Beyonce, Sydney Sweeney and a fight for relevance: How American Eagle, Gap and Levi sparked a new ‘denim war’

English News Brief

Summary

A major “denim war” has erupted among major apparel retailers like Levi’s, American Eagle, and Gap. They are investing millions in high-profile celebrity marketing campaigns (featuring Beyoncé, Sydney Sweeney, and others) to capture consumer attention and drive sales in the booming $101 billion global jeans market.

Key Points

  • Marketing Arms Race: Levi’s sparked the trend with its Beyoncé campaign. Competitors quickly followed: American Eagle with Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce, and Gap with girl group Katseye.
  • Strategic Goals: Beyond sales, the campaigns aim to revive brand relevance. Levi’s seeks more female shoppers, American Eagle targets men, and Gap aims to connect with younger generations.
  • Market Context: Denim is experiencing a post-pandemic boom, with consumers embracing all styles (wide-leg, bootcut, etc.). This creates a major opportunity in an otherwise sluggish apparel market.
  • Performance & Cost:
    • Levi’s (Beyoncé): Campaign cost contributed to a $200M+ yearly SG&A increase. It’s deemed successful, boosting women’s revenue share from 35% to 38%.
    • American Eagle (Sweeney/Kelce): Generated massive impressions and new customers, but comparable sales grew only 1% in Q3. Campaigns added ~$35M in costs.
    • Gap (Katseye): Drove 7% comparable sales growth and 8 billion impressions post-campaign, significantly exceeding expectations.
  • Expert View: Analysts call it a “war for attention and spend.” Levi’s is seen as the current leader, leveraging its heritage and Beyoncé’s star power to “create the culture around denim.”


中文新闻简报

摘要

一场激烈的”丹宁战争”在李维斯、American Eagle和Gap等主要服装零售商之间爆发。它们斥资数百万美元开展高调的名人营销活动(邀请碧昂斯、Sydney Sweeney等),以在价值1010亿美元的全球牛仔裤市场中争夺消费者注意力并推动销售。

关键点

  • 营销军备竞赛:李维斯凭借碧昂斯活动引发风潮。竞争对手迅速跟进:American Eagle启用Sydney Sweeney和Travis Kelce,Gap则联手女团Katseye。
  • 战略目标:除了销售,这些活动旨在重振品牌影响力。李维斯希望吸引更多女性顾客,American Eagle瞄准男性市场,Gap则致力于与年轻一代建立联系。
  • 市场背景:丹宁面料正在经历后疫情时代的繁荣,消费者接受所有款式(阔腿裤、靴型裤等)。这在其他服装品类增长乏力之际创造了巨大机会。
  • 成效与成本:
    • 李维斯(碧昂斯):活动成本导致年度SG&A支出增加超过2亿美元。被认为非常成功,将女性业务收入占比从35%提升至38%。
    • American Eagle(Sweeney/Kelce):创造了巨大曝光和新客户,但第三季度同店销售额仅增长1%。活动增加约3500万美元成本。
    • Gap(Katseye):活动后同店销售额增长7%,获得80亿次曝光,远超市场预期。
  • 专家观点:分析师称这是一场”争夺注意力和消费的战争”。李维斯被视为当前领导者,利用其品牌传承和碧昂斯的明星影响力来”塑造丹宁文化”。

Original Article Link: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/03/american-eagle-gap-levi-beyonce-sydney-sweeney-denim-ads.html

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