Articles by Diane Vanderschelden
Diane Vanderschelden is a Business Editor for FashionUnited France and UK. She covers the latest economic, financial, and regulatory news shaping the fashion industry. With a keen interest in international dynamics, she focuses on the economic, social, and cultural factors influencing different regions, particularly Asia and Europe, where she has lived for several years.
Okaïdi (IDKIDS) announces 290 job cuts and 60 store closures in France
French children's ready-to-wear brand Okaïdi announced a reorganisation plan this Tuesday, May 26. The plan could lead to up to 290 job cuts in France and the closure of 60 stores. This marks a new stage in the restructuring undertaken by the IDKIDS group since it was placed in receivership last February. According to RTL, citing AFP, the plan...
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Consumer behavior shift: 88 percent check Vinted before new fashion purchases
Market share indicates who is winning today, but not necessarily what is fundamentally changing. The key figure from Vinted's latest impact report stands out as one of these major signals. In 2025, 88 percent of the platform's members reported checking Vinted before considering the purchase of a new item. This finding calls for a complete...
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Isabel Marant changes leadership: Catherine Jacquet appointed chief executive officer
The house of Isabel Marant is changing its senior management. Catherine Jacquet has been appointed CEO, succeeding Anouck Duranteau-Loeper, according to a report by WWD on May 26, 2026. She will officially take up her post next month, following a transition period overseen by her predecessor. The executive is leaving her role “to pursue other...
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Why Inditex didn't choose Paris to launch Lefties in France
By opening the first French store for its low-cost brand Lefties in the new Valvert Croix Blanche centre in Essonne, the Inditex group is implementing a very specific real estate and logistics strategy. This is an analysis of a location choice that moves away from the traditional thoroughfares of central Paris. The announcement of Lefties'...
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Egypt and China to develop decarbonised textile city, signalling industrial shift in North Africa
Egypt has announced the development of a fully carbon-neutral industrial textile city in the Port Said governorate, in partnership with Chinese developer Cloud Chain. According to the Egyptian State Information Service, the project is the first of its kind in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and aims to position the country as a...
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Alo Yoga debuts in France with store openings in the Côte d'Azur
The American brand Alo, positioned in the premium sportswear and “wellness lifestyle” segment, is accelerating its European expansion. It is opening its first boutiques in France and launching a series of immersive experiences on the Côte d'Azur. This strategy illustrates the growing convergence between retail, hospitality and brand experiences...
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H&M: why the Persson family is buying back its own shares on a massive scale
H&M's founding family is continuing to purchase shares in the Swedish group. Its holding company, Ramsbury Invest, has acquired almost 39 million euros worth of additional shares. This is part of a series of regular transactions over several months, as the stock has underperformed since the start of the year. This methodical signal is being...
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Birkenstock: why Wall Street no longer believes in the luxury dream despite strong growth
For several years, Birkenstock seemed to have achieved what few footwear brands had before. It transformed a German orthopaedic sandal into a global object of desire, worn by tourists, fashion houses, celebrities and premium consumers alike. The narrative presented to investors during its 2023 Initial Public Offering (IPO) is now beginning to...
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Arena's 'Planet Water' ambition: conquering lifestyle through performance
With a turnover of 193 million euros in 2025 and solid growth of 8 percent, Italian swimwear brand Arena is no longer content with just dominating competition pools. Under the leadership of its CEO Peter Graschi, the heritage brand is making a strategic pivot towards 'wellbeing' and a swimwear extension. This is an analysis of a roadmap that...
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“The day profit comes first, we die”: Inside Andreas Christian von der Heide’s unlikely playbook
In the bustling hub of the Les Deux headquarters—what Andreas Christian von der Heide calls his 'playground'—two worlds quietly meet. On his desk lies a green Moleskine, filled with fragments of ideas. But beneath this creative instinct of a man who built a brand now spanning 150 employees across multiple markets from a single white t-shirt,...
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