Libby Wadle Takes J.Crew on a Trip to Europe
LONDON — J.Crew is on the move, with plans for summer pop-ups on both sides of the Atlantic and a new collaboration with the London jeweler Alighieri, known for its gold designs inspired by art and literature.
One pop-up will open in Italy, with 'an American abroad' vibe, and in partnership with a hotel. The others will open in Nantucket and the Hamptons, according to the company's chief executive officer Libby Wadle, who was in the British capital this week to receive the Woman of the Year award at the World Retail Congress.
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The Italy pop-up marks a European comeback for J.Crew, which shut its six London stores in 2020 following a Chapter 11 filing. In an interview, Wadle said the pop-ups offer yet another platform for storytelling and a way to engage with old and new customers.
J.Crew is forging even more ties with Europe. This week it unveiled a limited-edition summer capsule of jewelry and embellished ready-to-wear with Alighieri, which was founded by the designer Rosh Mahtani.
The collection is inspired by J.Crew's maritime heritage, and was made in London's Hatton Garden, which has been a jewelry-making hub since the Middle Ages.
Wadle said it was Olympia Gayot, creative director of women's and kids' at J.Crew, who came up with the idea.
'She wears the jewelry, so it was a natural, organic partnership. It has a nautical feel, and J.Crew is a summer brand associated with being at the beach. It's a season when we thrive, and there's a lot to celebrate,' she said.
The collaboration, which features fish motifs, nautical cord necklaces and a white linen shirt adorned with Alighieri golden buttons, exemplifies how Wadle has been running the company.
She said she encourages collaboration and wants her team to be looking outward and engaging with popular culture.
'We are not insular, we want to connect to culture and creativity — and not be daunted by it. There are a lot of great ideas out there, and we're always interested' in what's going on outside the walls of the company, she said.
Asked about her goals for the company, Wadle said 'we really want to get back to a place where we are part of the story, and the culture. Wadle said J.Crew still resonates with people everywhere who remember the catalogues, cashmere and laid-back tailoring that was synonymous with the brand for so long.
Collaborations are a pillar of the growth strategy.
Earlier this year, J.Crew forged a three-year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the longest partnership in its history. At the time, Wadle said the collaboration is meant to 'celebrate the intersection of sports, style and community at a scale that is really unprecedented for the J.Crew brand.'
Wadle, a longtime J.Crew and Madewell executive, became CEO of J.Crew Group in 2020, and was charged with navigating the company through the pandemic, reviving J.Crew and reigniting Madewell's growth.
Asked about how J.Crew's approach has changed, Wadle, who was decked in a cream barn jacket, white embellished skirt and sleek heels with an ankle strap and pointy toe, said that 15 years ago 'there was a formula to dressing.'
Today, she said, personal style is so much more important and that people like to mix things up. 'We know we're not the only brand out there, but we want our pieces to have longevity, to be wardrobe workhorses. We want J.Crew to be a go-to brand for people styling themselves.'
She picked up the Woman of the Year award during a cocktail at Burberry's Bond Street store. Ian McGarrigle, chairman and founder of World Retail Congress, described Wadle as the latest in a list of women 'who not only lead with vision, but who also pave the way for future generations of women to thrive in this dynamic industry.'
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