Whether it’s the quality of fabric or a high price point, luxury carries many connotations. In a bid to raise its profile and highlight just how easy it can be to influence purchasing decisions, Payless launched Palessi – a high-end hoax store selling the brand's budget shoes at a mark-up of 1,800%.

With athleisure taking the fashion world by storm, brands are struggling to compete in an oversaturated market. UK-based Gymshark has made its mark in the fitness-wear arena by aligning its products to popular YouTube and Instagram influencers to create a cult following of 18-25 year olds.

New beauty start-ups are regularly springing up on Instagram, but few have managed to make as powerful an impact as New York-based Glossier. How has this blog-turned-brand cultivated a fiercely loyal following? And what can its approach to product creation teach the wider industry?

Beauty is in the throes of revolution. As people move away from the idealised to a celebration of real people, brands have an exciting opportunity to tap into the new beauty wave. With its #SephoraSquad, Sephora is going further, inviting everyday people to become influencers for the brand.