Dive Brief:
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Amazon is in ongoing discussions to acquire high-fashion e-commerce retailer Net-A-Porter, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
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UPDATE: Italian fashion e-retailer Yoox may be closer than Amazon to a merger with the UK e-commerce company, according to reports over the weekend.
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In another high-fashion move, Amazon in February hired Caroline Palmer away from Vogue magazine, where she was editor of the magazine’s website, to manage its fashion content and social media.
Dive Insight:
Amazon first made a big play for high-end fashion a few years ago when it started to sign some high-end brands, but hasn’t had much luck. Higher end retailers have been reluctant to partner with Amazon, which would have them cede their relationships with their customers to an e-retail behemoth that sells everything to everyone.
A purchase of Net-A-Porter would solve a lot of Amazon’s problems at once, giving it a portal and high-fashion cred.
UPDATE: But it looks like it's not to be, at least not for Amazon. Things are heating up for Net-A-Porter, but these reports that Italian fashion e-retailer Yoox is in the mix are dimming Amazon's chances.
