Moda Operandi has plenty of data to spare – and for the second time, they are sharing it with the industry at large. With the release of its Runway Report, the e-commerce platform aims to bring value to its stakeholders with a consumer-driven trend analysis based on real-time data from interactions with luxury fashion consumers.

Since pioneering a new trunk show format which allows consumers to shop a season ahead, the platform is able to accurately predict next season’s trends, key pieces, and best-performing collections before they hit the market.

“The Runway Report is an opportunity for us to package up a lot of the things that we have learned and share it with the industry in what we hope will be a positive way, and a jumping off point for people to think about how to move their own business forward. It’s really about taking the benefit of our business model and adding value to the fashion industry ecosystem,” explained Moda Operandi’s Fashion Director Lisa Aiken.

Brands working with Moda will reap the benefits. The trunk show format has proven valuable for making highly informed buying decisions to improve sell-through rates and minimize inventory. For example, at the Fall-Winter 2019 Prada trunk show, Moda was able to identify key items such as their Leather Combat Boots and Sheer Lace Cape as bestsellers. When the items hit the boutique site that season, they saw a 100 percent sell-through rate in just two days.

Production costs are an extreme investment for designer brands – particularly for those at the emerging level. With data from the site, Moda is able to minimize these costs for brands – a number of which are new businesses, which the company is dedicated to supporting.

“When you think about emerging talent in the design space, it’s going to take time and require continued support from across the industry to help them build their businesses” said Aiken. “For Moda, I think less about what’s new this season, and more about what has potential to build into a meaningful designer collection within a number of years. It can take some brands time to really hit their stride.”

Rather than identify next season’s “trends”, Moda opted to present key learnings as a set of themes. Among these “Moods of the Season,” include True Romance, Reality Dressing, The Escapist, and Sex(y) Sells. Packaging these as concepts rather than objective trends also allows the Moda customer the freedom to experiment.

“Something we talk about a lot at Moda, and a significant part of our vision, is really empowering clients to discover their own personal style. Part of that is if we are responding to the data we are seeing in real time to make informed buyers decisions, we are more likely to be able to cater to the client’s needs in season,” Aiken explained.

At the core of the Runway Report is the desire to strengthen the fashion industry at large – in a sustainable way. “I think we all know that in the fashion industry, we don’t need to create more. We just need to get the product right,” Aiken stated. “Everyone wants a full price business, healthier sell-through, and more sustainable production practices. Ultimately, all of these ideas and motives are what’s driving our mission. We are really quite transparent when it comes to data, and I think what we are trying to do with the Runway Report is to further that idea in the industry. We are transparent with our brands, and if we are able to share something they believe will help them build their business, we will.”

See our top takeaways from the report below, and view the full Runway Report here.

The J-Lo Effect

Living up to her title as the 2019 CFDA Fashion Icon, Jennifer Lopez fans flocked to Moda Operandi to pre-order the iconic Versace palm print dress, which the house revived during Milan Fashion Week when JLo closed the show in the look she debuted at the Grammy Awards 20 years earlier. The product garnered 22 times more traffic than an average SS20 product.

Don’t Underestimate Beverly Hills

Outside of the key fashion capitals, there is a huge consumer base. After looking at which U.S. cities spend the most per trunk show, research found that the neighborhood in Los Angeles on average spend $10,000 per order from Spring-Summer 2020 runway collections – more than any neighborhood or city in the U.S.

Khaite’s ‘Maddy Top’ Reigns Supreme

Data from trunk show sales shows what must-buy pieces will be top-sellers before they hit the shelves next season, and this time, Khaite’s bustier top was the top-seller for the platform. The label from Catherine Holstein, who was nominated for Emerging Designer of the Year at this year’s CFDA Awards, bested pieces from Brandon Maxwell and Victoria Beckham, showing her female-centric designs are resonating with consumers.

The Power of the Hadids

Runway pieces worn by supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid see  127 percent more views than average product. Since Moda’s pieces sell in near real-time, data shows that looks worn by either of the sisters down the runway resulted in greater engagement of looks online.

Keep an Eye on Tre by Natalie Ratabesi

The e-commerce platform has championed itself as a destination for discovering emerging talent while helping them grow their business. In fact, 2019 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Tre by Natalie Ratabesi proved to be top talent, showing 350 percent season over season sales list for her streetwear twist to elevated pieces. She was trailed by Molly Goddard, Marina Moscone, Christopher Esber, and STAUD.