Luxury in Flux: Trade Wars, TikTok, and the Cracks in the High-End Market

Luxury in Flux: Trade Wars, TikTok, and the Cracks in the High-End Market

It used to be simple: luxury was silent, mysterious, and untouchable. A $3,000 bag meant status. A limited release drop meant prestige, and you didn’t ask about the price—if you had to, you couldn’t afford it.

But in 2025, that illusion is crumbling.

Luxury’s Growing Identity Crisis

As the US-China trade war escalated, luxury brands found themselves in an uncomfortable crossfire. China, once the golden goose of luxury consumption, became a battleground. While brands avoided taking sides publicly, internally they began reworking supply chains, repackaging PR strategies, and bracing for cultural backlash.

At the same time, TikTok exploded into a global platform of exposure. Young creators started breaking down luxury’s smoke and mirrors:

• Revealing how prices vary wildly by region
• Calling out brands for repackaging the same products
• Exposing influencers who never actually own the luxury they flaunt

The luxury ecosystem—built on mystique, aspiration, and exclusivity—suddenly looked more like a well-orchestrated social illusion.

The TikTok Effect

TikTok didn’t just shake up fashion trends. It ripped open the vault on luxury’s secrets. Creators began openly discussing resale values, counterfeit alerts, and the absurdity of some luxury pricing. Gen Z and Millennials, already skeptical of material status symbols, started valuing “stealth wealth” and authentic experiences over loud logos.

So what happens when the illusion breaks?

Some brands are adapting—quiet luxury is in, capsule drops are trending, and vintage resale is now a power move. Others? Still clinging to the old playbook, hoping this moment will pass.

Is This the End of Luxury as We Know It?

Not quite—but the old model is on life support.

Barriers that once protected luxury (like exclusivity, opaque pricing, and brand mystique) are being challenged by:

• Authentication tech (NFTs, blockchain-tracked bags)
• Peer-to-peer resale platforms
• Digital-native consumers who demand value and transparency

Even regulations are catching up. Some governments are targeting misleading pricing schemes and cracking down on counterfeits.

Luxury is shifting from logo-chasing to legitimacy-chasing—and that’s a radical change.

And Then… There’s TikTok’s Ownership Battle

In a dramatic twist, former President Donald Trump reversed course and lifted the long-debated ban on TikTok. After years of speculation, lawsuits, and political theater, TikTok was reauthorized for operation in the U.S.—a move that sent shockwaves through both political and business communities.

Why? Possibly because TikTok had become too embedded in the economy—especially in fashion, lifestyle, and e-commerce. It’s not just an app. It’s a virtual marketplace, a marketing platform, and a cultural driver all in one.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The luxury market is at a crossroads. It can: Embrace transparency and digital innovation, or Hold tight to outdated illusions and risk losing cultural relevance

In either case, the consumer has the power now. 

Armed with knowledge, tech, and a TikTok algorithm, the next generation is rewriting what luxury means—and the old guard has no choice but to keep up or fall behind.

The Ongoing Retail Apocalypse

Which Brick-and-Mortar Stores Are Closing or Staying Open?

The retail industry has been in turmoil since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many well-known chains struggling to keep their doors open. Some have shut down entirely, while others are downsizing in an effort to survive. Here’s an updated list of major retailers, breaking down which are closing permanently, closing some stores, and which are staying open despite financial troubles.

Stores That Are Closing Permanently

Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts

• Status: Closing all stores (Liquidating)

• Details: The company filed for bankruptcy in early 2025 due to $615 million in debt. All 800 stores are closing, and liquidation sales are currently underway. However, customers are upset that Jo-Ann is refusing to accept gift cards.

99 Cents Only Stores

• Status: Closed all stores permanently

• Details: In April 2024, the discount chain announced it would be shutting down all 371 locations, citing financial struggles from the pandemic, inflation, and shifting consumer demand.

Party City

• Status: Closing all corporate-owned stores

• Details: Party City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2023. While franchised locations and Canadian stores (owned by Canadian Tire) remain open, all corporate-owned U.S. stores will be closed by February 28, 2025.

Stores That Are Closing Some Locations

Walgreens

• Status: Closing 1,200 stores over the next three years

• Details: Announced in late 2024, the pharmacy chain is downsizing due to regulatory pressures and rising operational costs.

Macy’s

• Status: Closing 150 stores as part of a restructuring plan

• Details: Macy’s is cutting underperforming locations to focus on stronger markets, with sales expected to decline in 2025.

Big Lots

• Status: Closing 700+ stores, keeping some open

• Details: The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, initially planning to shut down all locations. However, a last-minute deal with Variety Wholesalers, Inc. will keep up to 400 stores open. Despite this, many locations—including some in Broome County, NY—have already closed.

Dollar Tree & Family Dollar

• Status: Closing 1,000 stores (including 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree locations)

• Details: After reporting a $1.7 billion loss in Q4 2024, Dollar Tree is shutting down struggling locations to cut losses.

Red Robin

• Status: Closing 70 locations when leases expire

• Details: The restaurant chain suffered a $32.4 million loss in late 2024 and is cutting underperforming stores.

CVS Health

• Status: Closing 270 stores in 2025

• Details: After shutting down 800 stores in the last three years, CVS is continuing to shrink its footprint, refocusing on pharmacy services rather than full-scale retail.

Forever 21

• Status: Closing up to 200 stores, possibly filing for bankruptcy

• Details: The fast-fashion retailer is struggling to stay afloat and may enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy, though its international locations remain open.

Rite Aid

• Status: Closing nearly 100 stores

• Details: The pharmacy chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 and has nearly disappeared from Michigan and Ohio. More closures are expected.

Stores That Are Staying Open (For Now)

While these stores have struggled financially, they are not shutting down entirely:

✅ Hobby Lobby – No announced closures, remains a strong competitor in the crafts market.

✅ Michael’s – Still operating, with strong online and in-store sales.

✅ Walmart & Target – Closing some underperforming locations, but overall growth remains stable.

✅ TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods – Continue to thrive with their discount model.

So, What’s Next for Retail?

With major brands disappearing or downsizing, it’s clear that brick-and-mortar retail is still in trouble. E-commerce is thriving, and businesses that fail to adapt are shutting down. Expect more closures, bankruptcies, and store overhauls in the coming years.

Have any of your favorite stores closed? Let us know in the comments!

All about Bianca Censori-West? Life Outside of Kanye

The Bold Architect Redefining Fashion, Fame, and Design

Bianca Censori was born on January 5, 1995, in Melbourne, Australia, is an accomplished architect and model. 

As a Capricorn, Bianca is associated with qualities such as ambition, practicality, discipline, and a strong sense of responsibility. 

Bianca is one of three daughters born to Alexandra and Elia “Leo” Censori. Her paternal grandparents emigrated from Giulianova, Italy, to Australia in 1960 with their five children.  

She has two sisters, Angelina and Alyssia her family has maintained a relatively low public profile. However, her relationship with Kanye West has brought them into the spotlight, leading to increased media attention. 

Bianca holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of Melbourne. She has worked as an architectural designer, including a position at Kanye West’s Yeezy brand. 

Before her architectural career, Bianca founded a jewelry company called Nylons, showcasing her entrepreneurial and creative talents. Her aunt played a significant role in nurturing her love for design by exposing her to various forms of art, film, and architecture during her childhood. 

Before her relationship with Kanye West, Bianca Censori was in a long-term relationship with Nick Forgaine, a Melbourne-based businessman who owns a café and factory. Their relationship lasted six years, beginning when they were both 21, and ended around the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

Forgaine has spoken positively about Censori’s ambitions and talents, noting that she always aspired to live in America and pursue a career in architecture. He expressed support for her relationship with West, stating that if Bianca is happy, he is happy for her. Despite their breakup, reports suggest that Censori and Forgaine have remained in contact, maintaining a supportive relationship. 

Bianca and Kanye West reportedly married in a private ceremony in December 2022. Their relationship has attracted media attention, especially due to their public appearances and Bianca’s fashion choices. 

Bold Fashion Statements: 

Known for her daring fashion sense, Bianca made headlines at the 2025 Grammys by wearing a sheer, transparent slip dress that garnered significant media attention. These facets of Bianca Censori’s life highlight her multifaceted career and the public interest surrounding her personal and professional endeavors.