How Fashion is Forecasted with WGSN Head of Consumer Forecasting

What is trend forecasting? How are fashion trends predicted? How do brands predict what consumers will want years before it happens? In this episode, we go inside WGSN, one of the world's leading trend forecasting companies, to explore how fashion and consumer trends are forecasted and what founders, marketers, and creatives should be paying attention to now. Cassandra Napoli is the Head of Consumer Forecasting at WGSN, where she helps brands understand how consumers think, feel, shop, and behave years before those shifts reach the mainstream. From AI and Gen Z to nostalgia, retail innovation, and the creator economy, Cassandra shares the frameworks WGSN uses to help companies future-proof their businesses and make better long-term decisions. We discuss how trend forecasting actually works, whether trends are really moving faster than ever, how AI is changing consumer behavior, and more. Whether you're building a fashion brand, working in marketing, launching a startup, or simply curious about what's shaping the future of consumer culture, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world's biggest brands prepare for what's next. Follow Fashion & Founders: IG: https://www.instagram.com/fashionandfounders/ Substack: https://fashionandfounders.substack.com/ Website: https://www.fashionandfounders.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fashionandfounders ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/fashionandfounders Job Board: opportunities in fashion, tech, and more. https://fashionandfounders.substack.com/t/job-board Follow WGSN: IG: https://www.instagram.com/wgsn/ Website: https://www.wgsn.com/ Create Tomorrow Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/create-tomorrow-the-wgsn-podcast/id1510161484 Rent the Runway: Use code: RTRXVSMITH50 and get 50% off your first month! Glamsquad: Code: FASHIONANDFOUNDERS for $20 off Timestamps 0:00 Cassandra’s Intro 2:13 How she became a fashion trend forecaster 6:55 How are trends forecasted? 10:33 What does