Fast fashion brands losing edge as high-quality products gain traction

The 35-year-old US retailer Forever 21, which has said it will shut all of its stores in China, reflects the strain of fierce competition that fast fashion brands face in China.

Many foreign fast fashion brands have seen slowing growth in the Chinese market in recent years, in sharp contrast with earlier days when they could make some quick and easy money.

But now, they are struggling to meet Chinese consumers' increasing demand for quality goods, observers said.