Holiday sales will top $1 trillion, but most shoppers plan to spend less. Find out who is really spending this Christmas and whether your fashion customer is one of them.

As millions of consumers step back from traditional luxury, the SS27 runways signal a pivotal shift for independent fashion brands. From New York’s focus on practical value to London’s emphasis on experience and resale, discover how evolving buyer priorities create a prime market opportunity — and what strategy shifts your brand needs to make for 2027.

Fashion founders are already dealing with rising costs, cautious consumers, inventory risk and tighter margins. Now the EU is adding another layer of pressure. New rules are changing how fashion products are designed, documented, sold and managed, with consequences that can reach directly into your margins and cash flow. Whether you are based in Europe or selling into it, understanding what is coming could make the difference between absorbing another cost and planning for it before your next collection.

Three legal regimes in a single year have reshaped the cost of importing clothing into America. For emerging brands, the tax is survivable; the uncertainty is what causes lasting damage. This is what changed, what it costs, and most importantly, the playbook for managing it—whether you are shipping your first collection or importing at scale.

When the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Fashion Awards 2025, the headlines focused on blue carpet glamour and celebrity moments. Yet beneath the spectacle, the ceremony revealed something far more important for the future of the industry.

The winners, the omissions, and the overall tone pointed to a clear message…