6 macro themes that will reshape our industry by 2026

Fashion used to be a PEST - that is, influenced by Politics, Economics, Society and Tech. Speaking at this month’s NRF conference, WGSN’s VP Consumer Insights, Andrea Bell, delivered a forward-thinking overview of the industry entitled, “Global Forces Shaping the Retail Business Landscape” that elaborated on the acronym created by Harvard professor Francis Aguilar in 1967. 2026 will be the year of redirection as a result of the elections held in 64 countries across the globe. Between now and then half of the world's population will be heading out to vote and old established ideas will be threatened, even rejected, while a polarized society widens further. But it will also herald in new opportunities as creativity and activism will be unleashed aided by fast-emerging technologies.