Fashion brands’ profits hit as customers return worn clothing

Analysis: Asos and other retailers report rise in wardrobing' as buyers order many items but keep only a few

• Asos warns on profits amid increase in customer returns
• Opinion: twentysomething Asos looks more fragile than agile

Asos is blaming a significant increase" in returns from shoppers as the big reason for its latest profit warning - the third in less than a year.

It is not alone. Retailers across the fitting-room-free world of fast fashion, where ordering online means buying before trying, are processing a deluge of unwanted items. Everyone is experiencing a swamping of returns," said Kayla Marci of Edited, a retail technology company. It spiked after Christmas, and is now higher than it was this time last year."