Explore our library, where insights, press articles, and events are organized by tags, making it easy to find relevant topics.
event March 2025 Svensk Handel's D-Congress
Achim Berg presents a keynote at Svensk Handel's D-Congress in Gothenburg, Sweden. The congress is a leading retail event in Northern Europe, bringing together over 3,000 innovators and decision-makers to shape the industry's future.
press December 2024 What's behind the merger of Zalando and About You
WirtschaftsWoche by Lisa Ksienrzyk and Nele Antonia HöflerAchim shares his views on the Zalando-About You merger and the ongoing consolidation of online marketplaces in the fashion industry. Zalando announced plans to acquire the fashion retailer About You from the Otto Group for € 1.13billion, thereby strengthening its market position while About You will continue to exist as an independent brand. The acquisition also includes the technology platform Scayle, which will be strategically integrated into Zalandoin the future. Experts see the deal as a necessary step to streamline the market and fend off competition from large Chinese players such as Shein and Temu.
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.
press October 2024 He Transformed the Red Carpet. Now What?
The New York Times by Vanessa FriedmanAchim comments on the challenges of relaunching heritage brands, particularly the high financial and time investment and the corporate structures required. Daniel Roseberry has transformed Schiaparelli into a celebrity favorite with bold designs that spark public debate. Despite limited retail presence and no mass marketing, high-profile clients like Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga have kept the brand relevant in fashion's attention economy. Now, as Schiaparelli expands into ready-to-wear and accessories, Roseberry faces the challenge of making the brand commercially viable while maintaining its exclusivity, marking thebeginning of a crucial "Act II."
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.
event April 2025 Navigating Future Careers in Fashion & Luxury
FashionSIGHTS partners with Dweet to host a LinkedIn Live community event featuring a dynamic panel of renowned industry experts and leading academic voices. The session brought together Laura Buckle (Senior Director of Global Recruitment at SKIMS), Melanie Mitchell (Graduate Futures Career Consultant at UAL), Laurent Piffaut (Co-Founder of Dweet) together with Achim Berg to explore a key question facing young industry talents: How will careers in fashion evolve - and how can talent best prepare for what’s ahead?
press October 2024 Giorgio Armani- L’uomo, il marchio, l’azienda
Book by Frank Pagano and Marco DiDio RoccazzellaAchim 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.
event May 2025 The Future of Retail Summit, Milan
Achim Berg joins the opening panel at the first edition of "The Future of Retail" Summit, hosted by FASHION Magazine in Milan on May 5th. The summit gathers leading voices from across the fashion industry from Italy and beyond to explore the evolving dynamics and future of fashion retail. In the discussion, Achim addresses the complex challenges and emerging opportunities that are currently reshaping the industry landscape.
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.
press June 2024 Op-Ed: Fashion Can’t Wait on Regulation to Act on Sustainabi...
businessoffashion.comIn his Op-Ed, Achim comments on the current state and progress of sustainability in the fashion industry and what regulation can do for it (or not).
Fashion's sustainability efforts have grown in importance, yet significant challenges remain as consumption, emissions, and pollution continue to rise. While many hope that regulation will drive change by forcing brands to deliver on climate commitments, there is concern that relying on slow-moving policies will further delay progress. Industry leaders, especially its “super winners,” must take responsibility and accelerate their sustainability initiatives, or risk being overtaken by more innovative competitors.
press February 2024 Mango appoints renowned fashion industry expert Dr. Achim Be...
www.mangofashiongroup.com
press February 2025 Achim Berg Launches FashionSights, an Independent Think Tank
WWD.com by Evan ClarkWWD 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.
press February 2025 Achim Berg Launches an independent Think Tank dedicated to t...
Modaes.comModaes reports on Achim’s newly launched corporate think tank FashionSights.
The leading Spanish industry publication describes FashionSIGHTS as the start of a new chapter that allows Achim to follow his passion for the fashion industry by providing strategic guidance to decision-makers, supported by in-depth research on the industry’s past, present and future. This approach sets FashionSIGHTS apart from traditional consulting firms, offering long-term advice rather than just project-based advisory. Modaes also highlights Achim’s continued impact on the Spanish market, including his keynote to open the Modaes Fashion Business Summit earlier this month and his advisory mandate for Mango.
press March 2025 What Happens to a Multibillion-Dollar Luxury Brand When the ...
WSJ by Rory SatranAchim comments on fashion’s ongoing musical chairs and highlights the financial impact of transition periods.
During interim periods without a creative director, brands often rely on classic bestsellers, but this approach doesn’t always prevent revenue declines. In a fragile macroeconomic environment with declining consumer demand, frequent creative director changes signal deeper sales problems rather than strategic moves in a frantic bid for success. While these changes typically impact the top line, Achim urges not to underestimate the “time lapse” effect, noting that new creative directors typically need at least two collections to make a meaningful impact, delaying potential revenue recovery.
press March 2025 D-Congress 2025: How AI Is Powering Fashion, Culture And E-C...
Forbes by Cassell FerereAchim is featured as a top voice with his keynote speech on fashion's paradigm shifts and the evolving e-commerce landscape.
Held in Sweden, home to innovative e-commerce companies, D-Congress brought together prominent industry thought leaders to explore the transformative power of AI in global fashion, culture and retail. In his keynote, Achim discussed fashion’s e-commerce transformation, highlighting how the landscape is consolidating and evolving around three core value-driven archetypes. He also identified ten key paradigm shifts that are revolutionizing the fashion industry, from AI streamlining back-end operations to ESG initiatives becoming non-negotiable for brands.
press March 2025 Navigating wealth and technology in fashion (with Achim Berg...
Scandinavian MIND podcast by Konrad OlssonAchim 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 March 2025 Paradigm shifts: Dr. Achim Berg on D-Congress Talks
Achim's keynote on fashion's paradigm shifts, presented live at D-Congress, is now available as a podcast episode.
After a decade of massive growth, peaking during Covid, e-commerce now faces a reality check. Achim dives into the drivers behind the past decade's e-commerce boom and gloom and explains why the focus has now shifted from aggressive growth to profitability. This shift is leading to a market restructuring and consolidation, with a future focus on three key archetypes that define the landscape.
press March 2025 Luxury fashion betting on designer reshuffles faces tricky r...
Reuters by Mimosa Spencer, Elisa Anzolin & Tassilo HummelAchim shares his opinion on fashion’s current high musical chairs and their broader impact on the industry.
Luxury fashion houses are undergoing unprecedented designer reshuffles to boost brand appeal amid slowing sales and shopper fatigue. Achim notes that while brands often expect quick results from these creative leadership changes, the internal impact across departments - especially merchandising and marketing - takes time to become visible to consumers. He emphasizes that the ongoing wave of creative leadership changes signals a broader inflection point for the luxury industry. While proactive change is essential during periods of stagnation, brands must weigh short- and long-term consequences, which often exceed initial expectations in today’s volatile market.
press April 2025 Prada brings Versace home to create Italian luxury contender
Reuters by Elisa AnzolinAchim comments on Prada’s acquisition of Versace and its significance for Europe’s luxury landscape.
Prada’s deal to buy Versace signals a strategic push to build a true Italian powerhouse in global fashion. Achim considers this a pivotal step toward rebalancing Europe’s luxury landscape, long dominated by French conglomerates. Despite Italy’s strong “Made in Italy” image of trust and quality, the country has lacked a player of comparable scale. This move brings Versace, previously owned by US-listed Capri Holdings, back under Italian control, marking a shift from fragmented past efforts to a more consolidated national vision. Achim notes that unlike earlier small-scale ventures that failed to gain traction, this deal carries real strategic weight and long-term ambition.
press April 2025 Why “Creative Director” is Fashion’s Favorite Job Title
WWD by Miles SochaAchim comments on why high street brands are beginning to bring in creative directors.
Luxury’s ongoing game of musical chairs started to influence the mid- and premium-priced segments, with a growing number of fashion chains recently appointing their first creative directors. Achim describes this trend as a form of “marketing” - a strategic move for brands looking to elevate their image and move further into premium. While many already have creative teams in place, formalizing the role and putting a face to it adds a personal touch that signals a new chapter for the brand and solidifies a clearer brand vision. Achim draws a parallel to European heritage houses, where a visionary creative lead helped define a renewed purpose and recognizable aesthetic.
press May 2025 The rise and fall of Versace: Can Prada’s £1 billion buyout ...
Daily Mail You Magazine by John ArlidgeAchim shares his perspective on what is next for Versace after its acquisition by Prada Group.
With strong brand equity and a globally recognized identity, the foundations for Versace's new era are in place and Prada is a fitting new owner to build on. The Group brings cultural alignment, capital to invest, and strong product and marketing expertise. But structural change will be key, Achim notes. Versace's huge retail footprint doesn't match its current sales. He emphasizes the need to rethink its store strategy - possibly swapping some locations with Miu Miu - and anticipates leadership changes between Versace and Prada executives. These moves will set the stage for a broader creative and commercial reset. If executed well, Achim predicts significant sales growth in the coming years.
press June 2025 A50 – The list of the 50 most important Germans in fashion
Achtung & FAZ magazine by Alfons Kaiser, Jennifer Wiebking, Markus Ebner, Alex Rottenmanner, Nicole Urbschat, Silke WichertAchim ranks No.10 on Achtung magazine’s annual “A50” list acknowledging his lasting industry influence and founding of FashionSIGHTS.
For the first time, FashionSIGHTS founder and managing director Dr. Achim Berg has landed on Achtung magazine’s annual “A50” list - a ranking that spotlights influential German individuals shaping the global fashion landscape. He debuts at No.10, just behind Mytheresa CEO Michael Kliger and Chloé creative director Chemena Kamali.
The magazine highlights Achim’s lasting influence on the industry, citing his role in establishing McKinsey’s global Fashion & Luxury practice and his standing as one of the most quoted business voices in the field. His founding of FashionSIGHTS is recognized as a timely and strategic move, that unites data-based hindsight and foresight with deep industry expertise at a time of fundamental industry transformation.
press January 2026 India and EU agree game – changing trade deal
BBC World Business Report podcast with Leanna ByrneAchim comments on how ownership changes are reshaping the global sportswear and fashion industry.
There’s been a big shift after the Pinault family’s decision to sell its remaining stake in Puma to China’s Anta Sports. Achim discusses the reasoning behind the sale, Puma’s history and position as a brand and Anta’s plans going forward. He also shares his observations on Anta’s growing Western portfolio and what the acquisition means for them as a company.
linkedin May 2026 Team fun, passion for fashion & a few industry reflections
Last night, the FashionSIGHTS team celebrated what brings us together every day: a shared passion for fashion. We started the evening with a wonderful team dinner before heading to see the must-watch movie of the moment for anyone truly fashion-obsessed: The Devil Wears Prada 2. To be fair, it’s less about the storyline, which is quite predictable, and more about all the insider references that make the movie so entertaining for people in our industry. The nods to The Business of Fashion, TOTEME , and even our friend Vanessa Friedman. The many fashion personalities appearing as extras. The almost wonderfully over-the-top (or vulgar?) product placement of the LVMH stable of brands and Mercedes-Maybach Luxury cars. And of course, Emily’s “rise and fall” - from Christian Dior Couture to Coach - which makes the movie especially fun to watch. Most importantly, though, it was a fantastic evening to celebrate our team, our energy, and the passion we all share for this incredible industry. A big thank you to my amazing team: Paula, Alina, Delphine (currently celebrating her passion for fashion in London 😉), and Susann - for rocking the stage every single day at FashionSIGHTS.
