Fashion
August continued the positive discretionary retail sales story, fashion led the way says BDO
Published
September 5, 2025
On Friday, the UK’s official statistics body released figures for July total retail sales. But on the same day, the latest High Street Sales Tracker from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO gave us some more up to date clues with its August discretionary retail sales report.
And what did it say? Total like-for-like discretionary retail sales (in-store and online combined) grew by 3.9% last month. That was above inflation for the very first time this year, indicating that volumes have also increased. And high street stores alone recorded strong sales growth of 5.2%. That was the highest growth on the high street since August 2023.
The discretionary categories BDO tracks include fashion, homewares and lifestyle, and their 3.9% jump compared strongly to the 0.7% dip this time last year.
Total like-for-like retail sales in fashion led the way and grew by 4.4%, with in-store sales growing in the fashion sector by 5.8%.
As well as physical stores doing well this time, online retail continued the strong performance it has recorded throughout this year, with sales increasing by 6.6% compared to the same month last year.
Sophie Michael, head of retail and wholesale at BDO, said: “Retailers have been under huge pressure this year, particularly on the high street, so these results will make very welcome reading for the sector. Given the disappointing performance of bricks-and-mortar stores this year, the strong growth of in-store sales during August is a very encouraging sign for retailers as we head into the crucial pre-Christmas trading period. However, it is likely that some of this growth was driven by heavy discounting and promotions, as retailers focused on clearing their stock ahead of the autumn season.”
She added that while the approach may well have boosted sales in the short term, it inevitably impacts profits “and will certainly not be sustainable when we hit the ‘Golden Quarter’ in the run-up to Christmas. With retailers’ cost bases higher than ever, thanks in part to changes to National Insurance contributions, maintaining margins is vital”.
Michael thinks that for many retailers, continuing discounting to drive revenue “simply won’t be an option. The good weather for much of August undoubtedly helped get more shoppers out onto the high street. However, as we get into autumn and the weather worsens, retailers may struggle to attract the same level of footfall”.
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Held at Singapore Expo Hall 6, from 10am–6pm on 28–31 October, Epson will showcase the SureColor G6030, its first Direct-to-Film (DTFilm) printer, and the SureColor F9530H, its latest advanced dye-sublimation printer, alongside a comprehensive range of solutions designed to empower both industrial producers and small businesses in the growing personalised goods market.
Epson will spotlight its latest digital textile and large-format printing innovations at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025, including its first Direct-to-Film printer and new dye-sublimation models.
The showcase highlights efficiency, versatility, and sustainability, empowering both small businesses and industrial producers in the personalised goods market.
Driving efficiencies and new opportunities in textile printing
Engineered to meet the evolving needs of the wearable print market, the SureColor G6030 printer features a 1.6L ink capacity, minimal maintenance requirements and versatility across applications, including care labels, small T-shirt logos, novelty tote bags and rigid substrates. Live demonstrations will highlight its vivid, full-colour output with consistent film quality, ideal for rapid-turnaround customisation.
Complementing this, the SureColor F9530H dye-sublimation printer enhances productivity and meets commercial garment production standards while lowering operational downtime. With advanced printhead technology, expanded colour options, faster speeds and improved image sharpness, its target applications include jerseys, sportswear and soft signage.
Epson will also showcase:
- Hybrid Direct-to-Garment (DTG) machines: SureColor F3030, SureColor F2230 and SureColor F1030 for T-shirt, tote bag and hybrid cut-sheet printing.
- Dye-sublimation printers including the SureColor F6430H and SureColor F11030 for jerseys, sportswear and novelty goods like mugs and tote bags, as well as long-run textile production.
Visitors can register for guided solution walkthroughs led by Epson’s team to explore integrated workflows and application case studies.
Witness Epson’s solutions in action
The Digital Lab Experience will demonstrate how aspiring entrepreneurs can launch personalised goods businesses with low start-up costs by leveraging Epson’s reliable print technology. As part of this, attendees can see Epson’s storefront customisation package in action, featuring:
- Epson Craft Studio: An all-in-one software suite that streamlines design, production and order management to power your personalised item business
- SureColor F1030 and SureColor F2230 printers for direct-to-garment output
- SureLab D1030 Professional Minilab Printer for high-resolution direct-to-object printing.
“With rising demand for customised textile products, Epson is committed to providing solutions that deliver quality, efficiency and scalability for customers of all sizes, from small business ventures to industrial production,” said [spokesperson]. “Our presence at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025 underscores not just our technical innovation, but also our dedication to sustainable printing methods for the future of the industry.”
Event Details and Registration
ITMA Asia + CITME 2025 runs from 28–31 October at Singapore Expo Hall 6. Epson’s booth is located at H6-C402. Guided solution walkthroughs are available by registration here, with limited spots on each exhibition day.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (MS)
Japan’s apparel imports in Jan–Aug rose 7.01 per cent to $15.65 billion, driven by a shift towards cotton garments, which gained market share from 31.59 to 33.52 per cent in three years.
Manmade garments fell to 46.10 per cent as consumers favoured comfort and sustainability.
Imports were dominated by trousers, jerseys, and T-shirts, while unisex styles led the market with a 37.52 per cent share.
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In Q2 2025, five of nine fashion companies reported ‘moderate’ performance, two were ‘strong’, and two ‘weak’.
Brazilian brand Arezzo and US retailer Burlington led growth with higher sales and profits, while Dillard’s, Ross, Kohl’s, Ludwig Beck, and American Eagle showed mixed results.
Delta Galil and Macy’s lagged amid margin pressures and weak sales.
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