B2B fashion platform, Fashion United, has released a fashion industry outlook report for 2026.

This report features a 2026 apparel industry economic outlook, an AW 26/27 trend report, deep dives into evolving consumer behaviour and technology in fashion, and vital insights on the supply chain and material innovation. 

2026 apparel industry economic outlook

• The global fashion industry is navigating a fundamentally new reality in 2026, characterised by persistent macroeconomic volatility, redrawn trade maps, and rapid technological disruption.
• Executives are seeking clarity amidst systemic shifts that demand heightened agility and disciplined capital deployment. 

AW 26/27 trend report

• The AW 26/27 season marks a pivotal moment of "Redirection," a theme identified as the defining sentiment for the industry.
• As the fashion sector navigates a poly-crisis of environmental instability, geopolitical tension, and technological acceleration (specifically AI), the consumer mindset is bifurcating.
• There is a simultaneous retreat into protective, restorative comfort and a surge towards radical, expressive dissent.  

Consumer behaviour in 2026

• The global fashion sector is entering a new strategic cycle defined by profound shifts in consumer behaviour, demanding a re-evaluation of how apparel companies build desirability and remain visible.
• Amid persistent economic uncertainties and geopolitical pressures, the industry is grappling with the structural transformation brought on by artificial intelligence (AI), a pervasive shift toward authenticity and value, and the unabashed rise of ultra-fast fashion platforms.

2026 technology in fashion

• Artificial intelligence (AI) has firmly transcended its designation as a technical novelty, developing into the crucial interface between consumers and brands and reshaping the operational structure of the apparel industry.
• The transition is imperative for executives facing a market defined by turbulence as the new normal amid escalating tariffs, geopolitical complexity, and pressure from ultra-fast fashion platforms.  

Apparel industry regulatory changes

• The European Union (EU) apparel and textile industry is confronting an unparalleled wave of mandatory sustainability legislation, with 2026 serving as the pivotal deadline for key compliance mechanisms.
• These regulations are transforming sustainability from a voluntary consideration into a non-negotiable prerequisite for market access.
• The shift requires executives to overhaul business models, supply chain visibility, and product design, creating both a significant administrative burden and a new framework for competitive advantage.  

2026 material innovation in apparel

• The fashion industry is poised for a significant shift in its material landscape in 2026, driven primarily by twin imperatives: deepened sustainability and advanced performance integration.
• Industry forecasts and recent fabric trade show collections, such as the SS26 offerings at Milano Unica and Première Vision, indicated a move away from niche sustainability efforts toward a fully integrated system of bio-based, recycled, and smart textiles in the future. 

Supply chain outlook 2026

• The fashion supply chain in 2026 is no longer defined solely by speed and cost, but by its resilience, precision, and adherence to escalating regulatory standards.
• The prevailing operational reality is one of volatility, driven by geopolitical turbulence, trade tariffs, and climate-related shocks.
• Executives cite responses to trade disruptions and rising tariffs as the single most significant theme shaping the industry in the year ahead.
• This environment demands a fundamental shift in strategy, turning the supply chain from a reactive cost centre into a proactive, technology-driven competitive advantage. 

For more information, visit fashionunited.uk.