Speed is This Season’s Hottest Fashion Trend, According to Research from Kurt Salmon, Part of Accenture Strategy

Retailers need to get in shape to meet consumer demand for a fast fashion fix

WORLD RETAIL CONGRESS -– With one in eight younger consumers (18 to 24 year olds) shopping every week and buying a fashion item at least once a fortnight, retailers are gearing themselves up to meet growing demand for fast, on-trend, fashion-led styles, according to new research from Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy. Speed and agility are the top priorities for every retailer competing in fast fashion.

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Retailers are gearing themselves up to meet growing demand for fast, on-trend, fashion-led styles (Photo: Business Wire)

“Young consumers have a ‘see now, buy now, wear now’ mentality when it comes to fashion, which has been driven by big fashion houses making the latest designs and styles available to buy straight from the catwalk. This is challenging retailers to improve their operational agility to meet rising demand for current trends,” said Dan Murphy, managing director, Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy. “This insatiable appetite for fast fashion will inevitably continue as these shoppers age. There is no reason to believe that younger consumers, who have grown up wedded to devices and social media, will expect anything less than instant gratification in years to come, and continue to possess the same sense of style and image.”

Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy, conducted interviews with 23 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and senior executives at leading global fashion retailers to explore the ‘see now, buy now, wear now’ trend and the readiness of retailers to deliver. A survey of 2,000 UK consumers was also conducted to understand current appetite for fast fashion.

‘See now’

With many younger consumers constantly searching for style inspiration on everything from social media to the high street, retailers are under increasing pressure to turn around new lines in record time. Many have been working hard to reduce their lead times to meet this growing demand for fast fashion. One leading fashion retailer is now delivering new lines in two to three weeks; yet speed is only part of the success equation.

“Retailers need to accurately analyze what is selling in real-time and be in a position where they can react quickly,” explained Murphy. “According to one major fashion retailer, there is now only a 24 to 36-hour window from browsing to buying. Retailers that actively engage with their customers, analyze shopping and social media habits, and pre-empt future trends, will be the winners in the fast fashion market.”

‘Buy now’

Speed of delivery of online orders is also highly important to consumers. Accenture research highlights that one in five of 18 to 20 year olds want same day delivery, and a further 13 percent want delivery in less than half a day. Twenty-one to 37 year olds are slightly more relaxed with almost a third happy for their orders to arrive the next day.

‘Wear now’

The study found that shoppers buy for the present, with 53 percent of all consumers surveyed wearing items within a week of purchase, and 15 percent wearing items the very same day. For younger consumers (18 to 24 year olds), the numbers increase; 60 percent wear items within a week of purchase, and one in five wear items on the same day of purchase.

While the majority of younger shoppers claim that ethical sustainability is a key factor informing their purchasing decisions, their behaviour suggests otherwise; less than half (48 percent) of 18 to 24 year olds recycle their clothes. Additionally, half (50 percent) of retailers surveyed say they are actively exploring new ways to extend the product lifecycle, using recycled materials, or facilitating clothes swapping and sharing.

Please find further information about the report here. Join the conversation at @AccentureStrat.

About the research

Kurt Salmon, part of Accenture Strategy, conducted interviews with 23 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and senior executives at leading global fashion retailers to explore the ‘see now, buy now, wear now’ trend and the readiness of retailers to deliver. A survey of 2,000 UK consumers aged between 18 to 55+ was also conducted to understand current appetite for fast fashion.

About Accenture

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 401,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Strategy operates at the intersection of business and technology. We bring together our capabilities in business, technology, operations and function strategy to help our clients envision and execute industry-specific strategies that support enterprise wide transformation. Our focus on issues related to digital disruption, competitiveness, global operating models, talent and leadership help drive both efficiencies and growth. For more information, follow @AccentureStrat or visit www.accenture.com/strategy.

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AccentureLucy Davies, + 44 777 3044 [e-mail]