The apparel space has faced considerable headwinds in recent years – from changing consumer preferences to cutbacks in discretionary spending. We dove into the data for various apparel categories to explore emerging industry trends and see what foot traffic patterns can tell us about the state of apparel in 2025.

Key Takeaways

Between 2019 and 2024, the share of apparel visits going to off-price retailers and thrift store categories increased substantially, likely due to consumers’ prioritization of value and treasure-hunting. 

To better understand the consumer perspective, Blue Yonder’s fourth annual Consumer Sustainability Survey surveyed more than 5,000 consumers across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), France, Germany, U.K., and U.S. on their sustainable shopping opinions and behaviors – everything from trust in brands’/retailers’ sustainability messaging to whether they would pay more for sustainable products to how they view the possibility of AI helping with sustainability. Explore results of our 2025 Consumer Sustainability Survey in the infographic below to learn more.

What do marketers need to know to map a seamless full-funnel journey, from online discovery to in-store purchase? Today’s consumers seamlessly merge e-commerce and in-store experiences, creating personalized journeys that demand a full-funnel marketing approach. 71% of consumers still shop at brick-and-mortar stores.

Yet only 33% shop without digital assistance, relying on online research, mobile apps, or social media to guide them.

For marketers, the importance of generational differences cannot be understated. However, we think you probably already know this. In fact, you’ll probably also be aware that generational cut-offs aren’t an exact science.

‍ Sometimes, two generations will merge. What happens when Gen Z meets Gen Alpha? Introducing: Generation Zalpha.

Ready to find out exactly who this generation is? Curious about their values, their spending power and their expectations? 

Generations are a funny thing. Boomers, Millennials, Generation Z: we’re all part of one, and like it or not, have characteristics unique to our life cycles. Our formative years shape who we are: Millennials grew up in the shadow of events like 9/11. They entered the workforce during the height of an economic recession. Boomers grew up as television expanded, changing their understanding of the world around them. Gen Z was the first digitally native generation: the generation of social media, filters, and instant connectivity. 

Generative AI-powered chat interfaces are changing how consumers act online. They’re becoming a helpful assistant for compiling research before making a purchase, as well as helping with travel planning and financial guidance. Adobe issued its first report today profiling the trend, which shows a significant surge to U.S. websites from generative AI sources.

The Adobe Analytics insights are based on direct transactions online, showing the impact of generative AI on the digital economy. The retail insights, for instance, are based on analysis of more than 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites, a greater volume of data than is available to any other technology company or research organization. A companion survey of more than 5,000 U.S. respondents provides an additional layer of context on how consumers are thinking about AI in their daily lives.

Politics is becoming increasingly divisive – and marketers need to prepare and adapt for an uncertain future. Doing nothing will only leave your brand in a difficult position. We’ve entered a new era marked by increasingly divisive rhetoric, government policies being reversed, and longstanding cultural norms being challenged — an era we called Splintered Societies in our most recent Ipsos Global Trends study.

The traditional marketing funnel — relied on by marketers for decades — no longer tells the full story. Consumers now navigate a dynamic web of multiple touchpoints, often all at once.

New research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that the “4S behaviors” defining today’s consumer experience — streaming, scrolling, searching, and shopping — have fundamentally reshaped how people discover and engage with brands. Understanding each behavior and adapting your marketing will be critical to reaching audiences, resonating with them, and, ultimately, driving sales.