Must Read: Leonard A. Lauder to Step Down From Estée Lauder's Board of Directors, U.S. Fashion Pushes For Sustainability Regulation

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Friday.

Leonard A. Lauder to step down from Estée Lauder's board of directors
Leonard A. Lauder, the son of the founders of Estée Lauder, will step down from the company's board of directors in November. He'll maintain his title of chairman emeritus of the firm and continue to be involved in key initiatives. Lauder is still a significant stockholder of the company, and his son, William P. Lauder, is the executive chairman of the board. "As we head into the future together, my calling to you is to keep on creating, keep on pushing and keep on supporting one another. I look forward to seeing you all in action," Lauder wrote in a memo to the company's employees, which was obtained by WWD. {WWD/paywalled}

U.S. fashion trade groups push for sustainability regulation
Some of the U.S.'s biggest fashion industry trade groups,including the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the American Apparel and Footwear Association, recently announced their support for a California bill that would require businesses to publish their planet-warming emissions; if passed, this would make businesses report their direct emissions by 2026 and supply-chain emissions by 2027. Still, as Business of Fashion's Sarah Kent writes: "Disclosure alone won't address the industry's sustainability challenges unless coupled with broader action to tackle its impact." {Business of Fashion/paywalled}

Store associates are the new influencers
With increasing competition for consumers' dollars, brands are emphasizing interactions between brick-and-mortar employees and shoppers, leading some store associates to act as influencers. British jewelry brand Astrid & Miyu has a rigorous interview process for hiring, as it's looking for someone who can quickly and genuinely connect with consumers. "A lot of our customers and staff are influencers in their own right," Founder Connie Nam told Glossy. "We've found that, rather than huge influencers with millions of followers, working with an aggregate of small influencers [that we know has proven] better for the brand. Their audiences are so much more engaged. It's a lot more work for us, but it also pays off a lot more." {Glossy/paywalled}

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