Cathaleen Chen

New York

Reporter at Business of Fashion (BOF)

Reporting for @bof. Always stirring the pot.

Articles

Is This the End of Cheap Stuff in America?

6 days ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

Something strange is brewing in the realm of sustainable fashion. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have created chaos for fashion companies, disrupting supply chains and resulting in a plummet in the volume of imports entering the US.
Calvin Klein Names New President

6 days ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

PVH Corp. has appointed David Savman as global brand president of Calvin Klein, replacing Eva Serrano who has served in the role since March 23. Under Serrano, the brand returned to the runway for the first time in six years after naming Veronica Leoni as the new creative director for Calvin Klein Collection. Savman is currently PVH’s chief supply chain officer and global head of operations, and served as interim CEO for PVH Europe in 2024.
Skechers’ $9.4 Billion Blockbuster Buyout, Explained

1 week ago | businessoffashion.com | Sheena Butler Young |Cathaleen Chen

Brazilian private equity firm 3G’s $9.4 billion acquisition of the sneakers brand Skechers — the second-largest fashion deal ever, after LVMH’s 2020 takeover of Tiffany — came as a complete surprise to investors and industry observers. The buyer and seller make for an unlikely pair: 3G is best known for snapping up Burger King, Tim Horton and Kraft Foods (it sold its stake in the latter last year); it has never operated a fashion brand.
Amazon Isn’t the Solution to Saks’ Problems

1 week ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

When Saks Global announced its partnership with Amazon this week to open a new storefront on the long-fledgling Amazon Luxury Stores platform, the news was less notable than the timing. It was inevitable that the e-commerce behemoth and department store chain would come together.
Allow Thom Browne to Re-Introduce Himself

1 week ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

Thom Browne’s grey shrunken suits and pleated skirts in various shades of Shetland plaid have become synonymous with a certain kind of taste: smart, subversive and maybe a little intimidating. This exacting aesthetic, honed over more than two decades, was what propelled the business into the elite tier of homegrown American fashion labels.
As Foreign Tourists Stay Away, US Retailers Dust Off Their Covid Playbooks

2 weeks ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

At Bal Harbour Shops, a high-end outdoor mall at the northern tip of Miami Beach, four out of every five visitors are from out of town, and often overseas. While there have been plenty of headlines about Canadians and Europeans cancelling their US travel plans in protest of various Trump administration policies, in South Florida, at least, those shoppers are still showing up.
Reports: Saks Global Culls Corporate Workforce, Shutters Warehouse in Tennessee

3 weeks ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

Saks Global moved to consolidate its business this week, laying off hundreds of workers across its corporate offices, stores and a fulfilment centre in Tennessee, according to various media reports. The department store group, which closed its acquisition of Neiman Marcus Group in December, will eliminate 3 percent of its total employees, or about 550 roles, Women’s Wear Daily reported Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Why So Many Brands Gave Up on Clothing Rental

1 month ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

Over the last decade, dozens of brands, from H&M and Bloomingdale’s to Banana Republic and Burberry, have dabbled in renting out the clothes they sell in their stores. Today, the number of major retailers that do so is in single digits, and falling fast. Earlier this week, CaaStle, which handled the logistics for most branded rental services in the US, said it was facing a “severe and immediate liquidity problem” and alleged its founder Christine Hunsicker had committed fraud.
Fashion Rental Service CaaStle Faces ‘Immediate Liquidity Challenge’ After Founder Accused of Financial Misconduct

1 month ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

CaaStle, a provider of clothing rental logistics services for brands including Maje, Ralph Lauren and Rebecca Minkoff, has furloughed all employees and faces liquidity issues following fraud allegations against founder and former chief executive Christine Hunsicker, according to a March 29 letter sent by the company’s board to shareholders and reviewed by The Business of Fashion.
Why Gap Is Going Premium

1 month ago | businessoffashion.com | Cathaleen Chen

A year and a half into its turnaround, Gap is undertaking its most ambitious project yet: a new label. On Thursday, the brand will launch the first full GapStudio collection, a premium line that aims to translate for the masses some of the red carpet energy Zac Posen has brought to the brand since his appointment as Gap Inc. creative director early last year. The 24 styles include bubble skirts, corset tops and other looks that are meant to feel more fashion-forward than Gap’s typical basics.