The team of the “INTERFABRIC” industry-wide textile and light industry exhibition carefully studied the report to highlight the most important for you.

Fashion enters 2026 without illusions: it is no longer just uncertainty, but constant change. Economic fluctuations, trade wars, technological breakthrough in AI, and shifting consumer values — all this forms an environment where only flexible and rapidly adapting brands prosper.

1.Tariff turbulence

- Global supply chains are being reconfigured due to US trade policy — brands are optimizing production locations and logistics.

- Price growth is inevitable: almost 3/4 of fashion company executives expect price increases in 2026. The cost of clothing will increase by 9%.

- Flexibility is the key to survival: major players are reducing assortments and focusing on high-margin products.

- Production diversification: imports from China are falling, the role of Cambodia, Kenya, and Ethiopia is growing.

- Price increases need to be explained: brands should focus on craftsmanship and quality through storytelling.

2. Workforce reset

- AI and automation are changing roles: up to 40% of retailers require retraining.

- Marketing and creativity: 22% of tasks will be automated by 2030, but the challenge is to preserve authenticity.

- AI implementation: Zalando reduced image creation costs by 90%, Nike and Zalando use AI for personalization and design.

- Problems: high cost, outdated systems, lack of experience, and ethical questions.

3. The AI-era consumer

- AI agents will soon not only search for but also buy clothes for people.

- 53% of shoppers in the US already use generative AI to search for products.

- It is important for brands to adapt e-commerce: data must be structured and accessible for AI.

4. Jewelry surge

- Jewelry sales are growing faster than any other fashion category, outpacing clothing by 4 times.

- The category will continue to strengthen its position due to demand for durable investments, self-expression, and "self-gifting."

- Jewelry is becoming a key accessory, and brands will strive to capture their share of this rapidly growing market.

- Expected jewelry sales growth is 4.1% annually for the period 2025–2028.

5. New wave of smart glasses

- Smart glasses with multifunctional AI are changing the wearable devices landscape in 2026.

- Major players are already planning new product launches, reflecting a strong market trend.

- The wearable gadgets category will grow by 9% annually until 2028, and the smart glasses market will exceed $30 billion by 2030.

- An opportunity opens up for brands to collaborate with technology leaders and accelerate innovation adoption.

6. The era of wellbeing

- Consumers are increasingly focused on health, mental wellbeing, and emotional connection with brands.

- They are tired of superficial content and are looking for brands that reflect their inner values.

- Fashion companies are beginning to expand into adjacent "third spaces" of wellbeing, while the potential for integrating these priorities into all aspects of the brand remains huge.

- 84% of consumers in the US and 94% in China consider self-care and health the most important in daily life.

7. Open efficiency

- In a challenging market, companies must increase efficiency for growth.

- Scale and low cost no longer provide an advantage.

- Using new technologies helps reduce costs and free up resources for developing unique products and services.

- Changing strategies for margin, costs, and cash flows is the second most important trend of 2026.

8. Resale leap

- Rising prices for new fashion encourage consumers to pay more attention to secondhand.

- Marketplaces made resale popular; now brands must build their own resale strategies.

- Despite operational complexities, resale is becoming an attractive channel for increasing revenue and strengthening brand image.

- The resale market will grow 2–3 times faster than the new segment until 2027.

9. The value elevation play

- Brands from the value segment to affordable luxury are striving to elevate their position.

- The goal is to distance themselves from ultra-low prices and attract customers who have left the luxury segment.

- Increased competition and margin pressure make these strategies particularly relevant.

- A focus on product quality and unique experiences will help refresh positioning.

- Example: value brands such as Bershka and H&M reduced the number of low-price SKUs by 15–25% in the UK from 2023 to 2025.

10. Luxury reset

- Slowing luxury growth is prompting a strategic reboot of brands.

- The focus on price-driven growth is decreasing, while the focus on creativity and craftsmanship is intensifying.

- Harmonious work with different customer segments is important, uniting product, storytelling, and customer experience into a single brand value.

- The main attribute of luxury for affluent clients is "expertise and quality."

Where the fashion industry is heading in 2026

2026 is becoming a year not just of change, but of a new normal for the fashion industry. The world of fashion finds itself at a crossroads of global challenges — from economic turbulence and technological leaps to the rethinking of consumer values and the rapid growth of new segments.

- Flexibility and speed of response are the keys to success. Brands that can quickly adapt to new realities and revise strategies will remain competitive.

- Technology is becoming a driver of transformation. The implementation of AI is changing not only processes but also the professions themselves, increasing demands for employees' digital and creative skills.

- The consumer is becoming more complex and demanding. People are looking for products that align with their values: durability, self-expression, care for health and wellbeing.

- The growth of new segments is a chance for growth. Jewelry, smart glasses, wellness directions, and resale open new opportunities for brands capable of catching and developing these trends.

- Efficiency and business model revision are coming to the forefront. Automation, new approaches to pricing, and reconfiguring supply chains free up resources for developing unique advantages.

- Luxury and mid-market are rethinking value. Buyers have become more conscious, and now those who focus on quality, expertise, and emotional connection, not just price, are winning.

And where do these ideas, materials, technologies, and solutions meet? At the textile exhibition in Moscow — "INTERFABRIC":

- exhibition of fabrics,

- exhibition of home textiles,

- exhibition of technical textiles,

- exhibition of sewing equipment,

- exhibition of nonwoven materials,

- exhibition of fashion,

- exhibition of the textile industry.

This is not just an exhibition. This is the industrial brain and heart of fashion's future.

Ahead is an era of strategic flexibility, technological integration, and a deep understanding of your customers' values. Fashion can no longer rely on past recipes for success. Those who dare to change, experiment, and listen to their buyer will become the leaders of the industry's new era.

2026 is a time of opportunity for those ready to change with the world. And "INTERFABRIC" is the place where these changes begin!