Consumer Trends

GUANGZHOU – November 03, 2026 -- Exhibitors at Phase 3 of the 140th Canton Fair unveiled four Guochao fashion collections built on Shu Brocade, ramie, papercutting motifs and a Northern Song painting, at a themed release event on "Guochao Fashion."

Shu Brocade and dyed ramie anchor the textile-led collections

One collection uses Shu Brocade, the silk jacquard textile from Sichuan and one of China's four great brocades. Original patterns drew visitors, who photographed the detailing. Exhibitors pair traditional weaving techniques with modern aesthetics to connect an intangible cultural heritage craft to the current fashion market.

A second collection applies innovative dyeing techniques to traditional Chinese ramie, a fabric valued for its lightness and breathability. Designers used a palette of Chinese colors to produce garments that balance simplicity, fluidity and contemporary style.

WASHINGTON – October 16, 2026 -- U.S. seafood consumers now treat sustainability as a default expectation rather than a niche preference, according to 10 years of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) research covering 15,000 respondents since 2016.

The report, "A Decade of Change: Sustainability Now a Mainstream Concern of U.S. Seafood Consumers," was conducted for the MSC by the independent insights firm GlobeScan. It finds that U.S. consumer support for sustainability has climbed to match levels traditionally seen only among European consumers.

Consumers demand independent proof of sustainability claims

Shoppers increasingly want environmental claims independently verified, and claims alone no longer suffice. The MSC says this reinforces the value of credible third-party certification. Consumers also view sustainability as built into seafood products rather than added on, and economic realities continue to shape purchasing decisions.

Phoenix – – October 13, 2026 -- The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) opened a waitlist today for three online Pilates credentials, targeting a U.S. market where participation reached 13.8 million in 2025, up from 9.9 million in 2020, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).

ISSA launches Mat, Reformer and bundled Pilates certifications

The portfolio comprises a Mat Pilates Instructor Certification, a Reformer Pilates Instructor Certification, and a Mat + Reformer bundle that awards both credentials under a single enrollment. The mat course covers the classical 31-exercise repertoire, functional anatomy, cueing and population-specific program design. The reformer course covers safety, spring mechanics, progressive cueing and the full 27-exercise repertoire.

San Francisco – September 19, 2026 -- Gap Inc. (NYSE: GAP) has appointed Kirsten Green, founder and managing partner of venture capital firm Forerunner, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Green brings a two-decade track record backing consumer-facing disruptors

Since founding Forerunner in 2012, Green has partnered with more than 100 companies from seed stage through scale, including OURA, Chime, Hims & Hers, Faire, Wispr Flow, Suno, Warby Parker, Dollar Shave Club, and Town. Under her leadership, Forerunner has raised nearly $3 billion from institutional investors.

Las Vegas – September 16, 2026 -- Superfruit Juice Company LLC has launched its SOPREMETM Soursop brand on Amazon, marking a new phase in the company's push to expand wholesale distribution of soursop-based beverages across the United States.

Company positions SOPREME as world's first premium soursop juice brand

SOPREMETM Soursop makes a 100% pure juice with pulp derived from a single ingredient: non-GMO soursop fruit, scientifically known as Annona muricata and also called guanabana or graviola. The fruit is widely consumed across the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia but remains largely unfamiliar to U.S. consumers, a gap the company is targeting for growth.