TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– The paper aims to establish how fast fashion is translated and communicated in the retail store environment.Design/methodology/approach– An interpretive paradigm and inductive methodology made use of participant observation and key informant interviews.Findings– Whilst efficiencies in the supply chain have facilitated fast fashion's success, centralised control structures have meant that these efficiencies and flexibilities have not been translated into the retail store environment. Marketing communications activity is evident in relation to aspects of fast fashion, for example, through the use of “hero pieces” as identified in this research, however, availability and retail presence must support the fast fashion proposition.Research limitations/implications– The paper has a UK focus where fast fashion is well established, therefore generalisations relating to other fashion markets may not be appropriate.Practical implications– Retailers may have interest in the findings to gain competitive advantage in fast fashion.Originality/value– Academic research on fast fashion research is still in its infancy, however this paper provides some unique insights into the phenomenon which may add to the nascent literature. VL - 38 IS - 10 SN - 0959-0552 DO - 10.1108/09590551011076533 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/09590551011076533 AU - Barnes Liz AU - Lea‐Greenwood Gaynor PY - 2010 Y1 - 2010/01/01 TI - Fast fashion in the retail store environment T2 - International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 760 EP - 772 Y2 - 2024/09/20 ER -