Bonobos has physical "Guideshops" [0] that do not carry all inventory, but should carry a majority of the fits and sizes offered by the brand. The idea is that you go in to find the right fit, then you order your preferred color online. This reduces physical inventory in stores.
Made-to-Measure is also becoming increasingly popular. While costly compared to brands like Gap and Uniqlo, often you can get well-fitted made-to-measure garments for similar prices to mid-tier brands. For example, SuitSupply [1] offers made-to-measure dress shirts, trousers, and suits for only slightly more than their off-the-rack offerings, and FITTED Underground [2] offers made-to-measure jeans that are still in the price ballpark of premium selvedge jeans. Usually, these brands also let you customize things like button colors, cuffs, collars, monograms, etc. at little-to-no extra charge.
Even some shoe brands like Beckett Simonon [3] and BLKBRD [4] operate on made-to-order models, reducing inventory, and sometimes allowing customization.
All these options still rely on traditional manufacturing, but just the fact that you can get the fit right allows people to consume less.
Made-to-Measure is also becoming increasingly popular. While costly compared to brands like Gap and Uniqlo, often you can get well-fitted made-to-measure garments for similar prices to mid-tier brands. For example, SuitSupply [1] offers made-to-measure dress shirts, trousers, and suits for only slightly more than their off-the-rack offerings, and FITTED Underground [2] offers made-to-measure jeans that are still in the price ballpark of premium selvedge jeans. Usually, these brands also let you customize things like button colors, cuffs, collars, monograms, etc. at little-to-no extra charge.
Even some shoe brands like Beckett Simonon [3] and BLKBRD [4] operate on made-to-order models, reducing inventory, and sometimes allowing customization.
All these options still rely on traditional manufacturing, but just the fact that you can get the fit right allows people to consume less.
[0] https://bonobos.com/guideshop
[1] https://suitsupply.com/en-us/
[2] https://fittedunderground.com/
[3] https://www.beckettsimonon.com/
[4] https://www.blkbrdshoemaker.com/