As if rising costs from the Russia-Ukraine war, supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, and a looming recession didn’t make 2022 difficult enough for the fashion industry, many clothing retailers made the year just a little bit more difficult by saddling themselves with public relations nightmares.
Indeed, it has been a banner year for the three-step dance of fashion fails—a brand courts attention with a controversial decision; the public reacts to the embarrassing misstep with outrage and boycotts; and the brand answers with a red-faced apology and a reversal of course, often accompanied by executive resignations and plummeting share price.
