South Africa, Feb. 3 -- One theme stood out above all others: the death of the linear paradigm. For decades, retailers have operated within a predictable 'browse and buy' funnel. But that world is gone.

We have entered an exponential era driven by machine intelligence that doesn't just suggest but reasons and acts.

For fashion executives across Africa, the message is clear: retail is moving from a tool-based approach to an ecosystem where AI is the infrastructure. We are entering the age of the 'Sentient Store'.

Here are the four forces redefining fashion retail in 2026.

1. From SEO to GEO: The rise of agentic commerce

The traditional search engine is no longer the 'front door' of the internet. We are rapidly moving from Search Engin...