Capri, Ralph Lauren quarterly results indicate widespread damage to apparel sales
Even consumers better insulated from the pandemic's financial fallout are reserving their discretionary funds for items in other categories.
Aug 5, 2020
As apparel retailers buckle under intensified pressure brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, several that cater to middle-income and budget-minded consumers have turned to bankruptcy and other restructuring measures. But quarterly results from Ralph Lauren and Capri in recent days demonstrate that clothing companies selling to higher-income customers aren't immune to its fallout, either.
Capri, which runs the Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo brands, on Wednesday reported that
total Q1 revenue fell 66.5% year over year to $451 million and the company swung to a net loss of $180 million, from net income of $45 million last year. Earlier this week, Ralph Lauren said
Q1 revenue fell 66% to $487 million, also swinging to a net loss of $128 million, from net income of $117 million a year ago. Neither company reported store comps, as physical locations spent much of the quarter locked down in an effort to stem the spread of the disease.
"With the results from both Capri and Ralph Lauren out, a clear pattern is emerging: the pandemic has deteriorated demand for apparel and accessories across the board, but nowhere more so than in the luxury sector," GlobalData Retail Managing Director Neil Saunders said in emailed comments, adding that a falloff in tourism has also depleted sales of upscale brands like these, as has the lower traffic to their outlet stores.
Even consumers better insulated from the pandemic's financial fallout are reserving their discretionary funds for items in other categories.
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