Attentive gathered retail and fashion’s sharpest minds in Brooklyn for a day of conversations about AI, discovery and what it actually takes to reach consumers in 2026. PacSun CEO Brie Olson, leaders from Authentic Brands Group, COS and LoveShackFancy and a fragrance activation that said it all.
https://bernsandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Attentive-Thread-Event-–-CEO.jpg1200800Jessica Binnshttps://bernsandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bernsandco-Logo-3.pngJessica Binns2026-05-30 13:52:502026-05-30 13:57:32Made Personal: Highlights From Attentive Thread New York 2026
In a retail market heavily hooked on the “discount drug,” Kenneth Cole Productions is intentionally choosing a different path. Global CEO and President Jed Berger outlines the brand’s disciplined 2026 playbook: trading short-term revenue spikes for long-term “healthy growth.” From rewiring channel distribution to scaling a direct-to-consumer footprint in Europe and anchoring the brand identity in mental health advocacy, Berger breaks down how the historic house is playing offense to bypass the industry’s sea of sameness and secure its positioning for 2030 and beyond.
https://bernsandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CROPPED-kenneth-cole-ceo-jed-berger-headshot.jpg703800Jessica Binnshttps://bernsandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bernsandco-Logo-3.pngJessica Binns2026-05-30 11:48:192026-05-30 11:48:21Kicking the ‘Discount Drug’: How Kenneth Cole is Playing Offense in a Sea of Sameness
This week’s biggest fashion stories all pointed to the same uncomfortable truth: brand equity means less when economic pressure starts rewriting the rules. From Everlane’s sale to Shein to Walmart signaling increased strain on the American consumer, the headlines exposed an industry grappling with a deeper identity crisis, one where authenticity, ownership, and consumer trust are increasingly colliding with financial reality.
https://bernsandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/lee-closeup.jpg9031062Jessica Binnshttps://bernsandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bernsandco-Logo-3.pngJessica Binns2026-05-23 13:19:492026-05-23 13:28:47What Shein, Walmart, Authentic Brands, and Roberto Cavalli Tell Us About Retail Right Now
Made Personal: Highlights From Attentive Thread New York 2026
Attentive gathered retail and fashion’s sharpest minds in Brooklyn for a day of conversations about AI, discovery and what it actually takes to reach consumers in 2026. PacSun CEO Brie Olson, leaders from Authentic Brands Group, COS and LoveShackFancy and a fragrance activation that said it all.
Kicking the ‘Discount Drug’: How Kenneth Cole is Playing Offense in a Sea of Sameness
In a retail market heavily hooked on the “discount drug,” Kenneth Cole Productions is intentionally choosing a different path. Global CEO and President Jed Berger outlines the brand’s disciplined 2026 playbook: trading short-term revenue spikes for long-term “healthy growth.” From rewiring channel distribution to scaling a direct-to-consumer footprint in Europe and anchoring the brand identity in mental health advocacy, Berger breaks down how the historic house is playing offense to bypass the industry’s sea of sameness and secure its positioning for 2030 and beyond.
What Shein, Walmart, Authentic Brands, and Roberto Cavalli Tell Us About Retail Right Now
This week’s biggest fashion stories all pointed to the same uncomfortable truth: brand equity means less when economic pressure starts rewriting the rules. From Everlane’s sale to Shein to Walmart signaling increased strain on the American consumer, the headlines exposed an industry grappling with a deeper identity crisis, one where authenticity, ownership, and consumer trust are increasingly colliding with financial reality.