Amazon's foray into luxury fashion is just the latest blow this year to U.S. department stores, which have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The e-commerce company announced Tuesday the launch of a section on its mobile app called Luxury Stores, kicking off with items from designer Oscar de la Renta's pre-fall and fall-winter 2020 collections. It said additional luxe fashion brands will be added to the app in the coming weeks.
Amazon Prime members will initially only be able to shop this section by invitation only, according to Amazon. But invites will be extended to more customers over time, it said. Amazon's Luxury Stores will also include interactive features like a 360-degree viewing option, which allows shoppers to see items on different body types and various skin tones.
High-end department stores that sell designer-name bands like Oscar de la Renta have increasingly fallen out of fashion with shoppers. This year alone has brought bankruptcies from Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor. The latter, which is the oldest department store chain in the nation, is currently liquidating.
Fashion brands that have long relied on these stores to offer them channels of distribution, to get in front of customers, are suddenly much more reliant on their own shops and websites — or are searching for other partners, like Amazon.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
10 large companies, from Amazon to UPS, that are hiring right now - Business InsiderBusiness Insider is a fast-growing business site with deep financial, media, tech, and other industry verticals. Launched in 2007, the site is now the largest business news site on the web.
Read more »
Amazon to hire 100,000 more workers in its latest job spree this yearAmazon.com Inc on Monday said it is recruiting 100,000 more workers - the fourth hiring spree it has announced for the United States this year - to keep pace with e-commerce demand that jumped during the pandemic.
Read more »
The 5-Star Amazon Reviews On These Menstrual Cups Will Convince You To Ditch TamponsJust think of all the money you'll save on tampons and pads, too.
Read more »
Amazon poaches former Uber manager to grow its e-bike delivery team in New York CityThe company has expanded its investments in last-mile delivery via vans, self-driving robots and drones.
Read more »
Amazon to hire 100,000 to keep up with online shopping surgeThe company said Monday that the new hires will help pack, ship or sort orders, working in part-time and full-time roles.
Read more »