second-hand clothing service

Luxury fashion platform Farfetch has partnered with second-hand clothes donation service Thrift+, giving customers access to a free collection service for unwanted items in exchange for credit to use on the etailer’s site. 

A participant in Farfetch’s technology accelerator programme, Dream Assembly, Thrift+ sells second-hand fashion online and donates a portion of the proceeds to one of 160,000 registered charities in the UK.
Through the new partnership, customers will be able to order a Thrift+ x Farfetch donation bag online. They can then book a free collection service, or drop off the filled bag at a local drop-off point.
Thrift+ will photograph and list items for sale on its site. Once an item sells, one-third of the proceeds are donated to the customer’s nominated charity, and one-third is awarded to the customer as Farfetch credit. Customers can also choose to donate their share to charity.
Thomas Berry, director of sustainable business at Farfetch, said: “We know our consumers would like an easy way to clear their wardrobes of unused items, and at the same time, they would like to feel positive about it. Thrift+ x Farfetch links our customer base with an innovative service that improves the donation experience and has a positive impact by giving good quality clothes another useful life and supporting multiple charities.
“This is a natural extension to our Farfetch Second Life resale programme, focused on luxury handbags, and part of our broader approach to sustainability.”  ao here

Teens Are Shopping Differently, Could Cause Trouble, For These Brands

Learning how teens spend has been a years-long effort for retailers because their likes and dislikes can decide the fate of a brand or a season. Cracking the code on today’s teens, dubbed digital natives, is no exception. 

 

As retailers gear up for the industry’s critical holiday sales season, the latest reading on teens may offer some cause for worry: Teens, part of Gen Z, have lowered their self-reported annual spending by 4% from a year earlier, to $2,400, the lowest level in eight years, investment bank Piper Jaffray reported in its Taking Stock With Teens fall survey, released Tuesday.
One culprit: About a third of the teens, up from a quarter a year earlier, said they believe the economy is getting worse, according to the survey, which polled 9,500 teens across 42 U.S. states, with an average age of 15.8 years. But that’s not the only reason. Female teens’ spending on handbags has hit a new low of $90 a year in the 38th edition of semi-annual survey, less than half of the record $197 reported in the spring 2006 survey. Cosmetics spending also declined more than 20%, to $106, from a year earlier.

Overall, the survey’s results echo other findings associated with today’s teens. For instance, they care about social and political issues including global warming, immigration and gun control. To do their part for the environment, nearly half of the teens said they are changing their habits, including using more metal straws, recycling more and using less plastic.

Here are other takeaways:

The preppy-style teen uniform is out: Mirroring fashion brands’ performance scorecards, the survey showed athletic labels dominate teens’ top fashion preferences. Lululemon hit a new survey high as the No. 7 preferred apparel brand and catapulted to No. 2 among upper-income female teens. Nike, whose stock recently jumped to a record high after it posted better-than-expected results, remained the No. 1 shoe and clothing label for teens.
Skate shoe Vans remained teens’ No. 2 favorite footwear brand, followed by Adidas and Converse. Plastic-clog maker Crocs saw the biggest jump, rising to the No. 7 shoe spot, from No. 13.
“The casualization of fashion continues,” said the 70-page study, adding that preppy brands including Ralph Lauren, Sperry and Vineyard Vines continue to lose share among teen apparel makers to athletic labels. The teen fast-fashion label Forever 21, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection, saw its favorite apparel brand share among teens decline 2 percentage points, to 3%, over the past year.

Accessible luxury handbags are losing favor: As handbag spending hit a new survey low, Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Coach saw their combined favorite-brand share among female teens decline to 49%, from 57% last year. Michael Kors, while still No. 1, saw its share slump to 27% this fall, from 36% in spring 2018.
European luxury brands including Louis Vuitton and Gucci, on the other hand, picked up mind share among teens, thanks partly to online resale platforms including The RealReal and StockX that give them “access to luxury for less,” according to the report.

Food takes the biggest chunk of teens’ wallet share: Food has continued to outpace clothing as the biggest spending category for teens, the study showed. For instance, restaurants represented 23% of spending among upper-income teens in the most recent survey, topping clothing at 21%.
Where teens are eating doesn’t bode well for full-service restaurants: The percentage favoring limited-service restaurants has jumped to 68%, from 44% ten years earlier.
Their favorite restaurant? Chic-fil-A, followed by Starbucks and McDonald’s in the top five for both upper-income and average-income households. Fast-casual and fast-food chains Chipotle, Dunkin’ and Taco Bell rounded out the top five for either of the income groups. Olive Garden was the only full-service chain to make the top five.

Amazon is cultivating a bigger teen following: 52% of teens voted Amazon as their favorite e-commerce site, up from 47% a year earlier. Nike, in second place, trailed far behind, with a 4% mind share.

Amazon’s major rival eBay, No. 5 with a 2% share, “continues to face mind share challenges with teens,” according to the study. Amazon’s major brick-and-mortar rivals Walmart and Target didn’t make the top ten. In another sign of Amazon’s growing popularity with teens, it’s become the No. 5 beauty-shopping destination for them, up from No. 17 a year earlier, according to the survey.
“Amazon remains well positioned to take share of overall retail sales, and having the support of the teen (demographic) is critical,” the study said.
Amazon isn’t just winning teens from the upper-income household bracket, either. With the Amazon Prime adoption rate among teens rising to 78%, from 74% a year earlier, the study found the growth was led by teens from the lowest household-income bracket ($21,000 to $41,000).

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How to Sell, Donate or Recycle Your Stuff

If you are starting the new year by saying goodbye to some of your less-than-favorite possessions you might be wondering: Now what? Here’s how to get rid of it for good. 

If you’re like a lot of the people watching the new Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” you have already looked around your home for things you want to get rid of. If you’ve already done the hard work of sorting through your belongings and culling what you do not need, great work!

If you want to give your home an organizational makeover, but aren’t sure how to start, consider signing up for our Tidy Home Challenge, which will walk you through each room of your home and give step-by-step instructions on how to neaten any space. (You will need to be an NYTimes.com subscriber to sign up.)

If you already have bags of stuff that you do not want in your house any more, don’t succumb to the urge to take all the junk to the dump or leave it on the curb. Many items can be sold, donated or recycled, giving them another life that will be better for the environment and perhaps your pocketbook, too. Below are some options for how to dispense with the excess.

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Sell It

You could make a buck or two by hosting your own garage sale.CreditOwen Franken for The New York Times

Only attempt to sell items — clothes, books, electronics, accessories, jewelry and toys — that are in good to excellent condition. Designer brands and jewels may fetch a tidy sum. But even lesser items might deliver you some pocket change.

Option 1: Garage Sale

Hold a stoop or yard sale. If you decide to go this route, brace yourself for the work ahead. Yard sales take planning and require at least a full day of your time. But they can also be fun, social and a good way to make money on items you might not otherwise sell. Here’s how to do it:

• Pick a date.
• Get permits from your city or town, if needed.
• Visit other yard sales in the area to get a sense of local pricing.
• Post signs around the neighborhood and on any local social media groups like Facebook or Nextdoor, if permitted.
• Price all the items with stickers, and group like items together. Be reasonable in your pricing, as people come looking for bargains. Remember, the goal is to get rid of this stuff.
• Make sure you have plenty of small bills, a calculator and a comfortable chair.
• Sit back and enjoy the day.
• Plan to donate anything left over at the end of your yard sale, unless you want to take it to the next level...

Option 2: Online

There are plenty of options for hosting a virtual stoop sale. Here are some options for where to try to sell your stuff online.

Tips for selling online

• Be prepared to create a profile, manage the sale and eventually ship the items to buyers. (Facebook Marketplace, for example, allows buyers to find items close to their home, so you may be able to avoid the shipping hassle.)
• Before you price items, do your homework. Look for similar items online to get an idea of what yours may be worth.
• If you are selling jewelry, have it appraised first and make sure you are selling to a reputable company.

Option 3: Brick and Mortar Stores

Check your local listings for nearby consignment shops, jewelers and resale shops.

• Used bookstores buy books. Some buy CDs, vinyl and DVDs, too. Some stores can be quite selective, so give your local shop a call to see what they’re buying first.
• Used record stores buy CDs and vinyl, assuming you can find one in your area.
• Consignment shops will pay you a percentage of the retail price after the item is sold. Some consignment shops will sell jewelry, children’s toys and books and accessories.
• Resale shops will pay you a set amount at the time that you bring in your items. So make sure you know the store’s policies before you arrive. Call and ask what sorts of items they want before you go.
• Clothes should be clean and pressed and, ideally, in season.
• If you are selling valuable items on consignment, make sure the store has insurance in the event of theft or fire.
• Jewelers. Make sure jewelry is appraised, and only sell to a reputable jeweler, like one that is a member of a trade association like Jewelers of America.
  
  

  Donate It

  
  
  
  

  

  CreditAndriy Blokhin/Alamy

  Charities take all sorts of items, like books, household goods, kitchenwares, electronics, clothes and linens. So now is the time to sort your donate pile into different groups depending on where the items are going.

  Charities

  Call the charity of your choice and see if you can arrange for a donation pickup or drop bags off at a donation center. Find out what sorts of items the charity will accept. Some charities accept items in poor condition for recycling, so even your worn and damaged clothes and linens may eligible for collection. This list is by no means exhaustive of the available charities that might take your stuff, but it will get you pointed in the right direction (Check that a charity is reputable before you give):

  • DonationTown, for example, offers an online directory of charities so you can pick the one of your choice in your area and schedule a pickup online.
  • PlanetAid has telltale yellow boxes around the country. Find one near you online.

  Charities that will take specific donations:

  Furniture

  • Habitat for Humanity: Schedule a pickup time online.
  • Furniture Banks: Collects gently used furniture and home furnishings for families in need.

  Shoes

  • Soles 4 Souls: Find drop off locations or ship your shoes to those in need.
  • Jackrabbit: Accepts your old running shoes that are sold to help farmers in Africa.

  Books and other media

  • Libraries: Call first to find out their policy for taking gently used books. Even libraries that do not generally take donations often have a collection day for annual book sales.
  • Operation Paperback: Donates books to troops overseas.

  Children’s books and toys

  • Schools and day cares. These centers often need used children’s books, particularly early readers. Day cares often take gently used books, toys and some children’s clothes, providing they are for pint-size kids. Call ahead to check what they need.
  • Second Chance Toys: Accepts donated plastic toys in some metropolitan areas.

  Electronics

  If you’re trading in a computer, remember to erase your hard drive first!

  • The World Computer Exchange: Drop off locations available around the country, or via mail.
  • Goodwill: In partnership with Dell Reconnect, the organization accepts electronic donations.

  Unexpired canned or packaged food

  • Your local food bank or church food drive.

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  Recycle It

  
  
  
  

  

  Some companies will recycle fabric, like denim, into housing insulation.CreditRichard Levine/Alamy

  Items that are too worn to reuse or donate can be recycled. Some items, regardless of their condition, like some cribs and stuffed animals, cannot be donated to charity. But before you put these things in the trash, see what can be recycled. Here are some options:

  Give It Away or Dispose of It Properly

  You would be surprised how many people might want your discarded items, if the price is free.
  Deteriorated clothes
• Goodwill
• H&M: Recycles your old clothes in exchange for a discount on new ones.
• Blue Jeans Go Green: Recycles old denim.

Used mattresses

• Bye Bye Mattress
• Earth 911

Electronics

• Local recycling centers: Check with your local community, or the E.P.A. website for options.
• Best Buy: Offers trade-in programs to recycle electronics.

Hazardous substances

• Local municipality: Latex paint and other dangerous substances must be disposed of properly. Check with your local municipality for waste recycling days.
• PaintCare: Accepts unwanted paint for reuse, recycling or proper disposal in some states.
• Habitat for Humanity: Accepts a variety of building materials, including old paint.

Almost anything and everything

• Craigslist
• Freecycle.org

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Trash

Some items are destined for the landfill. If you are disposing of bulky items, check and see which ones can sit on the curb and which ones need to be collected or dropped off at the dump. Your town’s website should provide more clarity. Items that need special attention often include:

• Batteries
• Medication (expired or not)
• Shredded paper (after you empty the office)
• Wire hangers (although you can also bring them back to the cleaners)
• Hazardous chemicals
• Aerosol cans
• Light bulbs

• 
  

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How a fake car parts scam could cost drivers thousands

Luxury items aren't the only things that are counterfeited

Counterfeit spark plugs with the potential to destroy engines are at the centre of an automotive industry sting.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says 60 per cent of spark plugs bought through dodgy online sellers have been verified as fraudulent parts designed to fool consumers.
Expert recreations of packaging and part appearances mean people may not know parts are fake until cars stop working.
A spokesman for the FCAI says spark plugs sold as genuine Honda, Mazda or Toyota items have the potential to “melt and cause extreme engine damage”.

Mazda and Honda owners have been targeted by the scam. Source: Supplied

But representatives of those popular car brands said they had no record of fake spark plugs ruining engines in recent months.
The problematic parts follow a run of fake components seized in Australia including wheels that shatter when they hit a pothole, brake pads made of asbestos and oil filters that do not protect engines from damage.
Overseas examples include brake pads made from compressed grass.

 

Counterfeit spark plugs (right) can be indistinguishable from genuine items (left). Source: Supplied

Tony Weber, chief executive for the FCAI, says motorists and technicians should be careful when sourcing automotive parts.
“The best way to avoid a fake? Make certain your parts are purchased from the authorised dealer network,” Mr Weber said.
“We have experts examining the packaging and spark plugs and even they can barely tell the difference. You won’t know it’s a fake, until it’s too late.”

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Luxury makeover: Kering to go 'carbon neutral' by offsetting 2018 emissions

Credit: Sardaka

On Tuesday, Kering announced that the luxury group, which includes brands such as Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, will become carbon neutral across its operations and supply chain by offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions from 2018. The announcement follows Gucci’s own carbon neutrality pledge earlier this month and comes a day after Swedish activist Greta Thunberg’s emotional speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York.

"We are going a step ahead in the implementation of our sustainability strategy," says Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s chief sustainability officer. Kering’s sustainability initiatives to date have included work to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a push for the use of reusable energy, says Daveu. “Where we won't be able to have zero impact it's important to offset.”

Fashion companies are increasingly pledging to offset their carbon footprint as it shows a commitment to sustainability, but the benefits of these initiatives are not guaranteed. “There is nothing logical or innovative around carbon offsetting unless it comes with a very serious commitment to prevent and reduce the company's carbon footprint,” says Orsola de Castro, founder and creative director of Fashion Revolution.

Kering, which also led the formation of the Fashion Pact to combat climate change at the 45th G7 Summit in August, has pledged to reduce all of its operations and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2025. The ambitious goal sets the industry in the right direction, but de Castro points out that without an external policing body, there is no guarantee of accountability.

Gucci Spring/Summer 2020.

Since 2011, Kering has measured the group’s greenhouse gas emissions through environmental profit and loss accounting (EP&L) to implement changes in its supply chain and promote efficiency initiatives across the board. These efforts have focused on offsetting two of the three types of emissions as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, by operating on direct emissions from owned or controlled sources and emissions from the generation of purchased energy.

With its latest pledge, the group will offset all remaining emissions in the protocol, meaning upstream and downstream emissions in the value chain. For 2018, these remaining emissions will account for approximately 2.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The group’s offsetting practices rely on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) projects, which include a partnership with the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) to promote the conservation of biodiversity in farming practices, and collaborating with the Savory Institute’s Frontier Founder initiative to encourage regenerative grazing practices. The company’s 2018 offset will equal around 2 million hectares of forests around the world.

Kering’s announcement pushes it ahead of other luxury conglomerates in its commitment to full carbon neutrality, but other groups have their own initiatives in place. Richemont has been purchasing carbon offsets since 2008, while LVMH introduced a carbon fund across its brands in 2015 to calculate and offset greenhouse gas emissions generated by its businesses. “Such an approach reaffirms how Kering is one of the companies leading the way in sustainability, and I hope other brands and retailers will follow,” writes Eva Kruse, CEO and president of the Global Fashion Agenda, via email.

But an overreliance on offsetting can be seen as sidestepping a larger issue.

“With this level of urgency [we need] a commitment policy on reduction, not just of carbon and fumes, but also of production,” says de Castro. “We need to disinvest from growth to invest in social and environmental supply chain prosperity and compliance.”
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Gucci’s First Live-streamed Show on Weibo Draws 16 Million Viewers

Gucci in November will open a new concept store in Beijing and launch its makeup line in China.

Giovanni Giannoni/WWD

 

GUCCI’S CHINA VIEWS: Some 16 million viewers connected on Weibo to see Gucci’s spring 2020 show, marking the first time the Italian brand had live-streamed its show on the Chinese platform. According to Weibo, views until now, including playback, totaled 22 million and 179,000 viewers posted a live comment. Likes totaled 421,000.

Held in Milan on Sept. 22, the show for the first time was certified carbon neutral, organized according to the ISO 20121 international standard that defines the sustainability of an event by measuring its environmental, social and economic aspects.

Gucci has a number of projects lined up in China. Following the opening on Sept. 16 of a store at the sprawling Plaza 66 shopping mall in Shanghai, the company will open a new special concept store at Shin Kong Place in Beijing on Nov. 6. That month, Gucci will also launch its new makeup line in China. As reported, Gucci sold more than 1 million lipsticks in the first month since the Alessandro Michele-designed line dropped in May. The lipstick line was launched exclusively on gucci.com on May 4, followed by a roll out in New York and in selective doors worldwide, backed by a major digital push.

Gucci has been upping the ante on its social media platforms. According to Tribe Dynamics, the data firm best known for tracking earned media value, in August, Gucci ranked first out of the top 10 fashion brands, recording more than $26.7 million in earned media value. This was a 2 percent increase over the previous month. Chanel was listed as second in the ranking, reporting more than $23.5 million in earned media value, a 7 percent decrease. Dior ranked third, totaling $21.8 million, down 7 percent, followed by Louis Vuitton, totaling $18 million euros, a 17 percent decrease. Saint Laurent, on the other hand, was up 4 percent, totaling $11.3 million.
Gucci also scaled another list. With its 36.9 million followers on Instagram, it is the number-one fashion brand on that platform, overtaking Chanel, which has a following of 36.8 million. oa here 

 

Poshmark Pays Out Over $2 Billion To Its Community Of Seller Stylists

The social commerce platform leads the way in democratizing retail at scale, empowering over seven million sellers and 50 million users nationwide.

Poshmark, a leading social commerce platform for the next generation of retailers and shoppers, today announced it has paid out over $2 billion to its community of seven million Seller Stylists who are reimagining and ushering in a new era of retail. The milestone illustrates how Poshmark uniquely serves as a springboard for sellers to build thriving businesses and brands, using a robust set of e-commerce tools to support the end-to-end social shopping experience. Today's announcement doubles the $1 billion milestone that Poshmark reached just over one year ago.
The retail landscape is shifting as consumers demand more from brands than ever before. Consumers reward sustainability and transparency, they value access to goods over ownership and are looking to develop meaningful connections with the retailers –– or resellers –– they engage with. Poshmark's social commerce platform is built on these shared values, effectively enabling a new generation of sellers to serve that consumer base and bring the human connection back into commerce. This flywheel of consumers, retailers, and Poshmark's platform has helped democratize retail as a whole –– making it easy for anyone to buy and sell coveted items, engage with like-minded people, or grow a thriving business. Poshmark's community has scaled to over 50 million users nationwide, including seven million Seller Stylists, who drive massive engagement on the platform. Today, Poshmark users spend 23-27 minutes on the platform, share 30 million listings daily, and have access to over $175 million worth of inventory uploaded to the platform every week, ranging from luxury fashion to streetwear to home decor.
"This is an incredible moment for resale and social commerce. As a leader of these two burgeoning retail models, we are proud to have created a platform where anyone can build a business doing what they love, and become part of a diverse and hyper-engaged community," said Manish Chandra, founder & CEO of Poshmark. "Today, Poshmark is the foundation for thriving retail and resale businesses and brands, who have amassed engaged followers, thousands of dollars of income, and a supportive, entrepreneurial community. The extraordinary success of these retailers, who are uniquely equipped to serve today's consumer, is indicative of the widespread growth and future promise of social commerce."
In a momentous year, Poshmark has surpassed a number of critical milestones, further delivering on its mission to democratize retail by enabling anyone to sell, shop, or share their style:

• Category Growth: Poshmark launched the Home Market in June 2019, expanding for the first time beyond fashion and makeup into a new area of retail. By launching a new category, Poshmark has expanded the opportunity for sellers and shoppers alike to connect, discover, and transact.
• International Expansion: Poshmark expanded the community into Canada in May 2019, the company's first international launch, enabling more people to participate in social selling. In the four months since launch, the Canadian Poshmark community has grown to over 300,000 users –– a milestone that took over 15 months to reach when Poshmark first launched in the app store in 2011.
• Leadership: Poshmark welcomed tennis champion Serena Williams and fashion industry veteran Jenny Ming to its board of directors, rounding out a board with a deep and diverse set of retail, entrepreneurial, and business experience.

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6 best vintage shops where millennials and Gen Zers are buying their Gucci, Dior and Prada handbags

The drawers in your mother’s closet are probably a treasure trove full of archival designs you can no longer find in stores. Otherwise, second-hand goods are the answer.

The interest in vintage designer bags has also grown considerably among millennials and Gen Zers. Photo: @DILN_

The year is 2019, but curiously many are dressed more like their ‘90s style icons these days. Some are even revisiting throwback fashion trends from the 2000s that we all thought should be left in the past. After dad shoes, scrunchies, bucket hats and tiny sunglasses became hot fashion items in the past two years, capri pants and biker shorts are now having a moment. The interest in vintage designer bags has also grown considerably among millennials and Gen Zers. From Fendi’s Zucca print and Dior’s signature branding, to Gucci’s house monogram and Prada’s classic, inverted triangle logo plate, retro purses are all over Instagram.

So, where can you find these old luxury handbags? The easy answer would be your mother’s wardrobe. Those drawers of hers are like a treasure trove full of archival designs you can no longer find in stores. You’ll just have to rummage through them for your dream bag, and hope that your mum doesn’t notice anything has gone missing. Just kidding.

For those who prefer a less sneaky route, we’ve rounded up a list of the six best stores to shop for designer bags online. Read on to learn where we get our second-hand goods.

The RealReal

 

Vestiaire Collective

Vestiaire Collective is where supermodel Karlie Kloss shops her Chanel bags, so you know it’s got to have a great selection. Another major player in the reselling market, the web store sees a vast line-up of pre-owned handbags by Prada, Fendi and the like — all available at reduced prices.

 

What Goes Around Comes Around

Luxury Garage Sale

 If you’re a fan of designer bags but not particularly fond of the price tags they come with, then Luxury Garage Sale will be your new best friend. The upscale consignment store offers a massive range of coveted styles, including archival styles from Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton. Check the site now to see if you can find any bargains.

Madison Avenue Couture

The Hermès Birkin is one of the most coveted luxury handbags on the market. If that’s your ultimate dream bag, look no further than Madison Avenue Couture. The store carries a huge selection of new and preloved Birkins that are difficult to get hold of.

Rebag

 

 From vintage Prada to Goyard and Balenciaga, expect to find a stunning array of statement designer handbags at vastly reduced prices on Rebag’s website. For those who live in California, Florida or New York, you may also visit Rebag’s IRL locations to see its inventory in person.

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Le Prix: Shop & Chat with Real Authentication

 

This article is ridiculously timely as just the other day I was accused of carrying a fake Chanel bag. For real…a designer resale expert and fashion writer for LePrix who owns a fake? Bissh, please.

The facts: The bag is authentic—I purchased it at Saks Fifth Avenue. I just had it professionally cleaned so I can resell it. I was at the Maryland State Fair watching the horse races, not exactly a place I’d bring my fanciest bag to hang with the farm animals and farmers. So, I guess I need to get it authenticated before I sell it.
Of all the people who would be caught carrying a FAKE, it wouldn’t be me! Well, this morning I learned about Real Authentication and I immediately signed up because it’s obvious to me this bag—and maybe a few others—will need an extra level of protection and authentication before I’m accused of selling a fake.
What’s Real Authentication? It’s a designer authentication company that lets you authenticate and verify your item from anywhere, anytime…which means there’s an app! And since LePrix is one of the world’s top designer resale companies, it just makes sense for us to feature them in this month’s Shop & Chat.

Tell me about the founding of Real Authentication.
Real Authentication was founded by Anastacia Bouzeneris and Jenna Padilla. We met while working together as authenticators at another designer resale company and both realized there was a need in the industry for a quick, easy and reliable way to authenticate luxury goods, so we took a leap and launched Real Authentication!


How and why did you launch Real Authentication?
We’ve been authenticating in the secondary market for nearly a decade and we’ve held positions as Senior Authenticators for one of the industry’s top resellers. Because we’ve been in the industry for a long time, we’ve noticed the speed at which the designer resale industry has grown and become one of the primary ways of buying luxury goods. While we were working for various resellers in the industry, we’d witness clients struggle with reasons why their item was either deemed authentic or counterfeit. The clients were unable to find a quick, reliable and easy way to authenticate goods and find credible information surrounding authenticity in general. Even internally at our company, it was difficult to find a reliable source for authentication.
Real Authentication was born due to witnessing large companies and individual shoppers alike struggle through the same pain points of verifying authenticity.
Why are you so passionate about fighting counterfeits? 
Not only have we seen our clients get taken advantage of by scammers, but we’ve been burned too! There are few things more disturbing than being scammed and having zero recourse. We absolutely love and appreciate the craftsmanship and heritage behind the brands we service, but we are primarily motivated by finding justice for our clients and offering a reliable, non-biased source of regulation to the secondary market as a whole.
How do you authenticate?
We analyze everything—from the client information all the way down to the denier of a stitch. Not only do we have two highly-trained authentication experts who review every single order, but we also use technology that we created—Smart Database Scan—to crosscheck data within our system and identify any red flags. With the higher quality of the fakes today, you can never be too careful! We always recommend getting multiple opinions to verify authenticity though.
What are the most popular authentication requests that come your way? 
Chanel, Gucci and Louis Vuitton will always be our most authenticated brands as they tend to be the most popular and in turn the most counterfeited. We see so much variety overall though, it is always exciting sifting through our admin panel.

What was your first luxury vintage purchase?  
Jenna: I’ll always remember what first spiked my interest in the secondary market…I came across a vintage Chanel Crystal Sautoir necklace for $100 and could tell immediately it was authentic and incredibly underpriced! I wore it for months and then tossed it on eBay to make a quick and massive profit. I was sold!
Anastacia: My journey into the secondhand market started in 1999 when I opened my eBay account. One of my first purchases was a vintage Louis Vuitton bag. It was well used, but new to me! To this day, I still have the bag as it’s a reminder of my journey right from the start.
To find out more about Real Authentication, click here.

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