French luxury house Louis Vuitton has appointed Hector Muelas to the newly created role of chief brand creative officer, effective November 1, 2026.

Taiwanese artificial intelligence and augmented reality solutions provider Perfect Corp has completed its merger with ProjectNY, an entity incorporated in the Cayman Islands and controlled by founder Alice H. Chang. Following the transaction, the fashion and beauty technology provider has officially ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

US outdoor and snowboard company Burton has appointed Caroline Brown to its board of directors. The Burlington, Vermont-based brand, which is privately owned by chair of the board Donna Carpenter, announced the appointment on October 22, 2026.

British retail group Frasers Group has crossed the 50 percent threshold in Hugo Boss AG, turning the Metzingen-based fashion house into a subsidiary of the Mike Ashley-controlled company.

Interview

Kering shares slumped on Friday. They most recently fell by 11 percent, marking their lowest level since July 2025. This resulted in another negative surprise within the luxury segment. Just the day before, Hermès shares had fallen after its figures failed to convince. In the wake of Kering's decline, other stocks in the sector such as LVMH and Richemont also weakened ahead of the weekend.

FashionUnited, the independent platform for the fashion industry, has upgraded its Executive section to a daily-updated dashboard for industry leaders. Available at fashionunited.com/executive, FashionUnited Executive brings together fashion business news, financial results, fashion industry statistics, deal tracking and CEO interviews in one place, so that executives in apparel, footwear, luxury and retail can follow the developments that affect their business.

In today's volatile market, decisive leadership hinges on access to premium, data-driven insights. FashionUnited is enhancing its commitment to the apparel industry by investing in more content focusing on financial results, technology, sustainability, market statistics and executive interviews.

What is the FashionUnited Executive dashboard?

The website is a curated overview of fashion business intelligence for senior decision-makers, including CEOs, founders, board members and directors. Instead of a single news feed, it opens with the latest business news and featured exclusives, then organises FashionUnited's coverage by the themes that shape strategic decisions.

Which topics does the Executive dashboard cover?

• Financial results: quarterly and annual results, trading updates and outlooks of fashion, luxury, footwear and retail companies worldwide.
• People: leadership appointments and executive moves across fashion brands and retailers.
• Mergers and acquisitions: deals, investments and consolidation in the fashion industry, tracked in Mergers and acquisitions in fashion.
• Store openings and closures: where fashion brands and retailers are expanding and retreating, tracked in Fashion store openings and closures.
• Business intelligence: fashion market statistics, indices and country data, including the monthly Fashion pulse reports covering 100 countries, in Fashion business intelligence and data and Global fashion industry statistics.
• Brand value rankings: the most valuable fashion brands and the FashionUnited Top 100 and Top 200 indices of listed fashion companies.
• Technology: artificial intelligence, retail technology and digital transformation, in Technology in fashion.
• Boardroom: in-depth interviews with the CEOs and founders of fashion companies, in Boardroom interviews.
• Sustainability: regulation, circularity and responsible production.
• E-commerce: online retail, marketplaces and digital sales performance.
• Supply chain: sourcing, manufacturing and logistics.
• Resale: second-hand, rental and recommerce business models.
• Luxury: results and strategy of luxury groups and houses.
• Retail: store-based retail performance, formats and expansion.
• Verticals: coverage by product segment and industry sector.

How does FashionUnited report on financial results in the fashion industry?

Financial reporting is at the core of the website. FashionUnited's journalists cover the quarterly, half-year and annual results of fashion and retail companies, from global luxury groups and listed apparel and footwear companies to fast-growing mid-sized brands and private companies that publish their figures in local registries.

Each results article focuses on the figures that matter to decision-makers: revenue and like-for-like sales, margins, profit or loss, regional and channel performance, and management's guidance for the period ahead. Because FashionUnited reports from more than 100 markets in their own languages, executives can follow the results of local champions that rarely make international headlines, alongside the industry's largest players.

Together, these reports give leaders a running picture of which companies, segments and markets are growing and which are under pressure, and a basis for benchmarking their own performance against competitors.

Why fashion executives need a dedicated dashboard

Fashion leaders face fast-moving shifts in consumer demand, trade policy, technology and sustainability regulation. A dashboard that combines news, deal flow, store network changes and market data helps executives spot trends earlier and benchmark their own company against competitors.

What makes FashionUnited's executive intelligence different?

FashionUnited is independent: it is not owned by a brand or retailer. All content on the Executive dashboard is produced by FashionUnited's own network of journalists, active in more than 100 markets and publishing over 100,000 news articles a year in more than 30 languages. This reporting is combined with proprietary industry data, such as the Fashion pulse country reports.

At a time when the line between real and fake news is increasingly blurred, this gives fashion executives a verified source of business intelligence. The relaunch is a further step in FashionUnited's mission to make the fashion industry more efficient and transparent.

Frequently asked questions

What is FashionUnited Executive? FashionUnited Executive is a website for fashion industry leaders at fashionunited.com/executive, combining business news, market data, M&A tracking, store openings and closures, and CEO interviews.

Where can fashion executives find reliable fashion industry news and statistics? FashionUnited Executive offers independent fashion industry news and business intelligence, combining verified reporting from journalists in more than 100 markets with fashion industry statistics, brand value rankings and monthly Fashion pulse reports for 100 countries.

Does FashionUnited report on financial results of fashion companies? Yes. FashionUnited covers the quarterly, half-year and annual results of fashion, luxury, footwear and retail companies worldwide, including revenue, margins, profit and outlook, for listed groups as well as private and mid-sized companies.

Who is the Executive dashboard for? It is designed for CEOs, founders, board members, directors and other senior professionals in fashion, apparel, footwear, luxury and retail.

Where does the content come from? All content is produced by FashionUnited's independent newsroom, with journalists in more than 100 markets, combined with FashionUnited's proprietary fashion industry data.

How can I stay updated? Visit fashionunited.com/executive or sign up for the FashionUnited newsletter.

About FashionUnited: FashionUnited is the industry's trusted online global network for B2B news, market insights, B2B marketplace and jobs. Established in 1998 in Amsterdam, this independent platform is the go-to destination for a broad range of information and services connecting the global fashion community. With an innovative media network of journalists active all over the world, the latest business intelligence and content is delivered to over 1 million users. With over 100,000 news articles and more than 200,000 jobs published annually, on top of extensive industry data, FashionUnited aims to help make the industry more efficient and transparent.

French luxury group Kering released its revenue results for the third quarter of 2026 on October 22, 2026, generating 3.35 billion euros (3.76 billion dollars). The total represents a stable performance on a reported basis and a 1 percent decline on a comparable basis year-over-year. Performance was supported by a positive currency effect of one percentage point.

US-based fashion brand Calvin Klein, a subsidiary of PVH Corp., has appointed Ayub Mohamed as chief product officer, effective January 25, 2027. Mohamed will oversee the brand’s global product organisation, including design and merchandising. His focus will centre on advancing and executing a global product strategy across categories and regions to strengthen brand equity and drive commercial performance.

US footwear and apparel company Deckers Brands (Deckers) has reported its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2026, delivering performance above management expectations.

US athletic apparel brand Lululemon Athletica has announced the appointment of former chief product officer Tara Poseley to its board of directors, effective October 19, 2026.

Poseley brings more than 30 years of executive experience in specialty retail, apparel and beauty. She most recently served as chief executive officer of Paula's Choice Skincare from 2016 to 2023. Prior to that, Poseley was chief product officer at Lululemon from 2013 to 2015, president of Kmart Apparel, and held senior roles across product and marketing during a nearly 15-year tenure at Gap.

"Tara brings a distinctive combination of creative instinct and product expertise, along with experience leading and scaling retail businesses," said Lululemon chair of the board Marti Morfitt. "Having served in various executive leadership roles, including previously as chief product officer of Lululemon, she brings unique insights that will benefit the company and board as we maintain our focus on reinvigorating the brand, strengthening our competitive position, and enhancing value for our shareholders".

The addition expands the Lululemon board to 13 directors, 12 of whom are independent. Poseley's appointment follows a cooperation agreement entered into with company founder Dennis "Chip" Wilson on May 26, 2026.

"Tara brings deep product expertise and understands what makes Lululemon special," stated Wilson. "Her appointment is another positive step toward strengthening the company's product-first vision and creating long-term value for shareholders".

Lululemon chief executive officer Heidi O'Neill noted that Poseley's guidance will be invaluable as the company puts product, design and innovation at the centre of operations for its next phase of growth.

"I am honored to join Lululemon's board at this pivotal time for the company," said Poseley. "I have a deep appreciation for Lululemon's culture of innovation and commitment to creating exceptional products and guest experiences. I look forward to working with my fellow directors to support the Lululemon leadership team as it builds on the company's strong foundation and advances its strategic priorities".

Swedish sports and apparel brand Björn Borg AB has published its interim report for July to September 2026, delivering record quarterly sales and operating profit alongside the announcement of a chief executive officer transition.

Interview True Religion’s marketing strategy can be summed up in three words: then and now, Kristen D’Arcy, who became the brand’s first chief marketing officer in 2023, told FashionUnited.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Portugal fell 1.2 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to the national consumer price index (CPI) of Statistics Portugal (INE), after a 1.2 percent decline in July. Headline CPI inflation rose to 3.3 percent from 3.0 percent, so clothing and footwear prices ran 4.5 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices fell 6.4 percent while the overall index was unchanged, with INE citing clothing items in the usual end-of-season sales among the main negative contributions to the monthly index.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Finland fell 1.4 percent year-on-year in August 2026 on the national consumer price index (CPI), according to Statistics Finland, after a 1.6 percent decline in July. Headline consumer price inflation edged up to 2.2 percent from 2.1 percent, so clothing and footwear prices ran 3.6 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices rose 1.7 percent, while overall consumer prices fell 0.2 percent.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Colombia rose 3.26 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to Colombia's national statistics office DANE, down from 3.38 percent in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 6.24 percent from 6.03 percent, so clothing and footwear inflation ran 2.98 percentage points below the headline rate and was the lowest of the 12 expenditure divisions. On the month, clothing and footwear prices fell 0.14 percent, while overall consumer prices rose 0.39 percent.

German sportswear company Puma SE has filled another executive position. On Thursday, the company announced the appointment of Arne Arens as chief commercial officer (CCO).

The 55-year-old Dutchman will assume his new role on November 15. According to a statement, he will be “responsible for Puma’s global sales organisation and go-to-market strategy, leading the company’s sales activities worldwide”. As CCO, he succeeds Matthias Bäumer, who left at the end of September.

According to Puma, the new appointee has “more than 25 years of international leadership experience in the sports and outdoor industry”. Most recently, Arens served as CEO of textile technology company Unspun. Prior to that, he held various senior management positions at renowned brands including Nike, The North Face and Boardriders.

“Ideal addition to Puma”

Puma CEO Arthur Höld explained the appointment. “Arens’ expertise combines commercial acumen, consumer insights and brand management. He has a proven track record in building brands and working with wholesale partners,” he said in a statement. “In doing so, he has driven commercial execution while always keeping consumer expectations in focus.” According to Höld, Arens’ “extensive international experience, leadership qualities and passion for sport” make him the “ideal addition to Puma”.

Arens holds his future employer in high regard. “With its history and globally recognised brand, Puma holds a unique position in our industry and has tremendous opportunities in the global market,” he emphasised. “I look forward to unlocking this potential together with our teams and retail partners, connecting Puma with consumers around the world.”

Prada SpA recorded net revenues of 4.54 billion euros (5.08 billion dollars), up 15 percent year-over-year (+4 percent organic), in the first nine months of 2026. Retail sales amounted to 3.93 billion euros, up 11 percent YoY (+2 percent organic).

The Italian fashion group Ermenegildo Zegna NV continued its growth trajectory in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year.

ITP Media Group has appointed Lara Akkari as the Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s BAZAAR in the Middle East, placing her in charge of the publication's regional editions, including Harper's Bazaar Arabia, Harper's BAZAAR Saudi, and Harper's BAZAAR Qatar, according to a press release shared by ITP Media Group.

Akkari assumes the role following two decades of leadership in brand strategy and corporate communications, having managed P&G's beauty portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa before moving into luxury editorial roles at Vogue Arabia and luxury re-commerce platforms. The appointment comes at a crucial growth phase for ITP Media Group as it standardizes its editorial strategy across print, digital, and live experience verticals throughout the region.

Akkari’s background signals an intentional operational shift toward combining brand strategy, commercial alignment, and content creation within fashion journalism. Holding an MBA from St. Ambrose University alongside a background in brand direction, Akkari brings corporate brand management methodologies directly to media management.

Under her leadership, the publications aim to establish a unified regional editorial standard while preserving localized voices tailored to the specific market dynamics of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the broader Middle Eastern landscape.

For fashion education institutions and students, Akkari’s career trajectory highlights a major evolution in the modern fashion ecosystem: the convergence of strategic brand management, commercial consulting, and traditional journalism.

Her transition from agency brand director to top-tier editorial leadership underlines the growing necessity for fashion curricula to integrate business analytics, cross-platform communications, and strategic brand positioning alongside creative writing and curation. As regional media houses place increased value on hybrid skill sets, academic programs must adapt by preparing students to navigate both the creative and commercial complexities of global luxury media.

Canadian athletic apparel brand Lululemon Athletica (Lululemon) has named Pat Jeffers as vice president, global brand creative.

FashionUnited's UK job board includes fashion vacancies from across the country, from design, merchandising and CRM roles at brand head offices in London to buying, e-commerce and tech jobs at NEXT in Leicester, footwear design and factory roles in Northamptonshire, and store positions from Glasgow to Bristol. Whether you want to work in a design studio, a buying office or on a flagship shop floor, this is where the UK's fashion openings sit in one place.

See all fashion jobs in the UK →, or explore the brands hiring now.

What fashion jobs are in demand in the UK?

British fashion makes little of what it sells but designs, buys and markets for the world from here, so openings cluster around head-office and retail functions:

• Design & creative: footwear designers, print designers, pattern cutters and retouchers.
• Buying & merchandising: assistant buyers, allocators, branch planners and assistant merchandisers.
• E-commerce & CRM: e-commerce trading managers, CRM executives and paid media managers.
• Marketing & social: social media and community managers, brand communications and partnerships roles.
• Retail & client service: sales assistants, client advisors and store managers, plus seasonal hiring before Christmas.
• Supply chain & distribution: distribution centre managers, supply analysts and production merchandisers.
• Sustainability & compliance: supplier audits, Modern Slavery Act reporting and product data for EU digital product passport rules, which apply to UK brands selling into Europe.

Where are the fashion jobs in the UK?

London has by far the most vacancies: luxury houses, brand head offices, design studios and the West End's flagship stores all cluster there. Outside the capital, fashion employment follows head offices and distribution: NEXT in Leicester, Gymshark in Solihull, Dr. Martens in Northamptonshire, Clarks in Street, and online brands around Manchester. Pick your city and jump straight to its listings:

London · Manchester · Leicester · Birmingham · Glasgow · Edinburgh · Leeds · Liverpool · Peterborough · Bristol

Who is hiring in fashion in the UK?

International brands run UK and EMEA teams from London as well as stores nationwide. Employers recruiting through the board include Ralph Lauren, for buying, allocation, digital commerce and store roles; Deckers Brands and Wolverine Worldwide, for EMEA sales, e-commerce and product data; and Stone Island, Tory Burch, GANT, American Vintage and Columbia Sportswear, for client advisors and store managers.

British brands do most of the hiring. Burberry recruits in London for merchandising, design and creative roles; NEXT for product, e-commerce and tech in Leicester; Harrods for buying, CRM and design. Superdry, Reiss, White Stuff, Gymshark, Hackett, Yours and Club L London hire across design, e-commerce and retail, alongside Marks & Spencer, Primark, ASOS and Frasers Group. On the supply side, Dr. Martens still makes boots in Northamptonshire, Burberry makes trench coats in Castleford, and Clarks runs distribution from Street.

See all the brands hiring now →

Why the UK hires

The UK's edge is brands and retail scale. Fashion and textiles contribute £62 billion to UK GDP and support about one in every 25 jobs (Oxford Economics for UKFT). British labels from Burberry to Gymshark are designed, marketed and sold worldwide from here.

Most garment production left decades ago, and the numbers show it: creating and making, which covers design and development as well as manufacturing, supports around 260,000 jobs, against roughly one million in distribution, retail and aftercare (Oxford Economics for UKFT). What stayed and grew is the work that builds and sells a brand: design, buying, merchandising, e-commerce, CRM and data. Small heritage manufacturing survives in footwear, tailoring and outerwear.

Can you get a fashion job in the UK?

English is the working language everywhere, so the real split is by right to work:

• Roles for people with the right to work. UK and Irish citizens, people with settled or pre-settled status, and those on graduate or youth mobility visas can apply to any role, including the seasonal store jobs that are the usual way into retail.
• Sponsored specialist roles. Senior design, buying, digital and tech roles at larger brands are the realistic openings if you need sponsorship, since most store and entry-level jobs do not meet visa requirements. Applying from abroad? Most non-UK and non-Irish nationals, including EU citizens arriving after Brexit, need a Skilled Worker visa sponsored by the employer, which requires a degree-level role and a minimum salary (UK Home Office).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak another language to work in fashion in the UK? No. English is the working language, though a second European language helps in EMEA sales roles.

Which city has the most fashion vacancies? London, by a wide margin, followed by head-office and distribution hubs such as Leicester, Manchester and the Midlands.

Can I apply from outside the UK? Yes, but unless you already have the right to work, you need a Skilled Worker visa sponsored by your employer.

What fashion roles are most in demand? Design, buying and merchandising, e-commerce and CRM, marketing, retail and supply chain.

Which companies hire fashion designers in the UK? Burberry, NEXT, Dr. Martens, Gymshark, Superdry and White Stuff are among the brands recruiting designers through the board.

Start your search

Browse by city: London · Manchester · Leicester · Birmingham · Glasgow · Edinburgh · Leeds · Liverpool · Peterborough · Bristol

Browse by type: Design & Creativity · Product & Supply Chain · Retail Management & In-store · Sales & Marketing · Internships

See all fashion jobs in the UK → | Post a job | Fashion jobs in other countries

As consumers become more selective about their wardrobes, new research from Market research company Ipsos, commissioned by Australian fibre organization Woolmark, reveals a growing global preference for natural fibres. The study was conducted across the US, France, Germany, Italy and China.

The persistent disruption of global maritime shipping has transformed airfreight across Africa from a niche logistical alternative into a vital operational lifeline. Driven by ongoing security challenges in the Red Sea and Middle East, ocean carriers have been compelled to bypass the Suez Canal and detour around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to maritime transit times and creating severe congestion at key African ports. In response to unpredictable shipping schedules and severe supply chain bottlenecks, importers and exporters throughout Sub-Saharan Africa—most notably in major commercial corridors across Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana—are increasingly shifting time-sensitive cargo onto air routes to maintain trade continuity.

French luxury group Hermès reported a 5.5 percent increase in third-quarter revenue on Thursday, supported by Europe, the Americas and Japan. The company also confirmed its full-year forecast “despite the deteriorating macroeconomic and geopolitical environment”.

French fashion group SMCP recorded a decline in revenue in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year due to losses in its domestic market. This was revealed in an interim statement published on Thursday by the parent company of Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac.

US lifestyle and apparel company Centric Brands has appointed Niclas Eriksson as vice president and general manager of its kids division across Europe, Middle East and Africa, effective September 2026. Eriksson announced his new role on LinkedIn.

US-based technology company Google has joined forces with Singapore-based personal shopping platform Glance to integrate artificial intelligence (AI)-powered product discovery and commerce tools into Android TV devices. The partnership will transform dormant television screens into interactive lifestyle and storefront surfaces across the US, India, and Japan.

Puig has closed the third quarter of 2026 with its highest reported growth rate since early 2025, driven by a make-up category gaining weight within the group and held back by a skincare segment recording its second consecutive negative quarter. This follows from the sales update published on Wednesday by the company and explanations provided by its management during the subsequent analyst call.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Norway rose 2.2 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to Statistics Norway (SSB), down from 2.9 percent in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 3.3 percent from 3.0 percent, so clothing and footwear inflation ran 1.1 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices fell 0.4 percent, while overall consumer prices fell 0.3 percent.

Moncler S.p.A. (Moncler) consolidated revenues amounted to 1.90 billion euros (2.14 billion dollars) in the first nine months of 2026. According to a press release, the result represents a 6 percent increase at constant exchange rates and a 3 percent increase at current exchange rates, compared to 1.84 billion euros in the first nine months of 2025.

Interview Lee’s chore coat was built in 1925 to withstand farm and railroad work. A century later, its design has withstood something else: changing fashion trends. “Lee never has been the loudest brand. But we’re one of the longest lasting,” Sedgwick Cole Jr., Lee’s global head of design, told FashionUnited as the brand celebrates the jacket’s 100th anniversary with a fall 2026 update.

Delvaux, the Belgian luxury leather goods maker owned by Richemont, recorded a sharp drop in revenue and a wider net loss in the financial year ended March 31, 2026. The figures relate to Delvaux Créateur SA, the Belgian entity behind the brand. The annual accounts were filed with the National Bank of Belgium on October 15, 2026.

Fashion shoppers are placing greater emphasis on quality, transparent pricing and in-store service, while remaining cautious about artificial intelligence (AI) making purchasing decisions for them, according to new research from AlixPartners.

EXCLUSIVE Attention to clothing repair and care is trending upwards. People appear increasingly interested in what their clothes are made of, how long they will last, and how to look after them. Brands are also waking up to repair. During the first half of 2026, brands and retailers including Salomon, Kiabi and Next launched repair programmes, and United Repair Centre, one of Europe’s biggest repair providers, opened a new repair hub in Paris.

Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion activities at Chanel and president of Chanel SAS, has been appointed co-chair of The Fashion Pact, joining existing executive members Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Inditex, and Paul Polman, co-founder of The Fashion Pact.

The industry coalition has also appointed Ermenegildo Zegna Group executive chairman Ermenegildo ‘Gildo’ Zegna and Karl Lagerfeld CEO and president Pier Paolo Righi to its steering committee.

The appointments form part of The Fashion Pact’s leadership renewal as it prepares for its next phase, with a focus on translating collective sustainability commitments into practical action and scaling solutions across the fashion industry.

The organisation also thanked Gerald J. Corbae, chief executive of NoaBrands, and Laurent Milchior, chairman and CEO of Groupe Etam, who are leaving the steering committee as part of its rotation process. Corbae will continue to attend meetings in a non-voting advisory capacity, while Milchior will remain involved in representing smaller businesses.

Launched in 2019 at the initiative of French president Emmanuel Macron, The Fashion Pact brings together fashion and textile companies to address climate change, biodiversity loss and ocean protection through collective environmental targets.

By 2020, the coalition had grown to include 60 chief executives representing more than 200 brands across 14 countries. Its objectives include reducing carbon emissions, increasing renewable energy use and sourcing lower-impact materials.

The latest appointments come as the organisation looks ahead to 2027, with an increased focus on implementation and scaling industry solutions. "Bruno’s appointment marks an important step in this journey, bringing valuable leadership and perspective as we work to strengthen collaboration across regions, business models and supply chains," the organisation said in a LinkedIn post.

FashionUnited's Portuguese job board includes fashion vacancies from across the country, from finance, HR and supply planning roles at adidas's global services hub in Porto to boutique, visual-merchandising and store jobs on Lisbon's Avenida da Liberdade and in the malls of Braga, Vila Nova de Gaia and Setúbal. Whether you want to work in a brand's corporate hub, on a premium shop floor, or close to the factories of the north, this is where Portugal's fashion openings sit in one place.

See all fashion jobs in Portugal →, or explore the brands hiring now.

What fashion jobs are in demand in Portugal?

Portugal has moved from cheap volume production to fast, small-run manufacturing for European brands, and international groups now run corporate services from here too, so openings span three worlds:

• Retail & client service: sales assistants, supervisors and store managers for international brands.
• Visual merchandising: in-store visual merchandisers for shop-in-shops and flagship stores.
• Shared services & corporate functions: finance, tax, controlling, credit and collections, and HR services, often for speakers of German, French or Greek.
• Supply planning & product operations: product supply, demand planning and SAP supply-planning roles that keep stock flowing across markets.
• Product development & production: product developers, pattern makers, sampling and quality roles at manufacturers producing for European labels.
• Sustainability & traceability: supplier documentation, certification and data for the EU's digital product passport and due diligence rules.
• Wholesale & brand sales: sales representatives and inside sales roles.

Where are the fashion jobs in Portugal?

Lisbon has the most store vacancies, from Avenida da Liberdade boutiques to Mango, Lacoste and adidas stores across the metro area. Porto is the corporate and industrial centre: adidas runs a global business services hub there, and the textile, clothing and footwear belt around Braga, Guimarães and Vila Nova de Famalicão sits within an hour. Pick your city and jump straight to its listings:

Lisbon · Porto · Braga · Vila Nova de Gaia · Guimarães · Vila Nova de Famalicão · Barcelos · São João da Madeira · Setúbal · Sintra

Who is hiring in fashion in Portugal?

International brands hire for stores and corporate teams. Employers recruiting through the board include adidas, for finance, tax, HR, supply planning and store roles; Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Mango, Liu Jo and Carhartt WIP, for sales associates, supervisors and visual merchandisers; Nike and Skechers in sportswear retail; and EssilorLuxottica, for eyewear sales. Bestseller and AWWG, owner of Pepe Jeans and Hackett, also recruit through the board.

Portuguese retailers include Parfois and Sonae Fashion in Porto, and Salsa in Vila Nova de Famalicão, for design, buying and store roles. On the supply side, the north is home to manufacturers such as Riopele, Petratex and Valérius, which recruit product developers, technicians and quality staff, while Felgueiras and São João da Madeira anchor the footwear industry.

See all the brands hiring now →

Why Portugal hires

Portugal's edge is proximity: it is a short truck ride from its main customers, so brands can order small runs and reorder fast. Textile and clothing exports reached 5,499 million euros in 2025, with Spain, France and Germany the top three markets (ATP, based on provisional INE data).

The low-cost volume work left for Asia and North Africa two decades ago. What stayed is the work that cheaper countries cannot match on time and quality: short-run premium production, technical fabrics, sampling, product development and the traceability data European brands now need. International groups added a second layer, choosing Porto for multilingual corporate services. Both pushed hiring towards skilled, better-paid roles.

Can you get a fashion job in Portugal?

There are two kinds of jobs here, with two different routes in:

• English-speaking corporate roles. Shared services, finance, supply planning and tech roles in Porto and Lisbon usually work in English, and many specifically want a second European language such as German or French.
• Portuguese-speaking store and factory roles. Retail, production and most domestic roles need Portuguese.

Applying from abroad? EU and EEA citizens can work in Portugal without a permit; everyone else needs a work visa from a Portuguese consulate, usually based on a job offer, followed by a residence permit from AIMA.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Portuguese to work in fashion in Portugal? For store, factory and most local roles, yes. Corporate roles in Porto and Lisbon often work in English, and many value a second European language.

Which city has the most fashion vacancies? Lisbon for store roles, Porto for corporate and manufacturing roles.

Can I apply from outside Portugal? Yes. EU and EEA citizens need no permit; others need a work visa based on a job offer and a residence permit from AIMA.

What fashion roles are most in demand? Retail and visual merchandising, shared services and corporate functions, supply planning, product development and sustainability.

Is Portuguese fashion manufacturing still growing? Exports held steady at almost 5.5 billion euros in 2025, with growth now in short-run, premium and technical production rather than volume.

Start your search

Browse by city: Lisbon · Porto · Braga · Vila Nova de Gaia · Guimarães · Vila Nova de Famalicão · Barcelos · São João da Madeira · Setúbal · Sintra

Browse by type: Product & Supply Chain · Retail Management & In-store · Sales & Marketing · Design & Creativity · Internships

See all fashion jobs in Portugal → | Post a job | Fashion jobs in other countries

Skechers and HandsFree Labs (HFL), the parent company of Kizik, have both claimed victories in a European patent dispute over hands-free footwear, following a ruling by the Unified Patent Court in Munich.

Swedish fashion brand 11 Studios, based in Stockholm, has announced the launch of its second collection alongside four strategic initiatives aimed at scaling its international presence and streamlining operations.

Following a fundamental change in its ownership structure, German sportswear company Puma has made a change at the top of its supervisory board. On Wednesday, the company announced the election of Dennis Tao as chairman of the board. According to the statement, the 50-year-old had been “appointed as a member of the supervisory board by the court” on the same day.

Tao succeeds Héloïse Temple-Boyer, who had been a member of the supervisory board since 2019 and took over as chair in 2022. According to the company, her term of office ended “following the completed sale of Artémis SAS’s stake in Puma to Anta Sports Products Limited earlier this month”. As part of the transaction, the Chinese sportswear group acquired around 29 percent of Puma’s shares for approximately 1.5 billion euros and is now the largest single shareholder in the Herzogenaurach-based company.

According to Puma, the completion of the share sale also marked the end of Jean-Marc Duplaix’s term as deputy chairman of the supervisory board and chairman of the audit committee. Jeanne Huang has now been appointed to the supervisory board to replace him as another representative of the new major shareholder.

Both new additions are experienced Anta Sports executives

Tao serves as head of mergers and acquisitions and capital markets at Anta Sports. According to a statement, he also sat on the board of directors of sportswear group Amer Sports from 2019 to 2026, where he contributed to “the strategic realignment, global expansion and successful return of the company to the stock exchange”.

Huang is CEO of the Anta Sports subsidiary PIPA International Limited, a company that according to Puma “connects world-leading creative talent with Anta Group brands to drive product innovation and creative collaborations”. Prior to this, she held various leadership positions at Nike and Anta.

Puma CEO Arthur Hoeld welcomed the two new additions to the supervisory board. “We are delighted to welcome Dennis and Jeanne to Puma’s supervisory board,” he said in a statement. “Their deep industry knowledge and track record with leading brands globally and in China will be of great value for Puma’s future development. Together with the entire management board, I look forward to working with them to shape the next chapter for Puma.”

Following the recent changes, Puma’s supervisory board now consists of Tao; Huang; Roland Krüger; Harsh Saini; Fiona May; Martin Köppel; and Bernd Illig. The company also announced that Krüger will succeed Duplaix as deputy chairman of the board and chairman of the audit committee.

British modern luxury womenswear brand Me+Em has announced its financial results for the year ended January 2026, driven by continued global expansion and accelerating international demand.

British sportswear brand Castore is reportedly in discussions with Chinese sportswear groups Anta and Li-Ning over a potential deal, as investors seek to exit the business.

Austrian wood-based cellulose fibre producer Lenzing AG (Lenzing) has successfully completed its capital increase against contribution in cash with subscription rights for existing shareholders, raising gross proceeds of approximately 301.2 million euros (338 million dollars).

Authentic Brands Group has appointed Clément Smadja as chief legal officer, succeeding Jay Dubiner, who will remain with the business as executive vice chairman.

Smadja joins the US brand management group from Fox Corporation, where he served as senior vice president, advising on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, compliance and corporate governance. He played a leading role in establishing Fox as a publicly listed company and more recently worked on its proposed 22 billion dollar acquisition of Roku.

Speaking on the appointment, Matt Maddox, president and chief executive officer of Authentic, said: “Clem has an exceptional track record of advising on complex transactions. His sound judgment and deep legal expertise will be valuable as we continue building a global platform at the intersection of entertainment, sport and culture.”

Before joining Fox, Smadja was a partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis, advising domestic and international clients on complex transactions and corporate matters.

“I was drawn to Authentic’s entrepreneurial culture and to a leadership team that approaches the business with ambition, creativity and discipline,” Smadja said, before adding that he was looking forward to helping the leadership team shape the company’s continued growth.

Dubiner has served as chief legal officer since 2015 and will now work with Maddox and founder and executive chairman Jamie Salter on major transactions and strategic priorities.

He commented: “Working alongside the incredible leadership at Authentic to grow the business and build the global legal team has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career."

French-Italian eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica announced that consolidated revenue for the third quarter of 2026 reached 7.49 billion euros (8.40 billion dollars). This represents a year-over-year increase of 7.2 percent at constant exchange rates compared to the third quarter of 2025, or 9 percent at current exchange rates.

German e-commerce platform Zalando has strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of Tom Christenson as senior vice president for B2B, effective October 15, 2026.

German sportswear brand Adidas has reported record top and bottom-line results for the third quarter of 2026, prompting the company to raise its full-year operating profit guidance.

The Italian fashion group Salvatore Ferragamo SpA suffered another revenue decline in the third quarter of the 2026 financial year. This is according to the latest figures released by the company on Tuesday evening.

Nick Goodchild, former vice president of global brand transformation at Tommy Hilfiger, has joined Asos as the British retailer’s new AI and creative studios director. According to the announcement sent to press on Tuesday, Goodchild will integrate AI into content production at scale.

“Nick brings a rare combination of creative leadership, studio expertise and practical experience of using AI to transform content production,” Vanessa Spence, executive vice president of creative at Asos, said in a statement. “As we continue to strengthen our Stylist proposition and bring our personalised fashion offer to life, his perspective will be invaluable in helping us unlock new creative possibilities while strengthening the speed, scale and impact of our work.”

Goodchild will also lead Asos’ AI Studios, described as a cross-functional programme exploring how AI can complement existing studio expertise to create richer, more personalised shopping experiences.

“Asos has always stood out for its creative energy and its ability to connect with fashion lovers in a relevant and engaging way. I’m excited to join the team and explore how AI can enhance that creativity, giving the team new tools, enabling smarter ways of working and helping us create even more inspiring content for our customers,” Goodchild said.

Goodchild spent eight years at Tommy Hilfiger, where he led the brand’s global AI taskforce.

US footwear provider Skechers has a new head for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. In a post on the business network Linkedin, Dennis Schröder announced that he has been working as general manager EMEA for the brand since the beginning of September. Trade magazine Textilwirtschaft (TW) had previously reported on the appointment.

According to his own statement, Schröder is now responsible at Skechers for “58 countries, more than 6,500 colleagues, over 1,000 stores, a fast-growing online business and two major logistics centres” in the region.

Schröder led sportswear chain Snipes until spring

Schröder joins from retail chain Snipes, which belongs to the Deichmann Group and which he led as CEO from 2024 until spring. Most recently, he held an advisory role there. Prior to his time at Snipes, he worked for companies including 11Teamsports, Puma and Nike.

In May, German sportswear provider Puma SE introduced Schröder as its designated head of Europe. According to a statement published in May, he was due to take over the role of managing director Europe in August. However, according to a report by TW, he never took up this post. Instead, Puma filled the position with former Nike manager Fokko de Rooi, who has been in office since October 1.

Skechers was delisted from the stock exchange in September 2025 following its acquisition by financial investor 3G Capital and has no longer reported regularly on its business performance since then. In the US, the trainer specialist is now the second-largest footwear brand measured by pairs sold, according to its own figures.

At the same time, Skechers is continuing to focus on expansion in the EMEA region, which achieved strong sales growth according to the latest available figures from last year. To support this momentum, the company recently built a new logistics centre in Belgium, among other initiatives.

FashionUnited's job board for the fashion industry has reached a new all-time high, with more than 40,000 vacancies now live for fashion professionals around the world. Over 1,000 fashion companies currently use FashionUnited to find the best talent.

The record caps a strong year for the fashion focused platform. So far in 2026, more than 3 million people have used the job board, generating over 12 million job views and 500,000+ candidate application clicks to employers.

The United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are the five countries with the most jobs online, reflecting FashionUnited's reach across the world's largest fashion markets.

Compared to last year the number of online jobs has doubled. The growth is driven by in-house developed automation and by building direct relationships with more and more fashion companies worldwide, giving job seekers one complete overview of opportunities across the industry from screened employers.

The record confirms a shift FashionUnited has anticipated for years: the fashion industry is increasingly centralising its job offers. Recruiters want to reach dedicated fashion professionals rather than the general job market, while candidates look for a complete and trustworthy overview of available roles. FashionUnited brings both sides together in one place, making hiring more efficient and transparent for everyone involved.

In a job market crowded with recycled listings and generic aggregators, FashionUnited focuses on real, legitimate opportunities from the fashion industry itself, on an independent platform that professionals trust. Recruiting fashion talent locally or across borders? Learn more at Connect with talent on FashionUnited or email jobs@fashionunited.com.

About FashionUnited: FashionUnited is the industry's trusted online global network for B2B news, market insights, B2B marketplace and jobs. Established in 1998, this independent platform is the go-to destination for a broad range of information and services connecting the global fashion community. With an innovative media network of journalists active all over the world, the latest business intelligence and content is delivered to millions of users. With over 100,000 news articles and more than 200,000 jobs published annually, on top of extensive industry data, FashionUnited aims to help make the industry more efficient and transparent.

US direct-to-consumer apparel brand Torrid Holdings (Torrid) has announced that chief financial officer Paula Dempsey has resigned to pursue another opportunity. Dempsey will remain in the role through mid-November to ensure a smooth transition.

Torrid has appointed Will Langley as interim chief financial officer, effective October 28, 2026. Langley brings 20 years of experience from department store chain Belk, where he served as chief financial officer from January 2020 through May 2025.

Prior to his role as chief financial officer at Belk, Langley held several senior finance positions at the business, including vice president of treasury and finance and director of financial planning and analysis.

“On behalf of everyone at Torrid, I want to thank Paula for her many contributions over the past several years, including her leadership of our store optimization efforts,” said Torrid chief executive officer Lisa Harper. “She helped strengthen our financial foundation through disciplined capital allocation and expense management. We wish her well in her next endeavor.”

Harper added that Langley’s strategic contributions and extensive financial background from his tenure at Belk make him well suited to guide the finance division as the business executes its operational priorities.

“I am pleased to join Torrid at this important time and look forward to working with Lisa and the leadership team,” said Langley.

US sports and apparel group Callaway Golf Company (Callaway) has announced the appointment of Harry Arnett as senior vice president, chief brand officer. Arnett previously served at Callaway from 2012 to 2019 as head of global brand and marketing.

Since the beginning of the month, at least 21 attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region have been logged according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre. The dramatic surge in military activity and drone strikes targeting commercial cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz is in response to US obstructions of Iranian ports and firmer sanctions imposed last month.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Austria fell 1.2 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to the national consumer price index (VPI) of Statistics Austria, after a 0.7 percent decline in July. Headline VPI inflation rose to 3.2 percent from 2.8 percent, so clothing and footwear prices ran 4.4 percentage points below the headline rate and had the lowest annual rate of the 13 main expenditure groups. On the month, clothing and footwear prices rose 0.9 percent.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Ireland rose 3.1 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO), down from 8.5 percent in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 3.7 percent from 3.4 percent, so clothing and footwear inflation ran 0.6 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices rose 3.6 percent, compared with a 9.0 percent rise in August 2025.

Ski brand Atomic, part of the sporting goods group Amer Sports Inc., is facing a leadership change. On Monday, the company announced that Michael Absmaier will take over as president of the label on January 1, 2027. He succeeds Wolfgang Mayrhofer, who will retire at the end of the year after more than four decades at Atomic.

Absmaier himself has been with Amer Sports for over 20 years. He currently serves as chief financial officer (CFO) and VP of business development at Atomic. He was also recently the interim CEO of the group's Armada brand, which he will also lead as president in the future. As part of his promotion, Absmaier will also join the global leadership team of Amer Sports.

Another group veteran will take over his previous position as CFO of Atomic. Anssi Lampinen will move into this role on January 1, having held various management positions at group and brand level at Amer Sports for almost two decades. Most recently, he was VP of finance, responsible for the group's financial planning and analysis (FP&A) and European finance controlling.

James Zheng, president and CEO of Amer Sports, paid tribute to the outgoing Atomic head. “On behalf of the Amer Sports executive committee and the global leadership team, we would like to sincerely thank Wolfgang for his many valuable contributions to Atomic and Amer Sports over the past 40 years,” he said in a statement. “Wolfgang was a truly valued and respected leader and a cherished colleague. It was always a real pleasure to work with him.”

In his role as president of Atomic, Mayrhofer “has guided the brand through many new challenges and opportunities since 2007,” said Zheng. “We wish him all the best for the future.”

The FashionUnited Index of Most Valuable Fashion Brands ranks the largest fashion brands in the world by brand value. In 2026 Hermès takes first place for the first time, with a brand value of 45 billion dollars, ahead of Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Together, the ten most valuable brands are worth 222.3 billion dollars, almost half of the 451 billion dollars that the full top 100 is worth.

With China's economy still struggling to recover from the pandemic, even global fashion icons are beginning to feel the pinch as consumers turn instead to the second-hand market or buy upstart new homegrown brands.

US-based retailer Quince has launched in the UK, marking its first expansion beyond North America. The company's regional website offers womenswear, menswear, children’s clothing and homeware, with free delivery and a 365-day returns policy. The initial selection will be tailored to British shoppers, with categories expected to expand.

British retail group Frasers Group plc has come one small step closer to a majority stake in the Metzingen-based fashion company Hugo Boss AG.

UK luxury brand Mulberry Group plc (Mulberry) announced an 18.1 percent increase in sales at actual currency rates for the 26 weeks ended September 26, 2026. The group attributed the performance to product momentum, brand elevation, and full-price sales growth aligned with its 'Back to the Mulberry Spirit' strategy.

Swedish circular technology company Cyclothe has entered its next phase of commercial growth with the appointment of Calvin Woolley as co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO). Woolley will lead the transition of Cyclothe from technology validation to the international deployment and commercial scale-up of its Circular Resource Infrastructure.

Woolley brings over 25 years of international textile industry leadership, including 15 years driving global textile sustainability and circularity initiatives at Inter Ikea. In his previous role leading global textile sustainability strategy, he spearheaded large-scale sustainable transformation, responsible sourcing frameworks and circular supply chain integration. A textile engineer by background, Woolley brings an understanding of end-to-end supply chains, enterprise brand requirements and structural friction within circular systems.

Transition to commercial deployment

The executive appointment marks an intentional shift as Cyclothe moves from proprietary technology development to widespread commercial deployment. Rather than operating as an isolated recycling or waste-management vendor, Cyclothe is building an integrated physical and digital infrastructure connecting citizens, retailers, municipalities, extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems and secondary markets into a single, fully traceable resource loop.

By combining smart intake points, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven identification and data-backed sorting logistics, the technology systematically prioritises reuse, repair and repurposing before mechanical or chemical recycling, keeping products and fibres at their highest financial and material value.

“We have spent the past years building the underlying technology, developing our system architecture, and proving the operating model,” said Halit Kosmaz, founder of Cyclothe. “Bringing Calvin into Cyclothe as Co-founder and CEO marks our deliberate transition from developing infrastructure to deploying it commercially at industrial scale. His deep command of the global textile value chain, global brand dynamics, and supply chain transformation gives us the exact leadership required to navigate this next phase.”

“It is clear that the global textile sector does not suffer from a lack of circular ambition. It suffers from a lack of functioning infrastructure. What we’re missing is an infrastructure capable of managing new legislation in a commercially viable way—an infrastructure where measurable, high-value reverse flows can actually be built at scale,” said Woolley. “Cyclothe is building that exact missing layer, linking people, products, cities, brands, and recyclers through one connected, intelligent system. That is why I am proud to join not only as the CEO, to lead the company but also as a Co-founder, to help scale this vision alongside its founder, Halit, and our partners.”

Strategic focus and future market outlook

Cyclothe enters the executive transition following pilot validation across Swedish innovation ecosystems, municipal programs and urban transition testbeds.

Under the leadership of Woolley, the company will focus on accelerating rollouts of the smart collection network and AI-powered sorting architecture across municipal districts, retail partners and regional waste frameworks in the Nordics and broader Europe and expanding the traceable downstream marketplace, establishing commercial conduits for certified reuse, resale and high-grade textile recycling partners.

Madrid – Shein continues to scale and deepen its operations as a global marketplace. This time, it is introducing its new cooperative logistics service in Europe, starting from Spain. The company presents this solution as a new tool for sellers on its platform. It promises to help them grow within and expand into new European markets.

From asset search to planograms, AI is making its way into Visual Merchandising. IWD, the Visual Merchandising software provider, is building it into its platform to automate, recommend and improve in-store performance.

McKinsey estimates that merchants could reclaim up to 40% of their time by handing part of their manual, repetitive tasks over to AI agents. It is a broad projection, but it raises a pertinent question for Visual Merchandising: what happens when AI is involved at every stage of the workflow?

This is the shift under way at IWD Retail Software, the Visual Merchandising software that helps brands optimize their in-store merchandising performance. For twenty-five years, IWD has partnered with companies such as L'Oréal, The Estée Lauder Companies and LVMH. Its proprietary AI is now being progressively integrated into the platform to automate certain operations, inform decision-making and sharpen the relevance of guidelines before they are rolled out.

From collection to recommendation

The first area of application is the collection. AI will streamline the syncing and import of assets. Then, at the drag-and-drop stage onto virtual shelves, the tool can surface the associated product range.

Finding the right SKU by cross-referencing dimensions, category, price, newness or packaging all at once becomes a query addressed to the tool rather than a manual search. This logic of contextual search and recommendation already lies at the heart of IWD's AI developments. Less time searching, more time deciding.

Anticipating execution rather than correcting it

"Between headquarters strategy and execution, many variables aren't always taken into account: assortments, fixtures, store configurations," notes Alex DeCarolis, Senior Visual Merchandising Specialist at On.

IWD's approach is to resolve these constraints at the design stage rather than leave stores to absorb them. When a planogram is being built, AI will be able to cross-reference multiple criteria, suggest an alternative or flag an underperforming placement. Ultimately, it will be able to propose a tailored guideline based on a brief refined by the teams.

"If field feedback is constantly piling up, it's because the guidelines weren't properly prepared upstream," says Raphaëlle Guigui, COO of IWD Retail Software. The challenge, then, is to move intelligence ahead of rollout rather than fix things after the fact.

Behind the final picture, the data

As a client put it to Raphaëlle Guigui: "It's not enough for it to look beautiful. It has to sell."

Generative AI can now produce highly convincing images. But an image is not a planogram. A merchandising recommendation must account for the exact assortment, dimensions, available fixtures, merchandising rules and the constraints specific to each point of sale.

That is the difference between an external generative tool and a dedicated business platform. IWD draws on twenty-five years of structured merchandising experience, within an environment subject to strict confidentiality requirements. That business context cannot be recreated with a simple prompt.

Some IWD clients are already testing HD exports featuring strikingly lifelike in-store renderings.

What if agents became the missing link?

Stock, sell-out, POS and operations are often still managed in separate systems, and brands remain cautious about sharing their commercial data.

Tomorrow, one dedicated agent could flag pressure on a SKU, while another could detect a shift in performance. These signals could then be fed into IWD's VM Suite at the right moment to enrich the recommendation.

A new teammate for the Visual Merchandiser

Raphaëlle Guigui likes to point out that in a store with four sales associates, Visual Merchandising is the fifth. With AI, the Visual Merchandiser could gain a new teammate.

At IWD, several features are already in beta with clients. The goal remains the one that has guided the platform for more than twenty years: giving teams time, fluidity and peace of mind, by automating what can be automated and bringing more intelligence to the moments when decisions are made.

AI is becoming a genuine teammate for the Visual Merchandiser, able to generate, alert and recommend, so they can focus their expertise where it creates the most value.

An accelerator in service of teams, with an unchanged purpose: Make Stores Perform.

US denim and lifestyle brand True Religion is exploring strategic options, including a full sale or the sale of a minority stake, according to a Reuters report. The potential transaction could value the company at close to 1 billion dollars, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Washington County - Nike (NKE) is expanding its presence in India with plans for a new global campus in Bengaluru as the sportswear giant looks to revive growth under CEO Elliott Hill and tap into one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets.

The campus, expected to open within the next few years, will house corporate roles spanning Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse.

Hill described the project as a long-term investment, citing India's importance as both a growth market and manufacturing hub.

The expansion comes as Nike struggles in Greater China, where fiscal first-quarter revenue fell 26 percent.

The company said China remains a long-term priority and stressed that its India investment is not intended to replace its focus on the market.

Nike is also restructuring operations under its Pace strategy, including workforce reductions and supply-chain changes, targeting about $2.5 billion in savings through fiscal 2031.

India's growing consumer base and rising participation in sports offer Nike another avenue for long-term international growth.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Switzerland fell 2.3 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), after a 0.9 percent decline in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 0.8 percent from 0.4 percent, so clothing and footwear prices ran 3.1 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices rose 3.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted, compared with a 4.9 percent rise in August 2025.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Indonesia rose 1.20 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), up from 1.04 percent in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 3.19 percent from 2.88 percent, within Bank Indonesia's (BI) target range of 2.5 percent plus or minus one percentage point, so clothing and footwear inflation ran 1.99 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, overall consumer prices rose 0.21 percent.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in South Korea rose 2.8 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics (formerly Statistics Korea), the same rate as in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 3.1 percent from 2.8 percent, above the Bank of Korea's (BOK) 2 percent target, so clothing and footwear inflation ran 0.3 percentage points below the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices were unchanged, while the overall index rose 0.2 percent.

Paris - Kering chief executive Luca de Meo is accelerating his shake-up of the struggling fashion conglomerate with the ousting of Alexander McQueen's chief designer, just days after a purge at Saint Laurent.

Paris-based Kering announced Thursday that McQueen creative director Sean McGirr was leaving his job at the loss-making British label three years after his appointment.

The 38-year-old Irishman appeared to have paid the price for a collapse in sales over his tenure, lacklustre reviews, and de Meo's desire to restructure many of the smaller labels in Kering's extensive stable.

"I would like to thank Sean for his contribution and dedication to Alexander McQueen," de Meo said in a statement. "Our ambition is to establish a bold new direction for the house."

De Meo arrived last September with a stellar reputation as a cost-cutter and turnaround specialist, having helped relaunch the struggling French carmaker Renault.

Shares in Kering, which also owns Gucci, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta, rose ahead of his appointment as investors bet he could slash burgeoning debt and revive sales at the group.

But since the start of the year they are down 28 percent despite signs of improvement at the flagship Gucci house under its highly rated new creative director, Demna.

Pressure

The entire luxury fashion industry is suffering from a downturn in global sales linked to weaker demand from China and concerns about the world economy, heaping pressure on designers.

On Monday, Kering's crosstown rival LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton and Dior among others, reported a five percent fall in sales at its fashion labels in the third quarter.

De Meo initially explored selling McQueen after arriving in the job, before opting to slash costs through job cuts and shop closures.

"The problem of McQueen is that it had relied on streetwear and sneakers for its growth, while now sneakers and streetwear are yesterday's story," Luca Solca, a luxury goods analyst at the brokerage Bernstein, told AFP.

"The consensus on the recently ousted McQueen designer was that he wasn't really producing a positive impact," he said.

Annual sales at the brand, founded by the late British fashion icon Alexander McQueen, have fallen to below 200 million euros from a peak of 800 million in the post-Covid boom years, Bernstein estimates.

McGirr follows longtime Saint Laurent designer Anthony Vaccarello out of Kering's doors after the widely acclaimed Belgian left the French label last week after a decade in charge.

There are also persistent industry rumours that Balenciaga designer Pierpaolo Piccioli might also be heading for the exit, less than 18 months after the former Valentino designer was appointed.

"There is a lot on creative directors' shoulders these days, as brands strive to grow again after a significant reset," Solca said.

Strict global regulations and enforcement actions have moved from a future concern to an immediate business reality. How large are the gaps between regulatory expectations and the fashion industry's current operational readiness? Supply chain solutions provider TrusTrace surveyed 57 insiders of fashion, apparel and footwear brands from 24 countries and compiled the findings in the report, “The Enforcement Era: Fashion's Compliance Readiness in Numbers”.

US-based apparel and e-commerce business Digital Brands Group (DBG) has appointed Todd Kucinski as vice president of strategic partnerships for sports and entertainment. The newly created leadership role focuses on expanding sports, entertainment, licensing and brand partnership opportunities across the university portfolio of its brand Avo.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Türkiye rose 13.16 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), down from 16.48 percent in July. Headline consumer price inflation eased to 31.51 percent from 31.75 percent, so clothing and footwear inflation ran 18.35 percentage points below the headline rate and was the lowest of the 13 main expenditure groups. On the month, clothing and footwear prices fell 3.54 percent, while the overall index rose 1.84 percent.

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Poland fell 2.9 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to Poland's national statistics office GUS, after a 3.6 percent decline in July. Headline consumer price inflation rose to 3.4 percent from 3.0 percent, so clothing and footwear prices ran 6.3 percentage points below the headline rate and recorded the largest annual decline among the 13 main expenditure groups. On the month, clothing and footwear prices fell 0.7 percent, while overall consumer prices rose 0.3 percent.

Brunello Cucinelli's results for the first nine months of the year have led the company to further revise its 2026 estimates upwards. The forecast has been raised from an expected +10-11 percent to a projected revenue growth of +12 percent at constant exchange rates.

After Anthony Vaccarello’s departure from Saint Laurent last week, fashion’s next round of creative upheaval has arrived with unusual speed. On Thursday, Calvin Klein confirmed that Veronica Leoni will leave Calvin Klein Collection when her current contract ends, while Kering announced that Seán McGirr is departing McQueen after three years as creative director.

Calvin Klein resets again

WWD was first to report Leoni’s exit, publishing the news shortly before Calvin Klein confirmed that she and the brand would part ways at the end of her contract.

Leoni was appointed creative director of the revived Calvin Klein Collection in May 2024 and presented her first collection in New York in February 2025. Her departure comes after four seasons, closing a brief but closely watched attempt to restore prestige and runway relevance to the American house.

Calvin Klein said a new creative leadership structure for Collection would be revealed “in due course.” The company has not named a successor.

McQueen makes another change

At McQueen, Seán McGirr’s departure was confirmed by Kering on Thursday. He had joined the house in October 2023, succeeding Sarah Burton after her 26-year tenure, and showed his first collection in March 2024.

McGirr’s exit follows his first London runway show for the house in September, a homecoming that was framed as a reset for the brand under chief executive Gianfranco D’Attis. McQueen said it will announce new creative leadership soon.

A new reshuffle season

Vaccarello’s departure from Saint Laurent was announced by Kering on October 9, ending his 10-year tenure at the house. The company said at the time that his successor would be named shortly, though no appointment had been confirmed as of Thursday.

The sequence has revived memories of 2025’s great designer reshuffle, when more than 20 leading brands changed creative hands and 16 designers debuted at 15 houses during the September 2025 shows.

Patricia Nash Designs has promoted Jennifer Vanderink to president, the Knoxville, Tennessee-based accessories brand announced on Wednesday. Founder Patricia Nash remains chief executive officer.

Vanderink, Nash’s daughter, previously served as vice president of operations and strategy. In her expanded role, she will remain involved in the logistical, legal and commercial sides of the business, with an added focus on the company’s operational and business ventures. Nash will continue to lead the brand’s strategy, growth and financial health, and stay hands-on with creative direction and design.

“My mother has always had a rare combination of creative vision and real business instinct, and she has methodically and very transparently shared with me all the lessons and experiences she has amassed in business over the years,” said Vanderink in a statement. “I am extremely honored that she has put this trust in me to carry her legacy forward, and I do feel an added sense of responsibility to work harder than ever to protect and grow what she has built.”

The appointment comes as the family-owned brand plans further growth, including rebuilding its footwear business, reaching new audiences and expanding its design team. Vanderink will focus on reaching more women, strengthening relationships with customers, vendors, retail partners and employees, and growing the brand’s philanthropic efforts, including increased support for breast cancer organisation Susan G. Komen.

The company is also preparing its first major brand collaboration, with Paddington, set for spring 2027. “It’s a huge undertaking for us, and we’re bringing it to life with our retail partners through in-store experiences, activations and pop-in shops,” said Vanderink.

Founded 16 years ago, Patricia Nash Designs is sold in thousands of stores across the US. The brand focuses on quality materials and construction at affordable price points.

Bruno Pavlovsky has resigned from the board of directors of Chanel Limited. The executive will, however, retain his key operational roles as president of the house's fashion activities and president of Chanel SAS, the house confirmed to FashionUnited.

Governance overhaul

This decision is part of a broader strategy to overhaul the company's governance. The house of Chanel clarified the objective of this restructuring: “This latest development marks the completion of the Board's transformation towards a composition of independent directors, bringing a diversity of expertise and external perspectives, while maintaining management representation through Alain Wertheimer as global executive chairman and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer.”

The 63-year-old Bruno Pavlovsky is the last of a generation of long-standing senior executives to remain in his position following the arrival of Leena Nair as global chief executive officer in 2021. His withdrawal from the board represents the latest development in a succession plan established five years ago by the Wertheimer family, who own Chanel.

As WWD notes, under the leadership of Leena Nair, the company has seen the departure of several industry veterans, including John Galantic, who served as president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc. from 2006 until 2023.

Beyond the house of Chanel, Bruno Pavlovsky also plays an important role in the French fashion sector, having held the position of president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) since 2022. He also serves as an independent director for the Accor group, a major player in the hotel industry.

In terms of performance, the house of Chanel returned to growth in 2025, driven by demand in Europe and the Americas. The company reported revenue of 19.3 billion dollars (up 3 percent, and up 1.8 percent on a like-for-like basis and at constant exchange rates).

FashionUnited's South African job board includes fashion vacancies from across the country, from buying, planning and marketing roles at retail head offices in Durban and Cape Town to pattern-making and production jobs in Cape Town's clothing factories, and store roles in malls nationwide. Whether you want to work in a buying office, on a factory floor, or in one of the country's big retail chains, this is where South Africa's fashion openings sit in one place.

See all fashion jobs in South Africa →, or explore the brands hiring now.

What fashion jobs are in demand in South Africa?

South African fashion is run by a handful of large domestic retail groups that increasingly make what they sell close to home, so openings cluster around retail operations and the supply chain behind them:

• Store management & sales: sales associates, store managers, supervisors and seasonal staff.
• Buying & merchandise planning: trainee buyers, buyer's assistants, planners, allocators and buying managers.
• Local sourcing & production: machinists, sample machinists, production supervisors and quality technologists, as retailers move orders to local factories under the R-CTFL Masterplan.
• Design & product development: pattern makers, junior designers, R&D and prototype roles.
• Visual merchandising: in-store and field visual merchandisers.
• Marketing & content: brand managers, social media coordinators, copywriters and photographers.
• E-commerce: e-commerce marketing, content and buying administration as retailers grow their online stores.

Where are the fashion jobs in South Africa?

Cape Town has the most head-office and manufacturing jobs: the Western Cape is home to TFG and several of the country's largest retailers, plus the clothing factories of Epping and Maitland. Durban is the second hub, as base of Mr Price Group and a long-standing garment-making region. Johannesburg carries the Gauteng head offices of international sportswear brands. Pick your city and jump straight to its listings:

Cape Town · Durban · Johannesburg · Pretoria · Bloemfontein · Gqeberha

Who is hiring in fashion in South Africa?

International brands recruit for their South African stores and regional teams. Employers recruiting through the board include adidas, for store management, sales and visual merchandising roles in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and Nike, for brand marketing and store roles from Johannesburg to Durban.

The bigger employers are domestic. TFG hires across its chains, including Jet, Markham, Sportscene, Totalsports, Fabiani, Sterns and American Swiss. Mr Price Group recruits at its Durban headquarters for buying, planning, marketing and creative roles, and in stores for Mr Price, Power Fashion, Miladys and Sheet Street. Pepkor, Woolworths and Truworths are also major fashion employers, while Superbalist and Takealot hire for online retail. On the supply side, TFG's own manufacturer, Prestige Clothing, recruits machinists, mechanics and production supervisors in Cape Town and Durban.

See all the brands hiring now →

Why South Africa hires

South Africa's edge is retail scale with factories nearby. A few domestic groups dominate the market, and since the R-CTFL Masterplan was signed in 2019, they have been shifting orders to local manufacturers. Local retailer orders rose from 250 million units in 2019 to 389 million in 2024, 34 percent of sourcing among Masterplan signatories, against a target of 65 percent by 2030 (Localisation Support Fund).

Much basic garment production moved to Asia in the 2000s, and what is coming back is different work. Retailers source locally for speed, so the factories that win orders are quick-response operations that need production supervisors, quality technologists and sample machinists. At head office, short lead times put planners, allocators and merchandisers at the centre of the business, which is why those skilled, better-paid roles appear alongside store jobs on the board.

Can you get a fashion job in South Africa?

English is the working language almost everywhere, so the real split is by residency, not language:

• Roles for South African citizens and residents. Most store, factory and head-office vacancies are filled locally, and employers' employment equity plans shape who they hire. Graduate programmes and trainee buyer and planner roles are the usual entry route.
• Specialist roles for international applicants. Senior buying, brand marketing, technical and digital roles at international brands and large groups are the most realistic openings if you are applying from abroad.

Applying from abroad? You need a work visa from the Department of Home Affairs, usually a general work visa sponsored by your employer or a critical skills work visa if your occupation is on the official list.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak a language other than English to work in fashion in South Africa? No. English is the working language, though Afrikaans, isiZulu or isiXhosa help in some customer-facing roles.

Which city has the most fashion vacancies? Cape Town, followed by Durban and Johannesburg.

Can I apply from outside South Africa? Yes, but you need a work visa from the Department of Home Affairs.

What fashion roles are most in demand? Store management and sales, buying and merchandise planning, local production and quality, visual merchandising, marketing and e-commerce.

Is fashion manufacturing growing in South Africa? Yes. Retailers are moving orders to local factories under the R-CTFL Masterplan, which drives hiring for production and quality roles.

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Canadian womenswear brand Smythe has appointed Ana Mihaljevic as chief executive officer, the Toronto-based company announced on October 14, 2026.

Mihaljevic will oversee operations and growth strategy, while co-founders and designers Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe continue to lead creative direction and product. The appointment creates an all-female leadership team at the independent label, which is preparing for further expansion across North America.

"Her leadership enables us to deepen our focus on creative vision and product, while the three of us work together to build operational excellence and infrastructure for growth," said Lenczner and Smythe in a joint statement.

From blazers to a full wardrobe

Smythe was founded in 2004 with a focus on women's blazers and has since broadened into a full ready-to-wear offer. The brand built its business on wholesale before launching e-commerce in 2017.

It opened its first standalone store in Toronto in 2022, followed by a second in Calgary in 2024. According to the company, annual new-customer acquisition through its online channel grew more than fivefold between 2021 and 2025.

A further Toronto store is scheduled to open in early 2027, and the brand is also preparing a refresh of its digital offer.

Background in premium consumer brands

The company says Mihaljevic has experience leading and scaling premium consumer brands, with a focus on building teams and operational capabilities. She is also a longtime customer of the label.

"Working alongside Christie and Andrea, we will build on that foundation, grow Smythe with purpose and reach more women," Mihaljevic said.

Interview

Consumer prices (August)

Clothing and footwear prices in Bangladesh rose 9.94 percent year-on-year in August 2026, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), up from 9.75 percent in July. Headline consumer price inflation eased to 8.26 percent from 8.32 percent, so clothing inflation ran 1.68 percentage points above the headline rate. On the month, clothing and footwear prices rose 1.71 percent.

US off-price retailer Ross Stores has opened 51 new stores across 17 states during September and October, bringing its total openings for fiscal 2026 to 115 and completing its store growth plan for the year.

At the beginning of August, FashionUnited speculated what kind of consequences the European Union’s abolishment of the duty-free exemption for low-value packages may have. The replacement with a transitional flat-rate customs handling fee per tariff classification line resulted in parcel volumes dropping overnight while bulk inventory movement surged. This means that ultra-fast retail platforms have merely shifted their volumes from individual parcels to bulk warehouse stock. For the European supply chain, this means adapting to a permanent baseline of regionalised, high-density distribution.

Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has launched a fashion advisory board featuring designers behind Collina Strada, Luar and Brandon Blackwood, as it expands support for independent fashion creators through its one million dollar Culture Fund.

Spanish fashion giant Mango has promoted Marlies Hersbach. The current chief online and customer officer, who is also a member of the executive committee, will take on the position of chief people officer from January 2027, the Spanish company announced on Wednesday. In this role, she will report directly to CEO Toni Ruiz and will be responsible for the entire human resources department.

“With Marlies Hersbach at the helm of our human resources department, we aim to align our corporate culture and values even more closely with our business strategy and the needs of our company,” said Ruiz. “This also underscores our ambition to further develop Mango as an international company. Her appointment also represents something that is particularly important to us: promoting internal talent and further empowering women in leadership positions.”

Hersbach's predecessor, David Payeras, will leave the company in January 2027 to pursue new professional challenges. He will ensure a smooth transition with his successor over the coming months, the statement said.

With Hersbach, Mango is promoting a manager from within its own ranks. Before joining the Spanish company in 2020, the Dutch national worked for French companies such as Kiabi and Pimkie. She started at Mango in 2020 as international retail director. In 2024, she took on the role of e-commerce executive director before being appointed chief online and customer officer and joining the executive board in July 2025.

“Taking on responsibility for the human resources department is a new and exciting challenge for me, which I am very much looking forward to,” said the designated chief people officer. “In my previous roles at Mango, I have repeatedly experienced that it is the people who make the difference: our teams, their collaboration, and our shared corporate culture. I want to build on that.”

Creative agency collective Platform6 announced on Wednesday the acquisition of Without Production, a Milan-based company specialising in the design and production of fashion shows. Platform6, which already operated in the luxury events sector through its entities Marcadé and Superbien (an agency specialising in the creation of moving images), now adds fashion show management to its expertise. Through this transaction, the group expands its geographical reach, building on its presence in Paris, New York, Shanghai, Dubai, Monaco and now Milan.

TFG London, owner of Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight, and Swedish fashion retailer H&M Group are investigating separate cyber security incidents, adding to growing concerns over attacks targeting the fashion industry ahead of the peak trading season.

US-based supply chain group Reshoring Textiles has completed the acquisition of American yarn manufacturer Sans Technical Fibers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

CTR Group, the owner of fashion rental platform Hirestreet and resale marketplace Thrift+, has launched Zoa Group, bringing together its circular retail businesses under one umbrella to help brands recover value from unsold stock.

Joe Browns chief executive officer Dawn Bannerman has stepped down from the fashion and homeware retailer with immediate effect, with her departure confirmed in a Companies House filing.

Bannerman, who was appointed CEO in February 2024, is leaving to “take up a new opportunity”, according to a statement shared by the company to the media, including Drapers. The search for her successor is underway, with the executive team assuming her responsibilities on an interim basis and reporting to the board.

During her tenure, Bannerman oversaw a period of customer growth and investment in the retailer’s digital capabilities. Joe Browns also expanded its offer through the launch of plus-size clothing and advanced its use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data.

“I am proud to be leaving the business in a strong position and with a clear platform for its next chapter,” Bannerman told the media. She added that she had valued working with the team and was grateful for her time at the business.

Joe Browns chair Michael Truluck added: “Dawn has led Joe Browns through an important period of change, broadening our range with the launch of plus size and growing our customer base. She leaves the business well positioned for its next chapter, and she goes with our thanks and very best wishes.”

The Spanish children's footwear company Pablosky will no longer feature identifiable children's faces in its campaigns, proprietary channels and brand materials. The company, headquartered with its factory in Toledo, attributes this decision to the undeniable impact that social media and artificial intelligence have on the potential use of images of minors.

Canadian apparel retailer Roots Corporation (Roots) has announced that its shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of a special resolution approving its plan of arrangement with US brand management firm Marquee Brands.

Finnish lifestyle design house Marimekko’s chief technology officer and member of the management group Mikki Inkeroinen will step down from his position as of October 14, 2026. The termination of his employment has been agreed by mutual consent.

US-based online retail group Revolve Group has expanded its partnership with model and media personality Kendall Jenner, elevating her to global creative director of luxury e-commerce platform Fwrd and naming her an ambassador for Revolve Los Angeles.

A collective of 10 polyester filament manufacturers in North and Central America has launched YarnProof, a supply chain physical verification technology powered by material authentication firm FibreTrace Technologies Limited.