Growing sustainability imperative across retail

Sustainability is becoming a baseline consumer expectation in retail, though shoppers are unwilling to accept trade-offs in product quality or functionality, putting pressure on brands to embed sustainability without compromising the core value proposition.

Who it affects: retail executives, e-commerce brands, DTC founders, consumers

Notable: Consumers increasingly ask 'where is this coming from? Is it local?' when making purchase decisions. Shein's rumored acquisition of Everlane is viewed as a public relations play. Technology is being deployed to reduce fashion returns through better fit and sizing tools. Continued consumer spending may be fueled by dipping into savings, which is not sustainable. M&A activity is elevated as larger companies recalibrate portfolios.

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