FASHION COLLABORATIONS - THREE NEW AND SMART PAIRINGS

• Outlander x Ronny Kobo and including Saks Fifth Avenue

• Estée Lauder x Diane von Furstenberg

• MacKenzie-Childs x Wet Brush® x Goody®

In fashion collaborations between brands, retailers, and even unexpected partners can range from the seamlessly intuitive to the delightfully disruptive. Some pairings feel almost inevitable and expected such as the Levi’s® x Barbour collection introduced in 2025, while others spark debate and viral fascination, such as Balenciaga’s ongoing collaboration with Crocs, which began with those infamous platform clogs in the Spring/Summer 2018 collection and has since evolved into Jibbitz covered shoes, boots, slides, and more. Recently, I came across three collaborations that feel particularly well conceived and worth a closer look.

Outlander x Ronny Kobo and including Saks Fifth Avenue

With the eighth and final season of the Scottish historical romance Outlander premiering on STARZ on March 6, 2026, designer Ronny Kobo has introduced a capsule collection available at Saks Fifth Avenue and on ronnykobo.com.

The Saks website provides some useful insight into Ms. Kobo’s inspiration and creative process. She notes that she drew from the show’s setting and traditional tartans, working with earthy tones and rich textures to “capture that sense of rugged romance” and translate it into something refined and wearable for the modern day. She describes the capsule as representing “the beauty of nature, the romance of the countryside and the strength of women,” framing the collection as both grounded in the series and designed for contemporary wardrobes.

I found her comments about how fashion can relate to a television show particularly interesting, especially her observation that “it can transport you.” That idea tracks with Outlander itself, and Ms. Kobo extends the analogy: "much like the characters in the series, the collection has many different layers, with strong silhouettes softened by details like lace, featherweight jersey, and chiffon. Also,“You have to use a little imagination with these pieces, and I love that.” Prices range from a $368 lace peplum top to a $648 lace maxi dress. For Outlander fans, this collaboration has the potential to be more than just merchandise as it offers a way to hold onto the show and think about it every time they wear one of the pieces.

Saks and STARZ

I first learned about this collaboration through an email from Saks, which includes a “Learn More” link. I expected that click to lead to a dedicated landing page on saks.com featuring the collection and editorial content. But instead it redirected me to the STARZ site, where the focus was a subscription offer, and showing Outlander scenery rather than a link to the clothes. This offer promoted STARZ at $6.99 per month for the first three months, then $10.99 per month thereafter, or a prepay option of $4 per month for six months, with the plan renewing at $45.99 for the next six‑month term (effectively $7.66 per month).

It’s hard not to wonder whether Saks participates in these subscription economics via affiliate or revenue sharing arrangements. If so, it would add a streaming revenue kicker to what, on the surface, reads as a straightforward fashion tv costume collaboration, and Saks could certainly use the incremental income!

Estée Lauder x Diane von Furstenberg InCharge Collection

The Estée Lauder x Diane von Furstenberg InCharge Collection is a limited edition. Consisting of three products, the packaging is notably on DVF brand.

Glossy lip oils: Consists of trio of glossy lip oils and a choice of three shades, crystal, salt pink and dusk pink. The product description states: "Formulated with a blend of oils, including jojoba, sunflower and apricot seed oils. The benefits listed include, plumper looking lips lasting for up to 8 hours. ($45).

Multi-Use Blush Stick: For use on lips and cheeks. and available in just one shade, pink me, which according to the website: this sheer creme formula blush stick is "a universally flattering pink shade with a peach undertone." ($35.00).

InCharge Essence d'Eau: A new fragrance and available in only a one ounce size. The fragrance type is categorized as amber floral. The website states:"Unlike traditional fragrances, InCharge Essence d'Eau is formulated without drying alcohols, allowing the scent to feel soft, weightless, and hydrating on the skin." ($85).

Purchases made on the Estée Lauder website include a complimentary makeup bag in an on brand Diane von Furstenberg pattern with any purchase, while supplies last. It is possible the makeup bag could be included if purchases are transacted on the DVF website but these makeup bags aren't referenced there.

MacKenzie-Childs x Wet Brush® x Goody®

Upstate New York based MacKenzie-Childs, the upscale home brand best known for its

black and white (Courtly Check pattern) tea kettles, has partnered with hair care brands Wet Brush and Goody on a limited edition hair brush and accessories collection. The assortment includes a noce range such as Wet Brush detanglers in two sizes, clips, compact mirrors, scrunchies, and, for those who like purse charms, you are in luck! There is a round zipped charm in several patterns that holds a set of hair elastics. Patterns used across the line include Courtly Check, Rosy Check, Wildflowers, and Butterfly Toile making the pieces immediately identifiable as MacKenzie‑Childs.

This collaboration offers a more accessible way to enjoy the MacKenzie‑Childs patterns but find the pricing high. The iconic Courtly Check two quart tea kettle, for example, is priced at $169.95, while items in the hair accessories collaboration are from just under $10.00 to about $22.00 with a compact mirror available for around $14. This price range gives customers who like the brand’s patterns but are unwilling to spend three figures on a kettle a way to incorporate MacKenzie‑Childs into their daily lives.

As of today, a number of the pieces are already sold out on Target.com and wetbrush.com. and the Mackenzie‑Childs website includes only six products. For items sold out on wetbrush.com there is an option to click on "notify me when available," so hopefully there will be restocking. And in-line with the pattern of other brands' previous in demand collaborations, resellers have stepped in, trying to turn a profit. Poshmark has multiple listings for the larger detangler brush, $40 to $60 range, while eBay sellers are asking from $35 to $68 for the brush which is listed for $17.99 on wetbrush.com. Those asking prices represent a substantial premium over the original retail. What stands out here is how a premium home brand has translated its well known patterns into small, functional items that people will use every day.

As winter winds down, I’m curious to see what brand and retail collaborations will be springing up next!

Full Disclosure: The content in this post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor does it constitute, professional, financial or legal advice. Research for this post ended on March 3, 2026. I have not been asked to write this post and I have not received any compensation for writing this post.

UPDATE: FASHION RESALE NEWS

• ThredUp parters with a grocery store

• The Salvation Army launches on Roblox

• The RealReal showing positive. signs, yet still not profitable

• Louis Vuitton loses trademark case initiated in 2022 in South Korea

February 26, 2026 - ThredUp announced a new Clean Out Program and its first grocery partner, Misfits Market, an online subscription-based grocery delivery service that can be paused or canceled at any time. Misfits Market focuses on sustainability by selling “misfit” items, blemished, oddly sized or surplus organic fruits and vegetables, as well as plant-based, gluten-free, sustainable dairy and meat products alongside other core grocery categories. With a goal of reducing food waste, Misfits Market partners with farmers and producers to sell items often rejected by traditional supermarkets.

According to a press release, “Misfits Market joins more than 50 other brands offering resale programs through ThredUp’s Resale-as-a-Service® (RaaS®).” Recent new RaaS partners include Lands’ End, New York & Company, and Cotopaxi.

The Misfits Market x ThredUp partnership is a logical fit: ThredUp is known for tackling fashion waste, while Misfits Market is known for rescuing food. For consignors, the key benefit is that once their clothes sell, they can convert their payout into credit for a future Misfits Market order. The Clean Out experience mirrors other ThredUp run programs: customers use a prepaid shipping label, fill a box with preloved clothes, ship it to ThredUp, and once the accepted items sell, they receive credit to spend with the partner.

The Misfits Market x ThredUp information page is notably clear and robust, with a “Must read quality checklist,” a “What we can’t resell” section, and a comprehensive FAQ. It links to a list of ineligible brands, shows a table of payout percentages, and includes a sample timeline for payment. A bold statement on the page highlights: “For a limited time, earn an extra 15% in Misfits Market shopping credit,” though no specific end date for this bonus is provided.

ThredUp has also recently made a number of changes to its fee and payout structure that significantly affect what sellers earn, with the most notable shift toward a high-quality-only model in which many low- to mid-tier items now yield minimal returns after fees. (Those changes, which have drawn negative reviews from mid and long term consignors will be covered in future posts.)

February 19, 2026 - The Salvation Army launched “Thrift Score,” referring to is as the world’s first digital thrift store on Roblox. It was designed to introduce the Salvation Army brand to a younger audience, Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the space which is already familiar to them as this is where they already shop and play.

According to the press release: "Thrift Score" reimagines a Salvation Army Thrift Store as a fully explorable and shoppable digital environment, Stocked with creator and brand collaborations, player donations, and digital replicas of real Salvation Army items, players can browse racks to uncover rare and limited edition items at accessible price points. “Thrift Score” is also integrated into popular Roblox games, including Seaboard City and Daycare.”

Additionally, the experience includes special, limited-edition user generated content items donated by some of Roblox's most influential creators, including @PrestonPlayz, @BriannaPlayz and @RussoPlays, each contributing their own take on thrift-inspired digital fashion.

Similar to the real world, "Thrift Score" proceeds support The Salvation Army's mission to help people in need through rehabilitation, recovery and community programs nationwide.

Check this out: https://tinyurl.com/mtmjkzbd

February 26, 2026 - Rati Levesque, President and Chief Executive Officer of The RealReal (TRR), stated in a press release: “2025 was a year of transformation for The RealReal.” Of note, she added: “We surpassed the $2B mark in GMV and delivered positive adjusted EBITDA in every quarter for the first time. These defining milestones reinforce our confidence in our growth trajectory and our market leadership position.”

For the year ended December 31, 2025, revenue rose 15% to $693 million. Though the company posted a loss for the year, the loss decreased for the fifth consecutive year to $41.8 million, down from $134.2 million the previous year.

While presenting the results, management highlighted that TRR’s use of AI and automation had a positive impact on its operations. TRR's proprietary technology, Athena, is an AI tool that enables the intake process and blends human expertise with technology and is a part of the authentication process. Management noted, “By automating the repetitive, data-driven tasks, we are reducing costs and increasing speed to site.” The Athena enabled product intake process achieved TRR’s year-end goal of 35% of all units fully flowing through the system.Management’s update also highlighted SmartSales, another proprietary AI tool which helps frontline “luxury managers” identify which clients are most likely to consign.

Chanel, Inc. v. The RealReal, Inc.

While not discussed in the press release, the lawsuit Chanel filed against The RealReal is something to watch, as the outcome could have a significant impact. In November 2018, Chanel filed a lawsuit against TRR in the Southern District of New York, alleging that TRR sells counterfeit Chanel products and falsely advertised them as “100% authentic,” while creating the false impression that Chanel had authenticated or was affiliated with the goods.

In 2019, Chanel’s amended complaint updated the claims of trademark infringement, counterfeiting, false advertising, unfair competition, and New York statutory violations. The RealReal responded with a motion to dismiss, claiming first sale and nominative fair use protections for its use of Chanel’s marks and its authentication messaging.

In March 2020, the court granted TRR’s motion to dismiss in part and denied it in part, tossing Chanel’s core trademark infringement, false endorsement, and New York General Business Law claims. However, it permitted the counterfeiting, false advertising, and common-law unfair-competition claims to proceed. Subsequently, in 2021, TRR filed an amended answer adding antitrust and tortious interference counterclaims. Chanel moved to dismiss those counterclaims and to strike TRR’s “unclean hands” defense, widening the scope to include Chanel’s conduct in the luxury resale market.

Between 2021 and 2025, there was mediation and stays of discovery, along with a number of failed settlement efforts. In May 2025, Judge Gorenstein described it as one of the oldest matters on the Court's docket and began pressing the parties to move forward.

The court is scheduled to hold a status and scheduling conference in the case in March 2026 to restart discovery and move the long‑running trademark and counterfeiting case toward trial.

February 26, 2026 - Louis Vuitton lost its trademark infringement lawsuit in South Korea against a company that used Louis Vuitton materials supplied by its customers and upcycled them into different products for those customers’ personal use. The suit was filed in 2022, claiming that between 2017 and 2022 the defendant infringed Louis Vuitton’s trademark rights by undermining the brand’s source‑identification and quality‑assurance functions.

Initially, Louis Vuitton prevailed in the lower courts, which ordered the defendant to cease manufacturing these items and to pay 15 million won in damages. However, in a landmark decision, South Korea’s Supreme Court overturned the lower‑court rulings and held that providing transformation services commissioned by owners for personal use does not constitute “use of a trademark” under trademark law.

For those in South Korea focused on sustainability and circularity, this is a positive decision, so long as the upcycled items remain for personal use only. It is critically important to note that this ruling applies only in South Korea; courts in other countries, including France and China, have previously ruled in favor of the luxury brand when similar cases were brought.

Full Disclosure: The content in this post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor does it constitute, professional, financial or legal advice. Research for this post ended on March 2, 2026. I participate in reselling on the Poshmark, Vinted, Mercari and The RealReal platforms. I have not had any disputes with them, nor have they provided me with any benefits except for payments of items sold via their platforms. All opinions are my own, and I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel licensed in their specific jurisdiction.

FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS IN FASHION RELATED RESALE

On February 16, 2026 Depop launched a U.S. campaign,“Depoponomics”, directed by Dave Meyers a grammy award winner and featuring singer songwriter Kelis. Per the announcement: “Depoponomics is a national U.S. campaign that redefines resale as a modern personal economy, where selling clothes helps fund everyday life." The campaign includes a cameo appearance by the pop/ R&B singer, Kelis. Her 2003 single "Millionaire" provides the soundtrack for the spot. The ads are on tv, digital and video and will run through May 31st. These Depoponomics spots note there are no selling fees and also clearly informs in the fine print "Payment processing fees and boosting fees still apply."

As part of the campaign, Kelis launched her own Depop shop, listing about a dozen items,

including pieces worn by her in the campaign. A screenshot of the top portion of her Depop shop is below and another screenshot follows showing the remaining item for sale in her shop.

On February 23, 2026, one item in her shop remained, a Ganni blouse and I noticed the price was reduced by $10 from when it was originally listed on February 18, 2026. I was surprised that the blouse had not yet sold, had been reduced and that so few of her items were listed. Perhaps more will be included in the future.

On February 18, 2026 The RealReal announced it will be reopening its flagship San Francisco store for consignment and shopping, bringing it to 17 locations throughout the US.

TheRealReal has been slowly adding permanent locations including one in 2025: Summit, New Jersey and two in 2024: Miami Design District which is the second store in Florida (A store is in Palm Beach) and Houston, Texas, its second store in Texas, with Dallas being the other location. (Note: As of this writing, the company's website includes a note about a limited time consignment event in Tampa, Florida. However, when clicked that, the page that appeared states: "Oops! Looks like the page you requested is not available."

Officially opening on February 26, 2026, it is a two story 8,100 square feet space in Union Square and the address is 253 Post Street. The RealReal was founded in San Francisco in 2011 and it sounds like this store has been thoughtfully planned with unique features.

The press release notes: "A curated mix of San Francisco inspired art, locally sourced vintage furniture, and thoughtful architectural details grounds the store in the city’s creative spirit, blending heritage, sustainability, and modern luxury. On weekends, the store will host coffee from Painted Leopard, a woman-owned specialty coffee roaster known for its single-origin blends and popular pop-ups."

On February 18, 2026 Etsy which acquired UK based Depop in 2021 for about $1.62 billion announced that it was selling it for $1.2 billion (all cash deal) to eBay, with the acquisition expected to close by the end the second quarter of this year.

It is expected that Depop will retain its name and platform. This looks to be a good purchase for eBay as it will grow eBay’s market of GenZ consumers. Press releases note that Depop has seven million active buyers, with nearly 90% of them under the age of 34, and over 3 million active sellers. For eBay, the acquisition bolsters its position with younger consumers who have a strong interest in resale and increasingly view secondhand as a normal way to shop. Depop, in turn, should benefit from eBay’s global capabilities, including its international reach, marketplace infrastructure, and operational expertise.

According to an eBay press release:"The addition of Depop will accelerate eBay’s C2C strategy by deepening its reach with younger, fashion-forward consumers and expanding its presence in one of the most dynamic areas of resale. As part of eBay, Depop will benefit from eBay’s global scale and suite of capabilities, including its financial services, shipping solutions, and trusted experiences like Authenticity Guarantee to further accelerate growth and enhance the buyer and seller experience."

In early February Sydney, Australia based Cosette, a luxury handbag reseller that has been operating for about 11 years announced it would be closing. In its announcement, it stated: "Unfortunately, the market has changed and we – rather than our mission to make luxury more affordable, every day – were sometimes the story." The part "were sometimes the story" warrants explanation.

Starting in 2023, nearly one thousand customers complained to NSW (New South Wales) Fair Trading alleging that Cosette was selling "superfakes", high-quality counterfeit handbags priced near authentic retail rates. Many of these claimants provided third-party authentication reports to support their allegations; however, Cosette consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Following a year long investigation, the regulator reported in 2024 that it found no evidence of counterfeit sales. Crucially, the items examined by the regulator were confirmed as authentic by the brands themselves. NSW Fair Trading also cast doubt on the reliability of certain third-party authentication services, citing vague disclaimers and a lack of identifiable expertise.

Cosette highlighted its clearance by NSW Fair Trading and continued to operate, although it had already scaled back significantly during the investigation. While the company cited "changing market conditions" in announcing its closure this month, the sheer volume of complaints and the resulting reputational damage appear to have been difficult to overcome and likely contributed to its decision to shut its doors.

Full Disclosure: The content in this post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor does it constitute, professional, financial or legal advice. Research for this post ended on February 23, 2026. I participate in reselling on the Poshmark, Vinted, Mercari and The RealReal platforms. I have not had any disputes with them, nor have they provided me with any benefits except for payments of items sold via their platforms. All opinions are my own, and I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel licensed in their specific jurisdiction.