The Journal – The Fashion Economist

Who Decides What You See on the Shelf: AI and the Next Era of Retail Decision-Making

In an era when product cycles are shrinking, consumer behavior shifts by the hour, and competition comes from every direction. The once-invisible art of merchandising is becoming a strategic playing field. The question isn’t just what to make, it’s how much, for whom, at what price, and where. And increasingly, the answer is being written…
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The Hidden Cost of Fashion’s Green Transition: Who Gets Left Behind?

Introduction: The New Green Factory Dilemma Some envision a future where fashion shifts from massive offshore factories to smaller, automated micro-factories closer to consumers. Instead of endless bulk production, brands could make garments on demand, cutting emissions, limiting overstock, and aligning with climate goals while still chasing profit. But this efficiency comes at a cost:…
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The Business of Endorsement: How Arch Manning Fits into Vuori’s Playbook

Signing a high-profile athlete is never just about putting a face on billboards. It’s a strategic move that can capture new demographics, reshape brand perception, influence product pipelines, and open fresh markets. A single endorsement deal ripples through financial planning, merchandising, supply chain logistics, and long-term brand identity, making athletes not only marketing ambassadors but…
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Fashion’s ESG Evolution: Circularity, Accountability, and Innovation

…and a message to fashion executives. While fashion has always reflected societal shifts (through design, labor, and production) today’s global pressures are reshaping how the industry defines responsibility. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is at the center of this shift, emerging as a critical framework guiding how brands operate, innovate, and grow, moving beyond creative…
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It Starts at the Source: The New Frontier of Product Development

Shifting the narrative: supply chains as the foundation, not the afterthought. In many traditional models, product development in fashion has followed a largely linear flow: design teams begin by sketching ideas, marketing builds the narrative, and only after the product direction is set does the sourcing team step in to determine how—and where—it will be…
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Can Fashion Make Nearshoring Work in a Globalized World?

Reflections from the Vogue Business Webinar Fashion supply chains have long spanned continents, built on deeply ingrained systems that prioritize low labor costs and keep prices relatively low across much of the industry. Industries are beginning to rethink the value of proximity. The recent Vogue Business webinar hosted by Kristie McGregor and Bella Webb, Can…
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On-Demand Everything: Why Made-to-Order Might Finally Scale

Made-to-order fashion is no longer just a luxury—it’s a tech-powered response to overproduction, waste, and changing consumer demand. Made-to-order fashion—once seen as the domain of bespoke tailoring or limited-edition sneaker drops—is quickly evolving into a tech-enabled response to the fashion industry’s overproduction and shifting consumer demands. Today, it’s being positioned as a scalable alternative to…
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Recessions and Runways: How Economic Downturns Shape Fashion Trends

From Minimalism to Dopamine Dressing, Clothes Tell the Story of Crisis Fashion has always been a mirror, reflecting the mood, the moment, and the money. And when the economy takes a hit, our wardrobes feel it. 2008: The Crash and the Rise of Minimalism In 2008, the message was clear: less is more. Clean lines,…
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The Burnouts: Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni’s Bold Pivot from Stanford to Sustainable Fashion Tech

From Stanford to Sustainable Fashion: The Inspiring Paths of Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni I recently listened to an insightful episode of Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, where she interviewed Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, two incredibly driven women who are showing us that fashion is about much more than just trends. It’s a…
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Kristin Juszczyk & Off Season: Game Day, Reimagined

From Sideline to Spotlight: How Kristin Juszczyk Revolutionized Fan Fashion Kristin Juszczyk started sewing after meeting her husband, Kyle Juszczyk, and learning more about the sport of football. She wasn’t interested in blending in with the crowd in an oversized jersey. She wanted to stand out. She wanted something different. So she started creating styles…
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