As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

As people become more aware of the environmental impact of their consumer habits, there is a greater incentive to buy second-hand. Adopting principles of the circular economy, Twig has launched a free banking app that allows users to trade their pre-loved goods for instant cash.

In the age of fast fashion and flash sales, clothes are positioned as short-lived, designed to be replaced once the next trend kicks in. But attitudes are shifting amid growing climate consciousness, something that fashion designer Dave Hakkens is tapping into with his clothing repair academy.

Where the second-hand clothing industry used to conjure up images of stale thrift stores and overpacked rails, it's now emerging as an on-trend and eco-conscious alternative. What can Vinted, an online marketplace where people buy and sell pre-loved clothing, teach us about the future of retail?

As influencers sample and promote physical fashion digitally, fashion brands are collaborating with them to bolster 3D-rendered designs. As more people are exposed to virtual fashion, influencers' digital sampling could mean fashion brands would no longer need to give away clothes for free.