Fashion
Luxe brand websites AI, agents are top sources for product info, say UK shoppers
Published
October 23, 2025
Who’s providing consumers with the best high-quality product information, luxury brand websites or artificial intelligence (AI) agents? Well both, actually, according to a new report, “signifying how UK shoppers now search for and discover products”.
It appears the two channels are running almost neck and neck (68% for brands, 67% for AI), according product experience (PX) company Akeneo. It cited AI assistants such as Chat GPT and Amazon’s generative AI-powered shopping assistant, Rufus, “for accurate and detailed product information”.
Its findings also “signal a growing shift in shopper expectations with UK consumers demanding detailed content and highlighting how poor product information now comes with significant commercial risk”.
Indeed, 70% of shoppers say they would switch to an alternative product if the information provided was insufficient, and 65% admit they would abandon a purchase entirely.
Also, 68% say they would stop buying from a business altogether if they lost trust following a poor product content experience.
When it comes to product information quality, British shoppers favour high-touch digital environments and AI-powered discovery tools over traditional in-store or social commerce channels.
Further research from digital presence platform Yext reports 40% of UK consumers now use AI search tools at least once a day “to discover, evaluate and choose the brands they shop with”.
It noted that, post-Covid and amid falling global demand, “luxury brands have significantly invested in delivering content-rich, immersive digital experiences to drive conversions for high-priced items”.
When asked to rank the quality of product information across various retail channels, luxury retailer websites and AI agents ranked highest, ahead of online marketplaces and mobile apps (52%), rental sales platforms (46%), luxury stores (45%) and general physical retail (43%). Some 40% of respondents said retailer websites provided the best quality product information falling to 38% for social commerce channels.
Romain Fouache, CEO at Akeneo, said: “AI is fundamentally transforming the way consumers discover and shop for products. Instead of relying solely on search engines or traditional channels, shoppers are increasingly turning to intelligent agents and virtual assistants to guide their decisions.
“This shift presents a major opportunity — and a challenge — for brands, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. If your product information isn’t accurate, structured, enriched, and optimised for AI, you simply won’t be found.”
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
Fashion
India’s Pearl Global’s FY26 revenue crosses $521 mn milestone
The company’s adjusted EBITDA, excluding Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) expenses, rose around 14 per cent YoY to ₹468 crore, while EBITDA margin improved by 20 basis points to around 9.3 per cent. Excluding the reciprocal tariff impact of around ₹36 crore and incremental losses of around ₹13 crore in Bihar and Guatemala, adjusted EBITDA margin stood at around 10.3 per cent.
Pallab Banerjee, managing director, Pearl Global Industries, said: “FY26 marked the company’s second consecutive year of double-digit growth and improved profitability. This performance further solidifies the position of Pearl Global’s diversified operating model and disciplined execution across geographies.”
Pearl Global Industries has reported its highest-ever FY26 revenue of ₹5,025 crore (~$523.93 million), up 11.5 per cent YoY, driven by volume growth and value-added products.
PAT rose 17 per cent to ₹270 crore (~$28.15 million), while Q4 revenue hit ₹1,314 crore (~$137 million).
The company shipped 78.1 million pieces.
Its net worth stands at ₹1,438 crore (~$149.93 million).
He said that geopolitical shifts and Gulf conflicts could lead to energy cost escalation, affecting raw material and logistics costs. However, the company remains prepared to manage these headwinds, supported by its diversified manufacturing base, strong order book, and broad market presence.
The profit after tax (PAT) increased 17 per cent YoY to ₹270 crore (~$28.15 million), the company said in a press release.
On a standalone basis, FY26 revenue stood at ₹1,081 crore, while adjusted EBITDA was ₹67 crore, with EBITDA margin improving by 60 basis points to 6.2 per cent, mainly due to cost restructuring. Standalone PAT rose to ₹69 crore from ₹55 crore in the previous year.
The company’s net worth stood at ₹1,438 crore (~$149.93 million) as of March 31, 2026, compared with ₹1,146 crore a year earlier.
“In FY26, Group delivered another year of resilient performance against a complex geopolitical backdrop. Group achieved, among others, two major milestones this year: revenue crossed INR 5,000 crore mark and installed capacity surpassed 100 million pieces per annum,” said Pulkit Seth, vice-chairman and non-executive director, PGIL.
Seth added that the global apparel industry faced tariff-related disruptions during FY26, with the company’s India operations impacted by tariffs and penal duties imposed by the US. However, he added that Pearl Global leveraged its diversified, multi-country manufacturing presence to mitigate these challenges and deliver double-digit growth.
For the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY26, PGIL posted its highest-ever quarterly revenue of ₹1,314 crore (~$137 million), up 6.9 per cent YoY. Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.7 per cent to ₹135 crore, with margin at 10.3 per cent, the highest EBITDA margin recorded by the company in any quarter. PAT for the quarter stood at ₹81 crore, up 24.6 per cent YoY, PGIL said in a press release.
Standalone revenue during the quarter stood at ₹304 crore, adjusted EBITDA at ₹24 crore, and PAT at ₹14 crore.
PGIL shipped its highest-ever volumes in Q4 FY26 and FY26, at 22 million pieces and 78.1 million pieces respectively. Its annual installed capacity crossed 100 million pieces, reaching around 101 million pieces.
The ongoing capex in Bangladesh is expected to be completed by the first half of FY27 and will add around 6-7 million pieces of capacity during the year.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Polyester yarn prices ease as PTA weakens on limited demand
PTA prices recorded notable declines across key Asian benchmarks, tracking crude oil weakness rooted in evolving geopolitical signals. The correction was broad-based, spanning China, Southeast Asia, and South Korea, while India**;s CIF price held steady reflecting the lag in import contract structures and limited spot availability in the domestic market on the day.
The *** per cent Polyester Yarn market witnessed a slightly negative trend during the assessed period, with mild price corrections observed across both yarn grades in the Asia Free on Board (FOB) China market. Prices for **s (*** per cent polyester yarn) declined from around $*.***/kg to nearly $*.***/kg, registering a decrease of approximately *.** per cent.
Fashion
Bangladesh apparel reset: Compliance edge or energy trap?
The pivot is urgent because the old model is under pressure. April **** looked strong: Ready-Made Garment (RMG) exports rose **.** per cent year on year to $*.** billion. But the ten-month picture is weaker. From July-April FY****–**, apparel exports stood at $**.** billion, down *.** per cent. Knitwear fell *.** per cent to $**.** billion; woven fell *.** per cent to $**.** billion. The rebound is real, but so is the drag underneath.
AWARE is the sharpest EU-facing signal: blockchain-backed product data for Digital Product Passport (DPP) readiness. Open Supply Hub adds the factory-identity layer, pushing production information into an open platform. GIZ brings the longer reform spine, from May **** to February ****, covering energy efficiency, circularity, chemical management, renewable-energy skills and textile-waste transparency.
-
Entertainment5 days agoConan O’Brien hat tricks as Oscar host
-
Tech1 week agoCould Contact-Tracing Apps Help With the Hantavirus? Not Really
-
Tech1 week agoI Tried the Best Captioning Smart Glasses, and Only One Leads the Pack
-
Fashion5 days agoItaly’s Zegna Group’s Q1 growth boosted by strong organic performance
-
Sports1 week agoBobby Cox, legendary Atlanta Braves manager who led 1995 World Series champions, dead at 84
-
Entertainment1 week agoMartin Short: Facing tragedy with joy
-
Entertainment1 week agoTom Brady gets back at Kevin Hart during Netflix roast
-
Entertainment1 week agoMartha Stewart: How to make an omelet
