Category: Fashion

Mark 541 -2025 Fashion Business Report

Current Landscape of the US Fashion Business: November 2025 Snapshot

As of late November 2025, the US fashion industry—valued at approximately $365.7 billion in apparel sales alone—is navigating a turbulent period marked by economic caution, geopolitical pressures, and rapid technological shifts. While the sector is projected to grow modestly at 2-4% year-over-year, aligning with global GDP forecasts, consumer sentiment remains subdued amid inflation and uncertainty. Only 20% of executives anticipate improved conditions in 2026, reflecting a broader pessimism where 46% expect worsening dynamics. Luxury brands are rebounding with a 65% surge in retail square footage in the first half of 2025, driven by creative director changes at major houses like Balmain and investments in experiential retail. However, mid-tier players like Macy’s and Under Armour face store closures and sales drops, with 15,000 US retail outlets shuttering this year—double last year’s tally—as consumers trade down to value options.

Key Challenges: Tariffs and Supply Chain Strains

Escalating tariffs under the Trump administration are the top concern, cited by 100% of US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) survey respondents as a major business hurdle. Proposed 25% levies on imports from Mexico and Canada, effective early 2026, could add $19.9 billion in duties on textiles and apparel if import volumes hold steady, driving up consumer prices by nearly $35 billion annually. This has prompted sourcing shifts toward Vietnam and Western Hemisphere partners under free trade agreements, though US labor shortages in warehouses exacerbate delays. Fast-fashion disruptors like Shein and Temu, popular with 51% of US shoppers in the past year, intensify pressure through low-cost imports but draw scrutiny for unsustainable practices. New 2024 regulations, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act’s ongoing enforcement, mandate greater supply chain transparency, with 39% of executives forecasting deteriorating conditions.

Emerging Trends: Digital Innovation and Cultural Shifts

On a brighter note, e-commerce and AI are fueling resilience, with social commerce projected to reach $105.5 billion in the US by year-end and AI potentially adding $150-275 billion in global profits over the next few years. Live shopping on TikTok and Instagram is gaining traction—31% of US consumers have engaged—while gamified loyalty programs and omnichannel experiences (seamless across devices) are becoming standard to boost engagement. Gen Z and Alpha (under 28) will drive 40% of the market by 2035, favoring experimental, culturally relevant brands over legacy ones, with streetwear exploding to $371 billion globally this year.

Sustainability, though deprioritized (only 18% of execs flag it as a top risk, down from 29% in 2024), persists via resale platforms, rental models, and eco-materials, spurred by consumer demand for trust and ethics. Collaborations blending luxury and streetwear—e.g., Travis Scott x Nike, Harry Styles x Gucci—signal a convergence, amplifying drop culture and event-based sales.

Style Highlights: Fall/Winter 2025

Runways emphasize “soft power”—layering, statement collars, and relaxed silhouettes like stirrup pants and skants for versatility. Spring 2025 previews feature vanilla/saffron yellows (+11% popularity), suede revivals, and gender-neutral minimalism, with suede up across bags and outerwear. Events like the CFDA Awards underscore diversity, with Willy Chavarría’s immigrant-inspired show highlighting American utilitarianism.

M&A and Broader Outlook

Deal-making is steady at 23 transactions so far in 2025, focusing on complementary acquisitions like VF Corp’s Timberland redux for stability amid volatility. Accessories like Gucci’s travel eyewear signal premium growth, bolstered by e-commerce and pop culture. Agile brands adapting to AI, tariffs, and youth-driven trends will thrive, but the “year of reckoning” demands nimble pivots in a trillion-dollar global market.

American-Made beauty products

Based on available information, here are some of the best-selling American-made products in the health and beauty industry:

  • Philosophy: Known for its Purity Made Simple cleanser, which is a bestseller for its one-step cleansing, toning, and light hydration properties.
  • RMS Beauty: This brand, founded by makeup artist Rose Marie Swift, offers popular products like the ReEvolve Natural Finish Liquid Foundation, known for its clean, organic ingredients.
  • BeautyBlender: Famous for its original makeup sponge that provides an airbrushed finish, made in the USA.
  • Juara: Their anti-aging serum with ingredients like turmeric, clove, red algae extract, and goji berry is noted for its effectiveness.
  • Yes To: A brand available at Target, known for its fruit and veggie-based body care lines, with the addition of deeply hydrating coconut products.
  • HAN Skincare Cosmetics: Offers affordable, non-toxic, natural, and vegan makeup, with products like the HAN Illuminator for a healthy glow.
  • Mad Hippie: Known for its natural skin care and makeup, including an all-in-one concealer and foundation that’s praised for its natural look and long-lasting coverage.
  • Red Apple Lipstick: Noted for its gluten-free lipstick, expanding into more color products that are toxin-free.
  • Vapour: High-end, fashion-forward makeup with a commitment to healthy skin care, found on Amazon.
  • Taspen’s Organics: A Colorado-based brand focusing on 100% natural, organic plant-based skincare products.

These products are highlighted for their popularity, quality, and the fact that they are manufactured in the USA, appealing to consumers who seek out American-made beauty items for their ingredients, efficacy, and ethical production practices.

Austin Fashion Week

Mysterious by NPN

One thing is obvious from the recent Austin Fashion Week – Texas Fashion shows are more entertaining, better casted and the models showcase the designers clothes better than most anywhere I’ve seen in the United States. This year‘s fashion week was segmented into different design capsules. The first being emerging designers, then black designers, and then the final night was ode to the OG’s. It did not disappoint.

From mysterious by NPN to Swinney Fashions to Nina Means to Laura Citron- the night was full of extravagant and beautiful designs. The showstopper was the final act – Any Old Iron, a Nashville design firm that brought down the house not only with the beautiful designs fit for a Grand Ole Opry Singer, full of sequins and glitter but the models, who were given free range to present the clothes in anyway they saw fit.

Designs by Any Old Iron

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Native American Fashion Spotlight

Native American fashion (also known as Indigenous American fashion) encompasses the design and creation of high-fashion clothing and fashion accessories by the Native peoples of the Americas. Indigenous designers frequently incorporate motifs and customary materials into their wearable artworks, providing a basis for creating items for the haute couture and international fashion markets. Their designs may result from techniques such as beadwork, quillwork, leather, and textile arts, such as weaving, twining, and tufting. In some cases, however, they choose not to include any materials associated with indigenous cultures.

One such designer – Orlando Dugi, a Santa Fe based designer that has taken his collections to New York Fashion Week and a Oklahoma Fashion Week and has expanded his showcase over the past several years to a Couture-Lovers dream. Find his designs at:

https://orlandodugi.com/

This week’s worst human: Don Lemmon| mocking mental illness, racist hypocrite

Lemon and his band of halfwit commentators took to the air over at CNN this week to demolish another American’s right to freedom. Last week it was Alyssa Milano insisting that she knew who and what Kanye should stand for better than he did.

This week, here comes a gay, black CNN talking head, married to a white man, laughing at other racists identifying Kanye as “a negro who doesn’t read.”

Just a note: Kayne is an established fashion designer, music producer, musician, husband and father of three. The racists on the CNN panel have accomplished what???

If you are a me too, black lives matter or Colin Kapernak supporter, where is your outrage over this?

Hackers accessed personal information of 30 million Facebook users – CNN

Almost 30 million Facebook users’ phone numbers and email address were accessed by hackers in the biggest security breach in the company’s history, Facebook said on Friday.
— Read on www.cnn.com/2018/10/12/tech/facebook-hack-personal-information-accessed/index.html

Hollywood Melts Down After FBI Probe Fails to Prove Kavanaugh a Gang Rapist: ‘Go F*ck Yourself’

Hollywood celebrities melted down on Twitter Thursday following the FBI concluding up an investigation into Brett Kavanaugh.
— Read on www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2018/10/04/hollywood-melts-down-after-fbi-probe-fails-to-prove-kavanaugh-a-gang-rapist-go-fck-yourself-flood-the-streets/amp/