Luxury multi-brand retailer The New Trend (TNT) has reported double-digit growth over the last few years amid a surge in popularity for curated retailing concepts.
Curated retailing involves carefully selecting and organising product mixes rather than stocking entire brand ranges. The New Trend stocks curated ranges from the likes of Harris Tapper, Christopher Esber and Anine Bing.
Speaking with Ragtrader, The New Trend co-founder and brand director Vanessa Spencer confirmed that FY22 sales were up 68 per cent and FY23 up 42 per cent, with significant growth continuing through FY24 and FY25.
“Over the past five years, TNT has delivered consistent year-on-year growth across both retail and online,” Spencer said.
“That momentum has come from a deliberate and strategic approach. Every store and every brand we bring on is carefully considered, it has to align with our client, our vision, and the long-term direction of the brand.
“Growth for us has never been about scale for its own sake. It is about building something lasting, with a clear point of view, strong partnerships, and a loyal community at its core.”
Since launching in 2017, as a sister concept to TNT Canada, the retail business now operates four stores and a local website. This includes a recent opening in Brisbane along James Street, adding to a Sydney boutique and two more in Victoria.
“With Brisbane now open, TNT enters its next phase of national expansion, continuing to grow with purpose and stay true to the values that have shaped the brand since day one,” Spencer said.
This ongoing growth in curated retailing comes alongside a shrinking fashion wholesale market in Australia, with research firm IBISWorld pointing to major retailers like Myer bypassing the industry by sourcing directly from manufacturers, while online marketplaces enable consumers and small retailers to bypass wholesalers.
The research firm also pointed to vertically integrated global brands like Uniqlo and H&M dominating the overall fashion market.
“Popular ecommerce marketplaces like Shein and Temu have further eroded wholesalers’ relevance, as both consumers and smaller clothing retailers source directly from overseas suppliers,” IBISWorld reported on its website.
“Wholesalers for specialty markets like uniform supply have remained comparatively resilient, while men’s and women’s clothing wholesaling has suffered. While renewed consumer confidence and rising disposable incomes have helped stabilise retail sales from a lull in 2022-23, intense downstream price competition and direct sourcing continue to limit wholesalers’ opportunities.”
Considering these factors, IBISWorld is projecting a further decline in clothing wholesaling of 3.4 per cent over the five years through 2025 to 2026, rounding off at $6.6 billion.
Spencer said customers today are now looking for guidance. “The market is crowded and curation has become the new form of service,” she said. “It is not about having more choice, it’s about having the right choice.
“A curated model saves her time and builds trust. When a client walks into TNT, she knows every piece has been considered: the quality, the fit, the fabric, the relevance. That trust is what keeps her loyal, and it’s why curated multi-brand retailing has become so powerful.”
Spencer added that curation directly drives business performance. For her, a focused buy means a stronger sell through, fewer markdowns and a cleaner margin.
She told Ragtrader that her team buys tight and with purpose. To Spencer, every piece has to earn its place.
“From a commercial point of view, that discipline builds efficiency and reduces inventory risk. From a brand point of view, it strengthens our identity. Clients know that if it’s in store, it’s been carefully edited for them.”
Spencer didn’t say if the brand is looking at further physical retail scaling ahead, but she did mention that the focus now is on nurturing brand and customer relationships, as well as supporting local designers and launching in-store activations.
From a fashion trend point-of-view, Spencer said the focus right now is on timeless investment dressing.
“Denim continues to lead for us, showing consistent growth year-on-year,” she said. “Our client is also gravitating toward relaxed tailoring, textural knitwear and understated eveningwear.
“For 2026, we see that evolving into even more ease, less overt trend, more quiet luxury and personal style. She is thinking about how her wardrobe works together, not just what is new.”