One significant obstacle Bloch posed during my 1st month of my tenure was the issue with ageing stock designed and marketed towards the US and European customer that was failing to attract the younger, local demographic.

As trends evolved and consumer preferences shifted, items from previous seasons that were geared towards a more conservative consumer became less relevant or appealing to this demographic. This misalignment lead to a surplus of ageing inventory, resulting in increased markdowns and a diminished brand image.

In collaboration with the design team, product developers and merchandisers, research was conducted involving wholesalers, retailers, and customers to identify tween's and teen's sentiment surrounding shopping wishlists and align it with emerging dance market and general fashion trends.

Wholesalers provided insights with feedback and product wishes made in store in addition to which were their best selling wholesale brands that appeal to the younger demographic, while our own retailer stores and store Managers shared feedback on our own Bloch customer preferences, product performance and pricing dynamics.

Surveys and focus groups with customers revealed a growing inclination towards fresh, clean palettes . This collaborative research highlighted key trends such as the rise of social media platform sharing of global trends, industry and fashion influencers and professional dancers within friend groups. By synthesising these insights, a new capsule concept was formulated to address the market demands while delivering the quality and high performance that Bloch is known for.

The result, a fashion-forward dance capsule collection for tweens and teens with a blending of style with functionality to meet the needs of young dancers.

The collection features soft pastel hues, contrast pastel binding and mesh panels. Crafted in comfortable fabrics that allow for ease of movement while appealing to their unique sense of identity.

The capsule's product assortment included a customisable leotard, deeper scoop backs, and higher leg lines.

By incorporating colour trends, the collection aimed to empower young dancers to express themselves both in and out of the studio, ensuring they felt confident and on trend during their classes and performances.

The Australian regional arm saw a complete range sell thru rate, which inspired confidence with the Global team incorporating the unique capsule concept into their seasonal offerings with a 'Think Local, Act Global' approach. Colours were updated to acknowledge and appeal to alternate regional tastes.