FashionSIGHTS
turns one.

A year ago, FashionSIGHTS began with a simple aim: to create a focused fashion and luxury advisory built on insight, perspective, and conversation. Twelve months later, we mark our first anniversary.

What started as a clear idea has grown into an think-tank working across brand perspectives, cultural analysis, and strategic direction. Over time, FashionSIGHTS has developed its own voice: considered, curious, and forward-looking, with a clear point of view. We’re proud of what’s been established so far. The first year was about setting direction and building momentum. The year ahead is about refining our focus and deepening our impact.

Onwards and upwards, as we continue our journey to explore and help shape the Future of Fashion.

Gstaad Guy and Achim, London

MANGO HQ, Barcelona

Lars Braun (CEO,. Braun Hamburg), FashionSIGHTS Salon ”German Luxury”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

InSIGHTS report #2

Alexander Otto (Head of Creative Marketing & Events, Tradebyte) and Achim Berg, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Max Groberg, Hans-Martin (Co-Founders of smatch) and Achim, FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

MODAES Barcelona Fashion Summit, Barcelona

Giorgio Armani tribute

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Bettina Billerbeck (Editor in Chief, Textilwirtschaft), Alfons Kaiser (Editor in Chief, FAZ Magazin) and Achim, FashionSIGHTS Salon ”German Luxury”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Keynote at GS1 and WAIR 24h Circular Fashion Journey, Amsterdam

Kristina and Achim, FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

The Ralph Lauren Bar, Milan

Mike Peikert (MANGO, Regional Manager Germany) and Achim Berg, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Dorothee Schumacher and Achim, Mannheim

Carolin Klar (MD Product, Sourcing & Corp Responsibility) and Achim, Bonprix Expert Exchange, Hamburg

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS Salon ”German Luxury”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS Salon “German Luxury” together with Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Christoph Barchewitz (CEO, Global Fashion Group) and Achim, London

FAZ Magazin Top 50 Germans in Fashion

University of the Arts, London

Jose Antonio Ramos (CEO, ASOS) and Achim, Modaes Barcelona Fashion Summit, Barcelona

Rue der Castiglione, Paris

University of the Arts, London

Early day movers

Monte Carlo habour, Monaco

Textilwirtschaft interview

Café Marchesi, Via Monte Napoleone, Milan

Interview with German TV ARD on "Fast Fashion", FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Pilar Riaño (Founder and Editor in Chief, Modaes) and Achim, Barcelona

Live interview ARD’s tagesschau.de, Frankfurt

Tobias Bayer and Achim in conversation, Fashion Retail Summit, Milan

Bonprix Expert Exchange, Hamburg

Photoshoot of the FashionSIGHTS team with Michael Kohls, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Trunk model for a day

Poubel by Gstaad Guy

Early days at the FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Larissa, Gstaad Guy and Achim, London

Susann, Larissa and Achim, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Abu Dhabi

Landvetter Flygplats, Gothenburg

”Final touches”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Susann, Larissa, Annabelle, Maja and Achim, Wiesbaden

Jim Fallon (Chief Content Officer, WWD) and Achim, New York

Trish Donnelly (Division CEO Chico’s FAS) and Achim, New York

Hans-Christian Meyer (CEO J. Lindeberg) and Achim, Stockholm

Colin Browne (President & COO, David Yurman) and Achim, New York

Konrad Olsson (Founder & Editor in Chief, Scandinavian Mind), Stockholm

The Christmann & Kauffmann team during harvest, Gimmeldingen

New York

WWD HQ, New York

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Top management offsite of DEICHMANN Group, Krefeld

Patrick Simon and Achim, FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

inSIGHTS report #1

Larissa, Annabelle and Achim, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Karl Lagerfeld’s Librairie 7L, Paris

Mango HQ, Barcelona

FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashinSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Jennie Rosén (CEO, Swedish Fashion Council) and Achim, Boras

Prof. Malte Wessels, Prof. Matthias Freise, Annabelle and Achi, guest lecture at TEXOVERSUM, Reutlingen

Christmann & Kauffmann harvest, Gimmeldingen

Matcha at the FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Alfons Kaiser (Editor in Chief, FAZ Magazin) and Achim, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

ASOS HQ, London

Bonprix Expert Exchange, Hamburg

Sima Ved (Chairwomen Apparel Group) and Achim, Dubai

Chalhoub in:sight Summit, Dubai

Simone Heift (Chief Merchandising Officer, KaDeWe Group), Martina Bovenkerk (MD Regions Germany and Nordics, Ralph Lauren) and Achim, FashionSIGHTS Salon ”German Luxury”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Claus-Dietrich Lahrs, Prof. Markus Mädler and Achim, Frankfurt School of Finance & management lecture on the State of Luxury, Frankfurt

Paula and Delphine, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Lizzie Paton (Fashion Editor, Financial Times) and Achim, London

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Detecting fashion trends at Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt

Nicolaj Reffstrup (Founder, GANNI) and Achim, Copenhagen

Duomo di Milano, Milan

Fifth Avenue, New York

Burberry HQ, London

Mats Klingberg (Founder and MD, Trunk Clothiers), Zurich

Thorsten Mindermann and Achim, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Alex Klein and Susann, FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

D Congress, Gothenburg

Tobias Wachinger and Achim, FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Kerstin and Lukas Schäfer & Achim, FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS launch party, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Tyler Brûlé (Editorial Director, Moncle) and Achim, Zurich

Lecture on the State of Luxury, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, Frankfurt

Alfons Kaiser & Jennifer Wiebking (Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin) and Achim, Frankfurt

Drinks at the FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Halloween

Keynote at Boras Textile Days, Boras

Dubai

Textile Fashion Center, Boras

Stage Pass for Boras Textile Days, Boras

Antonio Gonzalo and Achim, FashionSIGHTS launch party, Fashionsights office, Wiesbaden

Paula and Delphine, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

David Schneider (CEO, HIGHSOBIETY) and Achim, Berlin

Intern for a day, Mango Flagship Store Zeil, Frankfurt

Alexis Mourot (CEO, Christian Louboutin) and Achim, Paris

Keynote and interview at D-Congress, Gothenburg

”Before it even started”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Barcelona

Home away from home, Barcelona

Detour to Stuttgart

Bernard Osta (CEO, Vestiaire Collective) and Achim, Paris

CHANEL Haute Couture Fashion Show, Paris

CHANEL Haute Couture Fashion Show, Paris

Paula, Delphine and Lola

Höst Kick-off, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Approaching Barcelona

The FashionSIGHTS team: Delphine, Annabelle, Paula, Kerstin, Susann and Achim, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Keynote at CHALHOUB in:sights Summit, Dubai

FashionSIGHTS Salon, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

FashionSIGHTS Salon, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

Larissa and Achim, London

FashionSIGHTS Salon ”German Luxury”, FashionSIHGHTs office, Wiesbaden

Bettina Billerbeck (Editor in Chief, Textilwirtschaft), Alfons Kaiser (Editor in Chief, FAZ Magazin) and Achim, FashionSIGHTS Salon ”German Luxury”, FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

André Maeder (CEO, Selfridges Group) and Achim, London

Jörgen Andersson (Chief Creative Officer, H&M) and Achim, Stockholm

FashionSIGHTS office, Wiesbaden

We are celebratingFashionSIGHTS turns one.
Explore the year
We are celebratingFashionSIGHTS turns one.

What's the Future of Fashion?

FashionSIGHTS Unveiled with Achim Berg

Read

FashionSIGHTS is an independent corporate think tank dedicated to exploring and shaping the future of the fashion industry. Rooted in rigorous research and powered by the expertise of our team and extensive network, we deliver value through THOUGHT LEADERSHIP and Advisory services to our clients, including senior decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Our unique inSIGHTS engine allows us to create hindSIGHT and foreSIGHT – analyzing past trends, addressing current challenges, and anticipating future opportunities. Based on our distinctive understanding, we actively support and make INVESTMENTS in start-ups and scale-ups at the intersection of fashion and technology, driving innovation and transformative growth.

At FashionSIGHTS, we use our convening power to foster a COMMUNITY of forward-thinkers by connecting our clients and partners with current and future decision-makers of the industry. We collaborate in a culture defined by trust, integrity, high performance, teamwork, and kindness. Together, we are reimagining the future of fashion.

Latest News

linkedin February 2026

Why the fashion industry needs to innovate!

I had the pleasure of speaking at the 24h Circular Fashion Journey in Amsterdam, organized by GS1 Netherlands and WAIR Retail Geeks. Pressure on the industry is mounting from all sides: macro uncertainty, squeezed margins, rising ESG expectations, and rapid technological change. Yet meaningful innovation remains limited. Most business models are still being stretched, not rethought. In Amsterdam, we explored the structural forces reshaping fashion today and made a deep dive on four challenges in particular: · The end of deflationary sourcing and logistics marking a structural cost reset that permanently changes the margin equation · Accelerating ESG regulation pushing circularity from strategic option to license to operate · A lack of true, system-wide innovation with too much focus on front-end and, apart from a few exceptions, not enough reinvention of the back-end · Rapid industry polarization and fragmentation where scale winners pull ahead while the rest struggle to stay relevant We further identified six concrete action points for brands to stay competitive in this challenging environment: 1. Reach critical mass or commit to a niche 2. Take back-channel control 3. Protect margins with cost discipline 4. Integrate technology end-to-end 5. Transform for sustainability from claims to proof 6. Embrace flexibility as a core capability With GS1’s work on product identification and Digital Product Passports accelerating, the link between regulation, transparency, and competitiveness is becoming impossible to ignore. A big thank you to Bram Broeks, Mitch van Deursen and ★ Steven Witteveen for the invitation, and for bringing together so many inspiring individuals and brands like Steve Madden and PVH Corp. And, thanks to everyone who contributed to such open, forward-looking discussions.
linkedin January 2026

Fashion overstock is like fresh produce: if it doesn’t sell ...

There’s a prevailing belief in the industry that #digitization and #AI will finally solve the overstock problem. But off-price retail isn’t just a temporary fix - it’s a structural feature of the system, acting as a release valve for persistent oversupply. In challenging times like these, wholesale often plans too optimistically and relies on discounting and off-price channels as a fallback. The two-year value curve tells the story clearly. Products launched at full price with short shelf lives rapidly depreciate. Proprietary data from the team at smatch shows that after two years, discounted items typically retain only around 17% of their original retail value. In practice, that means clearing older inventory often requires markdowns of 74–83% off the original price.
linkedin January 2026

The Evolution of Fashion's Super Winners

Since 2017, McKinsey & Company and The Business of Fashion have anually identified the so-called “Super Winners” in their State of Fashion report. These are the 20 top-performing publicly traded companies in fashion, apparel, and luxury, ranked by their absolute economic profits. The FashionSIGHTS team examined this list more closely to understand how the performance of these Super Winners have changed over time. What stands out is how little the top of the ranking has shifted in the past ten years. The same players largely remain in place, often just swapping positions. Meanwhile, some former leaders have dropped significantly in the rankings, while some categories such as off-price brands like The TJX Companies, Inc. have gained considerable ground.
linkedin January 2026

The Stratospheric Growth of the Luxury Industry Over the Pas...

Over the past 25 years, the luxury sector has experienced remarkable expansion, with several brands reaching unprecedented scale. LVMH stands out as the clear leader, generating €85 billion in annual revenue - more than the next five competitors combined (Richemont, Kering, CHANEL, Hermès, and Tapestry). Since 2000, LVMH has grown more than 7x. Meanwhile, single-brand houses such as CHANEL and Hermès have shown exceptional performance, growing approximately 10–15x over the same period to achieve annual revenues of €15–20 billion. This highlights the strength of focused brand identity and long-term equity. Another key trend emerges from the data: France dominates the global luxury market. French-based companies lead the industry, while Italian, American, and British competitors lag behind.
linkedin January 2026

A snapshot of the arguments that sparked the most debate

Not a press roundup. A snapshot of the arguments that sparked the most debate, comments, and off-platform conversation in 2025: drawn from pieces I was quoted in. Across FT, WWD, and WSJ, three articles kept resurfacing — because they captured the key tensions the industry faced last year, and will likely keep grappling with.
linkedin December 2025

#Books that shaped my 2025 …

Mostly non-fiction A lot of fashion Some art and biographies Plenty on mindset, business, and economics And many inspiring voices from around the world The 2026 plan? The rules stay simple (and slightly ambitious): → more books → 3 languages (would love to read one in Swedish) → more fiction → even more fashion & luxury → buy almost exclusively from independent bookstores Bonus milestone: seeing my own Future of Fashion book on this list next year :)
linkedin January 2026

Do luxury brands get it wrong with mass-market sports sponso...

Another strong article by Adrienne Klasa in Friday’s Financial Times. Luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Prada and Moncler are doubling down on major sports sponsorships: the Olympics, Formula 1, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Chinese women’s football team,Inter Milan, Real Madrid C.F.. I get the logic. It’s entertainment, it’s global scale, it generates massive (social) media exposure. And I largely agree with the arguments made by my friends Jonathan Siboni and Erwan Rambourg, who are quoted in the piece. And yet - I get it, but I also don’t. Take LVMH and the Olympics. That sponsorship almost had to happen. A home game in Paris, unmatched access to experiences, champagne, hospitality - and, not least, an elegant way of reminding Kering who’s who. Strategically, it made sense.
press July 2025

Fast Fashion no longer guarantees succes

TextilWirtschaft by Michael Werner

Achim Berg spent many years at McKinsey as an analyst and consultant - focusing on luxury and fashion. Recently, he struck out on his own with FashionSights. “Even in times like these, the business can still be fun,” says Berg who doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths and remains deeply passionate about the industry.

press June 2025

A50 – The list of the 50 most important Germans in fashion

Achtung & FAZ magazine by Alfons Kaiser, Jennifer Wiebking, Markus Ebner, Alex Rottenmanner, Nicole Urbschat, Silke Wichert

Achim ranks No.10 on Achtung magazine’s annual “A50” list acknowledging his lasting industry influence and founding of FashionSIGHTS.

For the first time, FashionSIGHTS founder and managing director Dr. Achim Berg has landed on Achtung magazine’s annual “A50” list - a ranking that spotlights influential German individuals shaping the global fashion landscape. He debuts at No.10, just behind Mytheresa CEO Michael Kliger and Chloé creative director Chemena Kamali.

The magazine highlights Achim’s lasting influence on the industry, citing his role in establishing McKinsey’s global Fashion & Luxury practice and his standing as one of the most quoted business voices in the field. His founding of FashionSIGHTS is recognized as a timely and strategic move, that unites data-based hindsight and foresight with deep industry expertise at a time of fundamental industry transformation.

press September 2025

The Great Fashion Reset - How to Fix Luxury’s Trust Issues

BoF by Sarah Kent

Achim comments on recent scandals exposing luxury supply chains and its impact on luxury perception and consumer trust

The luxury industry is currently facing a structural crisis. Price hikes far beyond inflation have raised consumer doubts about value and trust. Slowing sales, management missteps and recent "Made in Italy" court cases exposing sweatshops, have further damaged the industry's image. Achim notes that luxury brands have been chasing volumes without strengthening supply chain controls, often turning a blind eye. He highlights that this is especially shocking for small-volume, high-margin companies, whose higher prices are justified by promises of exceptional quality.

event May 2025

The Future of Retail Summit, Milan

Achim Berg joins the opening panel at the first edition of "The Future of Retail" Summit, hosted by FASHION Magazine in Milan on May 5th. The summit gathers leading voices from across the fashion industry from Italy and beyond to explore the evolving dynamics and future of fashion retail. In the discussion, Achim addresses the complex challenges and emerging opportunities that are currently reshaping the industry landscape.

linkedin

The 2025 Forbes Billionaires List is out - and it’s clear: F...

The combined net worth of fashion and luxury billionaires in the Forbes Top 200 fell to $522bn, down 16% from $617bn in 2024. That decline is mirrored in the number of fashion/luxury figures in the Top 200: just 10 in 2025, compared to 14 last year. Notable drop-offs include: • Giorgio Armani now ranked #208 with $11.8bn • Sky Xu (Shein Shein) now #323, net worth down by $2bn • Michael Rubin (Fanatics slipped to #248 • Nicolas Puech (Hermès heir, 5% stake): dropped entirely Last year, Bernard Arnault (LVMH) briefly claimed the top spot as the world’s richest. But tech is back on top: Elon Musk has reclaimed #1 with a net worth of $342bn (as of March), while Arnault fell to #5, with his fortune down to $178bn (from $233bn). ...

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