Department stores like Walmart in the US are launching low-price private fashion brands which are consistently performing well. Can the experience of buying fashion and accessories be the same as buying your daily groceries in the future? Does this show that even for the fashion consumer, value for price is more important than fancy store interiors?

Companies like Airbnb and Uber introduced the aggregation business model to the world and it prompted the launch of many similar start-ups. To name a few in just fashion, there is Rent the Runway (US), Girl Meets Dress (UK), GlamCorner (Aus) and Borrow for Your Bump for maternity wear. This had already done wonders for those in direct-to-consumer retail. Looking forward, there are predictions that soon retailers might turn to the crowd to fulfil deliveries and partner with regional services to deliver outside of normal coverage areas. Can this model be also extended to how we design and manufacture? As design software becomes more accessible and education goes online, is the future of production more along the lines of socially engaged communities of designers, engineers, manufacturers and users who will together brainstorm, test and build products?