Tapping into Gen Z’s purchasing power means acknowledging the ideological fault lines that run through the generation—and building assortments that don’t try to blur them and respectfully reflect them. By treating sourcing inventory and marketing as a conversation, retailers can cater to both sides of the spectrum without alienating either.

Luxe brands realize it is more than fair to trust clients with their most scarce resource: Authenticity. It is becoming the essential differentiator. People want the genesis story of the brand, its inspirations, its current creative force, its – dare we say it? – relevance to them.