Alina Selyukh

Forever 21 grew massive in the early 2000s by making designer style fashion accessible, bringing runway styles to mall shoppers for cheap prices. This was the dawn of fast fashion. The chain expanded aggressively and over time struggled to compete with even faster, even cheaper online rivals. Companies like ASOS and Boohoo and now Shein and Temu shipping ultra-fast fashion from China.

Forever 21 grew massive in the early 2000s by making designer style fashion accessible, bringing runway styles to mall shoppers for cheap prices. This was the dawn of fast fashion. The chain expanded aggressively and over time struggled to compete with even faster, even cheaper online rivals. Companies like ASOS and Boohoo and now Shein and Temu shipping ultra-fast fashion from China.

Forever 21 survived its first bankruptcy in 2019 as a smaller company with new owners. Now it's back on the auction block, losing money and shoppers, blaming online competition and high inflation, warning that this could be the end of the line. Forever liquidation. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

Forever 21 survived its first bankruptcy in 2019 as a smaller company with new owners. Now it's back on the auction block, losing money and shoppers, blaming online competition and high inflation, warning that this could be the end of the line. Forever liquidation. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

Brought my latte.

Brought my latte.

Brought my latte.

Yes, coffee prices have soared. And it all started with problems with harvests, first in Vietnam and then in Brazil. These are the two top growers of the most common types of coffee beans. And the culprit was abnormal weather, which many in the industry attribute to climate change. I talked to some longtime importers of green coffee, that's raw beans.

Yes, coffee prices have soared. And it all started with problems with harvests, first in Vietnam and then in Brazil. These are the two top growers of the most common types of coffee beans. And the culprit was abnormal weather, which many in the industry attribute to climate change. I talked to some longtime importers of green coffee, that's raw beans.

Yes, coffee prices have soared. And it all started with problems with harvests, first in Vietnam and then in Brazil. These are the two top growers of the most common types of coffee beans. And the culprit was abnormal weather, which many in the industry attribute to climate change. I talked to some longtime importers of green coffee, that's raw beans.

One of them is John Cassette from Royal Coffee in California. And he says, first you had Vietnam with a serious drought, followed by heavier rains than usual. And that drove up prices for the bean that grows there. And already had people scrambling to switch to the bean that grows in Brazil. And then Brazil had one of the worst droughts on record. Here's Cassette.

One of them is John Cassette from Royal Coffee in California. And he says, first you had Vietnam with a serious drought, followed by heavier rains than usual. And that drove up prices for the bean that grows there. And already had people scrambling to switch to the bean that grows in Brazil. And then Brazil had one of the worst droughts on record. Here's Cassette.

One of them is John Cassette from Royal Coffee in California. And he says, first you had Vietnam with a serious drought, followed by heavier rains than usual. And that drove up prices for the bean that grows there. And already had people scrambling to switch to the bean that grows in Brazil. And then Brazil had one of the worst droughts on record. Here's Cassette.

Eventually it did rain, but farmers later said a lot of the damage was irreversible. And so the price of the most common coffee, that's called Arabica, jumped 70 percent this year. The price of the other type of coffee called Robusta at one point doubled in price. Both cost more than they ever did. Arabica and Robusta. How different are these?

Eventually it did rain, but farmers later said a lot of the damage was irreversible. And so the price of the most common coffee, that's called Arabica, jumped 70 percent this year. The price of the other type of coffee called Robusta at one point doubled in price. Both cost more than they ever did. Arabica and Robusta. How different are these?

Eventually it did rain, but farmers later said a lot of the damage was irreversible. And so the price of the most common coffee, that's called Arabica, jumped 70 percent this year. The price of the other type of coffee called Robusta at one point doubled in price. Both cost more than they ever did. Arabica and Robusta. How different are these?

Yeah, so they have different flavor based on where they grow. What I have here in my cup is Arabica. It is the most common. Brazil is the biggest grower. And this coffee grows at higher altitudes. It has a softer, sweeter taste. And that's what you find often in your roast coffee, your ground coffee. Robusta grows at lower elevation. Vietnam is the biggest grower.

Yeah, so they have different flavor based on where they grow. What I have here in my cup is Arabica. It is the most common. Brazil is the biggest grower. And this coffee grows at higher altitudes. It has a softer, sweeter taste. And that's what you find often in your roast coffee, your ground coffee. Robusta grows at lower elevation. Vietnam is the biggest grower.

Yeah, so they have different flavor based on where they grow. What I have here in my cup is Arabica. It is the most common. Brazil is the biggest grower. And this coffee grows at higher altitudes. It has a softer, sweeter taste. And that's what you find often in your roast coffee, your ground coffee. Robusta grows at lower elevation. Vietnam is the biggest grower.

And this bean has a harsher, more bitter taste. It's used a lot for instant coffee.