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Scott Lipinski. Credits: Axl Jansen CEO interview 2025 is drawing to a close – high time to reflect on the past months and look ahead to the coming year. To do so, we spoke with various industry experts about their expectations, wishlists and highlights. First up is Scott Lipinski, CEO of Fashion Council Germany (FCG), who can look back not only on 2025 but also on the tenth anniversary of the German fashion association. What expectations did you have for 2025 and were they met? We had set […]

Credits: Pre-Fall 2026 Plaid and Checks ©Launchmetrics/spotlight An early read on Pre-Fall 2026 signals the strong presence of plaids and checks, positioning them once again as key patterns for the season. Pre-Fall product begins landing in stores as early as May and June, and plaid’s versatility across materials makes it a natural fit for this delivery. In fact, it remains one of the strongest—and most reliable—year-round patterns in the market. The “See now, buy now” concept has […]

Mango partners with Circulose Credits: Unsplash Swedish recycling textile pulp manufacturer Circulose has entered into a strategic partnership with Birla Cellulose, a sustainable viscose fiber manufacturer, to help accelerate textile recycling through enhanced brand collaborations and access to end-to-end solutions across the value chain. Under the new partnership, Circulose will supply Birla Cellulose with pulp made from 100 percent recycled textile waste. Birla will then develop viscose […]

Credits: FashionUnited ai The UK retail sector faced its toughest trading week since early spring, with total like-for-like (LFL) sales plunging by -7.13%. This sharp decline marks the lowest result since the second week of March, a downturn exacerbated by the disruptive arrival of Storm Bram, which brought heavy rain, gale-force winds, and snow to much of the country. The fashion sector was hit particularly hard, with total LFL sales falling by -7.75%. This represents the category’s third […]

Shein display at BHV Marais to celebrate its opening Credits: F. Julienne On Friday, the Paris judicial court rejected the French state's request to temporarily block the Shein website. It deemed the measure “disproportionate” following the e-commerce giant’s voluntary removal of illicit products. The court acknowledged “serious harm to public order”, citing the sale of sex dolls resembling young girls, weapons and medicines. However, it deemed these sales “isolated” and noted […]

Volcom store, Hawaii. Credits: Authentic Brands Group. Boardriders is set to make its return to Hawaii through new partnerships under the group’s current parent company, Authentic Brands Group. The Levy Group has stepped up to reopen Volcom’s store in Haleiwa, while BR Japan will oversee the reopening of Boardriders’ Waikīkī location. Speaking on the plans, David Brooks, EVP of action and outdoor sports at Authentic, said: “This more than retail returning to the islands – it’s […]

Hermès SS26 Credits: ©Launchmetrics/spotlight The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) has just released its provisional schedule for Paris Fashion Week Men's January 2026. Paris Fashion Week Men's will take place from January 20 to 25, 2026. It will showcase the autumn/winter 2026/2027 menswear collections. The provisional line-up includes 35 shows and 32 presentations, comparable to January 2025 which featured 37 shows and 30 presentations. The presentations are scheduled […]

Nicolas Bargi, CEO and founder of Save The Duck. Credits: Save The Duck. CEO Interview Innovation has long defined the outerwear sector, where performance, protection and material experimentation drive the market forward. For Save The Duck, which sits at a crossroads between technical outerwear and city fashion, this innovative mindset is embedded in its DNA. Built on an ethical and sustainable vision, the brand continues to seek opportunities in an effort to prove responsibility and […]

Pacsun's Soho, New York store. Credits: Pacsun. Pacsun has confirmed the opening plans of its first store outside of the US. The American youth retailer is due to open its inaugural international store in spring 2026 at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The news comes on the back of the company securing a regional partnership with Majid Al Futtaim, with which it is planning to open up to 20 stores across the Middle East over the next five years. An additional flagship location will also […]

Kylie Jenner in Miu Miu's FW25 campaign. Credits: Prada Group. Lyst’s Year in Fashion report has become a definitive marker in highlighting the most influential movements across fashion. For 2025, the industry was shaped by divisive trends, intense controversy, and a collective desire for greater accessibility. It was Miu Miu, described as Prada’s “coquettish little sister”, that emerged as the undisputed overall champion in Lyst’s data. For the third consecutive year, the Italian […]

Credits: YKK YKK has received two recognitions at the latest ISPO Textrends Awards, with its 3D Composite Puller named Best Product in the Accessories category and the NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ zipper with Recycled PET Open Parts selected as a Top 5 product. The awards highlight materials and components expected to influence upcoming performance and outdoor collections. The 3D Composite Puller was developed in collaboration with Variloom and uses a recyclable bio-based TPU with an […]

Regent Street in London. Credits: Pexels UK retail sales painted a nuanced picture in November as the Office for National Statistics data showed modest resilience beneath a soft monthly headline. While total sales volumes dipped slightly over the month, fashion and non food categories continued to hold steady, reinforcing the sense of selective rather than broad based consumer spending as the industry heads toward the final weeks of the Golden Quarter. Sales volumes rose across the three […]

Inditex 2025 Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting, held on July 15, 2025, in Arteixo, A Coruña (Spain). Credits: Screenshot. Inditex, the Spanish fashion group behind brands including Zara and Massimo Dutti, hit a new all-time high on Thursday, surpassing the record set in December last year and underlining the strong momentum behind the company. The stock climbed to as much as 56.38 euro per share, buoyed by better-than-expected quarterly results and growing confidence among international […]

A Tissot watch. Credits: Unsplash. Zurich, Switzerland – Swiss watch exports to the US plummeted again in November, as manufacturers delayed shipments in anticipation of a tariff reduction to 15 percent. According to data from the watchmaking federation published on Thursday, exports to the US fell by 52.3 percent in November. This follows declines of 46.8 percent in October, 55.6 percent in September and 23.9 percent in August. The drop was due to the 39 percent tariffs Washington imposed […]

Etro, SS26 Credits: Etro Following recent speculation, an official statement has been released: the Etro family is exiting the company. A consortium of industrial investors, comprising the Turkish company Rams Global, Mathias Facchini of Swinger International, and the banker Giulio Gallazzi via Sri Group, has acquired the minority stake previously held by the Etro family, in agreement with L Catterton. L Catterton remains the majority shareholder and will continue to actively support the […]

Puma Oxford Street store. Credits: Puma. Puma SE has successfully expanded its financial toolkit, securing more than 600 million euros in new financing to strengthen its balance sheet and support its long-term growth objectives. The package consists of a 500 million euros bridge loan, fully underwritten by Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB), alongside 108 million euros in additional confirmed credit lines. Both facilities carry a maturity of up to two years and are […]

The headquarters Credits: Safilo Safilo has announced its acquisition of shares in Inspecs Group. Between December 15 and 18, the company purchased a total of 25 percent of Inspecs' share capital for approximately 21.7 million pounds. In a statement, the management explained that this shareholding “reflects Safilo’s confidence in the long-term prospects of Inspecs, offering the group a strategic opportunity in the company's future developments”. On December 15, Safilo announced that it […]

Kering has taken an initial 20 percent stake, valued at 115 million euros Credits: Raselli Franco Group, media centre The French luxury giant is heading to Valenza, a town in the Piedmont region's province of Alessandria. The area is home to the most important production units for international high jewellery. Kering is acquiring Raselli Franco Group, one of Europe's largest independent producers of luxury jewellery. This marks the first acquisition since the appointment of CEO Luca de Meo. […]

Nike store Credits: Nike Nike, Inc. announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2025, revealing a complex landscape of modest top-line growth and significant bottom-line pressure as the company navigates a multi-year turnaround. Total revenues reached 12.4 billion dollars, representing a 1 percent increase on a reported basis but remaining flat on a currency-neutral basis. Nike's Greater China woes deepen The company’s "Greater China playbook" is also facing […]

Dubai fashion Credits: Photo by Kel Avelino on Unsplash When one thinks of fashion capitals, images of Paris, New York, Milan, and London immediately spring to mind. These Western cities, icons in their own right, are seen as the definitive and leading hubs each Fashion Week. However, new evidence indicates that the global fashion landscape is slowly changing, with new, upcoming fashion centers across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East emerging.  These style cities are quickly gaining […]

Phan Huy Credits: Courtesy Phan Huy At just 26 years old, Phan Huy has reached a milestone few designers ever approach: selected to present at Paris Haute Couture Week. His upcoming show on January 29th marks not only a personal breakthrough, but also a historic first for Vietnam, which will have an official representative on the couture calendar for the first time. Paris Haute Couture Week remains one of the most tightly controlled platforms in the global fashion industry. Governed by the […]

MadaLuxe Group acquires Ippolita Credits: Ippolita 2025 Lookbook Luxury goods company MadaLuxe Group has acquired a majority stake in New York-based fine jewelry brand Ippolita. The acquisition comes as MadaLuxe Group continues to expand its existing portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands, which includes premium tequila brand Tequila Enemigo. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are thrilled to welcome Ippolita into the MadaLuxe Group family,” said Adam Freede, CEO and […]

Free People to relocate Regent Street store Credits: Free People Lifestyle brand Free People is set to relocate its flagship store on Regent Street to Argyll Street, in line with its wider retail strategy for the UK. The current flagship store on Regent Street will continue operating as normal until December 24, 2025, before closing in preparation for the move. The new location will open sometime in spring 2026 and will feature an elevated retail experience that is designed to reflect Free […]

Laura Burdese appointed managing director of Bvlgari. Credits: Bvlgari Luxury giant LVMH announced on Thursday the appointment of Laura Burdese as managing director of the Italian jewellery brand Bulgari, effective July 1, 2026. Burdese, 54, who has served as deputy managing director since July 2024, will succeed Jean-Christophe Babin. Babin will remain chairman of the board of directors at Bulgari, “while continuing to serve as CEO of Bulgari hotels and president of the Bulgari […]

A visual from the collaboration between the Netflix series Emily in Paris and Intimissimi. Credits: Intimissimi In 2024, the fourth season of Netflix's hit series Emily in Paris revolutionised product placement strategy by fully integrating brands into its storyline. In 2025, the brand Intimissimi (Oniverse group) has secured a prime role in the fifth season, which was unveiled this Thursday, December 18. Storyline In the third episode of the new season, Emily works for a marketing agency. […]

Future Credit: Louis Vuitton – All rights reserved Rapper Future has been named a “Friend of the House” for luxury brand Louis Vuitton. Future, whose real name is Nayvadius Wilburn, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia, US. At the 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, Future was dressed in Louis Vuitton. He also attended the house’s spring/summer 2026 menswear show at the invitation of his friend and […]

Lululemon Regent Street store Credits: Lululemon An activist investor is believed to have snapped up a stake worth over one billion dollars in Canadian athleisure brand Lululemon. According to sources for Reuters, Elliott Investment Management has been working with former Ralph Lauren executive Jane Nielsen as it circles the currently unoccupied helm position. FashionUnited has contacted Lululemon and Elliott Investment Management with a request to comment. The news comes just days after […]

Saint Laurent Rive Droite, the house's cultural concept store conceived by Anthony Vaccarello, is opening a location in Beijing, China. In the 1960s, Yves Saint-Laurent Rive Gauche democratised luxury with its ready-to-wear line, Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. In 2019, Anthony Vaccarello, the house's artistic director, launched Saint Laurent Rive Droite. This concept extends fashion into a broader lifestyle notion and brand universe. More than just a clothing and accessories boutique, Saint Laurent […]

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Credits: Tron Le, for Unsplash The quarterly letter published by the French Treasury offers a detailed diagnosis. The textile and apparel industry remains the industrial and social core of the economies of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As a pillar of exports, a mass employer and a key driver of female employment, the sector has long relied on a simple competitive advantage. This advantage is an abundant, low-cost workforce dedicated to standardised, […]

Lululemon Running Gives campaign. Credits: Lululemon. Canadian athleisure giant Lululemon has confirmed plans to expand into six new markets in the new year as part of a franchise partnership model that responds to growing demand. Making up what is set to become a “record” year in market rollouts, the company is due to enter Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Romania through a new partnership with Arion Retail Group, while also preparing for a launch in India with Tata CLiQ. In the new […]

Interview Bastien, head of personal shopping and private salons at Le Bon Marché. Credits: Martin Colombet Bastien, head of personal shopping and private salons at Le Bon Marché (LVMH), discusses his career at the iconic Paris' department store. He covers the organisation and accessibility of these services, the central role of human connection in his profession and the inter-brand exchanges encouraged by the Virtuosos 2025 programme. What has your career path been at Le Bon Marché? […]

A candle for the late Oemer Khan. Credits: Unsplash Antony Price, the man who brought fashion to the forefront of the music industry, died on Tuesday. While unknown to the general public, he was by no means unloved. He was 80 years old. In the seventies, the British tailor put the superstars of Roxy Music in the spotlight with his finely cut tailoring, which was as exciting as the vibrant and fashionable era itself. He also styled the pin-up icons on album covers, including Amanda Lear, […]

Credits: Another Cotton Lab Another Cotton Lab (ACL) is a young streetwear label from Düsseldorf that was founded in 2023. Its vision is to connect sport culture and fashion in an entirely new way, with everything revolving around its own community. A major part of the brand, and one of the aspects it is best known for, is its Sunday Running Club, which takes place every Sunday in Düsseldorf. Over the past two years, Another Cotton Lab has grown beyond Düsseldorf and Germany, building a […]

The Birkenstock headquarters Image: Birkenstock German footwear provider Birkenstock has continued its growth trajectory in the 2024/25 financial year, as expected. Revenue even exceeded the forecasts, which were raised at the end of September. This was revealed in a recent business report published on Thursday by its parent company, Birkenstock Holding plc, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In the most recent financial year, which ended on September 30, the group's revenue […]

Pieter Mulier (left) and Osman Ahmed, fashion features director at i-D Magazine (right) Credits: Fille Roelants Fashion might still have one last big surprise in store before the year ends. With Versace’s creative director position once again vacant, speculation has been rife – but some believe the mystery could be solved sooner rather than later. According to multiple media outlets, including WWD, Alaïa creative director Pieter Mulier is expected to join the Milan-based house and its […]

Interview Emello campaign Credits: Emello New British luxury womenswear brand Emello is looking to take a slice of the competitive loungewear market with its elevated take on the category, with a focus on timeless silhouettes crafted for “modern women designed by women”. Founded this year by Victoria Price, alongside co-chief executive and buying director Ashley McPherson, Emello is ambitiously looking to provide women with a “new standard” in everyday dressing, where comfort is […]

Exterior of the new Pepco store in Spain Credits: Pepco. Pepco Group N.V., the leading pan-European variety discount retailer, has reported a "real turning point" in its preliminary results for the 12 months ended 30 September 2025. Following the implementation of a new strategic framework in March 2025, the Group delivered strong financial performance driven by a return to its core model of clothing and general merchandise and the successful exit from FMCG operations. The Group saw […]

Footasylum Metro Centre Credits: Footasylum In a move that signals an evolution of its global growth strategy, leading UK-based footwear and sportswear retailer Footasylum has announced a strategic partnership with Apparel Group, the Dubai-headquartered retail conglomerate. The agreement is designed to accelerate Footasylum’s presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), marking the brand’s first foray into physical retail outside of the United Kingdom. Under the terms of the […]

Tommy Hilfiger x Spinnova. Credits: Spinnova. US premium brand Tommy Hilfiger has become the newest partner of Spinnova, a Finnish fibre tech firm backed by Fashion for Good. The company has joined Spinnova’s consortium, a model the firm introduced earlier this year to encourage fashion brands to back efforts in scaling its flagship fibre offering. Aptly dubbed Spinnova, the textile is made of wood pulp or waste that forms a biodegradable, recyclable fibre through a chemical-free process. […]

Wax London storefront. Credits: Wax London. British menswear brand Wax London has hailed 2025 as a “milestone” year, with performance bolstered by retail and wholesale growth. With this, the company is now preparing to move into its next phase, eyeing further international expansion. The company has utilised the period to expand its physical presence, opening its fourth standalone store in London; its first regional location in Leeds; a month-long residency in Los Angeles; and hosting […]

FW26. Credits: Dior Expanding the Dior recoding as envisioned by Creative Director Jonathan Anderson into a wardrobe suited for many characters and occasions, the Fall 2026 collection has an expansive narrative. The power of fashion to rewire the everyday is affirmed, at once softly and boldly. Signs retrieved from the history of the House are condensed into a decisive silhouette and crushed with a sense of normality. The past converses with the present, the grand with the calm. Everything is […]

Credits: Akeneo Justin Thomas VP Sales EMEA North at Akeneo looks ahead to 2026 to show just how important data is to how retailers can keep pace with the changes coming. If you had asked a retail expert in 2016 what shopping might look like a decade later, many would have described a world of drone-delivered parcels and fridges that automatically reorder the groceries. Some of those predictions have materialised in part, if not quite as dramatically as imagined, but the truth is that […]

AW26. Image: Timberland Timberland's autumn/winter 2026 apparel and footwear collections reaffirm the brand's commitment to evolving traditional craftsmanship for the modern day. The collections are designed to be ready for any weather, while remaining deeply rooted in a timeless heritage style. The launch will take place in early autumn with a focus on back-to-campus looks. This will be followed by a street edit that highlights premium leather and denim. The season concludes with casual, […]

Toms CEO, Jessica Alsing. Credits: Toms. CEO Profile Earlier this year, Californian-born footwear brand Toms, long-recognised for its signature Alpargatas shoe and social-impact ethos, entered a new phase of reinvention. To oversee that transition, the company appointed industry veteran Jessica Alsing as its new chief executive officer, marking the latest step in its ongoing repositioning. Known for her expertise in digital transformation, global brand building, and financial strategy, […]

ROUNDUP Suits You, Sir Credits: Ilustración Workinfashion por Jackie Mallon Over the past year, FashionUnited has explored what it really means to work in fashion today — from evolving leadership models and career realities to the educators shaping the next generation. Below is a curated roundup of key articles that together paint a picture of an industry in transition, balancing creativity, responsibility and new expectations of work. The future of leadership in fashion: What types […]

Morleys Brixton store Credits: Facebook/Morleys Brixton Morleys Department Stores has announced a significant shake-up of its senior leadership team as the historic retailer prepares for a new phase of growth. Ray Clacher has been appointed as the group’s new chief executive officer, effective January 5, 2026. Clacher, who most recently served as chief commercial officer at BrandAlley, brings an extensive retail pedigree to the role, including previous leadership positions at House of Fraser […]

Pantone ‘Colour of the Year’ - 'Cloud Dancer' Credits: Pantone Interview Global colour authority Pantone has chosen a ‘Colour of the Year’ since 2000, when it opted for ‘Cerulean Blue,’ a serene colour for the millennium, and since then it has selected pink, red, orange, green, purple, blue, yellow, grey, and brown hues, and this year sees the very first white, ‘Cloud Dancer’. What started out as an educational programme to engage the design community and colour enthusiasts […]

Claridge’s Christmas tree, designed by Daniel Lee, Burberry Credits: Claridge’s In Pictures This holiday season, fashion brands and designers aren’t just content with taking over the windows at luxury department stores but instead dressing Christmas trees for luxury hotels across London. Claridge’s unveiled a 16-foot tree decorated with bows designed by Burberry’s Daniel Lee, while The Londoner embraced the ethereal aesthetic of Susan Fang, and One Hundred Shoreditch brought a […]

Tokyo, Japan Credits: Jezael Melgoza / Unsplash Japan's general fashion and textile market began declining in the 1990s and contracted further during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although a gradual recovery has been observed in recent years, the market has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The domestic luxury market, however, has shown significant growth over the past five years despite the weak yen. According to consulting firm Yano Research Institute, many segments of the luxury market in 2023 […]

Hulcan and Mile founders, Mario Maher and Joe Wilkinson Credits: Hulcan / Mile. After a tenuous period that brought uncertainty to the future of Matches, it appears the ailing British e-tailer may have found a more promising home. Hulcan, a new luxury group created by the co-founders of members-only platform Mile, has stepped up to acquire the company as it prepares for a 2026 relaunch. The deal – financial details of which remain undisclosed – involves the intellectual property assets of […]

Shopping Credits: @Markusspiske via Pexels.com After a subdued build-up to Christmas, the UK retail sector is bracing for a sharp late surge. Panic Weekend, taking place on 20–21 December, is forecast to deliver 3.43 billion pounds in sales, up 12.8 percent year-on-year, as consumers delay festive purchases until the final possible moment. According to the latest Shopping for Christmas Report from VoucherCodes.co.uk, nearly 49.6 million people are expected to shop over the two days, a 26 […]

Richemont headquarters Credits: Richemont Richemont UK Limited has reported a significant surge in profitability for the financial year ended March 31, 2025, with profit for the year reaching 21.67 million pounds, up from 8.73 million pounds in the previous year. The luxury goods distributor, which oversees the sale of jewellery, watches, and premium clothing across the UK and Ireland, saw its total revenues climb to 277.26 million pounds, a notable increase compared to FY2024. This growth was […]

Etro SS26 Credits: Launchmetrics/spotlight A shareholder restructuring is on the horizon for Etro. According to the newspaper Mff, the founding family is reportedly preparing to sell its stake to new investors. Gefin is therefore set to exit, with plans to sell its stake to Turkish group Rams Global. L Catterton will reduce its holding to 51 percent, whilst a consortium including Mathias Facchini of Genny and Sri Group with Giulio Gallazzi is expected to acquire a stake in the brand. According […]

Circulose launches Circulose Forward with Canopy Credits: Circulose Recycled textile manufacturer Circulose has announced a slew of new partners as it continues to push forward with its renewed strategic direction focused on securing long-term commitments from brands. The latest additions include Bestseller, John Lewis, C&A, Filippa K, Reformation, Faherty, Bobo Choses and Zero. Their commitment comes on the heels of similar partnerships with H&M, Mango and Marks & Spencer, […]

Arnaud Ruffin Credits: The LYCRA Company For more than six decades, The LYCRA Company has built its reputation as the ultimate ingredient brand, the invisible technology underpinning everything from denim and swimwear to intimates and performance wear. Today, the company is pushing that legacy into a lower-impact future with a major bio-derived innovation: LYCRA® EcoMade fiber with QIRA™, made from industrial corn feedstock rather than fossil fuels. In conversation with FashionUnited, Vice […]

Lotto to relaunch in the US and Canada. Credits: WHP Global. The parent company of Lotto, WHP Global, has established a new licensing partnership that will see the Italian brand enact its “most significant North American fashion relaunch to date”. The deal was struck with Pure Cotton Global Group, which has been tasked with designing, manufacturing, and distributing a lifestyle apparel line across the US and Canada. The first drop, a streetwear-focused capsule already available via […]

“Retail continues to be a major focus for VF, and this month we’ve taken steps to strengthen our connection with consumers by opening new stores in some of Europe’s most vibrant locations.” Commented Martino Scabbia Guerrini, VF Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer and President, Emerging Brands. From the heart of Paris to London’s Carnaby Street, these spaces are more than retail, they’re immersive brand experiences. Each store tells a unique story, blending design, […]

Credits: Amity University The Amity School of Fashion Technology recently held an International Conference on Fashion, Apparel & Textiles, bringing together academics, industry experts and students to discuss current trends and future directions in the global fashion and textile sectors. The event featured presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on innovation, sustainability, and technological advancements shaping the industry. Speakers included notable […]

Rag & Bone Credits: Facebook/Rag & Bone The New York-based brand has entrusted its menswear line to the former creative director of The Academy New York. The first collection will be unveiled in Florence for autumn/winter 2026. Rag & Bone has announced the appointment of Swaim Hutson to the role of head of menswear design. The brand's strategy includes the debut of the designer's first collection in Florence at Pitti Uomo in January 2026, presenting the autumn/winter 2026 season. […]

Levi's flagship store Times Square, New York Credits: Levi Strauss&Co. Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) announced that its board of directors has appointed Jeffrey J. Jones II as its newest member, effective January 21, 2026. Upon joining, Jones will serve on both the nominating, governance and corporate citizenship committee and the compensation and human capital committee. The appointment comes as the iconic apparel brand continues its strategic shift toward becoming a […]

Bravissimo swimwear campaign Credits: Bravissimo Bravissimo, a retailer specializing in lingerie, swimwear, and nightwear, underwent a significant change with the acquisition of its immediate parent company, Bravissimo Group Ltd, by Wacoal Europe on September 26, 2024. This acquisition resulted in a change in the accounting reference date to March 31, extending the current reporting period to 17 months. For the 17 months ended March 31, 2025, the company reported revenue of 79.3 million pounds […]

Stella McCartney x LeMieux collection Credits: Stella McCartney Stella McCartney Ltd, the luxury fashion brand, reported a significantly increased loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, despite continued strategic efforts focused on sustainability and product innovation. The company's loss for the financial year widened to 33.59 million pounds in 2024, up from a loss of 24.68 million pounds in the prior year, while operating loss increased to 29 million pounds. This was primarily driven by […]

Schiaparelli Haute Couture Fall Winter 2024 Look 26 Credits: Courtesy Patrimoine Schiaparelli, Paris. Photographer: Giovanni Giannoni After a packed exhibition year in which curators did their best to capture the turbulence of our times, they appear to be returning to classics in 2026. The magnifying glass is on greats such as Schiaparelli, Alaïa and the Queen (Elizabeth II), whom many people know and will always want to explore. A fine starting point, because anyone who visits many museums […]

High street Credits: AI image generated by FashionUnited December trading numbers and footfall trackers may suggest that UK retail has steadied itself. But behind the apparent normality of peak season sits a more structural concern that cannot be solved with a strong weekend or a good Christmas run: the sector is operating with materially fewer people than it once did. For many retailers, staffing has become the tightest constraint on growth, more limiting than demand, rent or even inflation. […]

Christmas shopping Credits: Trademart Visit any high street in the run-up to Christmas and you’d be forgiven for thinking the downturn never arrived. Shops are packed, tills are ringing and there is a genuine sense of seasonal joy in the air. But beneath the bustle, UK consumers are making far more calculated decisions than the crowds might suggest. According to new Deloitte ConsumerSignals research, around one in three UK consumers plan to spend more this Christmas than last year, a figure […]

AI-generated image for illustration purposes. Credits: FashionUnited However high the cost pressure may be, compromising on quality is not an option in the fashion industry. A reliable planning rhythm, a robust data foundation and practical AI building blocks reduce friction costs along the fashion value chain. Thoughtful governance is key during implementation to ensure that savings potential is realised in practice. Several trends are driving up costs in the fashion industry. Among raw […]

Nude Project store in Amsterdam. Credits: Nude Project. Nude Project has opened a vacancy for a new chief financial officer (CFO) at a pivotal moment in its international development. The transition comes as the company accelerates its growth outside Spain and consolidates its presence in strategic markets across Europe and the United States. This follows a year marked by the expansion of its physical retail network and the strengthening of its international positioning. The announcement was […]

Updated Store front of an Eterna shop Credits: Eterna Eterna Mode GmbH has filed for insolvency under self-administration at Passau District Court. The aim of the proceedings is to implement the final milestone in the transformation of the Passau-based shirt and blouse specialist. This includes the complete outsourcing of logistics as well as the sale and leaseback of the company premises, Eterna announced on Tuesday. The application was necessary because "some of the financial creditors […]

Exterior of the North Face new flagship store in Manhattan Credits: The North Face US fashion group VF Corporation has cut almost 100 jobs across its UK and Ireland business as turnover and profit slipped over the year to March 31, 2025. According to a filing with the UK’s Companies House, the company’s Northern European division saw its employee numbers drop from 709 in the year prior to 623. FashionUnited has contacted VF for a comment on the job cuts. In the same report, VF, the parent […]

Interview Stple debut collection Credits: Stple There’s a new name on the British fashion scene, Stple, which is entering the market with a mission “to deliver elevated pieces that feel effortless yet intentional” by blending bold minimalism with wearable sophistication. Founded by Hannah Dawson, Stple aims to fill a gap for elevated basics that feel both luxury-driven and versatile for day wear, utilising clean lines, neutral palettes, and subtle architectural detailing to empower […]

Maud Alvarez-Pereyre lors de l'AG LVMH avril 2025 Credits: F. Julienne The LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers has opened for submissions, inviting emerging creatives from around the world to enter the 13th edition of the global competition. Designers aged 18–40 who have produced at least two ready-to-wear collections — whether womenswear, menswear or gender-less — can apply online before the 11 January 2026 deadline at lvmhprize.com. The award programme, established by luxury group […]

Destination XL retail store. Credits: Calvin L. Leake via Dreamstime Last week, two major players in the US’ size-inclusive apparel category joined hands. FBB Holdings I, Inc. (FullBeauty) and Destination XL (DXL) announced a major merger in a move that intends to accelerate respective growth plans and scale the presence of a “category-defining retailer for inclusive apparel”. Framed as a “merger of equals”, the transaction creates a combined company with around 1.2 billion dollars […]

ABC Mall Dbayeh, a shopping centre in Lebanon Credits: ABC Lebanon The Fédération Libanaise de la Mode (FLM), Lebanon's official fashion organisation, has announced a long-term strategic partnership with retail group ABC Lebanon to “elevate” the country's fashion industry. In a statement, FLM said the move would enable the organisation to accelerate Lebanon’s fashion industry by championing Lebanese designers and strengthening the country’s creative industries within a “unified, […]

Rick Owens FW22. Credits: ©Launchmetrics/spotlight Just days after launching a protest campaign against Rick Owens, the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) has confirmed that the American designer has committed to not using fur in future collections. In an email, Owens, together with his Parisian business entity Owenscorp, told CAFT that the company has been working to reduce and eventually eliminate the production of fur in its processes “over the past decide”. “We will not […]

Byan's new London store. Credits: Byan. Founded and led by Andrea Moragues, the brand has evolved in four years from domestic production to an international structure with a presence in multi-brand retail, its own channel and a growth strategy that has just materialised in its first London store. The space opened in early November at 28 Henrietta Street in Covent Garden. This move reinforces its international roadmap and signals a greater focus beyond Spain from 2026, positioning the brand in […]

Fashion for Good endorses Spinnova’s consortium model. Credits: Fashion for Good / Spinnova. Finnish fibre tech firm Spinnova has found allyship in Fashion for Good, an accelerator and collaboration platform hoping to help contribute to the establishment of an industry ecosystem to scale textile innovation. Fashion for Good’s involvement follows the introduction of Spinnova’s revised strategy earlier this year. The Finland-based firm said that it intends to build an international […]

Credits: ESMOD ESMOD, the historic French fashion school founded in 1841, is modernising its education model by integrating traditional craftsmanship with cutting‑edge digital tools to prepare students for evolving careers in fashion design and business, according to an article published on Business of Fashion. Ranked among the world’s top five international fashion schools and recently rebranded for its 180th anniversary, ESMOD emphasises a curriculum that balances hands‑on skills like […]

Marcelo Noschese, Ganni president, Americas. Credits: Ganni. Ganni is embarking on its next phase of growth. To prepare, the Danish fashion brand has appointed three new seniors to its leadership team, each tasked with contributing to their respective divisions. Among them, Marcelo Noschese has been named president, Americas. From New York, Noschese, the former CEO for Prada Group’s Americas business, will oversee retail, wholesale and e-commerce in the region. He is joined by Marie Valot, […]

Silhouette eyewear Credits: Courtesy of Silhouette Silhouette, the largest independent and family-owned manufacturer of handcrafted luxury eyewear, announced a key promotion on December 15, 2025, appointing Kristin Kunkel as the new head of key accounts, e-commerce, and training for the U.S. sales team. In her expanded role, Kunkel will be responsible for overseeing strategic development and execution across key accounts, while also leading the creation of comprehensive training programs. […]

Headquarters Credits: Kering Luxury group Kering and investment firm Ardian have announced the completion of a co-investment agreement, formalised through the creation of a joint venture centred on a real estate asset on Fifth Avenue in New York. The building, located at 715-717 Fifth Avenue, occupies a prime position offering approximately 10,700 square metres of luxury retail space. The transaction values the asset at 900 million dollars. Kering will receive a net amount of 690 million […]

Headquarters Credits: Safilo Safilo does not intend to make a binding offer for British eyewear company, Inspecs. In a statement, Inspecs said that in light of the proposed acquisition by Bidco at a price of 84 pence per share, Safilo Group has confirmed it does not intend to make a binding offer for Inspecs. Bidco is a newly formed company established for the acquisition and is controlled by Luke Johnson and Ian Livingstone. Johnson is an entrepreneur and investor, whilst Livingstone is a […]

Nearly two thirds of Indian and Chinese consumers have spent over 20,000 euros on luxury goods in the past 24 months Credits: FashionUnited, image generated with the assistance of AI Nearly two thirds of Indian and Chinese consumers have spent over 20,000 euros on luxury goods in the past 24 months. Additionally, 86 percent of Indian consumers plan to further increase their spending over the next 12 months, the most significant figure among all markets analysed. The data confirms that luxury […]

Looking to the future Credits: Pexels Opinion If 2025 was the year fashion learned to live with uncertainty, 2026 is shaping up to be the year it decides what to do with it. Many of the pressures that defined the past 18 months will not magically disappear on January 1st. Tariff uncertainty remains a structural concern, particularly as trade tensions between major economic blocs continue to ebb and flow. Inflation may have cooled in parts of Europe and the United States compared with its […]

Salomon store in Milan Credits: Salomon Mellin will leave the brand, which belongs to Finnish sporting goods group Amer Sports, on April 1, 2026, he announced on Monday via the career network LinkedIn. He took on this position, leading the brand vision, approximately three years ago. During this time, he and his team developed a new vision, mission, purpose and shared focus, Mellin said in the post. These culminated in a clear strategy that unites Salomon as a "Modern Mountain Sports […]

Uniqlo X Needles Credits: Uniqlo In recent years, Japan's apparel market has consistently fallen short of the nine trillion yen level seen before Covid-19. One reason for this phenomenon is the labour shortage in the textile industry. The average annual income in the textile sector is 5.81 million yen, which exceeds the wider industry average. However, textile wages remain more than 25 percent below both the all-industry and manufacturing averages. Another factor is the decline in Japanese […]

AW26. Credits: Olymp Signature The Autumn Edit The exclusive OLYMP SIGNATURE Autumn/Winter 2026 Collection combines traditional manufacturing with modern influences, rekindling the rich history of local craftsmanship. The past is interpreted in a contemporary manner, where timeless elegance harmoniously meets innovative design approaches. Crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail, each individual piece embodies the authentic traditions of its origins. Stylish and characterful […]

Santiago Cucci. Credits: IKKS. Santiago Cucci, current president of the holding company HoldIKKS, is one of the two new buyers of French ready-to-wear group IKKS. His offer, led alongside co-shareholder Michael Benabou, comes at the cost of a human tragedy, according to the CFDT union, as nearly 50 percent of employees will be made redundant. This vision contrasts sharply with his profile as a "happy entrepreneur," as he describes himself on his LinkedIn account. So who is Santiago Cucci? And […]

Credits: Gondolina In just under three years, Gondolina Shoes has achieved what most fashion brands spend decades pursuing: becoming the most beloved and highest-rated brand in the global fashion industry. Across Google Maps, TripAdvisor, client reviews and multiple independent indicators, Gondolina consistently ranks at the very top. Not just in Italy. Not just in footwear. But across the entire international fashion landscape. Today, Gondolina stands alone: a brand without competitors in its […]

Lancaster, UK. Credits: Unsplash. New figures by MRI Software have shown an increase in footfall over the past week, despite adverse weather conditions temporarily discouraging travel. According to the data platform, for the period December 7 to 13, footfall across all UK retail destinations rose 3.1 percent compared to the week prior, largely driven by a 5 percent uptick in high streets. This was followed by a 2.2 percent increase in shopping centre footfall, while retail park activity […]

Interview Pantone ‘Cloud Dancer’ Credits: Pantone by The Development Since 2000, Pantone has selected an animated red, a periwinkle blue, a warm and soft brown hue, as well as a cosy peach, a rose quartz, a tranquil blue, an earthy wine red, and a radiant orchid, all selected to serve as an expression of a mood or attitude, but none has been as controversial as this year’s selection of ‘Cloud Dancer,’ a colour described as “a billowy, balanced white imbued with a feeling of […]

Gabriele Maggio Credits: Twinset Gabriele Maggio is the new chief executive officer of Twinset. His appointment forms part of the company's new ownership structure, which passed to the joint control of Borletti Group and Quadrivio & Pambianco (manager of the Made in Italy Fund II) in June 2025. The two entities acquired 100 percent of Twinset with an equal stake. A manager with extensive international experience in the luxury and fashion sector, Maggio has held senior positions at some of […]

Russell & Bromley launches with John Lewis. Credits: John Lewis. British retailer Next is reportedly among a string of suitors eyeing an acquisition of Russell & Bromley. The family-owned footwear business announced in October that it was seeking external financing as part of the next phase of its ReBoot turnaround plan. Next is said to be among the interested parties, according to sources for Sky News, with the identity of other suitors currently unclear. FashionUnited has contacted […]

In Pictures JW Anderson flagship on London’s Pimlico Road. Credits: JW Anderson Jonathan Anderson, who announced the relaunch of his signature label JW Anderson as a lifestyle brand in July, with a focus on curated fashion collections alongside homeware and artisanal goods, is continuing to place homeware at the heart of his brand with a new store opening on London’s Pimlico Road. The new store has been developed by architects Sanchez Benton, who have previously realised the new JW […]

Georg Lux takes a bow at the end of the Leonard SS26 show. Credits: ©Launchmetrics/spotlight Georg Lux, creative director of Leonard since January 2021, "has chosen to step down from his role," the luxury house announced in a statement on Monday, December 15. This announcement marks the end of a period of nearly five years during which the designer contributed to the evolution of the Parisian label's aesthetic whilst respecting its heritage. Fruitful creative chapter for the house Over five […]

Braehead Centre; Sports Direct storefront. Credits: Sports Direct Frasers Group is said to be mulling a takeover of troubled e-tailer SilkFred. According to sources for Drapers, the British retail giant is one of three parties considering a takeover. SilkFred appointed administrators from Quantuma in November after becoming “another victim of tough trading conditions”, the firm’s managing director, Andrew Watling, said. According to Quantuma, the multibrand e-commerce platform did not […]

SuperCircle waste management operating system Credits: SuperCircle Circularity infrastructure start-up SuperCircle, which offers a full-service technology and reverse logistics textile management platform for retail brands, including J.Crew, Guess, and Reformation, has raised 24 million US dollars to scale its AI-powered platform. The Series A funding was led by venture capital firm Foundry, with participation from BBG Ventures, Renewal Funds, and Elemental Impact. The capital will be used to […]

Gauthier Borsarello at the finale of Fursac's FW25 show. Credits: ©Launchmetrics/spotlight Gauthier Borsarello has announced his departure from SMCP-owned Fursac, where he has been at the creative helm for five years. The designer revealed his departure on Instagram, where he said: “It has been a meaningful chapter, both creatively and professionally.” In the post, Borsarello added that time at Fursac was defined largely by the launch of the Parisian brand on the official fashion week […]

AI Climate stock illustration Credits: Photo by NO NAME via Pexels “The future isn’t predetermined. The impact of AI depends entirely on how we choose to use it. If we’re intentional, if we design responsibly and act with purpose, AI can become one of the most powerful drivers of sustainability in the decade ahead,” said Emma Grace Bailey, director of sustainability at Future Snoops (FS), during the trend agency’s latest Sustainability No Filter webinar on AI’s Climate impact. […]

Pandora Oxford Street West Credits: Pandora Pandora’s incoming chief executive officer is due to take up the helm earlier than planned. Berta de Pablos-Barbier, the company’s current chief marketing officer, will now be stepping into her new role on January 1, 2026, ahead of her initial March start date. Pandora said the faster handover is due to a “seamless” transition with current CEO and president Alexander Lacik, who announced his intention to retire in September after seven years […]

Credits: From left to right: SushiPa from GeekOut, Shusuke Morioka from the Dentsu Group, and Satoshi Tokuoka from Bunka Fashion College. Japanese advertising and innovation firm Dentsu Group has showcased a collaborative project that bridges physical and digital fashion education, developed with Bunka Fashion College and immersive social platform Roblox. The initiative is part of Dentsu’s efforts to support future creative talent through its House of Creators programme, offering students […]