The Controversy of Style: American Eagle's Bold Campaign

This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, reporter Julia Waldow joins co-host Melissa Daniels to unpack how brands are reacting to the shifting landscape of U.S. trade deals following the August 1 expiration deadline. They also dive into the backlash and cultural critiques around American Eagle’s ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney.

Later in the episode (21:30), Daniels sits down with Sarah O’Leary, CEO of femtech brand Willow Innovations, and Jen Saxton, founder of TotSquad, to talk about the rise of postpartum consumer products. The conversation covers why this category has been historically underserved, how retailers like Target are leaning in, and what needs to change to better support new moms in the CPG space.

Note: The day after this podcast was taped, American Eagle issued the following statement about the campaign on its Instagram page: "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."