Term

Definition

Example

Root

A-list celebrity

A celebrity with the highest level of fame and influence.

A-list celebrities often set major fashion trends.

Late 20th century, originating in Hollywood.

Above the knee

Describing a skirt or dress length that ends above the knee.

A skirt with an above-the-knee hemline

Fashion industry jargon.

Affluenza

A term describing a psychological malaise associated with the pursuit of material wealth.

The rise of fast fashion contributes to a culture of affluenza.

Not Known.

Anchor Store

A prominent store in a shopping mall, used to attract customers to the mall and increase foot traffic for smaller stores.

A luxury brand's anchor store at the shopping mall helped draw customers to the independent boutiques nearby.

Developed in the mid-20th century as part of mall development strategies in the United States.

Anti-consumerism

A social and economic philosophy that critiques consumerism and encourages responsible consumption.

The anti-consumerism movement promotes mindful shopping and a rejection of excessive materialism.

Not Known.

Avant-garde

Referring to fashion that is experimental, innovative, and often unconventional.

The avant-garde designer presented a collection of futuristic garments.

French, meaning "advance guard" or "vanguard".

Backstage pass

A pass that grants access to the backstage area of a fashion show.

The journalist used their backstage pass to interview the models.

Originated in the music industry and later adopted by the fashion world.

Brand ambassador

An individual who represents a brand and promotes its products or image.

The actress served as a brand ambassador for a luxury fashion house.

Modern marketing term.

Brand Archetype

A framework categorizing brands into personality types to create consistent messaging.

The brand's archetype as 'The Creator' emphasizes innovation and craftsmanship.

Based on Carl Jung's archetypes and adapted for branding in the 20th century.

Brand authenticity

The degree to which a brand is perceived as genuine and true to its values

Building brand authenticity requires transparency and honest communication with consumers.

Not Known.

Brand DNA

The unique set of values, aesthetics, and principles that define a brand and differentiate it from competitors.

Sustainability and minimalism form the brand DNA of the fashion label.

First used in marketing contexts in the late 20th century to describe brand identity.

Brand equity

The perceived value of a brand in the eyes of consumers.

Strong brand equity can command higher prices and greater customer loyalty.

Not Known.

Brand storytelling

The practice of creating and sharing compelling brand narratives.

The brand effectively uses storytelling to connect with consumers on an emotional level.

Not Known.

Breaking news

News that is being reported for the first time.

Breaking news: [Designer Name] to debut new sustainable collection.

Journalism, adopted by fashion media.

Capsule Collection

A small, curated collection of versatile pieces designed to be worn together.

The brand's sustainable capsule collection featured 10 essential wardrobe staples.

Coined by designer Susie Faux in the 1970s.

Cause marketing

Marketing initiatives that support a charitable cause.

Many fashion brands engage in cause marketing to enhance their brand image and build goodwill.

Not Known.

Celebrity endorsement

The use of a celebrity to promote a product or brand.

The celebrity endorsement significantly boosted sales of the brand's new handbag.

Modern marketing.

Celebrity stylist

A stylist who works with celebrities to create their public image.

Celebrity stylists play a crucial role in shaping red carpet fashion.

Not Known.

Circular Fashion

A sustainable approach to fashion that focuses on designing products for reuse, recycling, or upcycling.

The brand's circular fashion initiative included take-back programs for old garments.

Emerged in the 2010s as part of the broader circular economy movement.

Co-Branding

A marketing strategy where two brands collaborate to create a product or campaign that leverages both their audiences.

The luxury brand co-branded a sneaker with a sportswear company.

Emerged in the 1980s as brands began leveraging partnerships for mutual benefit.

Collaborative Consumption

A business model where consumers share access to goods, often through rental or resale platforms.

Collaborative consumption models like clothing rental services appeal to eco-conscious consumers.

Coined by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers in their book What's Mine Is Yours (2010).

Consumer behavior

The study of how consumers make purchasing decisions.

Understanding consumer behavior is essential for effective fashion marketing.

Not Known.

Consumer Persona

A detailed profile of a brand's ideal customer, including demographics, behavior, and preferences.

The brand's consumer persona focused on eco-conscious millennials with disposable income.

Derived from marketing principles in the mid-20th century.

Content marketing

Creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain customers.

Content marketing can include blog posts, social media content, and videos.

Not Known.

Crowdsourcing

The practice of obtaining information or ideas from a large group of people.

Crowdsourcing can be used to gather consumer feedback on new product designs.

Not Known.

Cult following

A group of devoted fans who are extremely enthusiastic about a particular brand or designer.

The designer has a cult following among young, fashion-forward consumers.

Originated in popular culture, adopted by fashion to describe dedicated brand loyalists.

Customer experience

The overall experience a customer has when interacting with a brand.

Providing a positive customer experience is crucial for building brand loyalty.

Not Known.

Customer Journey

The path a customer takes from initial awareness of a brand to purchase and beyond.

Mapping the customer journey helped the brand improve its online and in-store experiences.

Originated in marketing and UX design fields in the 20th century.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

The total revenue a customer is expected to generate for a brand over their relationship period.

Focusing on CLV, the brand launched loyalty programs to retain repeat customers.

Introduced in marketing analytics in the late 20th century.

Data-driven marketing

Marketing decisions based on data and analytics.

Data-driven marketing allows brands to make informed decisions about their target audience and marketing campaigns.

Not Known.

Designer label

A clothing label that indicates the designer of a garment.

The designer label on the dress signified its high-end status.

Fashion industry term.

Digital nomad

A person who works remotely while traveling.

Digital nomads often embrace a minimalist and versatile wardrobe.

Not Known.

Digital Showroom

An online platform where fashion brands showcase collections to buyers, often using AR/VR technologies.

The digital showroom allowed retailers to view the collection without traveling.

Emerged in the 2010s with advances in virtual reality technology.

Direct-to-consumer (DTC)

A business model that sells products directly to consumerscbypassing traditional retailers.

Many online brands utilize a direct-to-consumer model, offering competitive prices.

Not Known.

Drop Culture

A marketing strategy where a brand releases limited quantities of products without prior notice, creating hype and urgency.

The streetwear brand's drop culture approach led to long lines outside stores on release day.

Emerged in the 2000s with streetwear brands like Supreme.

Eco-consciousness

Awareness and concern for environmental issues.

Eco-consciousness is driving the demand for sustainable fashion.

Not Known.

Emotional branding

Creating an emotional connection with consumers through marketing messages and experiences.

Emotional branding focuses on evoking feelings such as joy, excitement, and belonging.

Not Known.

Emotional Branding

A marketing strategy that appeals to consumers' emotions to build loyalty and create connections.

The campaign's emotional branding highlighted the brand's commitment to inclusivity.

First formalized in the late 20th century by marketing experts.

Endorser Effect

The impact of celebrity or influencer endorsements on a brand's credibility and sales.

Sales spiked after a famous actor became the endorser for the fashion campaign.

Derived from advertising theory in the early 20th century.

Ethical consumption

Making purchasing decisions based on ethical and social considerations.

Ethical consumption involves supporting brands that prioritize fair labor practices and environmental sustainability.

Not Known.

Experiential marketing

Creating memorable and interactive brand experiences for consumers.

Experiential marketing can include pop-up shops, fashion shows, and interactive installations.

Not Known.

Fashion Activism

Using fashion as a platform to promote social, political, or environmental causes.

The brand's fashion activism campaign raised awareness about garment workers' rights.

Gained prominence in the 21st century with the rise of ethical fashion.

Fashion Adoption Curve

A model describing how different consumer groups adopt fashion trends over time, including innovators, early adopters, and laggards.

Understanding the fashion adoption curve helped the brand target early adopters for their new line.

Based on Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory from 1962.

Fashion Forecasting

The process of predicting future trends in the fashion industry based on data and cultural analysis.

The company's fashion forecasting team predicted the rise of gender-neutral clothing for next season.

Originated in the 20th century as the fashion industry became data-driven.

Fashion icon

A person whose style is widely admired and imitated.

The singer is considered a fashion icon for her unique and daring style.

Modern term used to describe influential figures in fashion.

Fashion show

A public event where models showcase the latest designs from a fashion designer or brand.

The fashion show was a dazzling spectacle of color and creativity.

Established fashion industry event.

Fast fashion

The rapid production and distribution of inexpensive clothing, often replicating high-fashion trends.

Fast fashion brands are criticized for their environmental impact.

Emerged in the late 20th century.

Gamification

The use of game-like mechanics and rewards to engage customers.

Many fashion brands use gamification techniques, such as loyalty programs and rewards points, to incentivize customer engagement.

Not Known.

Guerrilla marketing

Unconventional and low-cost marketing tactics that generate buzz and attention. A marketing tactic that uses unconventional and low-cost methods to create buzz and attract attention.

Flash mobs and pop-up stores are examples of guerrilla marketing tactics. The brand's guerrilla marketing campaign involved a flash mob wearing the latest collection.

Coined in the 1980s by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing.

Haute couture

High-fashion, exclusive clothing created by individual designers, often using the finest materials and craftsmanship.

The haute couture gown was a masterpiece of intricate beadwork.

French, meaning "high sewing".

Hyperlocal marketing

Marketing efforts focused on a specific geographic location or community.

Hyperlocal marketing allows brands to connect with local customers and build strong community ties.

Not Known.

Influencer marketing

Marketing that utilizes influential people on social media to promote products or brands.

Influencer marketing has become a dominant force in the fashion industry.

Emerged with the rise of social media.

Influencer Seeding

A marketing strategy where brands provide products to influencers to generate organic promotion.

The brand's influencer seeding strategy included gifting handbags to micro-influencers.

Became a common practice with the rise of social media marketing.

It-bag

A highly coveted and fashionable handbag.

The [Designer Name] handbag is the It-bag" of the season.

Emerged in the late 20th century, describing highly desirable accessories.

Knock-off

A cheaper imitation of a designer item.

The market was flooded with knock-offs of the designer's popular handbag.

Informal term.

Lifestyle branding

Building a brand around a specific lifestyle or set of values.

Many fashion brands use lifestyle branding to connect with consumers on a deeper level.

Not Known.

Lookbook

A collection of photographs showcasing a brand's clothing line.

The brand released a stunning lookbook featuring their latest collection.

Modern fashion industry term.

Loss Leader Pricing

A pricing strategy where a product is sold at a loss to attract customers to other profitable items.

The store's loss leader pricing on basic t-shirts boosted sales of premium denim.

First used in retail marketing in the early 20th century.

Micro-influencer marketing

Marketing campaigns that leverage the influence of micro-influencers with smaller but highly engaged followings.

Micro-influencer marketing can be more authentic and cost-effective than traditional influencer marketing.

Not Known.

Microtargeting

A marketing strategy that uses detailed data to target specific customer segments with personalized messages.

The brand's microtargeting campaign reached eco-conscious millennials through Instagram ads.

Originated in political campaigns and adapted for marketing in the 2000s.

Mobile commerce (m-commerce)

The buying and selling of goods and services using mobile devices.

M-commerce has revolutionized the way consumers shop for fashion.

Not Known.

Must-have

A highly desirable and sought-after item.

The limited-edition sneakers were a must-have for fashion enthusiasts.

Commonly used to describe trendy items.

Neuromarketing

The study of how the brain responds to marketing stimuli

Neuromarketing techniques can be used to understand consumer preferences and emotions.

Not Known.

Off-the-rack

Ready-to-wear clothing, as opposed to custom-made or couture.

The boutique offered a wide selection of off-the-rack dresses.

Commonly used in retail.

Omnichannel marketing

A seamless and integrated approach to marketing across multiple channels.

Omnichannel marketing ensures a consistent customer experience across online and offline platforms.

Not Known.

Omnichannel Retailing

A seamless customer experience across multiple retail channels, such as online, in-store, and mobile.

The brand's omnichannel retailing allowed customers to buy online and pick up in-store.

Popularized in the 2010s with advancements in e-commerce and digital integration.

Personalization

Tailoring marketing messages and offers to individual customer preferences.

Personalization is key to building strong customer relationships and driving sales.

Not Known.

Philanthropic marketing

Marketing efforts that support a charitable cause.

Many fashion brands engage in philanthropic marketing to enhance their brand image and build goodwill.

Not Known.

Pop-Up Shop

A temporary retail space used to promote a brand or product line, often creating a sense of exclusivity.

The brand opened a pop-up shop in a busy downtown area to launch their new collection.

Gained popularity in the 21st century as a marketing trend.

Red carpet

Referring to the red carpet at formal events, often used to describe the fashion worn by celebrities at such events.

The red carpet was a dazzling display of designer gowns.

Originated in Hollywood.

Resale Value

The potential price of a product when sold second-hand, often used as a marketing point for luxury items.

The handbag's high resale value attracted customers seeking long-term investments.

Became prominent with the rise of second-hand marketplaces in the 2010s.

Runway

The platform on which models walk during a fashion show.

The models gracefully glided down the runway.

Fashion industry term.

Seasonal trends

Fashion trends that change with the seasons.

Spring/Summer collections often feature bright colors and lightweight fabrics.

Fashion industry term.

Sell-Through Rate

The percentage of inventory sold during a specific period, used to measure product performance.

The sell-through rate for the brand's limited-edition sneakers was 95% in the first week.

Adopted from retail metrics in the mid-20th century.

Shoppable Content

Media that allows consumers to purchase items directly from the content itself, such as videos or Instagram posts.

The influencer's shoppable content featured links to the brand's latest collection.

Emerged in the late 2010s with advances in e-commerce.

Showrooming

The practice where consumers visit a physical store to view products before purchasing them online at a lower price.

The rise of showrooming has led many fashion brands to integrate online and offline strategies.

First identified as a trend in the early 2010s with the growth of e-commerce.

Street style

The distinctive and often trendsetting clothing worn by people on the street.

Street style photographers captured the latest trends on the streets of Paris.

Emerged in the early 2000s with the rise of street style photography.

Sustainable fashion

Fashion that is environmentally and socially responsible

The brand is committed to sustainable fashion practices, using eco-friendly materials and fair labor.

Modern term reflecting growing consumer awareness.

Trendsetter

A person who sets or initiates new fashion trends.

The singer is considered a trendsetter, and her fans eagerly copy her style.

Modern term.

Trickle-Down Theory

A theory in fashion marketing suggesting that trends start with high-status individuals and gradually become mainstream.

Luxury couture influencing fast fashion is an example of the trickle-down theory.

Introduced by economist Thorstein Veblen in the late 19th century.

Trickle-Up Theory

A theory where trends originate from lower socioeconomic groups or subcultures and are adopted by higher classes.

Streetwear trends trickling up to high-end fashion illustrates this theory.

Popularized in fashion discourse during the 20th century.

Wardrobe malfunction

An unexpected and usually embarrassing wardrobe mishap.

The actress experienced a wardrobe malfunction on the red carpet.

Informal term.

Wearable art

Fashion that is considered a form of art, often experimental and avant-garde.

The designer's creations were described as wearable art.

Not Known.