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Tag: Highsnobiety

  • Highsnobiety Shifts Focus From E-commerce To Cultural Influence; Overhaul Impacts 50 Roles, Transforms Flagship Store

    Highsnobiety Shifts Focus From E-commerce To Cultural Influence; Overhaul Impacts 50 Roles, Transforms Flagship Store

    Berlin-based platform Highsnobiety is set to halt its e-commerce operations by the end of the current year in a strategic pivot towards its foundational publishing and cultural agency operations.

    Restructuring and Refocusing

    As part of a larger restructuring process within the company, about 50 roles across the retail and associated departments are anticipated to be impacted. Highsnobiety is taking measures to ensure that the employees affected by this decision are given adequate support throughout the transition period.

    Notably, this overhaul will also affect the brand’s flagship store, situated on Berlin’s Unter den Linden Boulevard. Having been opened just last year, the store is slated to undergo a significant transformation. The space will be repurposed into a hub for brand collaborations, activations, and temporary pop-up experiences.

    From Digital Publication to E-Commerce

    Highsnobiety was originally established as a digital publication focusing on youth culture and the streetwear segment. In an attempt to enrich its editorial content, the company ventured into e-commerce in 2019 by launching a platform that offered a curated selection of fashion and lifestyle products. This included collaborations with several prominent brands.

    However, upon reflection, the company has concluded that it can make its most meaningful long-term contributions by influencing culture, rather than running a third-party retail model.

    Shaping Culture

    David Fischer, the founder and CEO of Highsnobiety, reflected on the ethos of the company. He emphasized that Highsnobiety has always aimed to help its community understand emerging trends and aid brands in gaining credibility with relevant audiences.

    In the last half a decade, Highsnobiety has successfully created cultural moments that have extended far beyond the realm of traditional publishing. Fischer expressed that looking forward, the company’s focus and efforts will be squarely directed at continuing this cultural influence.

    Questions & Answers

    What changes is Highsnobiety making?
    Highsnobiety is terminating its e-commerce operations by the end of the year and refocusing on its original publishing and cultural agency operations.

    What is the impact of this decision on the company’s employees?
    Approximately 50 roles related to retail and associated departments are expected to be affected. However, Highsnobiety is working to provide ample support to the affected employees throughout the transition.

    How is Highsnobiety’s flagship store on Berlin’s Unter den Linden Boulevard being restructured?
    The flagship store will be transformed into a space for brand activations, collaborations, and temporary pop-up experiences.

  • Zalando takes control of Highsnobiety

    Zalando takes control of Highsnobiety

    Zalando says the two companies will join forces to lead the way in engaging and inspiring customers, leveraging each other’s complementary strengths by bringing together Highsnobiety’s cultural relevance and insight, fashion authority and storytelling expertise with Zalando’s fashion network, e-commerce know-how and operational capabilities.

    While continuing independent operations, Highsnobiety will act as a strategic and creative consultant helping Zalando develop new inspiration-focused spaces and formats on its platform. In turn, joining the Zalando Group allows Highsnobiety to leverage Zalando’s expertise and resources to fuel its own e-commerce capabilities.

    Highsnobiety was founded in Berlin in 2005 by David Fischer as a blog that heralded the convergence of streetwear and high-end luxury fashion. Today, Highsnobiety comprises a publishing arm, creative consultancy, and a curated commerce platform. Teaming up with Highsnobiety will accelerate Zalando’s ambition to be a top destination for streetwear, new luxury, and fashion inspiration, especially for the younger, fashion-forward consumers.

    “Both of our companies share a passion for building strong brand partnerships and enabling brands to inspire audiences with their products and stories. Partnering with Highsnobiety will allow us to execute much faster on our ambition to offer the most relevant and engaging – as well as convenient – shopping experience to our customers,” says David Schneider, Zalando’s founder and co-CEO.

    As part of the deal, Highsnobiety will retain its editorial and curational autonomy, with the publishing and agency work remaining fully independent. Highsnobiety will continue to be led by its two managing directors, Fischer and Jürgen Hopfgartner, and Fischer will retain a minority stake in the business.

    Last month, co-CEO of Zalando Robert Gentz said the company remains confident it will achieve its ambition to reach more than EUR30bn (US$31.8bn) Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) by 2025, despite the impact of macroeconomic factors in the first quarter.

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