--- title: CHARMING INSIGHTS description: A blog from Charming dedicated to consumer preferences, retail, and technology. --- # CHARMING INSIGHTS ##### A blog from Charming dedicated to consumer preferences, retail, and technology ### SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER [Back To blog](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/) ###### 4 min read ## [Apparel in 2026: a mid-year check-in](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/apparel-in-2026-a-mid-year-check-in) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Jul 1, 2026 11:51:26 AM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/CHARMING_THESHIFT.png) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/apparel-in-2026-a-mid-year-check-in) When we wrote our[2026 predictions at the start of the year](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/looking-ahead-to-2026-the-year-apparel-builds-the-infrastructure), we figured apparel teams would be focused on one thing: building systems to handle the new rules and regulations settling in across the global apparel industry. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/apparel-in-2026-a-mid-year-check-in) ###### Topics: [Apparel](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/apparel) ###### 3 min read ## [How small brands can start a DPP program](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-small-brands-can-start-a-dpp-program) By [Neil Greenhalgh](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/neil-greenhalgh) on Jun 19, 2026 4:11:45 PM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/NEW%20GDPR%20IMAGE.png) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-small-brands-can-start-a-dpp-program) Over the last few years, transparency rules have been showing up all over the world, and now they're locking into place. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-small-brands-can-start-a-dpp-program) ###### Topics: [DPP](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/dpp) ###### 3 min read ## [Should you switch to heat transfer labels?](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/should-you-switch-to-heat-transfer-labels) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Jun 1, 2026 1:59:51 PM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/HEAT_TRANSFERS_WHT_BR.jpg) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/should-you-switch-to-heat-transfer-labels) Most apparel teams default to woven labels because that's what they've always used. For some garments, that's the right call. For others, it might be costing you money and compromising quality. Heat transfer labels aren't a downgrade or a cheap alternative. They solve specific problems woven labels can't touch. Knowing when to switch (and when to stick with woven) is the difference between a label that works and one your customers cut out the first time they wear the shirt. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/should-you-switch-to-heat-transfer-labels) ###### Topics: [heat transfers](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/heat-transfers) ###### 4 min read ## [What the fashion industry can learn from how luxury brands use their figured labels](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-the-fashion-industry-can-learn-from-how-luxury-brands-use-their-figured-labels) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Apr 29, 2026 12:09:46 PM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/Labels.png) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-the-fashion-industry-can-learn-from-how-luxury-brands-use-their-figured-labels) A label used to contain two pieces of simple information: the garment’s size and its care instructions. And for many brands, that hasn’t changed. But as innovation has continued in packaging and trims, luxury brands have started to lead the way for making the most of smart label technology. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-the-fashion-industry-can-learn-from-how-luxury-brands-use-their-figured-labels) ###### Topics: [Labels](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/labels) ###### 4 min read ## [How to talk about sustainability without getting flagged for greenwashing](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-to-talk-about-sustainability-without-getting-flagged-for-greenwashing) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Apr 1, 2026 10:14:05 AM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/sustainable-1.png) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-to-talk-about-sustainability-without-getting-flagged-for-greenwashing) If you've read our piece on [sustainability buzzwords](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/behind-the-buzzwords-what-sustainability-terms-really-mean-and-dont-mean?hs_amp=true), you already know that terms like "eco-friendly" and "responsibly made" don't have consistent definitions. The bigger shift happening now is that governments are starting to write those definitions into law, and brands that can't back up their claims are getting caught. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-to-talk-about-sustainability-without-getting-flagged-for-greenwashing) ###### Topics: [sustainability](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/sustainability) ###### 3 min read ## [How Smart Brands Are Turning 2026 Regulations Into an Advantage](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-smart-brands-are-turning-2026-regulations-into-an-advantage) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Mar 16, 2026 2:34:19 PM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/Blog%20Banners_WC.png) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-smart-brands-are-turning-2026-regulations-into-an-advantage) As new environmental regulations start to solidify, [2026 has a reputation](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/looking-ahead-to-2026-the-year-apparel-builds-the-infrastructure) for being the year everything gets harder. Between the European Union's Ecodesign mandates and new transparency laws in the United States, the industry is landing on a single, global standard: the verified product. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/how-smart-brands-are-turning-2026-regulations-into-an-advantage) ###### Topics: [Regulations](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/regulations) ###### 2 min read ## [What Item-Level Data Looks Like in Day-to-Day Operations](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-item-level-data-looks-like-in-day-to-day-operations) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Mar 2, 2026 9:00:04 AM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/Website%20Images%20Phase%201%20/RFID%20Handheld.jpeg) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-item-level-data-looks-like-in-day-to-day-operations) Real-time tracking often dominates conversations about supply chain visibility. The ability to monitor inventory continuously can unlock powerful operational awareness. It is also a significant investment. Continuous tracking requires dense infrastructure, expanded data management, and workflows designed to respond to constant updates.  [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-item-level-data-looks-like-in-day-to-day-operations) ###### Topics: [RFID](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/rfid) ###### 4 min read ## [What Smart Packaging Means (And What It Does Not)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-smart-packaging-means-and-what-it-does-not) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Feb 16, 2026 10:21:57 AM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/Website%20Images%20Phase%201%20/QR-Code-Packaging-01.jpg) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-smart-packaging-means-and-what-it-does-not) Every year brings a new set of industry terms you’re expected to understand and use fluently. Some become genuinely useful. Others linger without ever fully settling into a shared meaning. Smart packaging falls somewhere in between. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/what-smart-packaging-means-and-what-it-does-not) ###### Topics: [RFID](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/rfid) [nfc](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/nfc) [QR](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/qr) [Smart Packaging](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/smart-packaging) ###### 3 min read ## [Looking Ahead to 2026: The Year Apparel Builds the Infrastructure](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/looking-ahead-to-2026-the-year-apparel-builds-the-infrastructure) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Jan 21, 2026 9:00:00 AM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/pexels-ann-h-45017-32417524.jpg) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/looking-ahead-to-2026-the-year-apparel-builds-the-infrastructure) The past few years have seen a steady stream of policy ideas, sustainability pressure, and changing consumer expectations. By the end of 2025, increased environmental policy was more than a thought for down the road; sustainability requirements and structured demands for data and transparency became concrete. Instead of another wave of new regulations, 2026 is looking to be the year that companies adjust their systems. With clearer regulatory direction and rising expectations from retailers and consumers, it’s time for apparel brands to build the infrastructure they need to be compliant and competitive.  The coming year is less about the “what” and more about the “how.” Here are the big shifts we’re predicting for 2026: [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/looking-ahead-to-2026-the-year-apparel-builds-the-infrastructure) ###### Topics: [Apparel](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/apparel) ###### 3 min read ## [The Year of Accountability: What Changed in Apparel in 2025](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/the-year-of-accountability-what-changed-in-apparel-in-2025) By [Rich Ringeisen](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/author/rich-ringeisen) on Jan 7, 2026 10:50:28 AM [![](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/hubfs/Blog%20Banners_WC.png) ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/the-year-of-accountability-what-changed-in-apparel-in-2025) While there are hardly any year-end wrap-ups that look back and claim the year was calm, 2025 was a particularly dynamic year in apparel.  With regulatory shifts solidifying, consumer priorities shifting, and technology emerging, 2025 was the year that ideas became cemented into action. The industry entered the year preparing for change and finished it operating at a new baseline. Here are three of the most substantial shifts that defined 2025. [Read more](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/the-year-of-accountability-what-changed-in-apparel-in-2025) ###### Topics: [Apparel](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/topic/apparel) [All posts](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/all) [Next ** ](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/page/2) ### Featured ### Posts by Tag - [sustainability (24)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/sustainability) - [DPP (20)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/dpp) - [RFID (14)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/rfid) - [digital product passport (DPP) (13)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/digital-product-passport-dpp) - [Charming.Digi (12)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/charming-digi) - [supply chain (7)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/supply-chain) - [Events (6)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/events) - [Labels (6)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/labels) - [Laws (6)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/laws) - [consumer insights (5)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/consumer-insights) - [circularity (4)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/circularity) - [Apparel (3)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/apparel) - [Certification (3)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/certification) - [PFAS (2)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/pfas) - [Tariffs (2)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/tariffs) - [brand (2)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/brand) - [digital labeling (2)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/digital-labeling) - [nfc (2)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/nfc) - [Cost Cutting (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/cost-cutting) - [Global Sourcing (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/global-sourcing) - [In Plant Printing (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/in-plant-printing) - [Nearshoring (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/nearshoring) - [QR (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/qr) - [Regulations (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/regulations) - [Smart Packaging (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/smart-packaging) - [Traceability (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/traceability) - [heat transfers (1)](https://blog.charmingtrim.com/tag/heat-transfers) [See all](https://blog.charmingtrim.com#) ### Sign up for updates       [![](https://phosphor.utils.elfsightcdn.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.licdn.com%2Fdms%2Fimage%2FC560BAQEd_tlSQ08hRw%2Fcompany-logo_400_400%2F0%2F1630582539667%2Flowatag_logo%3Fe%3D1718236800%26v%3Dbeta%26t%3DZeKKPX2ZDL-3Ux9DxbsvPBBBtRRimqt-_glUlzjiTHY) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/charmingtrims/) [/CHARMING ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/charmingtrims/) 5 days ago Big news alert! CIRPASS - Digital Product Passport has just announced this week that the implementation of the DPP for apparel and retail is officially set for 2027. 👇Take a look at the roadmap document below, feel free to download and share it with your connections in the apparel and retail industry. There's important work ahead of us! [#dpp](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/dpp/) [#traceability](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/traceability/) [#circularity](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/circularity/) ‍‍‍‍ Read more ![Big news alert! CIRPASS - Digital Product Passport has just announced this week that the implemen...](https://phosphor.utils.elfsightcdn.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.licdn.com%2Fdms%2Fimage%2FD4E1FAQFPMsqPHqqdPQ%2Ffeedshare-document-cover-images_1920%2F0%2F1709886179396%3Fe%3D1710928800%26v%3Dbeta%26t%3DVjwku_vfYE4RNUJqUQ8KQviVxt-lJjcv-Cb8yqIIVNI)   [  17 ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/charmingtrims_roadmap-dpp-activity-7171784411384922113-GXK1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop)   Share [![](https://phosphor.utils.elfsightcdn.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.licdn.com%2Fdms%2Fimage%2FC4D0BAQHdBeqQFyaSAA%2Fcompany-logo_400_400%2F0%2F1668530079764%2Fcirpass_dpp_logo%3Fe%3D1718236800%26v%3Dbeta%26t%3DttDuHIpXb7ixWDtZkArJ3QTZBxu4hG6I822Qv-GT8Is) ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cirpass-dpp/) [CIRPASS - Digital Product Passport ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cirpass-dpp/) March 1 The CIRPASS - Digital Product Passport final event is just around the corner! Have you registered already? No? 😱 Make sure to save your spot now > [https://lnkd.in/dVwEe2EZ](https://lnkd.in/dVwEe2EZ) 🗓The event will start at 9h30 CET - (5 March 2024) Consult the full event agenda > [https://lnkd.in/d-U3Zqra](https://lnkd.in/d-U3Zqra)  🔗 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: On the day of the event, you will be able to connect on this link > [https://lnkd.in/gEZs3XiX](https://lnkd.in/gEZs3XiX) ❓❓𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤&𝗔 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗼 During the event, we will be conducting the Q&A sessions exclusively through Slido. Ask your questions to the experts on this link > [https://lnkd.in/gtgJ5bek](https://lnkd.in/gtgJ5bek) ------- Battery Pass Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, CEA-List, SLR Consulting, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Chalmers Industriteknik, VDE, DKE, +ImpaKT Luxembourg S.à.r.l, F6S Innovation, GS1 in Europe, Politecnico di Milano, circular.fashion, DIGITALEUROPE, EIT InnoEnergy, Delft University of Technology, TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology, Veltha, Energy Web, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung , SyncForce, Innovalia Association, Textile Exchange , Responsible Business Alliance, Worldline, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, iPoint Systems, Global Electronics Council, Avery Dennison, Global Battery Alliance, Global Textile Scheme GmbH Read more ![The CIRPASS - Digital Product Passport final event is just around the corner!Have you registered ...](https://phosphor.utils.elfsightcdn.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.licdn.com%2Fdms%2Fimage%2FD5622AQEV3zB6tmtO2w%2Ffeedshare-shrink_2048_1536%2F0%2F1709204357535%3Fe%3D1713398400%26v%3Dbeta%26t%3DhN0m0YNqMucwkHl8h5b911OBhB2H3ywNZaNCcIaNoV0)   [  11 ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/charmingtrims_the-cirpass-digital-product-passport-final-activity-7170689287410171904-qGbS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop)   Share