Articles by Weixin Zha
Shanghai Fashion Week: AW25 trends from China
Almost 100 fashion brands - from up-and-coming designers to major fashion groups - presented their collections during Shanghai Fashion Week. The variety of styles was extensive, ranging from minimalist, casual to avant-garde. Some ingredients, however, could be found across catwalks. Here are six autumn/winter 2025 trends from China. Fringe...
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Shanghai Fashion Week: How ambitious brands and boutiques defy sluggish business
The catwalks and showrooms at Shanghai Fashion Week impressed with variety and quality in the AW25 season, especially among the younger labels. The country's budding fashion scene is profiting from the local manufacturing expertise and has evolved rapidly over the past decade, despite a tough apparel market that is showing some signs of...
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From domestic success to global expansion: Key insights on China’s fashion market
Chinese brands have gained in popularity at home and abroad over the past years but sluggish domestic consumer spending and uncertainty amid evolving trade tensions are weighing on the outlook of China’s apparel industry. Here are eight insights about China’s clothing sector from the spring edition fashion fair Chic. 1. Sluggish consumption...
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Joop! expects single-digit growth from AW25 buying season
Swiss fashion brand Joop! expects to grow during the buying season for its autumn/winter 2025 collection. In an interview, brand director Thorsten Stiebing discusses his expectations for the wholesale business, the industry sentiment, and which regions are performing well. The brand, founded by German designer Wolfgang Joop and now part of the...
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Haute Couture SS25: A return to the tried and tested and a debut at Valentino
In Paris this week, fashion houses relied on proven formulas, striving for light, feminine collections. Brands like Chanel emphasised their visual codes, while others, such as Dior and Schiaparelli, also played with classic silhouettes. Only the Couture Week debutantes dared to experiment. Established codes As the oldest, still active couture...
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Future Institute forecaster: 'Simply selling stuff is not a model for the future'
The clothing industry is suffering from dampened consumer spending, but what macro trends lie behind this phenomenon? Boris Planer, expert for retail and consumer goods at the Frankfurt Future Institute, explains in this interview what the dominant trends of our time could mean for fashion. One hypothesis: in the face of a shift in values and a...
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Zalando's premium buyer on sleek kicks, chaotic individualization and volatile weather
Fashion retailers are keeping a close watch on their sales leading to Christmas amid a sluggish consumer sentiment, at the same time many are already preparing for the AW25 buying season starting in January. What's going well at Zalando right now and what trends does the online retailer bet on for womenswear in 2025? Zalando's Commercial...
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Inside the deal: Zalando and About You founders break down the takeover
Two of the biggest online fashion retailers in Europe are joining forces. Berlin-based Zalando acquires German competitor About You for 1,1 billion euros. The surprising deal raises questions about synergies as the two companies seek to continue operating as independent brands. Here is what the CEO founders of both companies explained in calls...
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New rules ahead: European fashion gears up for regulatory shifts
Facing a wave of new rules by the European Union, the bloc’s fashion industry is gearing up to address its concerns. The next months will be crucial as legislators are starting to flesh out a set of green rules. In July, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as the President of the EU Commission. In her second term, the EU plans to implement a set...
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Minimalism meets mass appeal: The rise of Swedish apparel chain Lager 157
The Swedish fashion chain Lager 157 is expanding to Germany. The first store in Bremen is only intended to be the “springboard” for further expansion in Germany and Europe. In an interview, CEO Stefan Palm explains his expansion plans and the business model behind the success of Lager 157's wardrobe staples. Lager 157 has conquered Scandinavia...
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