On June 26 (Beijing time), the first session of the INTERFILIÈRE NEW YORK webinar series officially concluded.

With the theme “How Emerging Lingerie Sectors and Tariff Policies Are Shaping Future Trends,” the webinar focused on the textile industry at a crossroads where innovation and tradition intertwine.

Host: Moira Nelson, Founder of boutique fashion agency Bra La Mode
Guest: Kristen Classi-Zummo, Fashion and Activewear Industry Analyst at global data consulting firm Circana

Let’s explore the cutting-edge consumer trends:

What Are the Characteristics of Current Consumer Sentiment from a Macroeconomic Perspective?

Consumption Downgrading

Within the lingerie market, similar forces are at play. As of the end of May, overall consumer spending in the North American market declined by about 1%, with apparel down by 3%. Tariff hikes and other macroeconomic pressures have changed how consumers think about value. Most recognize that higher prices are unavoidable. In response, nearly twothirds have chosen to scale back purchases or skip buying clothing altogether. Besides weaker demand, spending is also dropping due to lessfrequent purchases and smaller transactions.

Private labels are growing in market share. Compared to similarly priced whitelabel products, private labels retain more brand identity—indicating that while consumers still care about branding, they’re actively seeking affordable alternatives.

Seasonal Consumption

Lingerie spending has dropped by 7%, and swimwear by 9%—far more than the overall industry. Rising prices play a role, but consumer behavior is also shifting toward seasonal consumption. These evolving swimwear trends highlight how, with weakened spending confidence, people are delaying purchases, often buying only when absolutely needed—like shorts just before summer or coats only as winter starts. This “lastminute” mindset is becoming more mainstream.

How Do Millennials and Gen Z Differ in Their Consumption Behaviors?

Last year, 42% of Gen Z delayed or skipped purchases, while Millennials tended to lower their standards instead. Financial pressure remains high, forcing consumers to cut nonessential spending. Data from early this year shows Millennial parents prioritize spending on children, which also affects intimate apparel—comfort and quality are becoming more important.

Interestingly, Gen Z behavior bucks expectations: while digitally native, many still prefer instore shopping for its social aspect. About 40.44% of Gen Z favor offline experiences. This has driven brands like Princess Polly to expand beyond online sales and open more physical locations across North America, reflecting broader shifts throughout the lingerie industry.

To better connect the Chinese and American lingerie industries, INTERFILIÈRE SHANGHAI 2025will launch a special program titled “Lingerie Twin Cities: A Dialogue of Opportunities Between Shanghai and New York.”

This initiative will include forum discussions, business matchmaking, and factory visits, aiming to help U.S. brands gain insights into Chinese trends and supply chains, and to foster business opportunities in collaboration with Chinese partners.

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INTERFILIÈRE SHANGHAI is an international leading body fashion show that has been serving the China's market for 20 years. INTERFILIÈRE SHANGHAI 2024 offers you the cutting-edge perspective and resources for the global intimate apparel body fashion industry, helps all exhibitors enhance brand influence in both domestic and overseas markets, and accelerates all attendees’ business development as well as the intimate apparel body fashion industry continuously breaking through aesthetic accomplishments from garments, accessories to apparels, and gaining insight into the latest fashion lifestyle trends.

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