Must Read: Why Consumer Caution Could Be a Good Thing Right Now, The Body Shop Owes Former Owner £15 Million

Photo: Bernd Weißbrod/picture alliance via Getty Images

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Friday.

Why consumer caution could be a good thing right now
Though sales were fairly healthy in May, a dip in growth from April and declines in some categories hinted that consumers are still hesitant to spend — which could be a good thing. Weaker consumer spending could help cool inflation and stave off a recession, according to Dana Peterson, The Conference Board's chief economist. Retail overall missed expectations in May, but while prices remain higher than a few years ago, price jumps have slowed since mid-2022. {Retail Dive}

The Body Shop owes former owner £15 million 
The Body Shop owes its former owner Natura & Co £15 million in debt over unpaid bills, Cosmetics Business reports. Private equity firm Aurelius took over The Body Shop, but the beauty retail brand is now in administration and owes Natura & Co. money for products supplied. About 65% of The Body Shop's product supply comes from the Avon factory in Poland, which is run by Natura & Co. {Cosmetics Business}

How to save a DTC brand without losing its identity 
Within the last year, a handful of once-buzzy direct-to-consumer brands got rescue deals: Outdoor Voices, Parade and Bandier, for example. What comes after a rescue deal can be bleak, but some companies are dedicated to balancing the brand's original identity with increasing its revenue. "We're really not just looking at this as a financial investor. We're a team of brand managers and operators," Cory Baker, Consortium Brand Partners's founder and managing partner, told Business of Fashion. Consortium Brand Partners acquired Outdoor Voices in May. "Working with the legacy teams [and] relying on their institutional knowledge is crucial to be able to make the right decisions." {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

Gaurav Gupta on his rethink for Paris Haute Couture
Gaurav Gupta would have shown his fourth show in Paris this season, but an accident earlier this month involving a fire that left him with injuries to his hand and his life partner in intensive care has made the designer cancel his show. Now, Gupta's team will show the 20-piece collection in a showroom-style presentation and will release a film on June 27 for a wider audience. "Cancelling was a deeply personal decision," Gupta told Vogue Business. "The brand has been experiencing a significant moment with global expansion, exposure, celebrity dressing — and, of course, Paris Couture Week being the pinnacle of our efforts." Gupta plans to return to the couture runways next January. {Vogue Business/paywalled}

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