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interview December 2024 What's the Future of Fashion?
Interview by Tara Donaldson, Photography by Michael Kohlslinkedin 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.
press March 2026 War in the Middle East Raises Questions for Fashion
Vogue Business by Tara DonaldsonAchim comments on the shifting outlook for luxury amidst the war in the Middle East.
Before the recent escalation, the Middle East was one of the few growth regions for luxury globally. However, Achim warns that disruption in the region will directly impact demand. While long-term fundamentals remain intact, he cautions that the duration of instability will determine the scale of impact – with short-term shocks affecting the current selling season and prolonged uncertainty posing broader risks to growth.
press April 2026 Bandage dresses and sellout shoes: Big Luxury’s bid to reinv...
Financial Times by Adrienne Klasa, Elizabeth Paton, Silvia Sciorilli BorrelliAchim comments on the current luxury slowdown and how increased conflict pressure is shaping the luxury industry’s outlook.
The post-fashion week mood offers tentative glimmers of optimism, but no meaningful shift in momentum. Achim highlights that the sector's challenges go far beyond the immediate impact of the Middle East conflict. While the conflict is directly affecting regional demand and suppressing tourism flows, its broader consequences – rising inflation and higher energy prices – are weighing on consumer spending appetite. Even with a quick resolution, recovery takes time, with delayed effects on the current selling season. The industry's structural challenges, from pricing to positioning, remain unresolved. Achim warns that external shocks should not distract from the industry's need for structural adjustment.
press April 2026 After Years of Double-Digit Sales Growth, Luxury Retailers ...
The Daily Upside by Nelson WangAchim discusses how self-inflicted structural issues contributed to the global luxury slowdown.
While luxury has had strong aggregate growth over recent decades, escalating geopolitical turmoil, slowing growth in China, US tariffs, and AI disruption have contributed to the industry's downturn. Achim states the luxury sector is in crisis, largely due to self-inflicted issues – particularly steep price increases that have alienated aspirational customers and lowered the perceived promise-to-value ratio. As a result, brands are making adjustments, such as expanding entry-level offerings and reshuffling creative leadership. Achim frames these efforts as the industry's early experiments to address and correct its challenges.
press April 2026 The new luxury code
Der Aktionär by Sarina RosenbuschAchim addresses current volatile dynamics challenging the luxury industry.
He sheds light on his perspective on the current forces influencing the luxury market. He assesses the repercussions of the Middle East conflict on the sector, what it will take for the sector to bounce back, and where luxury is heading. Achim points to a challenging market environment, highlighting the sharp decline in tourism throughout the Middle East, which has led to significant losses in retail traffic. He stresses the urgency for a widespread reset within the industry: luxury brands must address unchecked price hikes and prioritize quality and ongoing creative innovation. Expecting a return to double-digit growth is unrealistic – the sector will stabilize at more moderate rates.
