The company’s latest European Retail Radar report analyses transactions across the continent, including fashion retail.
According to the report, the mass market segment, which includes fashion retailers, accounted for nearly 70% of the total leased space and the number of deals from January to June this year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Fashion retailers were responsible for over a third of all transactions. Brands such as Mango and Inditex-owned labels including Zara and Massimo Dutti, along with Jack & Jones, ranked among the most active participants.
Luxury retailers also increased their presence during H1 2025, with letting activity up by more than 50% compared to the same period last year.
Italy and the UK saw particularly high levels of activity from luxury occupiers, while additional agreements were completed in France and the Czech Republic.
The analysis partly credits the expansion of the fashion industry to “strong levels of tourism” throughout Europe.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataAccording to the report, tourism in the region is anticipated to achieve record levels during the year.
For the first time since the lifting of pandemic restrictions, long-haul traveller arrivals are expected to surpass 2019 figures.
The study also observed rental growth across all types of retail assets. High streets recorded a 4% year-on-year increase in rents, which is more than retail parks at 3.5% and shopping centres at 1.9%.
Cushman & Wakefield stated: “Rental growth has been particularly strong on the most prestigious European high streets where footfall has continued to improve and retailers compete to secure locations.”
Outlook for fashion retail in Europe
The report forecasts that consumer confidence will remain stable throughout the rest of 2025. Although some concerns persist among shoppers, lower inflation and decreasing interest rates are anticipated to relieve some pressure on household budgets.
Modest growth in consumer spending is likely to continue into the short and medium-term amid cost-of-living issues, geopolitical factors, and broader economic uncertainty.
Cushman & Wakefield Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) retail head Rob Travers said: “Retailers are leaning into evolving their retail space to establish standout and memorable experiences for customers that create a buzz and build connection between brands and their customers. Real estate strategy is now even more central to retail success.”
