What Is Your Definition Of Fashion?

For years, the narrative around the beauty business has been one of accessibility: It has never been easier to start a brand. Social media lowered the barrier to entry, direct-to-consumer made distribution easier and a strong point of view or the right TikTok mention could turn a single product into a viral hit. But scaling a beauty brand is a different story. “It’s never been easier to launch a beauty brand, yet at the same time never been harder to grow one,” says Will Henderson, founder of the brand Skincare Generics. Converting attention into a scalable business, he adds, requires operational and financial infrastructure that many emerging brands simply do not have. Across skin care , fragrance and cosmetics, founders are navigating a new reality defined by rising costs, constrained supply chains, stricter retail expectations and a widening gap between independent brands and well-funded competitors. Growth is still possible, but it now requires far more than a strong product. I...