Attentive gathered retail and fashion’s sharpest minds in Brooklyn for a day of conversations about AI, discovery and what it actually takes to reach consumers in 2026. PacSun CEO Brie Olson, leaders from Authentic Brands Group, COS and LoveShackFancy and a fragrance activation that said it all.
In a retail market heavily hooked on the “discount drug,” Kenneth Cole Productions is intentionally choosing a different path. Global CEO and President Jed Berger outlines the brand’s disciplined 2026 playbook: trading short-term revenue spikes for long-term “healthy growth.” From rewiring channel distribution to scaling a direct-to-consumer footprint in Europe and anchoring the brand identity in mental health advocacy, Berger breaks down how the historic house is playing offense to bypass the industry’s sea of sameness and secure its positioning for 2030 and beyond.
This week’s biggest fashion stories all pointed to the same uncomfortable truth: brand equity means less when economic pressure starts rewriting the rules. From Everlane’s sale to Shein to Walmart signaling increased strain on the American consumer, the headlines exposed an industry grappling with a deeper identity crisis, one where authenticity, ownership, and consumer trust are increasingly colliding with financial reality.
Half of consumers are now using AI to discover products. Half of those are using it to make the actual purchase decision. AlixPartners’ data points to what separates the retailers best positioned to meet that moment: the ability to make human connection scale.
The founder behind one of the world’s largest mobile advertising platforms has a new bet: that AI will remake the entire purchase journey — and that the brands moving now will have an outsized advantage.
©2026 Berns & Co. All rights reserved
Berns & Co.
212-994-4660
info@bernsandco.com
475 Park Avenue South, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10016