NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart has spent three years overhauling its mix of adult apparel to make it stylish as well as sensible for middle America. Now, the nation’s largest retailer is seizing the back-to-school shopping season to take another shot at fashion respectability.
The company plans to relaunch its 30-year-old brand for teenagers and young adults on Tuesday with a new 130-piece fall collection aimed at Generation Z. The retooling of the No Boundaries label is part of a strategy to get customers to think of Walmart as a place to buy cool clothes along with groceries.
The new collection includes of-the-moment styles like baggy jeans, cropped T-shirts, faux leather corsets and bomber jackets. Most items cost $15 or less. Some pieces are made from recycled fabrics to appeal to a generation that values sustainability. The size range was expanded to run from XXS to 5X to be more inclusive.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company is marketing the revamped No Boundaries on TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest and the online gaming site Roblox. It plans to test new prototypes in stores located in major college towns.
The intended audience is noticing.
“It’s basic, but cute,” Za’Kryra Davis, 16, said while looking at the camouflage pants and denim rompers at a Walmart store in Secaucus, New Jersey, where the new No Boundaries was getting rolled out last week.
Davis, who shops at chains like Rue21 and Forever 21 and gets inspired by trends popping up on social media, said she’s been more open to buying clothes at Walmart in the past few months because she says they look more modern.
Walmart previously relied on a variety of suppliers with separate design teams to build the No Boundaries line, which focused largely on everyday basics like T-shirts and denim. The company hired a dedicated design team to create the relaunch collection, a sign of the brand’s importance to Walmart’s broader fashion strategy.
Still, winning over customers born between 1997 and 2012 will be challenging given Walmart’s heavy competition. The generation of digital natives is known to be price conscious and willing to shop around, frequenting everything from second-hand shops and ultra-fast-fashion online retailer Shein to discounters like Target, and mall-based stores like American Eagle Outfitters.
Olivia Meyer, 22, who lives in Riverview, Florida, gets inspired by trends on the internet and makes most of her fashion purchases online, typically from Amazon, to ensure quick delivery. She approved of the cargo pants and strappy tops she saw while checking out the fall No Boundaries collection on Walmart’s website.
“I’m not loyal to one place,” Meyer said. But she added, “I think Walmart has a shot at targeting Gen Z and getting our dollars.”
While Gen Z spends the least amount on fashion of any demographic cohort except the so-called Silent Generation, retailers are eager to court young consumers because they represent the future, said Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData.
“If you don’t capture them today, you run the risk of them going to a rival,” he said. “Traditionally, Walmart has not been appealing to this kind of younger demographic, which is why it’s trying to change.”
Walmart said No Boundaries generates annual sales of $2 billion, but Saunders thinks the numbers have been stagnant for a few years. He said the retailer needs to overcome the perception that its fashion aspirations end at floral prints, pull-on pants and other styles more typically worn by older adults.
Walmart signaled just how much it wants to get taken seriously as a fashion destination three years ago when it hired Brandon Maxwell, an American designer who has dressed celebrities such as Lady Gaga, as the creative director for its “elevated” fashion brands, Free Assembly and Scoop.
In February, the company hosted social media influencers who focus on trendy but affordable style at a fashion show that featured Maxwell’s designer collection, which is sold at high-end Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
“It’s always about the women in my life who define what I do, and it’s no different at Walmart,” said Maxwell, who mingled with the Walmart guests during a luncheon after the show.
To boost its legitimacy as a one-stop shop for fashionistas, Walmart has added store mannequins and colorful displays of its clothing. Under the stewardship of Denise Incandela, executive vice president of apparel and private-label brands, the company has featured more than 1,000 brands and partnered with celebrities like Sofia Vergara.
Incandela said at a recent industry conference in New York that Walmart’s scale — it operates more than 4,600 stores in the U.S. — can help drive quality and low prices. But the big growth opportunity in clothing is with the Gen Z customer who “cares about style,” she said.
“We have created a brand that is more modern, has better quality, has silhouettes that are more relevant to the Gen Z customer,” Incandela said. “We’re improving the shopping experience, but we have to change that perception.”
At the Walmart in Secaucus, Elizabeth Fernandez, 58, and her daughter, Destiny Fernandez, 38, said they found the women’s clothing more appealing than in the past. They were also drawn to the overhauled No Boundaries line. Their shopping cart brimmed with pants, shorts, tops and skirts drawn from throughout the store.
Citing the cropped puffer jackets and different denim washes on the racks, Destiny Fernandez judged Walmart to be on the mark in the way it had recycled and refreshed earlier trends.
“It’s all stuff that is coming back,” she said. “So I am going to take a look.”
Walmart, the retail giant known for its affordable prices and wide range of products, has recently made a strategic move to enhance its young adult clothing line in order to establish fashion credibility among this demographic. With the rise of fast fashion retailers and online shopping options, Walmart is looking to position itself as a go-to destination for trendy and stylish clothing for young adults.
The retailer has been working to revamp its clothing offerings in recent years, partnering with popular brands and designers to create exclusive collections that appeal to a younger audience. By expanding its selection of on-trend pieces and incorporating the latest fashion trends into its designs, Walmart is aiming to attract a new generation of shoppers who are looking for affordable yet fashionable options.
One of the key ways Walmart is enhancing its young adult clothing line is by focusing on quality and fit. The retailer has invested in improving the materials used in its clothing, ensuring that garments are comfortable, durable, and stylish. Additionally, Walmart has expanded its size range to be more inclusive, offering a wider range of sizes to accommodate different body types.
In addition to improving the quality and fit of its clothing, Walmart has also been working to increase the variety of styles available in its young adult clothing line. From athleisure wear to boho chic pieces, Walmart is offering a diverse range of options to cater to different tastes and preferences. By staying on top of the latest fashion trends and incorporating them into its designs, Walmart is positioning itself as a fashion-forward retailer that can compete with other popular clothing brands.
Furthermore, Walmart has been leveraging social media and influencer partnerships to promote its young adult clothing line and connect with its target audience. By collaborating with fashion influencers and bloggers, Walmart is able to reach a wider audience and showcase its trendy clothing options to potential customers. This strategy has helped Walmart increase brand awareness and establish itself as a credible player in the fashion industry.
Overall, Walmart’s efforts to enhance its young adult clothing line are paying off as the retailer continues to attract a new generation of shoppers who are looking for affordable yet stylish clothing options. By focusing on quality, fit, variety, and marketing strategies, Walmart is successfully establishing itself as a fashion-forward retailer that can compete with other popular clothing brands.
