Your Shopping Zone
Thomas Piachaud, head of strategy at luxury data solutions agency Re-Hub, observes that most platforms have experienced a slowdown in consumer engagement, signalling yet another possible shift in China’s fast-moving digital ecosystem.
“It’s an amalgamation of a few things — the rise of right-wing propaganda and general political ties definitely puts a sour taste in the mouth — same as with Twitter [now X],” says writer and creator Molly Elizabeth Agnew, who has shifted from posting daily fashion content to only covering tentpole events.
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Similarly, finance apps, led by the popularity of digital wallets and mobile banking, saw 8% YoY download growth to 7.5 billion and a 21% increase in time spent.
Other debuts on the schedule include Leblanc Studios, the Dominican label founded in 2014 by Angelo Beato and Yamil Arbaje, and Zoe Gustavia Anna Whalen, which has, until now, held intimate, buzzy off-schedule presentations.
“In 2025, we’ll see a decisive shift from pilot projects to full-scale generative AI deployments, with a focus on practical applications that drive real business outcomes.” He adds that consumers will expect more “human-like” shopping experiences and that 2025 will see a flood of chatbots, voice assistants and other AI-informed recommendations personalised to individual shoppers.
Sportswear retailer Academy Sports and Outdoors has cut down on the percentage of goods it sources from China, saying that lessening the company’s reliance on a single country “best positions” the business for the years ahead, CFO Carl Ford said during a Dec. 10 earnings call.
A devastating fire broke out at Ghana’s Kantamanto Market in the early hours of 2 January, leaving thousands of clothing recycling and upcycling businesses displaced — and thrusting fashion’s lack of alternative waste handling options back into the spotlight.
The act will ultimately boost labor protections in an industry “that was previously not subject to them with dire consequences and an environment that can be ripe for exploitation,” said Carla Varriale-Barker, shareholder of law firm Segal McCambridge.
In 2022, the brand introduced a bodycare line, and in January 2024, Refy expanded into fashion with a limited-edition drop of T-shirts, hoodies, accessories and lifestyle items.
However, due in part to the fact that stores are increasingly serving as fulfillment centers for same or next-day pickup or delivery, the industry is far from morphing into a post-store era, UBS said.
Following a failed deal to sell itself to Nexus Capital Management, Big Lots announced store closures and initiated going-out-of-business sales in a move the company said would help protect the value of its assets.