18 votes

Forever 21's bankruptcy shows that teens are outgrowing malls

14 comments

  1. [10]
    Akir
    Link
    The mall aspect was a weird framing device. Malls have not been a gathering space for teens for quite a while. I do go to malls frequently, and they are typically filled with middle-aged people....

    The mall aspect was a weird framing device. Malls have not been a gathering space for teens for quite a while. I do go to malls frequently, and they are typically filled with middle-aged people. Beyond that, most malls have been transitioning from primarilly selling women's clothing and accessories to more unique stores. The most successful ones I've been to tend to have stores that don't have many locations or may even be the only one. They have diversified into selling niche products, discount goods, and a rather disturbing trend of selling useless branded guff.

    The far more interesting part of this story is how teenagers are so trendy that the market literally cannot keep up. And to be honest, I can't say I'm terribly sad for Forever 21 and others who make the same kind of product.

    12 votes
    1. [2]
      sublime_aenima
      Link Parent
      At the end of summer I took my kids to the mall to go back to school shopping, just as my mom had done for me when I was old enough to pick my own style. However, as you and this article point...

      At the end of summer I took my kids to the mall to go back to school shopping, just as my mom had done for me when I was old enough to pick my own style. However, as you and this article point out, the mall is no longer for teens but rather for middle aged people. The only stores I saw that had kids in it was Hot Topic and snack shops.

      3 votes
      1. Akir
        Link Parent
        Weirdly enough I think Hot Topic might have pivoted to adult tastes as well. I don't think I've actually noticed a teenager go in there for a number of years. I'm fairly sure I've seen a novelty...

        Weirdly enough I think Hot Topic might have pivoted to adult tastes as well. I don't think I've actually noticed a teenager go in there for a number of years. I'm fairly sure I've seen a novelty waffle maker in there at one point.

        4 votes
    2. [6]
      Gaywallet
      Link Parent
      I am. They make great cheap club clothes. It's really nice to be able to actually see and try on clothes in person. I guess I'll be endlessly purchasing and returning clothes through amazon and...

      I can't say I'm terribly sad for Forever 21 and others who make the same kind of product.

      I am. They make great cheap club clothes. It's really nice to be able to actually see and try on clothes in person. I guess I'll be endlessly purchasing and returning clothes through amazon and other online outlets from china instead? 🤷

      2 votes
      1. [5]
        JamesTeaKirk
        Link Parent
        While I understand your point about trying on clothes in person, Forever 21 is only affordable because their clothes are also being pumped out of Asian factories.

        While I understand your point about trying on clothes in person, Forever 21 is only affordable because their clothes are also being pumped out of Asian factories.

        6 votes
        1. [4]
          Gaywallet
          Link Parent
          Yea I'm well aware. I don't want to spend $100+ every time I want a new club or festival outfit and I'm okay with the clothing being subpar and potentially falling apart after just a few uses.

          Yea I'm well aware. I don't want to spend $100+ every time I want a new club or festival outfit and I'm okay with the clothing being subpar and potentially falling apart after just a few uses.

          3 votes
          1. [2]
            cfabbro
            Link Parent
            I think JTK was referencing the stereotypically less than stellar working conditions and labor laws in many Asian countries and their factories, rather than the quality of the product? Although...

            I think JTK was referencing the stereotypically less than stellar working conditions and labor laws in many Asian countries and their factories, rather than the quality of the product? Although from what I have read in the last few years, a great many Asian consumer goods manufacturing nations working conditions and labor laws have significantly improved over the last decade, so how true that stereotype is these days is a bit debatable IMO.

            3 votes
            1. NaraVara
              Link Parent
              The less than stellar working conditions are bad and the environmental record is worse. These “fast fashion” chains are environmentally ruinous.

              The less than stellar working conditions are bad and the environmental record is worse. These “fast fashion” chains are environmentally ruinous.

              2 votes
          2. JamesTeaKirk
            Link Parent
            My mistake, I thought you were listing the negatives of shopping online when you mentioned China. I misunderstood your meaning.

            My mistake, I thought you were listing the negatives of shopping online when you mentioned China. I misunderstood your meaning.

            1 vote
    3. DanBC
      Link Parent
      One of my local malls has a tiny digital business incubator which I thought was neat. https://www.ukdric.org/

      One of my local malls has a tiny digital business incubator which I thought was neat.

      https://www.ukdric.org/

  2. [3]
    imperialismus
    Link
    This seems like a really weird analysis. The article compares Forever 21 to other fast fashion brands like Zara and H&M. Then it goes on to say Forever 21 failed because of its many...

    This seems like a really weird analysis. The article compares Forever 21 to other fast fashion brands like Zara and H&M. Then it goes on to say Forever 21 failed because of its many brick-and-mortar stores as well as consumer choices. But Zara and H&M seem to be going strong. H&M has the same number of stores in the US as Forever 21, and 7x as many globally. Zara has more than ten times as many physical stores and is still posting profits. What gives?

    Also:

    Thomai Serdari, a fashion-branding strategist and marketing professor at New York University. “A big difference with Generation Z is that they’re not all trying to look the same,” she says.

    Gimme a fucking break. Goths, emos, punks, hipsters, hippies, greasers, dandies, macaronies... They were all trying to look mainstream and the same? Trends and subcultures have always existed, with their own fashion usually defined in opposition to the mainstream. Eccentrics have also always existed, making their own way. I find it incredibly hard to believe, especially with no data whatsoever to back it up, that today’s youth are now suddenly unaffected by trends. Certainly when I move about, I don’t see kids today dressing any more individualistically than before.

    7 votes
    1. NaraVara
      Link Parent
      It’s a tried and true strategy of marketers and corporate leaders to blame market trends and “the kids these days” for their destruction of shareholder value rather than their own shitty...

      It’s a tried and true strategy of marketers and corporate leaders to blame market trends and “the kids these days” for their destruction of shareholder value rather than their own shitty leadership and inability to forecast trends.

      5 votes
    2. ibis
      Link Parent
      Yeah Seriously. Teens always try to look different (but not too different). Different from what came before, but the same as each other. Forever 21 just failed to keep up with modern teen trends.

      Yeah Seriously. Teens always try to look different (but not too different). Different from what came before, but the same as each other.
      Forever 21 just failed to keep up with modern teen trends.

      3 votes
  3. DonQuixote
    Link
    As mallers age out and the places get emptier, it sounds depressing. But at least it'll free up lots of space for Amazon fulfillment centers and their other operations.

    As mallers age out and the places get emptier, it sounds depressing. But at least it'll free up lots of space for Amazon fulfillment centers and their other operations.