Solving Fashion Supply Chain Overdevelopment

Liza Amlani (Retail Strategy Group) and Aimee Heuschkel (Lectra) joined RETHINK Retail at NRF to discuss why the industry is currently making too much of the wrong product. The Overdevelopment Crisis Right now, brands are throwing supply at consumers and hoping demand follows. With 81% of retailers struggling to keep up, the result is massive waste and shrinking margins. The fix requires moving from reactive systems to predictive, data-led models. Breaking Down Retail Silos Teams are often "rowing in different directions." Success in 2026 requires bringing design, sourcing, and materials together at the very start of the process. When everyone aligns on business goals rather than siloed targets, efficiency skyrockets. Materials as a Strategic Unlock Instead of fabric being a "service" to design, it should be the starting point. Elevating materials teams reduces waste and simplifies calendars, ensuring your brand is ready for upcoming transparency regulations like Digital Product Passports (DPP). Listen the full podcast to future-proof your product journey.