These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Monday.

Willy Chavarria responds to cultural appropriation accusations

Designer Willy Chavarria publicly apologized to the Oaxacan community after a shoe he created in collaboration with Adidas became the subject of cultural appropriation accusations. “To the people of Oaxaca — I want to speak from the heart about the Oaxaca slip-on I created with Adidas,” he said in a statement to WWD. “The intention was always to honor the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities — a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me.” The slip-on footwear was inspired by the huarache, a classic Mexican sandal. However, Chavarria was criticized for not consulting or partnering with the Oaxacan community — and the shoe was reportedly made in China. {Footwear News/paywalled}

The AI assistants retailers are using

AI-powered chatbots are the future of customer service, and big-name retailers are already utilizing them: Walmart uses Sparky, a helper to aid customers in discovering products; Amazon deploys Rufus, a shopping assistant well-versed in Amazon’s product catalog; Target has Shopping Assistant, an AI agent that appears on product pages to help consumers make informed decisions; and L’Oréal Paris uses Beauty Assistant, an AI aide that shares personalized beauty recommendations. {Modern Retail/paywalled}

Fashion executives talk business strategies

Though the fashion landscape is riddled with uncontrollable economic obstacles (tariffs, geopolitical tensions and a recession), fashion executives are proactively strategizing to tackle the challenges they can control. In an interview with WWD, various corporate chiefs shared their plans for meeting earnings goals, including remaining cautious on tariffs, planning turnarounds, deepening consumer loyalty and leading cultural shifts. {WWD/paywalled}

Jewelry brands turn to live streaming

Jewelry brands are successfully using TikTok’s live streaming platform to drive sales. The approach provides a more personal way for labels to engage with consumers and foster a sense of community. “I’ve noticed that many of the same people return for each live stream, and over time, you start to build real relationships with your audience,” Rani & Co.’s Gohil told Vogue Business. Sales-wise, social shopping proves to benefit demi-fine labels the most, as they’re more price-accessible; however, fine jewelry brands can utilize live shopping to increase customer awareness. {Vogue Business/paywalled} 

Vendors accuse Saks Global of not paying overdue invoices

Some vendors have accused Saks Global of failing to pay the overdue invoices that the company promised to fulfill this summer. Sunday Riley is threatening legal action if the company doesn’t settle the payment, while other brands are hesitant to push back out of fear of Saks Global retaliating. The retail conglomerate has not responded to the accusations. {Modern Retail/paywalled}

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