The Power of Connection The New Brand Strategy for Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Companies

How can brands build authentic connections with their customers and communities? How can they stay true to their identity and deep-rooted DNA while evolving to meet market demands? How can they align their signature with the customer experience? At a time when brands face the paradox of unparalleled technological connectivity yet struggle to build meaningful relationships with their audiences, The Power of Connection seeks to answer these questions with a unique focus on symbol-intensive and community-driven industries such as fashion, luxury, and beauty. At its core, the book introduces the idea of the “ connected brand,” a framework that brings together all the key elements of brand strategy— from DNA and positioning to creating memorable, signature customer experiences. It shows how a brand can stay true to its roots while expanding into new markets through strategic collaborations and brand extensions. The book concludes with an exploration of four brand archetypes— authority, icon, lifestyle, and cult— demonstrating how brands build symbolic value and become part of our lives.

Stefania Saviolo is a tenured lecturer at the Department of Management and Technology at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, and also a faculty member at SDA Bocconi School of Management, specializing in strategy and brand management. She founded and directed the Master in Fashion, Experience & Design Management (MAFED) and was Head of the Fashion & Luxury Knowledge Center at SDA Bocconi. She has also served as an independent board member for listed companies in the fields of fashion, design and digital transformation.

Introduction. Why this book: The brand from roots to wings 1. What is a brand: A journey across decades and disciplines 2. The connected brand 3. The connected brand strategy 4. Brand DNA 5. The art and science of positioning 6. Brand identity 7. The brand signature experience 8. Strategies for brand expansion 9. Strategic brand collaborations 10. The brand from authority to lifestyle