Who needs winter coats when it's still hot? Climate change is upending the fashion industry

Winter coats are no longer a necessary fashion accessory, as climate change is altering the traditional fashion seasons. Luxury brands and retailers are struggling to adapt to longer, hotter summers disrupting fashion's seasonal calendar. Traditionally, consumers would buy autumn and winter clothing as temperatures cooled, but warmer autumns are delaying demand for coats and cold-weather clothing, leaving retailers at risk of overstock and markdowns.

At Paris Fashion Week, temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius, and guests opted for sleeveless tops and mini skirts instead of autumn collections. Retail consultant Pau Almar explained that the industry should realize that with climate change and higher temperatures, the time for selling coats has shifted later. During Louis Vuitton's show in Paris, coats were scarce, and designer Nicolas Ghesquiere acknowledged that Europe's record heatwaves influenced his latest collection, which featured thin fabrics and airy constructions.

The warm weather left some guests in autumn clothing overheating at Dior's show, and retailers will have to adapt by selling fewer heavy coats and more transitional layers. As outerwear is typically a higher-margin product, the delayed winter may pressure profits as shoppers wait for Black Friday discounts to buy a new coat. Fashion influencer Snehal Babani noted that the weather, rather than the fashion calendar, had dictated her outfits at Hermes' runway show.