Apparel & Fashion: how the sector works
how apparel and fashion work: seasons and trend cycles, the supply chain from design to store, fast fashion vs premium, and the DTC shift.
This block builds foundational fluency in the apparel and fashion sector, covering how the industry operates from fiber and fabric sourcing through design, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. You will map the value chain and understand where margin concentrates, from raw material suppliers to brands and multi-channel retailers. You will learn the major players across fast fashion, luxury, and vertical models, along with the power dynamics between brands, manufacturers, and platforms. The block covers essential regulation spanning labor, product safety, textile labeling, and sustainability disclosure. Finally, you will master the core market figures for the US and Europe, key acronyms, and the routine calculations and due diligence professionals run when operating in this sector.
What you'll master
- Map the apparel value chain end to end and identify where margin and power concentrate at each stage
- Distinguish the business models and competitive positioning of fast fashion, luxury, and vertically integrated players
- Identify the key regulations governing labor, product safety, textile labeling, and sustainability, and their practical compliance requirements
- Size the US and European apparel markets and perform routine sector calculations like sell-through, markdown, and gross margin