Recent Highlights

press March 2025

Navigating wealth and technology in fashion (with Achim Berg...

Scandinavian MIND podcast by Konrad Olsson

Achim talks about his perspective on the role of AI and advanced technology in changing the dynamics of fashion’s future.

With fashion at an inflection point, AI and innovation are redefining how brands operate and compete. In a conversation, Achim explores how AI is transforming fashion beyond the hype, why the industry has become the third largest wealth generator after tech and finance, and the unique challenges facing premium Nordic brands in an increasingly competitive market. Achim also highlights the evolving role of sustainability, balancing priority and profitability in today's changing landscape.

press February 2025

Achim Berg Launches FashionSights, an Independent Think Tank

WWD.com by Evan Clark

WWD provides exclusive coverage of Achim’s vision for FashionSIGHTS, a day before its official business launch.

In an exclusive press release, Achim is quoted on his idea behind founding FashionSIGHTS to provide in-depth insights and advise fashion and luxury decision-makers in an increasingly complex landscape. The article highlights FashionSIGHTS' unique proprietary insights engine and the four core pillars upon which the think tank is built. Achim's ongoing influence in shaping fashion's future is underscored by his recent co-edited report with WWD which analyzes the wealth creation of fashion and luxury billionaires on the Forbes 200 list over the past 24 years.

linkedin February 2025

The Two-Horse Race: How Fashion’s Richest Are Shaping the In...

The FashionSIGHTS team is thrilled to share our first #inSIGHTS #report, titled "Behind the Fortunes – How Fashion and Luxury are Creating Billionaires Galore."
press October 2024

“Size is not in itself a guarantee for success”

Modaes.com by Pilar Riaño

In an interview with Pilar Riaño from Modaes, Achim delves into the future of the fashion industry.

He explains how SHEIN is disrupting fashion, similar to Inditex in the past, shaking up established business models. He also highlights the urgent need for regulators to step up, enforce sustainability standards and create a framework that holds fast fashion players accountable. He goes on to emphasize the importance of technological advances to make circularity a viable reality for the industry. Further, Achim addresses the growing polarization within the sector, where size increasingly matters and small brands are struggling to compete. Amidst this, he asserts that novelty and creativity remain crucial, ensuring cultural relevance and connecting brands with evolving consumer desires.
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press October 2024

Giorgio Armani- L’uomo, il marchio, l’azienda

Book by Frank Pagano and Marco DiDio Roccazzella

Achim pays tribute to Giorgio Armani in the afterword of the book "Giorgio Armani - L'uomo, ilmarchio, l'azienda" by Frank Pagano and Marco Di Dio Roccazzella, published by Il Sole 24 Ore in October 2024.

Achim honors Armani’s keen ability to consistently deliver distinctiveness and timelessness—kept at the core of everything he did—over five decades in business. Armani parlayed his signature aesthetic and his distinctive vision for lifestyle into a thriving brand, growing it into a multi-billion, multi-gender, multi-category global fashion group. All while maintaining the company's independence and full ownership in an industry that is characterized by intense consolidation.

press December 2024

Luxury and Fast Fashions Are Creating Billionaires Galore

WWD by Miles Socha

Achim talks to WWD about our research on the fashion and luxury industry’s wealth creation.
Fashion and luxury billionaires, led by LVMH’s Bernard Arnault and Inditex’s Amancio Ortega, have solidified their wealth despite global crises and a pandemic, with fashion and luxury ranking as the third-largest wealth-creatingindustry after technology and finance. The analysis highlights the polarizationin the industry, where luxury and value players dominate, while the mid-market struggles. It also showcases a dominance of European-based billionaires that account for 81% of the sector’s net worth. Looking forward, business model innovations, such as Inditex’s agility and Shein’s direct-to-consumer approach,coupled with the growing middle-class worldwide, suggest a resilient and prosperous future for fashion and luxury.

Press Archive

Our press archive offers a curated collection of articles and interviews showcasing our thought leadership. Explore the latest media coverage of our inSIGHTS and see how we shape industry conversations.

    Upcoming Book

    “What is the Future of the Fashion Industry?” is an upcoming book that will examine what’s in store for fashion over the next decade. Grounded in rigorous research, cutting-edge inSIGHTS and exclusive, high-profile interviews, this book identifies the 10 pivotal themes that will shape the industry and distinguish the leaders from the laggards. In an era marked by geopolitical tensions, climate change, disrupted supply chains, and fundamental consumer shift, the industry faces unprecedented uncertainty. These challenges raise a plethora of questions among executives and movers in fashion, who are seeking both clarity and direction. This book responds to that demand, offering actionable inSIGHTS and forward-thinking answers to navigate the evolving landscape of fashion.

    We are currently in the process of researching and writing the book, which is planned to be published in 2026.

    Updates on the Book

    linkedin March 2025

    Interview #20 - Claus Fischer, Global Leader Retail, Luxury ...

    What does it take to become a CEO of a fashion company? This was the focus of my recent conversation with Claus P. Fischer, the Global Practice Lead for Retail, Luxury & Apparel at Russell Reynolds Associates.
    linkedin February 2025

    Interview #19 - Michael Werner; Editor-in-Large, Textilwirts...

    Where is German fashion heading? That was the central theme of my recent conversation with Michael Werner, Editor-at-Large at TextilWirtschaft in our Wiesbaden offices. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Michael has been a keen observer of the German fashion market. He spent more than a decade leading the editorial team at TextilWirtschaft the leading trade publication for the DACH fashion market, and continues to shape the industry dialogue in his current role as Editor-at-Large. Few have analyzed and narrated the sector’s evolution as extensively as he has.
    linkedin

    Interview #17 - Eric Liu; Founder & CEO Style3D

    Is the Fashion Industry Having Its #TESLA Moment? That was at the heart of my conversation with Eric LIU, founder and CEO of Style3D. Eric is a true pioneer, driving the digital transformation of fashion’s back-end processes. With over 20 years of experience, he founded Style3D in 2015, blending his expertise in computer science with hands-on experience in apparel manufacturing.
    linkedin

    Interview #10 - James Fallon; Chief Content Officer, WWD

    The CELEBRATIZATION of #Fashion and Why the US is a Graveyard for European Brands ... … was at the heart of my recent conversation with James Fallon Editorial Director of WWD and Chief Content Officer of Fairchild Media Group, in his office on 5th Avenue. James is a legend in the fashion media industry, with an impressive 45-year career at Fairchild Media. He oversees editorial content across iconic brands like WWD Beauty Inc, Sourcing Journal, Footwear News, and Fairchild Live Media. Having spent 20 years as Fairchild’s London bureau chief before relocating to New York in 2001, James has developed a deep understanding of both the European and U.S. markets, making his perspective on their intersections and contrasts invaluable.
    linkedin

    Interview #9 - Jörgen Andersson; Global Creative Director, H...

    Why Fashion Needs to Move from “Albums to Playlists” ... … was just one of the many fascinating topics I discussed with Jörgen Andersson , Global Creative Director at H&M during my recent visit to Stockholm. Jörgen is a true industry veteran who began his career as a business controller at H&M in 1990. Over two decades, he held key roles in product, marketing, and brand development. In 2010, he joined Esprit as Director of Brand and New Business, later becoming Global Co-Chief Marketing Officer at UNIQLO and Fast Retailing in London. For the last decade, he’s been active in Stockholm’s fashion and beauty start-up scene and contributed his expertise to boards like , Filippa K and the H&M Foundation.
    linkedin

    Interview #8 - Helena Helmersson; Chairperson Circulose

    Why #Sustainability is the Next Wave of #Disruption in the #Fashion Industry During my recent visit to Stockholm, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Helena Helmersson for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of sustainability in fashion. Helena’s new role as Chairperson of Circulose, a leading Nordic recycling innovator, made this a natural focal point for our discussion.
    linkedin

    Interview #1 - Vanessa Friedman; Fashion Director & Chief Fa...

    Why Luxury Goods Companies Should Take Back Their Products and the Addiction to Consumption These were just a few of the topics I discussed recently with Vanessa Friedman Fashion Director and Chief Fashion Critic at The New York Times. Vanessa and I first met 15 years ago when she was the inaugural Fashion Editor at The Financial Times. It was then that we began the partnership between McKinsey & Company and the FT’s Business of Luxury Summit Series. I fondly remember events like the one in Marrakech, where I had the privilege of moderating a panel with Moncler‘s Remo Ruffini.
    linkedin

    Interview #3 - Colin Browne; CEO, Cascale

    How #Apparel #Sourcing Has Changed — and Why #Sustainability Is an #Operational #Imperative These were the core themes of my recent conversation with Colin Browne CEO of Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition or SAC). Colin is a true industry veteran, starting his career as a buying and sourcing manager in Asia in the late ‘80s. I first met him about ten years ago in Hong Kong during his tenure as VP and Managing Director of Asia Sourcing at VF Corporation Corporation , where he was a key architect of supply chain strategy in the apparel industry.
    linkedin

    Interview #2 - Max Bittner; CEO, Vestiaire Collective

    #Luxury E-commerce’s Perfect Storm and the Future of #Resale These were the key themes of my recent conversation with Maximilian Bittner during our meeting in hashtag#NewYorkCity. Max began his career at McKinsey & Company before founding and leading Lazada Group in Singapore. In 2019, he joined Vestiaire Collective as an investor, CEO, and Chairman, recognizing a massive scalability opportunity in the luxury resale market.

    Reports

    Explore our whitepapers for in-depth inSIGHTS into the fashion industry. Our research provides both hindSIGHT and foreSIGHT - analyzing past trends, exploring current patterns, and anticipating shifts that will shape the future of fashion.

    • Out Now: HindSIGHT report No 1

      Over the past 25 years, the fashion and luxury industry has created significant value, reflected in the massive personal wealth amassed by its super-winners. Using Forbes data as a proxy, the industry now ranks as the third-largest wealth creator, behind technology and finance. Yet, much like the rapidly evolving fashion landscape, the list of billionaires and their net worth is also undergoing a dynamic redistribution. Examining the patterns of wealth creation within the fashion and luxury industry offers inSIGHTS not only into this industry’s evolution over time and its current state, but also into where it may be headed next.

      (Released on February 28, 2025)

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