US fashion ecommerce is maturing just as AI, social commerce, and resale gain traction. Slower growth and costly returns are raising the stakes, reshaping how consumers discover, decide, and buy.

2025 challenged many of retail’s long-held assumptions. What looked like familiar patterns often turned out to be something different entirely, and in the process, a few key trends were either missed or misread by brands trying to make sense of shifting shopper behavior. Here are three trends from 2025 that were either overlooked or misunderstood, and why they will matter in the year ahead.

The news: Klarna partnered with Poshmark so US buyers can resell Klarna purchases on Poshmark through the Klarna app. Our take: Gen Zers have a hunger for low-cost fashion. As fast fashion brands face mounting tariff pressures, Gen Zers may turn toward resale marketplaces to some from someone else’s closet—and use sales from their own closet to fund that shopping.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how tariffs are impacting the circular economy, if these trends will stick around, and which companies stand to benefit. Listen to the conversation with our Senior Analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts Senior Analyst Sky Canaves and Analyst Rachel Wolff.

ThredUp sees a big opportunity ahead: Steep tariffs on China and the closing of the de minimis loophole will drive up prices for new products, which could be a boon to the resale platform.

New tariffs will create ripple effects across retail—and returns will be no exception. With US retail returns predicted to exceed $1 trillion this year, according to a December 2024 EMARKETER forecast, the pressure is on retailers to adapt.

While sustainability is a factor in consumers’ decision-making, financial constraints and convenience still dictate most purchasing behavior.

GenAI and social are set to heavily influence the UK commerce and advertising landscape in 2025, while thrifty consumer behaviors persist and video viewing shifts to mostly digital.

This deck provides an in-depth analysis of the home furnishings sector in ecommerce, including forecasts for sales growth, digital ad spending, and KPIs. It also highlights consumer shopping behaviors, spending trends, and the growing influence of social media.

ThredUp tests peer-to-peer marketplace model as losses pile up: The resale platform is in need of a reset as it struggles to navigate an uncertain economic environment.

“There's a big change in the luxury market. The consumers are still there, but they're being more selective about what they buy and when they buy it,” our analyst Sky Canaves said on an episode of the “Behind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail” podcast. Expanding into new markets and raising prices isn’t always an option for luxury brands, but there are other areas of opportunity. Here are three ways luxury brands can fuel discovery, spark engagement, and develop loyalty.

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss in-store retail media: what's holding it back, cooler screens and smart carts impact, and what digital advertising looks like outside the store. Then, for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top three heritage brands that have found a way to become cool again. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Zak Stambor.

Our revised US resale forecast reflects a slowdown for the ecommerce-dominated market, as the cost of selling one-of-a-kind items online comes into focus.

Though apparel and accessories is the third fastest-growing product category we measure—growing 3.9% to reach $616.37 billion in US sales this year—retailers need to find creative ways to court consumers as they remain price-sensitive.

As the economy improves in 2024, companies will be able to turn their focus toward technological advancements and upcoming regulations.

eBay’s consignment business is its latest play for luxury shoppers: The marketplace is betting on luxury to turn its fortunes around.

Brands can take a page from lululemon athletica’s playbook and hold a dupe swap to show consumers what they’ve been missing or use social media to give a behind-the-scenes look at how a product is made. Other strategies include leaning into secondhand and adding less expensive alternatives.

Tapestry brings its D2C and wholesale teams together to create a consistent brand experience across channels, while Hollister enables teens to fill their carts and send to a parent for purchase. Instacart and eBay find ways to offer customers more value.

Secondhand shopping is soaring: We expect resale volumes will grow more than twice as fast as total US retail sales through 2026.