Can Walmart finally crack fashion?
What: Walmart is making a renewed effort to establish itself as a fashion destination by revamping its apparel offerings and store layouts.
Why it is important: Walmart’s strategic shift towards fashion signals a potential shift in the affordable fashion market landscape.
The retailer has added over 1,000 new brands, including Reebok and Levi’s, and is working with designer Brandon Maxwell on two private labels. They are remodelling hundreds of its stores to make them more appealing for clothing shopping, with features like softer lighting and mannequin displays.
Despite past failed attempts to revamp its apparel category, Walmart believes the current economic climate and changing consumer attitudes present a new opportunity. The company aims to attract younger, fashion-conscious customers and capitalise on the trend of value-driven shopping.
