David Epstein has spent much of his career working with the brands Frasers Group sells. From January 1, he will be responsible for one of them.

UK fashion online stayed in growth last week against one of the most demanding comparisons of the year, even as the wider high street softened and the category as a whole edged lower. Non-store fashion rose +0.34% — modest in isolation, but set against an extraordinary +20.72% base from the same week a year earlier, making it the only fashion channel to hold positive.

Paris - Jean-Luc Mélenchon unveils his “productive investment plan” for the textile sector on Friday. The strategy aims to reshore a mass-market apparel industry, expand flax and hemp cultivation, and structure reuse and recycling supply chains. The goal is for 10 percent of new garments to be manufactured in France by 2032.

Mass-market apparel industry

Only 3 percent of garments purchased in France today are manufactured domestically. The presidential candidate for La France Insoumise (LFI), who is visiting the Made in France trade show today, wants to “recreate a genuine mass-market apparel industry”. This will span “from crop cultivation to garment manufacturing, including processing”.

The objective is to increase the share of domestically manufactured garments sold in France to 10 percent by 2032. This represents an additional 80,000 tonnes per year, achieved by mobilising “3.45 billion euros over the five-year presidential term”, according to the investment plan seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

This reshoring strategy will rely on the widespread development of sustainable local crops. Specifically, it involves “scaling up” flax and hemp, with cultivation areas increasing by 40,000 hectares each to reach 240,000 hectares for flax and 65,000 hectares for hemp.

The plan also outlines the reshoring of the industrial processing, spinning and weaving stages.

To lower costs for the general public, he is banking primarily on a “volume-based approach” and automation. This will be achieved by supporting “the emergence of a sustainable mass-production sector” through a dedicated public fund.

He also intends to leverage public procurement, estimated at “722 million euros per year”, to guarantee market outlets for the entire supply chain.

To protect this domestic production from dumping, LFI proposes introducing “mandatory quotas for private corporate apparel procurement”. The party also plans to implement a “bonus-malus system” to tax the most polluting imported garments; ban hazardous chemicals; and create a “national platform for French apparel”.

The plan also aims for “25 percent of garments placed on the market in France” to come from “reuse or the circular economy”, with “public management” of this sector. Furthermore, it targets reaching “70,000 tonnes of reused textiles in France in 2032” and 200,000 tonnes of recycled textiles, compared to 60,000 today.

Finally, the plan provides for “an additional ten million euros per year” in support for technical textiles, alongside a “major national training plan” with France Travail to create “at least 55,000 direct jobs”.

A new pan-African advocacy movement and industrialisation platform aims to transition Africa from a primary exporter of raw materials into an economy that locally processes, manufactures and monetises its own resources. While the broader mission of Africa Made It spans multiple resource sectors such as cocoa and gold, its flagship campaign is the fibre-to-fashion value chain highlighting Africa's cotton, textile and garment industries.

Japanese sportswear maker Asics posted strong growth in the first nine months of its financial year and confirmed its full-year targets. According to the German Press Agency (dpa) on Friday, revenue rose 28.8 percent to 805.15 billion yen. The company cited strong sales across all categories.

Zurich - Swiss group Richemont, owner of jewellery house Cartier, reported a 39 percent increase in net profit to 2.5 billion euros (2.76 billion dollars) on Friday for its staggered first half.

For the period from April to September, the Geneva-based group generated revenue of nearly 12.3 billion euros, up 16 percent. According to a press release, this growth was driven by an 18 percent increase in its jewellery sales to 9.1 billion euros.

Its watchmaking revenue amounted to 1.7 billion euros, up 9 percent against a backdrop of double-digit growth across all major regions except Asia-Pacific, where sales were held back by China.

Its other activities, which include fashion brands Chloé and Alaïa, Montblanc pens, Delvaux handbags and Gianvito Rossi shoes, generated revenue of 1.4 billion euros, up 9 percent.

Analysts polled by Swiss agency AWP had forecast average revenue of 12.26 billion euros, including 9.26 billion euros in jewellery and 1.64 billion euros in watchmaking.

“Richemont delivered solid results in a volatile geopolitical and macroeconomic environment,” said chairman Johann Rupert in the press release, adding that he expects similar conditions “in the foreseeable future”.

Across all activities, sales excluding currency effects grew by 13 percent in Europe, 16 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, 30 percent in Japan, which is accounted for separately, and 23 percent in the Americas. Conversely, they contracted by 2 percent in the Middle East and Africa.

Israeli apparel manufacturer Delta Galil Industries (DELG) has reported record third quarter sales of 599.6 million dollars for the three months ended September 30, 2026, representing an increase of 11 percent year-over-year, or 9 percent in constant currency.

How do you ensure customers keep returning, how do you respond to local preferences and what role will new digital channels play in sales? These are questions fashion brands grapple with daily. During the NXT Commerce Summit on November 5 at Felix Meritis in Amsterdam, brands such as Mr Marvis, PassaSports, Flâneur, Hunkemöller and Olivia & Kate shared their experiences with e-commerce development. FashionUnited highlights five key insights.

Lithuanian second-hand fashion marketplace Vinted has expanded its partnership with US-based e-commerce technology firm Rokt into the US market. The move follows the collaboration's performance across the UK and six European markets, including Germany and France, where Rokt has optimised hundreds of millions of Vinted transactions since 2024.

For years, when a consumer wanted to buy a new pair of shoes, they started by searching on Google, comparing brands, visiting online stores and reading reviews. Some even visited a brick and mortar store to check their size or simply ordered several sizes on a marketplace to keep the one that fitted best. Everyone navigated this journey in their own way and made their own decisions.

Interview

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. reported a 7.5 percent increase in third-quarter revenue, driven by its two largest brands, Saucony and Merrell, and raised its outlook for the full year.

New York and Dublin-based sourcing platform World Collective has opened its Sourcing Portal to fashion brands of every size, offering access to vetted suppliers, next-generation materials and pooled orders designed to bring high-minimum materials within reach of growing labels.

Outerwear and swimwear are emerging as standout categories in the wardrobe spending shift linked to weight-loss drugs. Circana’s latest US household research shows spending in both categories strengthening in the second year of treatment, even as footwear remains broadly flat and accessories lose ground.

Madrid – Spanish department store group El Corte Inglés (ECI), which owns fashion chain Sfera among other businesses, has recorded a strong start to the year. This follows the results posted for the first half of its current 2026 financial year. During the six-month period from March 1 to August 31, 2026, the company, chaired by Cristina Álvarez, accelerated its growth rate in both revenue and profit compared to the same period a year ago.

Fashion ERP provider Itsperfect is rolling out two new AI features in version 5.4: Ask AI and AI Photo Studio. Ask AI is a smart AI assistant that answers users’ questions right inside the ERP. AI Photo Studio is a module that lets brands create professional product photos quickly and easily.

With this launch, Itsperfect wants to help fashion brands work smarter and more efficiently. Got a question about inventory, orders or sales numbers? Ask AI answers right away, no report-building required. Not sure how something works in the ERP? No need to track down a colleague or read through a manual; Ask AI is ready to help. And with AI Photo Studio, fashion brands save time and money on product images.

Ask AI: a smart assistant in the ERP

How does a certain process work? Why isn’t a pick created for this order? How much did we sell last season? And is there a module that solves the exact challenge our brand is dealing with? With Ask AI, the answer is always just one click away, 24/7. Itsperfect users click the Ask AI button, type their question, and get an instant answer. In their own secure ERP environment, and in any language.

Asking a question is as easy as asking a colleague or Itsperfect’s customer success team. Ask AI recognizes order numbers, item numbers, and customer names, and asks follow-up questions when something isn’t clear. Best of all: starting with version 5.4, Ask AI is included for all Itsperfect users at no extra cost.

From process questions to BI reports

And Ask AI can do a lot more. From a quick process question to a full BI report, the assistant helps with all kinds of everyday tasks at fashion brands. Here are just a few examples:

• Process questions, like creating a sales order, processing a return, or setting up Black Friday discounts.
• Troubleshooting, for example, when a pick isn’t created for an order. Ask AI helps figure out what’s causing it and how to fix it.
• Data and analysis on customers, orders, invoices, and items, plus sales results by item, agent, or season.
• Reporting: the assistant walks you through building a BI report step by step.
• Custom manuals and work instructions.
• Module comparisons that lay out two approaches side by side.
• Templates, like invoice headers, footers and TWIG templates.

Ask a question in Dutch, German or English, and you’ll get your answer in the same language. And if you ask a follow-up after the first answer, you’ll get to the point even faster.

AI Photo Studio: Faster from flatpack to product photo

With the new AI Photo Studio module, brands can create professional product images faster and more flexibly. Starting from flatpack photos of an item, AI generates a full set of on-model images in the style you want. That means collections go live faster, the brand’s look stays consistent, and it’s easy to mix up the background, pose, and styling.

One-time setup: models and photo shoots

Brands start by deciding which models they want to use and what style they’re going for:

• Models: a brand uploads a photo of a real model or an AI-generated model and links it to a target audience.
• Photo shoots: for each photo shoot, like “Summer 2027,” the brand decides which images to create. For each image, you set the type (model photo or flatpack), an AI prompt for pose, lighting, and cropping, an optional fixed background and the size in pixels.
• Default settings: the photo shoot and model can be set per item or as a default for an item group. AI Photo Studio then automatically picks the right combination.

From flatpack to a complete photo set

From there, it’s just a matter of uploading and hitting start. Add a flatpack photo of the front and back for each color, select one or more items, and AI Photo Studio gets to work. The result? A complete photo set for every item in every color. A photo shoot with six images gives you twelve product photos at once for an item that comes in two colors.

Adding accessories and fine-tuning images

The generated images are easy to tweak:

• Accessories: items from the brand’s own collection, like a scarf, can be added to the image. The user describes in a prompt how the accessory should be worn, for example “loosely around the neck.” You can add as many accessories as you like.
• Small tweaks: a short prompt is all it takes to adjust a single image, like “have the model cross her arms and don’t change anything else.”
• Existing product photos: photos already linked to an item can also be opened in AI Photo Studio and edited with AI.

Available in the webshop right away

Once the images look exactly right, the user adds a selection or all of the photos at once to the right item and color. The product photos are then instantly available in the brand’s B2B and B2C webshop.

Now available in Itsperfect 5.4

Both features are part of Itsperfect version 5.4. Ask AI is free for all users. AI Photo Studio is a paid module with a fixed monthly fee and a one-time implementation fee.

With both features, Itsperfect is intentionally striking a balance between technology and the human touch. According to the company, AI is here to stay, but it only adds real value when it makes work smarter and more efficient while still feeling unique and authentic to each brand.

That principle is reflected in both features. Ask AI operates within the user’s own secure ERP environment. In AI Photo Studio, brands work with their own products and their own models. This allows brands to work more efficiently without losing their unique identity.

Ask AI and AI Photo Studio aren’t the first AI features in Itsperfect. Back in 2023, the company launched a feature that lets brands generate product descriptions for their B2B and B2C webshops in seconds. With these two new additions, the ERP now offers three AI features. And there’s more to come: behind the scenes, Itsperfect is constantly building new functionality to help fashion brands keep working smarter.

Dr. Martens reported a 9.8 percent drop in first-half revenue to 290.4 million pounds, as exceptionally hot summer weather hit demand for its core boots category, particularly in Europe.

After three years driven primarily by price increases, luxury houses are now spacing out their rate hikes. Several brands have shifted from two price increases per year to just one for their iconic handbags. They are also narrowing price gaps between markets and strengthening their more accessible offerings. These findings come from price tracking compiled by Retviews, Lectra's market analysis solution, unveiled this Thursday.

Fashion by Informa has launched "The U.S. Fashion Playbook: How Global Brands Enter, Scale, and Win," a guide designed to help international fashion brands and retailers enter and scale their presence in the US market, according to a press release issued on November 10.

The guide covers legal compliance, supply chain and marketing strategy, and aims to address the challenges global brands face when expanding into the US, from understanding American consumer behaviour to navigating legal requirements and building resilient supply chains.

The American market is expected to grow from approximately 363 billion dollars in 2018 to 691 billion dollars by 2030, according to Fashion by Informa’s 2026 US Fashion Consumer Outlook Report.

“We’re thrilled to launch this new guide for our fashion community,” said Emilie Lewis, VP Events, Fashion by Informa. “It was created specifically for international brands who are serious about winning in the U.S. market, whether they’re just starting to explore the opportunity or actively planning their entry. This resource isn’t just for our existing community—it’s an opportunity to reach new brands and retailers across the industry who are exploring U.S. expansion, and to support them with the same level of expertise and insight we offer our current customers.”

The playbook is structured around four core areas: understanding the US market and American consumer expectations; navigating the legal and regulatory landscape; building an efficient supply chain, with guidance on logistics and operations; and marketing and brand growth. It also includes a 90-day action plan intended to help brands move from strategy to execution.

The guide is aimed at current participants of Fashion by Informa events, including Coterie, Magic, Project, Sourcing and Offprice, as well as international brands and retailers still evaluating their US entry strategy.

Fashion by Informa is part of Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc. The playbook is available on the Fashion by Informa website.

Seasonal launches, drops, sales events, gifting moments: the fashion calendar no longer has quiet months. As AI imagery matures, some brands are rethinking how campaign visuals get made, starting not with a shoot, but with the product itself. For most fashion brands, there is no longer such a thing as an off-season. New collections land alongside capsule drops and collaborations, while sales events, gifting periods and local holidays each ask for their own imagery. The busiest stretch of the year, from Black Friday through Christmas to the January sales, simply makes visible a pressure that is there all year round: more products, more formats and more channels, usually with the same team and the same budget.

The question is no longer whether there is enough content. It is whether it can be produced in time without losing what makes a brand recognisable.

A shift already under way

According to The State of AI-Generated Content in Fashion 2026, a survey of 331 fashion professionals across 29 countries carried out by Modelia in September 2026, 67 per cent of organisations already use AI-generated or AI-edited imagery in their commercial content. Among those using it, two in three say it has reduced their cost per image.

The more interesting change, though, may be creative rather than financial. When an image no longer depends on booking a studio, a location and a crew, the starting point of a campaign moves. It begins with the product.

One bag, four campaigns

To explore what that looks like in practice, Modelia, an AI imagery platform for fashion, took a single photograph of a black patent leather bag and built an entire campaign around it. The occasion was Christmas; the method works for any season. From that one image came four kinds of visual: a clean e-commerce shot; a studio portrait, the bag held against a white shearling coat; a still life of the bag resting on a red gift box; and an editorial scene in a velvet booth, champagne on the table and the bag at the centre of the night.

Every image shares the same palette, the same flash-lit, slightly grainy texture and the same sense of a story. That consistency is often the first thing to suffer when production is rushed, and it is precisely what makes a campaign feel like a campaign. Change the brief, and the same product could just as easily lead a spring launch or a summer sale.

One image, every marketplace

A campaign does not end with the hero image. The same product has to appear on a brand's own website, on marketplaces with their own technical requirements and across social formats. Amazon, for example, asks for a pure white background on the main product image, while other marketplaces set their own background and crop guidelines, and social platforms favour vertical formats.

Modelia's Rendition tool is designed for that last mile. In the bag example, one product photo became a square, white-background image for Amazon, a brand-coloured version for a Shopify store, a light grey portrait for Zalando and a vertical story with an entirely new scene generated around it, in minutes rather than days. For brands managing hundreds of products, that is where much of the time goes.

From experiment to everyday practice

Some brands already work this way. For its Christmas campaign, Spanish fashion brand Cortefiel turned complete looks into festive still lifes with Modelia: outfits styled as gift-ready packs, each one telling a story on its own. MUK Barcelona, which designs phone cases as fashion accessories, used the platform to launch its new Anorak case in two colours. The result is a winter story told through on-model portraits in the mountains, product close-ups and quieter, more conceptual images, among them the quilted case pressed into fresh snow, leaving only its imprint behind. A seasonal campaign and a product launch: two very different briefs, built with the same approach.

Rethinking the brief

None of this makes the creative eye less important. If anything, it shifts where it matters most: the brief, the references, the edit, and the decision about what a brand wants to say each season. Production becomes faster; taste still has to come from somewhere. For teams that have to keep the calendar moving, whatever the season, that may be the real opportunity. Not more images for their own sake, but the freedom to try more ideas, for more products, before the moment has passed.

Brands curious to see how far a single product photo can go can explore what Modelia makes possible.

About Modelia

Modelia is an AI imagery platform for fashion. It turns product photography into e-commerce, on-model, editorial and campaign imagery, and adapts it to every channel and marketplace. Brands including Cortefiel and MUK Barcelona use it to create their visual content.

Paris - The French menswear ready-to-wear brand Balibaris, which had been placed in administration, has just been acquired by its shareholder and director. The move saves 145 of the 157 jobs, according to a court ruling seen by Agence France-Presse (AFP) that confirms a report by specialist website FashionNetwork.

British luxury fashion house Burberry Group plc has reported a return to profitability for the 26 weeks ended September 26, 2026. Revenue rose 6 percent year-over-year (YoY) on both a reported and constant exchange rate (CER) basis to 1.10 billion pounds (1.46 billion dollars), up from 1.03 billion pounds in the prior-year period.

US-based contract logistics provider GXO Logistics (GXO) has signed a nine-year contract renewal with British online fashion retailer Asos, extending a partnership that began in 2013.

What do DKNY, Skylrk, Rhode, Saint Laurent, Mango, Skims, Gap and Adanola have in common? In 2026, they all worked with Hailey Bieber.

With the support of the international organisation Forum for the Future, the H&M Foundation unveiled a foresight study on November 11 describing four possible configurations for the textile industry in 2040. Featuring a business-to-business focus, this document aims to offer textile sector executives “a practical tool to test their strategies against different possible futures”, thereby helping them “make better-informed decisions towards a just transition to climate goals such as net zero.”

UK fashion rental platform Hurr has reached profitability for the first time, according to chief executive officer Lauren Roberts, who announced the milestone in a LinkedIn post.

Italian luxury brand Golden Goose reported a 16 percent increase in net revenues at constant exchange rates for the first nine months of 2026, reaching 583.3 million euros (649.5 million dollars). Performance was driven by direct-to-consumer (DTC) expansion, where revenue rose 21 percent year-over-year (YoY) to 479.9 million euros. The DTC channel accounted for 82 percent of total group revenues, up from 79 percent in the prior-year period.

Small businesses supplying Poundland are being urged to protect their cash flow as the discount retailer faces the prospect of administration, despite its owner Gordon Brothers reportedly releasing around 10 million pounds to help pay suppliers.

Botswana is set to double its ownership of diamond company De Beers from 15 percent to 30 percent, positioning itself as the group's largest single shareholder under a proposed acquisition of Anglo American's stake. The proposed ownership structure would give Botswana a greater role in the company responsible for marketing the country's diamond production.

Net sales reached 227.5 million euros, up +1.6 percent at constant exchange rates for Safilo Group S.p.A. (Safilo) in the third quarter. Net sales for the first nine months stood at 739.4 million euros (824 million dollars), down -0.9 percent at constant exchange rates. According to a company statement, a recovery in North America offset greater weakness in Europe. Carrera, Smith, Kate Spade, David Beckham and Boss remained the main drivers of brand performance.

Cosmetics company E.l.f. Beauty has partnered with US nonprofit organisation Rivet to support 100 emerging changemakers across the UK and India. Through the collaborative ‘Zero Limits’ initiative, the cosmetics brand has committed a 100,000 dollars contribution to provide grants, mentorship and practical resources. The programme aims to assist young innovators in developing solutions to social and economic challenges within their local communities.

US accessories and watch company Fossil Group, Inc. (Fossil) reported net sales of 271.20 million dollars for the fiscal third quarter ended October 3, 2026. Net sales rose 0.4 percent on a reported basis and 2 percent in constant currency, compared to 270.20 million dollars in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Store rationalisation initiatives unfavourably impacted revenue by approximately 190 basis points during the period.

Following US midterm elections that established new congressional leadership, the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) is urging incoming lawmakers to maintain tariffs on critical industries and modernize trade enforcement, arguing that existing remedies are too slow and costly to protect domestic producers.

Madrid – The World Bank, through the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has partnered with US investment fund manager Social Investment Managers & Advisors (SIMA) to launch the first blended finance fund to finance the transformation of the fashion industry's supply chain. They plan to endow this investment vehicle with capital of up to 400 million dollars. It launches with the IFC as the main public investor and Spanish fashion multinational Inditex group as the main private investor.

The Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) has tightened its full-year fiscal 2027 guidance following a 15 percent rise in constant-currency group revenue to 974 million pounds sterling for the first half ended November 1, 2026. The Leicester-headquartered luxury specialist reported substantial operating leverage across its key territories, with adjusted EBIT rising approximately 28 percent to between 87 million and 89 million pounds, compared to 66 million pounds in the prior-year period.

UK retailer Marks & Spencer Group (M&S) has outlined its medium-term growth targets during its Capital Markets Day on November 10, 2026. The London based company plans to achieve mid-to-high single-digit sales growth across the group, with profit expansion outpacing revenue. The ambitions form the next phase of its ‘Reinvesting for Growth’ transformation agenda.

Swiss sportswear company On Holding AG (On) has set another revenue record and significantly increased its profit in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year. Following the latest results, management confirmed its existing full-year guidance on Tuesday.

Interview

US fashion technology company unspun and Indian textile and retail conglomerate Arvind Limited (Arvind) have formed a strategic agreement to integrate yarn-to-garment 3D weaving into commercial apparel production.

Retailers are investing in AI to make ecommerce delivery faster, cheaper and more efficient, but the real opportunity lies in knowing what to promise customers in the first place, argues Gavin Murphy, CMO, Scurri.

With Peak in full flow, we can see that AI has for many moved from experimentation into operations in a whole bunch of different areas; how can AI automate carrier allocation, predict failed deliveries, manage integrations, monitor performance and reduce fulfilment costs.

My worry is that, in the mad dash to automate delivery, fashion retailers might overlook something very important; are they improving the experience customers actually want, or simply becoming more efficient at delivering an experience of their own choosing?

Two recent research studies commissioned by Scurri, examining the attitudes of UK retailers and consumers, showed up a potentially costly disconnect between ambitions for the technology and customer expectations.

Among retailers, 58% say they are likely to use an automated AI system to manage ecommerce delivery strategy and carrier operations. Their expectations are as always high; some 34% identify automated carrier allocation as a leading opportunity for AI, while 33% point to predicting and preventing failed deliveries, and 31% to monitoring delivery issues and carrier performance.

This is to be expected, particularly during Peak when a huge spike in volume puts a ton of pressure on fulfilment operations. But consumer research suggests that delivery innovation needs to be thought about against a rather different set of expectations.

Customers are not demanding a race to the doorstep; for them, affordability almost always matters more than outright delivery speed. While 61% regard free delivery as important, only 29% prioritise next day delivery and just 12% same day delivery. More importantly, 67% say they would definitely or probably accept longer delivery times during Peak in exchange for free or cheaper delivery.

This challenges the assumption that faster delivery is necessarily better delivery. Retailers have spent years competing on speed, conditioning customers to expect increasingly ambitious delivery promises, yet many shoppers appear willing to exchange speed for value, provided they understand when their purchases will arrive.

This must have an effect on how retailers deploy AI. An automated system that relentlessly selects the fastest available carrier may meet operational benchmarks but not improve customer satisfaction or protect margin. An intelligent system that considers the customer's preference, delivery economics and likelihood of successful fulfilment could create considerably more value. So, the objective should be to make every delivery promise more appropriate to customer preferences.

And consider, there is a cost to promising too much. During Peak, a delivery promise is only as reliable as the network supporting it. Carrier capacity fluctuates, fulfilment centres become congested and available inventory may be distributed across multiple locations. Promising next day delivery indiscriminately creates exposure to expensive carrier services, operational exceptions and ultimately disappointed customers.

Fortunately, AI can make those decisions more intelligently. By bringing together inventory location, carrier capacity and historical performance, delivery destination, service costs and customer preferences, AI can help retailers determine which delivery options are commercially rational and operationally achievable for each order. And, crucially, choices that reflect the realities of the network.

For instance, a shopper who values affordability could receive a lower cost delivery option with a longer but still guaranteed timeframe. Someone purchasing an urgent gift might be offered a faster premium service, provided the retailer has sufficient confidence that the promise can be met.

How these offers are pitched depends on getting communications right. After all, even the most sophisticated delivery operation cannot eliminate disruption. Peak inevitably creates exceptions, from missed collections and routing problems to weather-related delays. However, here comes the opportunity; 46% of consumers say they would accept a delayed delivery if warned in advance. When something goes wrong, 42% want to be informed before the expected delivery time and 40% want a revised delivery estimate. Retailers can mitigate these problems using carrier performance and shipment data and so identify emerging problems before customers become aware of them. This capability has commercial value; after all, almost half of retailers surveyed, 48%, identify 'Where Is My Order?' enquiries as a leading delivery exception issue.

There are other reasons retailers should not pat themselves on the back just for getting AI implemented. 31% of consumers do not believe AI would improve their delivery experience. This scepticism reflects the fact that customers judge delivery by results, not the sophistication of the systems behind them.

Retailers should ideally deploy AI selectively to enable decisions that influence outcomes so they can match orders to suitable carrier services, identify potential failures, maintain visibility across delivery networks and communicate intelligently when circumstances change.

This also relies on dependable data, integrated carrier systems and sufficient operational control to act on AI-generated insights. Automation cannot compensate for fragmented information or processes that cannot respond to changing conditions.

During Peak 2026 we are certain to see further advances in AI-powered delivery management but the lesson learned may well be that faster fulfilment is not necessarily the same as better fulfilment.

Finnish materials technology company Spinnova has signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Germany-based Outlast Technologies (Outlast). The agreement aims to explore the development of high-performance textile materials combining Spinnova fibre with Outlast’s temperature regulation and insulation technologies.

US pure-play kidswear retailer The Children’s Place (TCP) has voluntarily filed petitions for chapter 11 relief in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

Brazilian footwear manufacturing group Alpargatas posted an 11.1 percent increase in consolidated net sales to 1.24 billion Brazilian reals (0.22 million dollars) for the third quarter of 2026, supported by volume expansion across its domestic and international footprints.

Will sports shoppers trust an AI agent or a human with their next purchase? Executives from Amazon, Intersport and New Balance took on the question at the ISPO Summit in Amsterdam on Tuesday. The panel, “The Future of Retail: Where Consumer Insight Meets Intelligent Commerce”, brought together Avi Samtani, managing director and Europe GM at Amazon Sports; Tom Foley, CEO of Intersport International Corporation; and Ger Wright, VP sales EMEA at New Balance. Yasmin Dufournet, head of consumer insights, moderated.

Under Armour exceeded its operating income outlook in the second quarter of fiscal 2027, even as revenue fell 7 percent to 1.2 billion dollars, the company said in its results release on Friday.

British fashion retailer Superdry & Co has agreed a major refinancing package totalling 70 million pounds (93.8 million dollars) to support its next phase of retail expansion and international growth. The arrangement includes a 60 million pounds committed asset-based lending facility alongside a 10 million pounds trade finance facility.

Due diligence in the garment industry has evolved from voluntary social audits into an enforceable, cross-jurisdictional legal imperative driven by frameworks such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and strict forced labour import bans.

UK fashion held broadly flat over the half-term week, as its store channel moved back ahead of online for the first time in a month — a reversal set against one of the most demanding prior-year comparisons of the autumn. Fashion total like-for-like (LFL) sales slipped just -0.36%, according to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker, against a strong +8.27% base a year earlier.

British fashion brand and retailer Superdry & Co has refinanced its debt, agreeing a committed asset-based lending facility of 60 million pounds with Barclays and Bank of America. Barclays acts as lead lender on the facility, which runs until October 2029.

Alongside it, Barclays is providing a trade finance facility of ten million pounds, guaranteed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government's export credit agency. This brings the total new funding package to 70 million pounds, with the trade finance facility supporting the group's growing international business.

The Cheltenham-headquartered company calls the refinancing a significant step in its transformation, moving the business from stabilisation to growth. It follows a return to profit in the 2025 financial year (FY25), continued EBITDA improvement through FY26 and a strong start to FY27. According to Superdry & Co, the new arrangement will save around five million pounds a year in interest costs compared with the previous facilities and gives it the liquidity headroom to invest in its plans.

From turnaround lender to major banks

The new facility replaces the arrangements Superdry & Co put in place with Bantry Bay Capital and Hilco Capital during its turnaround in 2023. Senior funding now sits with two major banks rather than a specialist turnaround lender. Hilco Capital has also extended its support until June 2028, providing up to 30 million pounds of additional headroom on top of the 70 million pounds package.

"We have done the hard work of fixing our foundations," said Julian Dunkerton, founder and chief executive of Superdry & Co. "The refinancing gives us the backing to focus on what matters most: growth, building Superdry & Co's brand portfolio, strengthening our international presence, and opening new stores in the right locations. Having Barclays and Bank of America behind us says a great deal about where we are taking this business and the opportunity ahead of us."

Chief financial officer Nic Shaw added: "This refinancing puts the Group on a firmer financial footing and gives us the headroom to invest behind our strategic plans. Barclays and Bank of America are the right partners for where we're taking the business next and have been constructive throughout." Shaw also thanked Bantry Bay for backing the business during the turnaround.

21 new stores and a growing brand portfolio

Superdry & Co currently operates 121 owned stores across the UK, Europe and the US. The new funding will cover its next steps: 21 new stores planned for FY27; continued expansion across Europe; and further investment in the brand portfolio built under Superdry & Co. That includes the rollout of Bench, the exclusive UK and European launch of US workwear brand Stan Ray and the long-term partnership with Kappa, which arrives for spring/summer 2027.

The lenders point to that growth as well. "This refinancing provides Superdry & Co with a strong platform for its next phase of expansion," said Jim Quantrill, relationship director for retail and wholesale at Barclays Corporate Banking. Lee Masters, director and senior business development officer at Bank of America, said the financing "will help expand their geographic footprint and product lines, introducing them to a wider customer base."

UKEF chief executive Tim Reid highlighted the company's role as an employer. "With more than 1,100 employees across the UK, Superdry is one of the South West's leading fashion employers. We're proud to support the company alongside Barclays as it embarks on its next phase of international growth."

Madrid – Neither Inditex shares nor the company itself had ever been worth more on the market until the trading session on Thursday, November 5, 2026. While the market awaits the future trajectory of the Spanish fashion multinational and its stock, the day has already become a historic milestone for the Zara owner. This follows its shares breaking through the 60 euros per share threshold.

Olympic champion Allyson Felix took the stage at the ISPO Summit in Amsterdam on Tuesday to argue that women’s footwear has to offer more than fit. In the Inspiration Talk “Running Her Own Race: Allyson Felix on Legacy, Leadership & Building Something Bigger”, the Saysh founder said building “systems for women” means pairing product with purpose and representation.

Hamburg - NuWays AG has issued an update on Global Fashion Group S.A. (GFG), confirming its "BUY" recommendation with an unchanged 12-month target price of 1.00 euro, according to analyst Christian Sandherr.

GFG's third-quarter figures show that improved unit economics hold up even as demand softens, with normalised free cash flow remaining positive for the second consecutive quarter.

Third-quarter group net merchandise value (NMV) came in at 243 million euros, down 5.4 percent year-on-year on a constant currency basis, following a 0.6 percent dip in the second quarter. In euro terms, NMV grew approximately 2 percent to 243 million euros as the Australian dollar and Brazilian real turned supportive.

Active customers fell 7.2 percent to 6.9 million and orders decreased by 9.2 percent, while average order value rose 4.1 percent in constant currency to 68.6 euros and order frequency grew 1.8 percent. According to management, costly energy and high interest rates continue to squeeze household budgets for non-essential purchases.

Third-quarter sales of 157 million euros, down 7.7 percent in constant currency, again lagged NMV, partly as Southeast Asia's marketplace business reached a record share.

Higher gross margin, leaner cost base

Third-quarter adjusted EBITDA rose to 3.4 million euros, representing a 2.1 percent margin compared to 0.6 percent in the third quarter of 2025.

Drivers of this increase included a 0.9 percentage point higher gross margin of 47.0 percent, fixed cost savings, the effects of past restructuring, and a positive foreign exchange contribution.

ANZ grows, SEA trades volume for margin

Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) was the only region to grow, with NMV up 1.4 percent in constant currency, supported by a larger customer base and a better gross margin.

Latin America (LATAM), where NMV fell 9.7 percent in constant currency, faced a triple burden in Brazil: consumer sentiment dropped to a level last seen in early 2025, the World Cup weighed until mid-July, and the presidential vote created uncertainty. In Colombia, an earthquake hurt demand, contributing to a 1.4 percentage point decline in LATAM's gross margin.

Southeast Asia (SEA) remains the clearest case of prioritising profit over volume. While NMV dropped 16.6 percent in constant currency, reduced discounting lifted retail margins and pushed gross margin 4.5 percentage points higher to 49.4 percent, marking its best third quarter on record.

Cash breakeven on LTM basis in sight

Third-quarter normalised free cash flow reached 1.2 million euros, compared to negative 15.3 million euros in the third quarter of 2025, benefiting from a 7 million euro working capital inflow.

Roughly half of this inflow stems from receivables that will flow back out in the fourth quarter, with the remainder coming from better payables. Over the last twelve months, normalised free cash flow improved by 33 million euros year-on-year to negative 2 million euros.

Pro-forma cash stood at 93 million euros, with net cash of 82 million euros. Outside of normalised free cash flow, GFG collected its first DIFAL tax refunds in Brazil amounting to 0.8 million euros, with around 2 million euros more already won. A further 40.9 million euros sits in court-held deposits across 32 pending cases, providing an option on additional cash, although neither timing nor outcome is predictable.

Q4 needs no heroics

GFG confirmed its full-year 2026 guidance but now points to the lower end of the constant-currency NMV range of negative 4 percent to 0 percent, or 1,050 to 1,090 million euros.

October was softer than the third quarter, with Brazilian demand remaining volatile after the election. The lower end of the range implies fourth-quarter NMV of approximately 328 million euros, roughly in line with the fourth quarter of 2025.

Full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of 18 to 25 million euros implies 14 to 21 million euros in the fourth quarter. NuWays AG's estimate of 19 million euros requires around 15 million euros, below last year's 16.2 million euros. As peak shopping events including Singles' Day, Black Friday, and Christmas are still ahead, fourth-quarter results could vary considerably.

Demand remains soft, but the quarter confirms that profitability no longer depends on volume growth, as group gross margin and adjusted EBITDA rose despite a 5 percent decline in constant-currency NMV.

Positive normalised free cash flow in a seasonally weak third quarter underlines that the 30 million euro adjusted EBITDA hurdle for full-year normalised free cash flow breakeven remains within reach. NuWays AG has trimmed growth estimates amid softer sentiment in LATAM and SEA while leaving adjusted EBITDA estimates unchanged.

Hamburg - NuWays AG has published an equity research update on Westwing Group SE (ISIN: DE000A2N4H07), in which analyst Christian Sandherr reiterates a "BUY" recommendation with an unchanged 12-month target price of 23.50 euros.

Westwing delivered its fifth consecutive quarter of growth despite a soft consumer backdrop and higher freight costs. The figures show a company steadily turning into an international premium home and living brand while doing so profitably.

Q3 topline driven by international

Revenues rose 13 percent to 111 million euros, assisted by the shipment of backlog from the second-quarter system migration.

After a flat July when heatwaves kept consumers away, momentum built through August and September. International remained the primary growth driver with a 22 percent increase year on year, while the DACH region returned to growth after a weak July, rising 5 percent.

The expansion in the DACH market was supported by both online and offline growth. Active customers increased 13 percent to 1.32 million, while order volume rose 9 percent. Average order value eased 2 percent to 247 euros, as price-sensitive shoppers concentrated purchases around promotional events and tended to buy lower-ticket items.

Margin held despite the freight shock

Adjusted EBITDA grew 7 percent to 6.5 million euros, representing a 5.8 percent margin.

Fuel-driven container and outbound logistics costs, migration effects, product mix shifts with a lower Westwing Collection sales share, and the UK logistics ramp-up reduced the contribution margin by 4.3 percentage points.

However, approximately 4 percentage points of operating leverage on marketing and administrative expenses offset almost all of the pressure. Price adjustments, increased shipping fees, and logistics efficiencies implemented during the quarter visibly improved margins by October.

Footprint and brand advanced in parallel

Five market launches during the third quarter across the Baltics, Ireland, and Bulgaria have expanded Westwing's presence to 28 countries, covering almost all of Europe. The United Kingdom, entered in March, represents the largest single market addition.

In October, Victoria Beckham debuted her first homeware collection with Westwing, accompanied by a brand campaign in Germany and the UK. The Westwing Collection accounted for 64 percent of gross merchandise value, down 2 percentage points year on year, as partner design brands expanded faster at 13 percent compared to 4 percent.

Guidance confirmed, revenue in the upper half

Full-year 2026 targets of 470 to 495 million euros in revenue and 36 to 48 million euros in adjusted EBITDA remain confirmed.

Following nine-month revenue of 345 million euros, reaching the upper half of the guidance implies fourth-quarter sales between 138 and 150 million euros. The research firm's adjusted EBITDA estimate of 42 million euros requires approximately 20.5 million euros in the fourth quarter, compared to 22.6 million euros in the prior-year period, leaving headroom for brand campaign investments.

Self-funded expansion

Third-quarter free cash flow of negative 0.7 million euros, compared to 10.4 million euros in the third quarter of 2025, primarily reflects inventory timing.

Net cash stood at 63 million euros, up 5 million euros year on year, with net working capital remaining negative. Cash reserves are projected to reach approximately 90 million euros by year-end following the seasonally strong fourth quarter.

This liquidity funds both business growth and the share buyback program of up to 10 million euros launched on October 12. Upcoming strategic initiatives include warehouse consolidation in Poland, AI-driven productivity enhancements, and the development of B2B and partner channels to support margins beyond 2026.

Quality at a discount

Westwing combines pan-European reach, an established premium brand identity, double-digit growth, and a well-funded balance sheet, yet trades at 4.8 times estimated 2026 enterprise value to adjusted EBITDA.

Newer geographic markets and the UK provide additional growth potential, while management execution on its value-creation strategy supports the positive outlook. NuWays AG maintains its "BUY" recommendation with a discounted cash flow-derived target price of 23.50 euros.

Executives from Patagonia, The North Face and brand consultancy Above The Clouds told the ISPO Summit in Amsterdam on Tuesday that sustainability is a business opportunity, not just a compliance exercise. The panel, “ESG Is Your Opportunity: Why It Matters More Than Ever, For Generations to Come”, brought together Hap Klopp, founder of The North Face; Nina Hajikhanian, general manager EMEA at Patagonia; and Fredrik Ekström, brand and marketing strategist at Above The Clouds.

US footwear and accessories group Steven Madden, Ltd. (Steve Madden) has posted a double-digit rise in revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026. Net revenue rose 15.7 percent to 772.60 million dollars, up from 667.90 million dollars in the prior-year period. Following these results, the firm raised its full-year guidance for both top-line revenue and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS).

UK retail company Frasers Group has agreed to commence a directed trading programme to purchase ordinary shares from MASH Holdings and MASH Beta, investment vehicles controlled by majority shareholder Mike Ashley.

Leaders from UEFA, Sport 2000 International, O’Neill and Decathlon took the stage at the ISPO Summit in Amsterdam on Tuesday with a shared message: women’s leadership in sport and sporting goods is moving too slowly. On the panel “Change Management: Leading with Courage in Times of Misalignment” were Laura McAllister, Margit Gosau, Tamara Friessnegg and moderator Celine Del Genes.

Canadian apparel retailer Canada Goose Holdings Inc. increased its revenue in the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. However, the Toronto-based down jacket specialist simultaneously recorded a higher loss.

US fashion group Ralph Lauren Corporation raised its guidance for the 2026/27 financial year for the second time on Thursday following better-than-expected second-quarter results. Net income rose by 43 percent to 296.6 million dollars, boosted by tariff refunds. Adjusted earnings per share increased by 22 percent.

US apparel group Kontoor Brands (Kontoor), owner of Wrangler and Helly Hansen, reported a 3 percent increase in third quarter revenue from continuing operations to 685.35 million dollars, driven by balanced growth across its core brands. Following the completion of the divestiture of Lee, the Greensboro-based business raised its full year adjusted earnings guidance.

Tapestry, Inc., the owner of Coach and Kate Spade New York, raised its fiscal 2027 outlook after first-quarter revenue rose 11 percent, driven by 16 percent growth at its Coach brand.

Canadian basic apparel manufacturer Gildan Activewear reported a 61.1 percent increase in third-quarter net sales from continuing operations to 1.47 billion dollars. The growth was driven by the integration of its acquisition of HanesBrands, though results fell short of management projections due to softening consumer demand across both wholesale and retail channels.

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Düsseldorf-based e-commerce group The Platform Group SE & Co. KGaA (TPG) has significantly increased its revenue in the first three quarters of the current 2026 financial year. In light of recent developments, management reaffirmed its full-year guidance on Thursday.

Austrian fibre manufacturer Lenzing AG experienced a decline in revenue and a higher loss during the first nine months of the current 2026 financial year. However, the company simultaneously managed to improve its operating margin due to extensive reforms. This was revealed in an interim report published by the company on Thursday.

UK online fashion retailer Asos has returned to statutory annual profit for the 52 weeks to August 30, 2026, delivering a reported pre-tax profit of 24.4 million pounds compared with a loss of 281.6 million pounds in the prior financial year.

The Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) is dampening hopes that US president Donald Trump will change his tariff policy following the Republican defeat in the midterm elections. “For foreign trade, the results of the US congressional elections initially change nothing,” BGA president Dirk Jandura told the Rheinische Post newspaper. Foreign trade policy remains largely shaped by the US president. “He can continue to act much more freely here than in future domestic policy.”

Dhaka - Textile industry workers in Bangladesh largely returned to their factories on Thursday, the day after an agreement in principle was announced regarding the minimum wage increase they had been demanding on the streets since last week.

UK fashion and homeware retailer Next plc (Next) reported an 8.1 percent rise in full price sales for the thirteen weeks to October 31, 2026, outperforming internal forecasts by 33 million pounds. The growth was driven entirely by its overseas division, enabling the group to elevate its full year sales outlook while maintaining its annual pre-tax profit target.

Madrid – Barcelona-based streetwear brand Gods, which is gaining significant traction among younger consumers in Spain, is embarking on an international expansion. The company aims to transcend fleeting trends and domestic borders to establish itself as a solid global project. A decisive turning point will be the opening of its first international store in London at the end of this month. This launch will be followed by an international roadmap featuring activations in key markets such as France, Italy, the Netherlands and the US.

Shein is expanding its logistics base in Europe. As the Chinese ultra-fast fashion giant announced on Wednesday, it is investing 500 million euros (562 million dollars) this year to expand its European logistics hub in Wrocław, Poland. This brings the company's total investment volume in Poland since 2022 to one billion euros.

A few months after the announcement that it had been placed into administration, Coperni is ceasing operations. The end of the ready-to-wear brand, famous for its spectacular runway shows, was announced by its co-founders, Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer, on Instagram.

Danish jewellery retailer Pandora A/S has further increased its revenue in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year, despite challenging market conditions. Profit was also higher than in the prior-year period, according to an interim report published by the company on Wednesday.

Finnish textile group Marimekko Corporation recorded growth in both revenue and profit in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year. The company attributed this positive development to its continued strong international performance.

UK retail group Marks & Spencer (M&S) has reported a sharp recovery in earnings for the first half of the financial year, supported by market share gains across its food and fashion businesses following the disruption caused by a cyber incident in the previous year. However, performance remained below the level recorded two years earlier, as strong trading in food failed to fully offset continued weakness in clothing.

Norwegian wool specialist Aclima has acquired Finnish sock manufacturer Sukkamestarit, expanding its hosiery range and production capacity in Northern Europe.

Artificial intelligence in fashion is moving beyond isolated uses such as content generation and trend forecasting. When connected to company data, product information and business workflows, AI is becoming a strategic tool that can help fashion businesses make decisions, automate complex processes and work together across the value chain.

This shift is the focus of 'The Intelligence Edge Is Here', the latest white paper from The Lectra Observatory, the research arm of French fashion technology company Lectra. The report looks at how AI is changing product creation, manufacturing, marketing, traceability and collaboration.

Beyond productivity

Discussions about AI often centre on efficiency. According to the white paper, its greater potential lies in helping organisations work in new ways: moving faster, breaking down silos and making better-informed decisions. The companies best placed to benefit, it argues, will be those that combine technology with high-quality data, industry expertise and connected ecosystems.

"The companies that gain a competitive edge from AI will not necessarily be those with access to the most advanced models. They will be the ones that can combine AI with trusted data, strong industry expertise, and connected workflows. That's where intelligence becomes actionable and where real business value is created," said Maria Modroño, chief marketing and communications officer at Lectra.

The report also looks at the rise of agentic AI, a generation of AI that can coordinate and carry out multi-step workflows across systems. Rather than only responding to prompts, these agents can move work forward by connecting data, processes and teams across the product lifecycle.

Five areas where AI is creating value

Drawing on insights from fashion executives, AI specialists and industry leaders, the white paper identifies five areas where AI is already delivering results:

• Product creation: identifying emerging trends, streamlining design, shortening development cycles and improving collaboration between creative and technical teams.
• Manufacturing: optimising materials and production planning, improving supply chain visibility, reducing waste and responding faster to changes in demand.
• Marketing: giving brands deeper insight into consumer behaviour and campaign performance, and making advanced analytics more widely accessible.
• Traceability: supporting compliance and sourcing decisions as sustainability expectations and regulatory requirements grow.
• Collaboration: connecting people, processes and information so teams can align around a shared source of truth and decide faster.

According to Lectra, the question for the industry is no longer whether AI will have an impact, but how companies can make the most of it.

Download the new white paper from The Lectra Observatory to discover how AI is reshaping the future of fashion and what industry leaders can do to stay ahead.

US brand development and entertainment company Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) has finalised the acquisition of the intellectual property of heritage denim brand Lee from Kontoor Brands.

The recent labour protests in Bangladesh pose a direct threat to global fashion supply chains and export delivery deadlines.

UK retail and food conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported its annual financial results for the 52 weeks ended September 12, 2026, revealing a 12 percent decline in adjusted operating profit at constant currency for its retail division Primark to 1.01 billion pounds (1.35 billion dollars).

Berlin-based online fashion retailer Zalando SE (Zalando) further increased its revenue in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year. According to an interim report published on Tuesday, the company also made progress in its adjusted operating result. However, the bottom line was in the red.

Textile-to-textile regeneration company Reju, owned by Technip Energies, has teamed up with six textile mills to advance textile-to-textile recycling at industrial scale. The six mills are A. Sampaio, RDD Textiles and Tintex Textiles from Portugal; FOV Fabrics from Sweden; Swisstex Direct from Los Angeles and El Salvador; and Utenos Trikotazas from Lithuania.

Hugo Boss has revised down its full-year financial outlook for 2026. The managing board now forecasts currency-adjusted group sales to drop in the high single-digit percentage range, compared to its previous guidance of a mid- to high single-digit decline. The adjustment reflects softer consumer demand assumptions for the fourth quarter amid elevated market uncertainty.

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Modella Capital, the former owner of Claire's, is considering a potential acquisition of British fashion brand Joseph, according to The Times, as the investment firm explores another retail deal. The group, which owns TG Jones, is reportedly among parties considering the label.

Poundland has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators after its owner, Gordon Brothers, rejected an offer to buy the discount retailer as a going concern, putting around 12,000 jobs at risk, according to the Financial Times.

ATG Brands & Data Limited has acquired the intellectual property of outdoor equipment brand Lowe Alpine from Equip Outdoor Technologies, including its trademarks, logo and associated brand assets. The transaction is an intellectual property sale, with no stock, employees or premises transferring from the prior owner.

Shein has agreed to pay 100 million dollars to settle a US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation into delivery delays and other customer complaints, Reuters reported, citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

The Very Group, which operates online retailers Very and Littlewoods, has reported record adjusted earnings for the 52 weeks to June 27, 2026, despite challenging market conditions.

British retail giant Frasers Group has declared its 0.65 Australian dollar-per-share takeover offer for Australian footwear retailer Accent Group “best and final”, confirming it will not increase its bid as the two companies continue their dispute over the proposed acquisition.

The latest “Best Global Brands” ranking from New York-based brand consultancy Interbrand reveals increasing polarisation in the international fashion market. While Hermès, Chanel, Zara and Uniqlo gain brand value, Nike, Gucci and Prada suffer significant losses. Notably, traditional brand strength alone no longer protects against decline.

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BCR Online-Warenhandels GmbH (BCR), which operated the namesake luxury fashion online shop as Fashionette GmbH, has filed for insolvency. According to the official insolvency announcement, the Local Court of Offenbach am Main ordered the provisional administration of the company's assets on Wednesday. Lawyer Sebastian Netzel from the Frankfurt law firm Brinkmann & Partner has been appointed as provisional insolvency administrator. Consequently, any disposals made by the company are only valid with his approval.

Capri Holdings generated revenue of 809 million dollars in the second quarter of the 2027 financial year, which ended on September 26. This represents a year-over-year (YoY) decline of 5.5 percent, while revenue fell by 4.9 percent on a constant currency basis. According to the company, around 20 million dollars is attributable to wholesale shipments that were delivered earlier than planned and were originally scheduled for the third quarter.

UK fashion grew strongly for a fourth week running on the back of its online channel, as two autumn storms emptied the high street and pushed shoppers online. Fashion total like-for-like (LFL) sales rose +6.73%, according to the latest BDO High Street Sales Tracker — though against an easy +0.48% base a year earlier, with the real momentum coming from online.

Sportswear manufacturer Puma continues to experience a decline in revenue.

US e-commerce giant Amazon.com reported a 12 percent increase in net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, reaching 201.94 billion dollars compared with 180.17 billion dollars in the prior-year period. Excluding an unfavorable foreign exchange impact of 0.90 billion dollars, net sales expanded 13 percent year-over-year. The retail and technology corporation saw operating income rise 61 percent YoY to 28.08 billion dollars, up from 17.42 billion dollars in the third quarter of 2025.

US outdoor apparel group Columbia Sportswear Company reported an increase in third-quarter net sales, exceeding management projections as direct-to-consumer gains and international momentum offset domestic wholesale shipping shifts.