Articles by Weixin Zha
From domestic success to global expansion: Key insights on China’s fashion market
Chinese brands have gained in popularity at home and abroad over the past years but sluggish domestic consumer spending and uncertainty amid evolving trade tensions are weighing on the outlook of China’s apparel industry. Here are eight insights about China’s clothing sector from the spring edition fashion fair Chic. 1. Sluggish consumption...
Business|In Depth FeaturedMember21 Mar 2025
Joop! expects single-digit growth from AW25 buying season
Swiss fashion brand Joop! expects to grow during the buying season for its autumn/winter 2025 collection. In an interview, brand director Thorsten Stiebing discusses his expectations for the wholesale business, the industry sentiment, and which regions are performing well. The brand, founded by German designer Wolfgang Joop and now part of the...
Business|Interview FeaturedMember24 Feb 2025
Haute Couture SS25: A return to the tried and tested and a debut at Valentino
In Paris this week, fashion houses relied on proven formulas, striving for light, feminine collections. Brands like Chanel emphasised their visual codes, while others, such as Dior and Schiaparelli, also played with classic silhouettes. Only the Couture Week debutantes dared to experiment. Established codes As the oldest, still active couture...
Fashion Featured31 Jan 2025
Future Institute forecaster: 'Simply selling stuff is not a model for the future'
The clothing industry is suffering from dampened consumer spending, but what macro trends lie behind this phenomenon? Boris Planer, expert for retail and consumer goods at the Frankfurt Future Institute, explains in this interview what the dominant trends of our time could mean for fashion. One hypothesis: in the face of a shift in values and a...
Business|Interview FeaturedMember29 Jan 2025
Zalando's premium buyer on sleek kicks, chaotic individualization and volatile weather
Fashion retailers are keeping a close watch on their sales leading to Christmas amid a sluggish consumer sentiment, at the same time many are already preparing for the AW25 buying season starting in January. What's going well at Zalando right now and what trends does the online retailer bet on for womenswear in 2025? Zalando's Commercial...
Fashion Featured19 Dec 2024
Inside the deal: Zalando and About You founders break down the takeover
Two of the biggest online fashion retailers in Europe are joining forces. Berlin-based Zalando acquires German competitor About You for 1,1 billion euros. The surprising deal raises questions about synergies as the two companies seek to continue operating as independent brands. Here is what the CEO founders of both companies explained in calls...
BusinessFeaturedMember12 Dec 2024
New rules ahead: European fashion gears up for regulatory shifts
Facing a wave of new rules by the European Union, the bloc’s fashion industry is gearing up to address its concerns. The next months will be crucial as legislators are starting to flesh out a set of green rules. In July, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as the President of the EU Commission. In her second term, the EU plans to implement a set...
BusinessFeaturedMember6 Dec 2024
Minimalism meets mass appeal: The rise of Swedish apparel chain Lager 157
The Swedish fashion chain Lager 157 is expanding to Germany. The first store in Bremen is only intended to be the “springboard” for further expansion in Germany and Europe. In an interview, CEO Stefan Palm explains his expansion plans and the business model behind the success of Lager 157's wardrobe staples. Lager 157 has conquered Scandinavia...
Fashion Featured3 Dec 2024
New Yorker boss Friedrich Knapp has died
Friedrich Knapp, the founder of German retailer New Yorker, has died at the age of 73. "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our owner and managing partner, who made New Yorker one of the world's leading fashion companies through his courageous and visionary actions. Mr. Knapp was a family man and a thoroughbred entrepreneur who...
People15 Nov 2024
Stay or go? Career questions in a changing fashion world
The fashion industry has had a turbulent year. Some companies are struggling with insolvencies and declining revenues, while others are raising their forecasts and expanding. In uncertain times, some employees may also be questioning their career and future. Should you remain loyal to a company during a crisis, and when is it time to look for a...
Business|Interview FeaturedMember15 Nov 2024