Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.fashion team.
How M&S is stepping up its fashion ambitions
It’s been quite a fashionable year for retailer Marks & Spencer. Not only did it host its first live-streamed show in Ibiza and its first pit lane catwalk at the Silverstone British Grand Prix – it is also making its London Fashion Week runway debut later this month.
But that is far from all. It’s also been broadening its fashion offer, including the recently launched 26-piece Aries collaboration, which revived the historic St Michael label for contemporary streetwear customers, added Levi’s to Brands at M&S last month, and upgraded its lingerie offer following increasing competition with the UK entry of SKIMS in April.
In other words, the retailer is really stepping up its fashion ambitions. Its latest high-profile campaign, accompanying its autumn/winter 2026 collection, builds on this positive momentum, and sees Sex Education-star Gillian Anderson return as the retailer’s Chief Compliments Officer, forming the latest instalment of its “Love That” platform.
The new campaign follows a widely successful spring edition, which M&S said was its highest-performing clothing advert tested by the independent marketing effectiveness agency System1, placing it within System1’s global top 10 fashion campaigns.
Not only is the campaign beautiful – it’s shot in the V&A Library – but the clothes look stunning, without losing the retailers value proposition, with 50% of the autumn collection priced under £30.
I, for one, am now very excited to see how M&S further builds on its success with its London Fashion Week debut.
Camilla Rydzek, Senior News & Features Writer.
Gen Z goes the distance for viral independent retail finds
It was encouraging to read this week that 80% of Gen Z consumers have travelled an average of 95 minutes to visit an independent retailer following a “discovery” on social media.
That’s according to new research from American Express, under the title of ‘Hype to High Street’, which points to Gen Z consumers leading an emerging ‘viral pilgrimage’ economy, while helping to drive footfall to small, independent businesses – such as a shop, café or restaurant – after being influenced by content they saw on social media.
That discovery quickly translates into action, with more than half (53%) visiting within a week of first seeing a business online, while almost one in five (19%) have planned an entire day out around visiting a trending or viral independent business. What’s more, they are not just making one-off visits, with three in five (61%) returning after their first trip.
It’s great news for retailers looking to convert viral moments into loyal customers, especially as a third (33%) also go on to recommend the find to friends and family, while one in six said they shared their visit on their own social accounts – helping to fuel a continuous cycle of discovery for small businesses.
It harks back to the days when independents reigned supreme for introducing their local customers – and those who travelled from far further afield having somehow got wind via the grapevine (not the internet or social media) – to brands and products they’d never seen before.
The thrill of the chase to find something you couldn’t get anywhere else was always exciting, and it seems a modern consumer is now following that same thrill, albeit via an enticing prompt on their phone.
Tom Bottomley, Contributing Editor.
Adidas Originals unveils new European apparel collection with creator-led campaign
Adidas has caught my eye a few times this week – first with its new creator-led campaign, shot by photographer and filmmaker Petra Collins. Then the brand dropped a cool vintage-inspired collection for Arsenal, which I sent straight into my Arsenal-loving boyfriend’s DMs. I’m not usually one for football merch, but even I have to admit, this one is pretty good.
Back to the campaign and its latest apparel collection: this week, the brand brought together Denim, Knit and Icons in a campaign that celebrates individuality and self-expression across Europe.
The collection plays with a mix of unisex silhouettes, giving wearers the freedom to interpret Adidas’ sportswear heritage in their own way. Familiar Originals influences are paired with contemporary shapes and styling, creating a wardrobe that feels versatile, personal and easy to make your own.
It features a cast of creators from across Europe, including British creatives Maya Shabann, Paris Artiste, Francesca Perks and Reuben Hahn, bringing together different backgrounds and creative disciplines to highlight the individual ways Adidas Originals can be interpreted through personal style. Read more here – the pics are great, too!
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
Clarks opens second Paris store as expansion plans advance
With Notting Hill Carnival only a few days ago, Clarks’ continued international expansion feels like a particularly timely story considering the shoe brand’s long-standing connection with Jamaican culture. There are even songs dedicated to Clarks, including Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel’s popular Clarks.
In the UK, Clarks have long been associated with practical footwear rather than a fashion statement, but more recently this has been changing. Wallabees have become a familiar sight around London, while the Freckle Ice ballet flats have more recently started popping up everywhere. The brand has managed to bridge the gap between being a shoe you buy for comfort and one you actually want to wear because it looks good.
This makes Clarks opening its second Paris store, with three more stores planned in France before the end of 2026, particularly noteworthy. Given how deeply the brand has been embedded in Jamaican culture for decades, despite only having opened its first Clarks Originals retail space there in 2024, it is interesting to see Clarks continuing to build a physical presence in the international market. As someone who relies on Clarks’ shoes for my very active walking routine, I am very ready to see the brand become more accessible to shoppers around the world.
Catherine Rowe-Kosary, Junior Writer.