EDITED Retail Data Reveals the Most Commercially Successful Trends of 2015
This year, Athleisure and items inspired by the 1970s lead the way, a distinctive step away from 2014’s normcore, kimonos, pencil skirts and wrap skirts.
LONDON — December 16, 2015 — EDITED, the worldwide leader in real-time retail data, has announced the most commercially successful trends of 2015. Since 2009 EDITED has revealed retail’s biggest hits of the year based on its real-time apparel retail data, which includes more than 50 million products and over 300 billion SKUs worldwide.
This year, Athleisure and items inspired by the 1970s lead the way, a distinctive step away from 2014’s normcore, kimonos, pencil skirts and wrap skirts.
As always, the most commercial trends of the year were determined by assessing the rate of replenishment, presence on the market and consistent pricing. All of the data we’ve included here is current as of December 15, 2015 and was pulled directly from EDITED, the retail analytics software used on six continents by brands and retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Topshop and Gap.
Trend: Athleisure
To get some perspective on just how big this trend was in 2015, consider that there are three times as many sneakers currently on the market as there are skinny jeans.
1. Yoga pants
New arrivals in 2015 were up 183% from 2014.
Of new arrivals: 23% were in the premium market, where most growth occurred.
Average price increased by 39%. In 2015, it was $83.90 compared to $60.35 in 2014.
2. Sweatpants / Joggers
Nearly 35,000 men’s pairs arrived online in 2015, a 114% climb from 2014.
On average a pair of joggers sold out in 90 days, compared to 157 days in 2014.
3. Trainers / Sneakers
New arrivals this year were up 210% from 2014.
4. Sports Bras / Crops
New arrivals of sports bras increased by 162% over 2014.
In 2015, the mass market represented 61% of stock. Luxury was in second place at 14%.
On average a sports crop sells out in 74 days in 2015, compared to 115 days in 2014.
Trend: The Seventies
Coming into the year, the 70s were trailing 60s as the most stocked decade. However, that quickly turned around. The 70s featured heavily in editorial and headlined campaigns for brands and retailers, especially in spring and summer.
It worked so well because the theme offers up an entire story, which can be fully merchandised: boho dresses, peasant blouses, high-neck tops, flared pants, all-in-ones and pinafores, fringing, crochet, denim, footwear and accessories. The palette is also instantly recognisable as being of the era. It’s a prescriptive trend that consumers across value, mass, premium and luxury markets lapped up.
1. Fringing
223% more fringed items arrived online during 2015, compared to 2014. Fringing worked best in the mass market, where 42% of 70s products retailed. Tops and footwear were the best-selling categories.
2. Flares
Nearly 11,000 flared denim arrived online, up 422% from 2014.
3. High necks
New arrivals of turtlenecks were up 552% in 2015 over 2014.
66% of the total arrived in the premium market.
Trend: Fabrics
2015 was the year of the fabric renaissance. Four specific fabrics stood out this year: corduroy, suede, denim (all popular year-round) and velvet (which rocketed in fall).
Suede (and suedette) apparel and bags: arrivals up 193% in 2015, peaking in September.
Velvet: arrivals increased 101% in 2015, peaking in October.
Corduroy: arrivals climbed 96% in 2015, peaking in February.
Denim was mentioned in 6,069 retailers’ email newsletters in 2015.
Trend: Accessories
Backpacks had major impact for both men’s and women’s retailers at every price point. The bucket bag trend was another top performer, propelled by hip label Mansur Gavriel as well as luxe houses Chloé and 3.1 Phillip Lim.
1. Backpacks
More than 79,000 backpacks arrived online with an average price point of $65.56.
2. Bucket bags
40% of new arrivals were in the luxury segment.
On average, it took a bucket bag 79 days to sell out in 2015. It was 127 days in 2014.
About EDITEDEDITED helps the world’s best retailers drive sales by eliminating guesswork. The Retail Decision Platform uses A.I. to optimize buying and merchandising decisions, ensuring retailers get their product and prices right every time. This is how the world’s most innovative retailers stay ahead of the competition; including PUMA, Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, Ann Taylor and the Arcadia Group. For more information, visit www.edited.com.
