Consumer prices (August)

UK headline inflation on the consumer price index (CPI) rose to 3.1 percent year-on-year in August 2026 from 2.9 percent in July, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Transport made the largest contribution to the annual rate, with motor fuel prices 23.0 percent higher YoY, while core CPI, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, held at 2.6 percent. Headline inflation is 1.1 percentage points above the 2 percent inflation target of the Bank of England (BoE).

Consumer prices (August)

US headline inflation held at 3.4 percent year-on-year in August 2026, the same rate as in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Energy prices were 16.3 percent higher YoY, while core prices excluding food and energy rose 2.4 percent. On a seasonally adjusted basis, consumer prices rose 0.4 percent from July.

Consumer prices (August)

Dutch headline inflation on the national consumer price index (CPI) rose to plus 3.3 percent year-on-year in August 2026, up from plus 3.2 percent in July, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). CBS attributed the rise mainly to the prices of goods and services Dutch consumers buy abroad, which were 7.4 percent higher YoY. Clothing and footwear prices rose 1.1 percent YoY on the national CPI, up from 0.2 percent in July and below headline inflation.

Consumer prices (August)

German headline inflation on the national consumer price index (CPI) rose to plus 2.9 percent year-on-year in August 2026, up from plus 2.8 percent in July, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Destatis named higher energy prices as the primary driver, with motor fuel prices 27.7 percent higher YoY. Clothing and footwear prices rose 0.4 percent YoY on the national CPI after a 1.0 percent decline in July, narrowing the gap to headline inflation from 3.8 to 2.5 percentage points.

British luxury fashion house Burberry has appointed former Superdry director of global technology Dafydd Moore as its vice president of business technology.

As circularity becomes a regulatory requirement, strategy consulting firm Kearney identifies four levers for integrating it into brands' business models.

US outdoor footwear brand Merrell and Sundance Collab, the digital learning platform for filmmakers created by US non-profit organization Sundance Institute, have announced a three-year global storytelling partnership. The collaboration brings the brand platform of Merrell, titled 'It Starts Outside', to life through social-first films created by international directors.

US sportswear giant Nike has announced its financial results for the first quarter ended August 31, 2026, reporting a revenue decline alongside lower net income.

CEO Interview Tommy Bahama sells camp shirts. It also sells beach chairs, furniture, rum, Airstream RVs, restaurant meals and, since 2023, hotel rooms in Indian Wells. Doug Wood, who joined as chief operating officer in 2001 and was named chief executive officer in 2015, says almost all of it came from the same signal: customers asking for more than the clothes.

London - Former supermodel Naomi Campbell won a legal challenge on Thursday to overturn a five-year ban on being a charity trustee after a panel accepted she had been the victim of deception.

A UK tribunal ruling said there had been mismanagement at her Fashion for Relief organisation but she "was not involved" and "did not know" about it.

The ruling said Campbell, 56, shared responsibility for the charity failing to file its accounts on time but that this did not mean she was unfit to be a charity trustee in the circumstances of the case, "including the sustained deception" she faced.

Lawyers for Campbell told the tribunal a fake email account had been used to impersonate the former supermodel.

The Charity Commission watchdog banned Campbell in 2024 from running a charity for five years after identifying "multiple instances of misconduct". Campbell labelled the finding "deeply flawed".

Reacting to the ruling, the Charity Commission said its disqualification of Campbell had been made on the "evidence available to us at the time".

It said the ruling recognised that the commission, Campbell and others had been "subject to sophisticated deception".

Campbell founded the charity in 2005, aiming to harness the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education, by making grants to other organisations and giving resources towards global disasters.

It was dissolved and removed from the register of charities in 2024.

US sportswear giant Nike has appointed Alika Nileshwar as director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) marketplace strategy.

Stüssy has selected Finnish retail planning software company Relex Solutions to connect its forecasting, replenishment and merchandise financial planning across its global operations.

FashionUnited's AE job board includes fashion vacancies from across the Emirates, from buying, brand management and e-commerce roles in Dubai to distribution and retail-operations jobs in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Whether you want to work for a global luxury house's regional office, a homegrown retail group, or an online fashion platform, this is where AE's fashion openings sit in one place.

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

What fashion jobs are in demand in AE?

AE's fashion sector runs on distribution, retail and digital rather than production, so today's openings cluster around a handful of functions:

• Buying & merchandising: buyer, planner and category manager roles at multi-brand retail groups.
• Retail management & in-store: store manager, area manager and visual merchandising roles at mall-based flagship stores.
• E-commerce & digital: site operations, growth marketing and CRM roles at regional fashion platforms.
• Brand management & marketing: regional marketing, PR and influencer-management roles at brand distributors.
• Nationalisation & HR: Emiratisation compliance and talent-development roles, driven by MOHRE's private-sector Emirati hiring quotas.
• Design & private label: in-house design roles for regional labels and department-store private brands.
• Logistics & supply chain: import, customs and distribution roles tied to Dubai's free-zone trade model.

Where are the fashion jobs in AE?

Fashion hiring is concentrated in Dubai, home to the region's mall-based flagship stores, brand distributors' regional headquarters and e-commerce platforms. Pick your emirate and jump straight to its listings:

Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah · Al Ain · Ras Al Khaimah

Who is hiring in fashion in AE?

AE's fashion employers are led by the regional offices of global luxury and fast-fashion groups, alongside the family-owned conglomerates that distribute and retail them. Among the international names present are Adidas, Richemont (Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc), Burberry, EssilorLuxottica, and APM, recruiting for regional buying, marketing and store-leadership roles out of Dubai.

Alongside them, AE's own retail groups do much of the region's hiring and distribution: Chalhoub Group, Al Tayer Group (Bloomingdale's, Harvey Nichols), Apparel Group and Majid Al Futtaim recruit across buying, retail operations and marketing. On the digital side, Namshi and Ounass anchor fashion e-commerce, while logistics and customs roles tied to the Jebel Ali Free Zone support the wider import and re-export trade.

See all the brands hiring now →

Why AE hires

Retail is Dubai's single largest economic sector, generating roughly a quarter of the emirate's GDP, more than any other industry (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism). Fashion sits at the top of that trade: Dubai Mall's Fashion Avenue now ranks as the 11th most expensive retail location in the world, ahead of most European high streets (Cushman & Wakefield, Main Streets Across the World).

Almost none of this runs on domestic manufacturing. Garments arrive through Dubai's ports and free zones, largely for onward retail or re-export, so the jobs that matter are the ones around the product rather than on the factory floor: buying, brand management, store leadership, e-commerce and, increasingly, the Emiratisation-linked HR roles that come with hiring a growing share of Emirati nationals into that same retail sector.

Can you get a fashion job in AE?

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

• Free-zone and regional HQ roles. Brand distributors and e-commerce platforms based in free zones such as Dubai Design District (d3) and DMCC operate in English and recruit internationally for buying, marketing and digital roles.

• Mainland retail roles. Store-based positions at malls such as Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are sponsored by the retail group itself, and increasingly weigh Emiratisation quotas alongside experience. Applying from abroad? Your employer sponsors your work visa and Emirates ID, whether mainland (through MOHRE) or free zone (through that zone's authority).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Arabic to work in fashion in AE? No. English is the working language of almost all corporate and retail fashion roles; Arabic is an advantage, not a requirement.

Which emirate has the most fashion vacancies? Dubai, by a wide margin. Regional headquarters, flagship stores and e-commerce teams are concentrated there.

Can I apply from outside AE? Yes. Your employer sponsors your work visa and Emirates ID after making an offer, through either MOHRE (mainland) or a free-zone authority.

What fashion roles are most in demand? Buying and merchandising, retail management, e-commerce and digital, brand marketing, and Emiratisation-linked HR roles.

Which companies hire fashion designers in AE? Chalhoub Group and Al Tayer Group's in-house private labels, plus the independent design studios based in Dubai Design District.

Start your search

Browse by city: Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Sharjah · Al Ain · Ras Al Khaimah Browse by type: Design & Creativity · Product & Supply Chain · Retail Management & In-store · Sales & Marketing · Internships See all fashion jobs in AE → | Post a job | Fashion jobs in other countries

UK footwear brand Dr. Martens has appointed Justin Lee Seungoh as its new general manager for South Korea, effective October 1, 2026.

Austrian fiber producer Lenzing has announced a fully underwritten ordinary capital increase against cash contribution with subscription rights for existing shareholders, aiming for gross proceeds of approximately 300 million euros (339 million dollars).

Interview The latest London Fashion Week edition marked the 20th anniversary of Fashion Scout, the platform led by Billie and Martyn Roberts to champion emerging designers and create opportunities for UK and international talent. Iris van Herpen, David Koma, Phoebe English and Tolu Coker are just some of the names discovered by the platform, which has supported more than 1,500 designers from over 70 countries in the last two decades.

Paris - The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has extended its contract with sportswear supplier Adidas until 2036, the two organisations announced to the newspaper L'Équipe on Wednesday.

The current contract linked the two entities until 2028 and will therefore be extended, and upgraded, for an additional eight years.

The FFR has been partnered with Adidas since 2024, after a disappointment with its former supplier, Le Coq Sportif. Adidas had notably proposed a special jersey for the 120th anniversary of the first England-France match during the 2026 Six Nations Championship.

Facing significant financial difficulties after the 2023 World Cup held in France, the FFR has since found some breathing room through the renewal and acquisition of partnerships and an increase in ticket revenue.

US denim company Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) has appointed John Vandemore as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective November 1, 2026.

San Francisco-based sustainable footwear and accessories brand Rothy’s has named Jenna Renfrew as its chief product and merchandising officer. The appointment strengthens the senior leadership team as the company continues to invest in the product and commercial engine behind its next phase of growth.

Roger Lynch is stepping down as chief executive officer of Condé Nast after seven and a half years to become CEO of Mattel, bringing to an end a tenure that saw the global media company return to profitability and undergo a major structural transformation.

In a statement issued via the company's site, Lynch said he would remain on Condé Nast's board, while Mike Perlis, the company’s lead independent director, will serve as interim CEO. The board will begin a search for Lynch’s permanent successor, with Perlis to work alongside the existing executive leadership team during the transition.

Lynch added that he had joined Condé Nast with the ambition of leaving the business “stronger than I found it”, before going on to highlight the merger of its US and international operations into a unified company, alongside growth in its consumer, commerce, subscription and events businesses.

Since 2020, Condé Nast’s commerce revenue has grown 170 percent, digital subscriptions have increased 155 percent and US tentpole events have increased ninefold, according to Lynch. He also pointed to the launch of the company’s Middle East operations in Dubai, its first new office in 16 years.

“As we close the third quarter, the company is on track for another year of revenue and profit growth,” Lynch said, pointing to new digital initiatives including Vette and events such as Vogue World as future growth drivers.

Lynch joined Condé Nast in 2019 after serving as CEO of Pandora and founding CEO of Sling TV. He subsequently oversaw the integration of the company’s US and international businesses and promoted Vogue editor Anna Wintour to global chief content officer. Condé Nast also introduced global editorial leadership across brands including Vogue, GQ, Architectural Digest and Condé Nast Traveller, while expanding its video and ecommerce businesses.

During his tenure, Condé Nast also faced labour disputes, with more than 400 unionised employees staging a 24-hour walkout in January 2024 following proposed layoffs and contract negotiations. The Condé Nast Union later threatened to disrupt the Met Gala, before a first contract agreement was reached hours before the May 2024 event.

The agreement established a 61,500 dollars starting salary floor, 3.3 million to 3.6 million dollars in wage increases, expanded parental leave and additional job protections. In May 2026, Condé Nast also agreed to pay more than 400,000 dollars to settle a case involving three journalists dismissed after confronting the company’s chief people officer over layoffs.

US-based sustainability non-profit Textile Exchange has named Véronique Tjon as senior director of assurance and traceability. The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the organisation as it prepares for the Materials Matter effective date on December 31, 2026.

Tjon brings more than 16 years of experience across certification, assurance and global textile supply chains. In her new role, she will help strengthen the systems that underpin trust, transparency and accountability across the industry's transition to more sustainable materials.

Speaking on her appointment, Tjon said: “This is an exciting time to join Textile Exchange as the organization evolves toward Materials Matter. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen our assurance system and build on our commitment to bringing greater transparency and integrity to a complex value chain, while helping give producers, brands, suppliers, and consumers greater confidence in Materials Matter.”

The goal of Textile Exchange is to help the industry achieve a 45 percent reduction in the emissions that come from producing fibers and raw materials by 2030.

Marketing is one of the most common titles on any fashion job board, but it covers a much wider range of work than the title alone suggests. A scan of current openings shows it splitting into distinct specialisms, each with its own daily rhythm and its own way of being measured.

Browse all current marketing openings on FashionUnited.

Brand and campaign marketing: the classic route

The role most people picture when they hear marketing is brand or campaign marketing: building the story behind a collection or product launch and making sure it lands consistently across every channel it touches. It's rarely a solo effort. Current openings describe close, constant collaboration with product, communications and marketplace teams, since a campaign only works if it lines up with what's actually available in stores or online at the same time. At the more senior end, this widens into brand strategy itself, deciding how a brand should be positioned in a given market rather than just executing the campaign that follows.

Digital and performance marketing

A large share of what's open right now sits on a more technical, channel-specific side of the job instead. This covers running paid campaigns across platforms like Google and Meta, building automated flows across email, SMS and app push, abandoned cart reminders and personalised product recommendations are common examples, and testing variations of a campaign to see what actually performs best. Where brand marketing is judged on perception, this side is judged on harder numbers: click-through rate, conversion and the cost of winning a new customer. It calls for a more analytical skill set, and these roles tend to ask for specific platform experience rather than a creative portfolio.

PR, communications and content marketing

Another cluster of roles sits closer to the written and spoken side of the job: media relations, press materials, and the ongoing flow of content, social posts, articles, video, that supports a brand's wider marketing effort. This work overlaps with brand marketing in what it's trying to achieve, shaping how a brand is talked about, but it's judged more on coverage and reach than on the sales-driven metrics that come with performance marketing, and it tends to sit closer to a brand's communications team than to its digital or e-commerce side.

Category and sponsorship marketing

This shows up most visibly in sports and performance categories, where a role is built around managing the marketing plan for one category, and, in some cases, scouting and securing sponsorship or athlete partnerships to support it. It's a more specialised track that blends marketing with elements of partnerships and talent relations, and it tends to sit inside larger, multi-brand organisations with enough scale to support a dedicated category team.

Loyalty and retention marketing

Not every marketing role is about winning new customers in the first place. Several current openings focus specifically on loyalty programmes and retention, keeping existing customers engaged rather than spending purely on acquisition. This work sits closer to customer relationship management than to campaign marketing, and at a senior level it's often paired with online marketing more broadly, reflecting how loyalty data increasingly shapes what a brand's wider digital marketing looks like.

One ladder, several starting points

Whichever of these specialisms a role sits in, the title still scales in familiar steps: an executive or assistant-level role supports delivery, a manager owns a channel or category outright, and a senior manager, lead or head sets the strategy behind it. Above manager level, seniority is defined more by scope than by a single top job, with head of marketing roles typically tied to one retail brand within a larger group, and senior or leadership roles often scoped to a specific product line and geography together, rather than a single global mandate.

Marketing also has an unusually wide entry point at the bottom of that ladder. Internships, graduate placements and open talent pools appear regularly across nearly every specialism above, making it one of the more accessible ways into fashion for someone without prior industry experience.

A story on one side, a number on the other

What ties these specialisms together, despite how differently they're measured, is that every one of them exists to connect a brand's story to a commercial result, whether that shows up as a campaign that shifts perception or a flow of emails that recovers lost sales. Across the board, close collaboration with other teams comes up as a constant, whatever the specialism. For jobseekers, the practical takeaway is that "marketing" isn't one career path. The specialism picked early on shapes the skills developed and the direction a career actually takes, more than seniority alone does. Current openings across all of these specialisms can be found on FashionUnited's marketing jobs page.

Madrid – On the evening of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, one of the most anticipated moments of the French president's two-day state visit to Spain took place. A gala dinner was held at the Royal Palace in Madrid, hosted by the King and Queen of Spain in honour of Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron. Just a few hours after its conclusion, a great deal has already been written and commented on about the event. The evening's co-stars were none other than the French multinational holding company LVMH and the Spanish fashion and beauty multinational, the Puig group.

Interview Dean Davidson, founder of the eponymous Toronto-based jewellery brand, is setting his sights on international growth, guided by lessons learned far from the design studio on the Canadian farmland where he grew up.

US fashion giant Revolve Group has invested 15 million Canadian dollars for a minority stake in Toronto-based activewear brand 437, according to WWD.

The presence of a consortium involved in the revival project for the Aeffe Group has been confirmed at Italy's Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), as part of the negotiated crisis settlement procedure. The luxury company, headquartered in San Giovanni in Marignano in the province of Rimini, owns historic brands such as Alberta Ferretti, Moschino and Pollini.

Interview

A project between Spanish hydroponic farming company Magtech and H&M Group’s Circular Innovation Lab is testing if cotton can be grown without soil using a closed water system and AI-powered monitoring.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has reportedly appointed Hildy Kuryk as interim chief executive officer following the resignation of Steven Kolb, according to Vogue Business.

Kuryk will hold the position on a temporary contract while the organisation searches for a permanent successor. The CFDA has assigned Karen Harvey Consulting Group to lead the search, which is expected to take three to six months.

In a statement to the media outlet, CFDA board chairman Thom Browne said: “As we begin the search for CFDA’s next CEO, the board is focused on identifying a leader who can guide the organisation into its next chapter. We are grateful to Hildy Kuryk for providing steady interim leadership and a strong connection between the board and staff during this period.”

Kuryk previously served as Vogue’s executive director of communications from 2013 to 2017, working directly with Anna Wintour. She then went on to co-found communications consultancy Artemis Strategies in 2017 and has since worked with clients including Condé Nast, Nordstrom and The Met. She will continue in her role at Artemis while serving as interim CEO.

Her appointment follows Kolb’s resignation from the helm on September 18, after he was placed on leave following an altercation with PETA protesters at the Cos show during New York Fashion Week on September 13.

Footage circulated online showed Kolb physically restraining protesters who had entered the runway carrying placards objecting to the use of wool by Cos, which is owned by H&M Group. Kolb later responded to criticism stating that he had “reacted inappropriately” and should have left the situation to security.

Kolb had led the CFDA for 15 years as CEO and had been with the organisation since 2006. During his tenure, the organisation expanded its programmes and partnerships, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and CFDA Fashion Awards, while supporting American designers and New York Fashion Week.

After the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on September 25, both countries released on Monday reciprocal lists of nonsensitive products that will see tariff cuts. The lists include items worth about 30 billion dollars each, prioritizing agricultural commodities, hair and personal care products, and medical equipment, among others. The agreement, set to help strengthen trade cooperation between the world's two largest economies, does not extend tariff relief to the fashion industry.

UK circular economy and reverse logistics firm CTR Group has acquired fashion rental platform Hirestreet, bringing the rental and resale businesses together under one owner as it looks to scale subscription fashion rental nationally.

US Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), founder and chair of the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus, has introduced the Textile Waste Reduction Act (TWRA), legislation aimed at creating the first coordinated federal framework for reducing textile waste and advancing circularity in the US textile industry.

Adidas has signed Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles, the newly named WNBA Rookie of the Year, to its basketball roster.

Miles joins a line-up of Adidas women's basketball athletes that includes Kelsey Plum, Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray, the company announced on September 28, 2026. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Miles ranked in the WNBA's top 10 for points and assists per game in her first professional season and set a new rookie scoring record on her way to being unanimously named Rookie of the Year. Sshe was also selected as an All-Star starter and helped the Lynx to the most wins in the league.

Miles was among the first athletes to wear the "Crazy Energy" basketball shoe this season and will wear the "Anthony Edwards 3" during the WNBA playoffs. As part of the partnership, she will have access to Adidas' full range of signature basketball products.

"I am excited to join the Adidas Basketball family, because I've watched this brand commit to women's basketball in a way that felt real," Miles said. "Adidas understands that this is about more than a brand deal — it's about building a future for this sport where the next generation of women has even more room to be themselves."

Candace Parker, president of Adidas Women's Basketball, said: "Olivia is a rare talent, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Adidas Basketball family. As just a rookie, she's already making waves in the league and I'm excited to watch her chase a championship."

Part of wider women's basketball push

The signing forms part of Adidas' ongoing investment in women's basketball. The company said its relationship with Miles developed as she progressed from prospect to professional, which it links to its support for youth basketball participation.

After the WNBA season, Miles will play in Unrivaled, the league for which Adidas is now the exclusive uniform and apparel partner.

This article was written with the assistance of AI.

US-based apparel technology firm Unspun, the developer of OneWeave 3D weaving technology, has appointed Deborah Palmer Keiser as chief operating officer and Michael Rabin as chief commercial officer.

Keiser brings over three decades of operational and supply chain experience across consumer brands including Gap, Victoria's Secret, Williams-Sonoma, AllSaints, Yeezy and Boardriders. At Williams-Sonoma, she assisted in establishing the brand portfolio across 16 countries. In her subsequent role as global chief operating officer of Boardriders, she managed end-to-end planning, sourcing, logistics and distribution operations. At Unspun, Keiser will oversee operational functions as the business transitions OneWeave into commercial deployment.

Rabin adds 15 years of experience in textile machinery, automation and apparel manufacturing. He previously served as sales director of the Americas and president of the Americas region for cutting-room technology firm Morgan Tecnica. As chief commercial officer, Rabin will lead the development of the commercial division at Unspun while driving adoption of the technology among global manufacturers and brand partners.

“Joining Unspun is an exciting opportunity to help evolve how textiles and clothing are manufactured,” said Keiser. “For generations we have replicated and scaled the same methodologies exacerbating issues of waste across supply chains. OneWeave has the potential to fundamentally challenge our beliefs and practices around responsiveness, end-to-end cost, and systemic waste, and I am thrilled to contribute my experience in scaling operations as the company moves this technology into commercial deployment.”

Rabin added: “After more than 30 years as a manufacturer and solution provider, I have never seen anything like what Unspun is doing with OneWeave. It is a genuinely differentiated technology tackling one of the apparel industry's biggest challenges, with a clear path to commercial impact.”

The additions bolster the operational and commercial infrastructure at Unspun as the company advances its automated yarn-to-product manufacturing platform.

Hong Kong – Fast fashion giant Shein saw its share price plummet by more than 11 percent during mid-day trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday. The drop followed the publication of lacklustre financial results the previous day, which were undermined by stricter regulations, particularly in Europe.

Hong Kong - Fast fashion platform Shein announced on Monday that its operating profit, or adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (adjusted EBIT), fell by 50.4 percent in the first half of this year, year-over-year.

US-based decorated apparel and headwear business L2 Brands has appointed John Fryer as its chief executive officer, effective September 28, 2026.

Fryer brings leadership experience across activewear, teamwear and collegiate channels. He most recently served as president of US-based activewear firm Unrivaled Teamwear, an entity carved out from Hanesbrands that operates Champion Teamwear, Gear for Sports and Knights Apparel. In his new role, Fryer will lead the integrated organization spanning commercial, product, supply chain and manufacturing operations as it expands across collegiate, resort and destination, golf and corporate markets.

US-based private equity firm Sentinel Capital Partners owns L2 Brands as part of its midmarket portfolio. Fryer succeeds interim co-chief executive officers Paige Wingert, who co-founded Legacy Headwear, and Evan Toporek. Both executives will support the transition before returning to their positions on the company board of directors.

“Throughout this process, we were looking for a leader who understood what makes L2 special — our people, our brands, our customers and the culture that has been built over more than three decades,” said Wingert. “John brings the leadership experience, energy and values that we believe make him the right person to lead L2 into its next chapter.”

Toporek added: “L2 has tremendous momentum and significant opportunities for continued growth. John's experience building and leading consumer businesses, combined with his focus on customers, brands and operational execution, stood out to us.”

The appointment comes as the company continues to expand its portfolio. L2 Brands currently serves its end markets through its League, Legacy, Ouray, Locale and newly acquired Wild Tribute brand portfolio.

“I am honored and excited to join L2 Brands,” said Fryer. “L2 has built an outstanding reputation based on great brands, exceptional products, deep customer relationships and, importantly, a talented and passionate team.”

US-based brand and entertainment platform Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) has announced a long-term partnership with US-based company W Heritage Supply (WHS) to design, develop and distribute Champion Pinnacle. The line represents the premium expression of sportswear, activewear, footwear and headwear for menswear and womenswear across the US and Canada.

Pepco Group expects full year revenue to exceed 4.5 billion euros (5.11 billion dollars). The UK-registered discount retailer released a pre-close trading update for the 51 weeks to September 20, 2026, ahead of its full year preliminary results scheduled for December 9, 2026.

Budget retailer Primark has signed a long-term purchase agreement with textile-to-textile recycling company Circ to introduce recycled polyester made from textile waste into its clothing from 2029.

Delvaux will have a new chief executive officer from December 1. Yanina Novitskaya will take the helm of the Belgian luxury brand, which has been part of Richemont since 2021. The appointment was announced via the Swiss luxury group's press page. Novitskaya succeeds Jean-Marc Loubier and will report to Philippe Fortunato, CEO of Richemont's Fashion & Accessories Maisons.

Novitskaya worked at Cartier for 19 years, where she eventually became CEO of Cartier South East Asia & Oceania. She graduated from the Moscow State University of Design and Technologies.

The appointment comes a few months after Richemont wrote off over 100 million euros of Delvaux's debt. The debt was converted into shares, which strengthened the Belgian brand's financial position. Richemont had previously provided Delvaux with a 90 million euro loan in 2022.

Fortunato called Novitskaya's knowledge of the luxury sector important for Delvaux's next phase. He referred to further strengthening its positioning and stimulating international growth.

Delvaux was founded in Brussels in 1829 and is considered the oldest luxury leather goods house in the world. The brand has 50 stores worldwide and manufactures its leather goods in workshops in Belgium and France.

Fashion group Hugo Boss, which is facing a potential takeover, is replacing its chief financial officer. The current incumbent, Yves Müller, is leaving the executive board at his own request and for personal reasons, the SDax-listed group announced in Metzingen on Monday.

Ivica Maric will take over as his successor for the finance department and responsibility for operations as chief operations officer (COO) on October 1. Maric has previously worked in managing day-to-day business. Michael Murray from major shareholder Frasers Group, who was appointed chairman of the supervisory board just under two weeks ago, thanked Müller in the statement and referred to Maric's extensive experience.

Frasers Group continues to seek a majority stake

The British Frasers Group recently failed with a voluntary takeover bid for Hugo Boss. It has, however, significantly expanded its power in the company by appointing Murray to the top position on the supervisory board. Murray is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Frasers Group. The major shareholder had previously dropped the former head of the supervisory board, Stephan Sturm. Hugo Boss' management had not supported the takeover bid.

The British company recently held just under 48 percent of Hugo Boss and wants to increase its stake to over 50 percent. Frasers has been trying to take the helm at Hugo Boss since mid-June. The group is majority-owned by British billionaire Mike Ashley. The company's most important and well-known brand is the retail chain Sports Direct. In addition, the company holds numerous stakes, including in the online shop Asos.

On scored 16.22 million dollars in media impact value with the launch of On Football last week, according to a new report from Launchmetrics. Kylian Mbappé, who left Nike after 20 years to lead On’s football, was the brand’s top placement, with his Instagram post announcing the new partnership hitting 1.13 million dollars in MIV — MIV is a proprietary algorithm and metric developed by Launchmetrics to assign a specific monetary value to brand exposure and marketing efforts across print, online, and social media.

Australian womenswear group Cue Clothing Co has entered receivership and voluntary administration after a sale process failed to secure a buyer.

US-based fashion giant Capri Holdings could be on the market, with potential buyers understood to be circling the fashion group, according to WWD. The media outlet reported that Capri, which sold Versace to Prada in December 2025 and continues to own Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, has connected with investors possibly interested in acquiring the business.

In the legal dispute over imitations of Birkenstock sandals, the Gelderland District Court in Arnhem, the Netherlands, has ruled in favour of the footwear manufacturer. The court has prohibited the food and retail group Lidl from selling certain sandal models. According to the judges, these models infringe on the copyright-protected design of the Birkenstock footbed, Birkenstock announced on Thursday.

The UK's Maidstone Borough Council is testing whether discarded textiles can be repurposed into pothole repair material as part of a new trial with sustainable materials company Recool.

Luxury house Chanel has announced the appointment of Lucia Pieroni as creative director of makeup, a role she will assume from this September, according to a statement from the brand.

In her new role, Lucia Pieroni will work closely with the makeup creation studio. She will report directly to Simona Cattaneo, the company's president of fragrance and beauty.

Return to a single creative direction

While the position of creative director of makeup is not new at Chanel, having been held by Lucia Pica from 2015, the house had recently changed its course. In 2022, the brand partnered with a trio of emerging talents, Ammy Drammeh, Cécile Paravina and Valentina Li, to bring a collaborative approach to its cosmetics. The arrival of Pieroni therefore marks a return to a single artistic direction.

The brand's executives highlight the importance of this appointment for the evolution of the cosmetics division. Alain Wertheimer, global executive chairman, and Leena Nair, global chief executive officer, believe that the new director's expertise will bring a fresh perspective, strengthening the dynamism of the makeup segment.

Simona Cattaneo highlights Lucia Pieroni's instinct for perceiving the individuality of faces and offering an expressive cosmetic approach. “Lucia has an extraordinary instinct for beauty,” she stated.

“To be chosen to join Chanel is a great honour,” said Lucia Pieroni. “I look forward to sharing my artistic vision at a particularly exciting time in Chanel's history.” The director is referring to the momentum driven by Matthieu Blazy, Chanel's artistic director since 2025, whose collections have achieved both commercial and critical success. The makeup artist has already worked with Blazy, starting with his first fashion collection for Chanel, presented in October 2025.

Expressing her excitement, Pieroni also wrote on her Instagram account: “I am delighted to finally be able to tell you that I have been appointed makeup artistic director at Chanel.” According to the same source, she also worked for Givenchy under the direction of Sarah Burton. She also appeared in the brand's autumn/winter 2025 campaign.

A solid international career

Before joining the French house, Pieroni built a solid international career. Originally trained in painting, she integrated this artistic dimension into her approach to beauty from the beginning of her career in London. In 1995, she moved to New York where she collaborated with avant-garde artists and renowned fashion photographers.

She honed her creative direction experience between 2006 and 2019, serving as the makeup creative director for Clé de Peau Beauté, a brand owned by the Shiseido group.

According to the financial report published by the Chanel group in May 2026, fragrances and skincare were the main drivers of the Fragrance and Beauty division's performance. The company cited the success of Chance Eau Splendide, a new women's fragrance and the first in eight years. The brand has also just launched a new fragrance named Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu.

The family behind H&M is slowly increasing its stake in the Swedish fashion group, sparking speculation that it could eventually take the retailer private amid continued turnaround efforts.

British retail giants Marks & Spencer, New Look and Sainsbury’s have joined UK charity Oxfam in partnering with textile development company Circle-8 to launch The Circuit, an initiative designed to develop circular textile supply chains using clothing collected in the UK.

The US-Africa Trade Desk (USATD), alongside the governments of Mauritius, Lesotho and Kenya, has launched the Trans-Atlantic Cotton Partnership (TACP) to strengthen cotton, textile and apparel trade between the US and Africa.

Superstudio Events, a Milan-based group active in the events and production sector, is entering the US market by acquiring a majority stake in Spring Studios New York Llc, the company that manages the Tribeca venue and its events business.

This week, the board of directors of Geox, a company listed on the Euronext Milan market, approved an update to the group's 2027-2029 industrial plan. The board also approved a technical change to the execution methods for any remaining balance due from Lir srl, as part of the financial manoeuvre defined on December 30, 2024.

Lingerie brand Aubade is strengthening its management team with the appointment of Élise An as chief administrative and financial officer. As the company noted in a statement, An's arrival allows it to consolidate an all-female management team.

With over ten years of experience at international companies in the luxury, perfumery and business-to-business (B2B) sectors, she brings strong expertise in financial and operational management.

Aubade strengthens its management team to support its commercial transformation

The company's ambition is clear: to support commercial development while preserving the brand's identity, expertise and core values. Alongside the management team, the new chief administrative and financial officer will actively participate in laying the foundations needed to take the next steps in its transformation.

An's appointment comes during a major transformation phase for the company, which is part of the Swiss group Calida. At the beginning of the year, Aubade had already announced the creation of a centralised retail team under the leadership of its chief executive officer, Claire Masson. This new entity merges the retail, space management and wholesale divisions to respond more effectively to market demands.

Furthermore, An is not the only new hire at Aubade in September. Just over a week ago, the brand announced the appointment of Anne Gilbert as human resources director.

In the first six months of the 2025 financial year, the Calida Holding AG group recorded a considerable drop in its turnover (-8.6 percent). However, thanks to the sale of its Lafuma Mobilier division, which specialises in outdoor furniture, net profit is up.

Denim Deal is expanding its approach beyond making jeans circular solely through the use of recycled materials. The signing of a partnership with United Repair Centre now integrates repair into its sustainable fashion strategy.

US apparel firm Digital Brands Group (DBG) has announced significant revenue growth and improved marketing efficiency for its collegiate licensing brand, Avo.

US-based luxury golf and lifestyle brand G/Fore has appointed Scott Ruerup as chief executive officer. Ruerup reports to Scott Mahoney, chief executive officer of apparel company Peter Millar.

US fashion house Marc Jacobs has appointed John Wattiker as chief marketing officer (CMO). In his new role, Wattiker will oversee the global marketing strategy of Marc Jacobs, driving efforts to elevate brand positioning, deepen consumer engagement and broaden global market reach.

Speaking on his appointment via LinkedIn, Wattiker stated: “Very proud to join this iconic house as the team and I lean into what’s made Marc Jacobs special and singular for so long while we build for a very successful future.”

Wattiker succeeds former marketing executive Kristin Patrick and will report directly to Marc Jacobs chief executive officer, Eric Marechalle.

Strategic appointment follows ownership change

The executive hire comes shortly after French luxury conglomerate LVMH completed the sale of Marc Jacobs to US brand management firm WHP Global (WHP) and US apparel company G-III Apparel Group (G-III). Under the strategic arrangement, WHP and G-III established a 50/50 joint venture to hold the brand's intellectual property, while G-III acquires and manages global operations spanning retail, wholesale and e-commerce.

G-III chairman and chief executive officer, Morris Goldfarb, previously highlighted plans to expand the brand globally following the acquisition. Wattiker represents the first major executive marketing appointment under the new joint ownership structure.

Leadership experience spanning media and finance

Wattiker brings extensive cross-industry experience to Marc Jacobs, having spent over 13 years at US media company Hearst. Most recently, he served as vice president of fashion and luxury, leading digital-first strategy and multi-channel marketing campaigns across iconic publications including Esquire, Elle, Harper's Bazaar and Town & Country.

His prior roles at Hearst included executive sales director of fashion for Hearst Media Solutions, executive sales director for the Luxury Collection, executive director of fashion and retail for the Men's Group, and international fashion advertising director for Esquire.

Before transitioning into fashion media, Wattiker built a background in wealth management and private banking. He served as vice president and private banker at German banking group Deutsche Bank from 2012 to 2013, following over four years at financial services firm JP Morgan as an associate private banker and analyst. He began his professional career in 2005 at cultural institution Smithsonian Institution and later worked in financial services consulting at PwC.

In a statement released to the market last night, September 23, Iguatemi S.A. announced the sale of five stakes in shopping centres to the investment fund TRX Real Estate (TRXF 11). Iguatemi S.A. is one of Brazil's largest shopping centre companies. The total value of this transaction is 876.1 million reais (168.7 million dollars).

Interview

Paris, France - The Christian Dior holding company gained over 17 percent on the Paris Stock Exchange on Thursday. This follows the announcement of a proposed reorganisation of the structure that controls the global luxury giant LVMH.

Abercrombie & Fitch has signed a multi-season partnership between its activewear brand YPB and the boutique fitness chain Barry's, producing a collection of six men's styles and 12 women's styles that reaches Abercrombie.com and selected Abercrombie stores on October 1, followed by Barrys.com and 75 Barry's studios worldwide on October 15.

Four years after a reorganisation, the Arnault family group aims to simplify the structure overseeing the global luxury giant LVMH. This move is intended to “ensure the long-term stability of its control” through several operations that will result in the creation of a single entity.

Madrid – Mango has announced the promotion of Kasia Katarzyna to the position of new global retail director, along with her subsequent appointment to the company's management team. She joined the group at the beginning of the year from H&M.

Katarzyna (Kasia) Niemirowicz Majtas has an extensive background with the Swedish fashion multinational, where she held various positions for nearly 20 years. Majtas, then regional director of the H&M Group for Eastern Europe, joined Mango last May 2026 to take on the role of international retail director for the Northern Europe region. The Andic family's company valued her contribution of more than 20 years of experience in commercial leadership and international retail in key global markets. This was gained while working for the owner of direct competitors such as H&M, Cos and &Other Stories.

After only a few months with the Spanish fashion multinational, the experience must have been particularly positive. The company has now promoted her to the new global director of Mango's retail department, consequently adding her to its management team. In her new role, the company states, the executive will oversee Mango's global retail strategy. She will actively contribute to its commercial expansion and growth in key markets across various regions worldwide.

“Her appointment reinforces our commitment to the ‘Empower’ pillar of our strategic plan, which is focused on attracting top-tier international talent to support the company's growth ambitions for the coming years,” stated Mango's management. This is a clear reference to its 4E Strategic Plan, presented in March 2024. The company is expected to present a new business plan for this roadmap soon. Its validity and objectives were outlined for the period from 2024 to 2026.

Madrid – Munich, the iconic Barcelona-based footwear brand owned by the Berneda family, appears to have found some initial relief from its difficult financial situation. The company has successfully reached an agreement with its financial creditors. It has reportedly agreed on a new payment schedule for a debt of just over 18 million euros (20.50 million dollars).

Out of 110 major fashion and footwear brands, 32 percent have publicly committed to a living wage for garment workers, yet only 4 percent are making tangible progress. This is according to the seventh edition of the Fashion Checker, the monitor from labour rights organisation Clean Clothes Campaign.

Adidas has signed a multi-year deal to become the official uniform and performance apparel partner of Unrivaled, the women's 3-on-3 basketball league, taking over a contract held since the league's launch by Under Armour. The partnership debuts on court at the start of Unrivaled's 2027 season, which begins in early 2027. Neither side disclosed financial terms or the length of the agreement.

Swedish apparel group Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) posted a surprisingly strong profit increase in the third quarter of its 2025/26 financial year. Sales, however, remained virtually flat compared to the same period last year. This was revealed in an interim report published on Thursday by the parent company of brands including H&M, Cos, Weekday, & Other Stories and Arket.

US-based fragrance developer Interparfums, Inc. (Interparfums) has entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with German sportswear brand Puma. The deal grants Interparfums responsibility for the creation, development, production, and distribution of fragrances under the Puma brand name.

US-based online personal styling service Stitch Fix, Inc. (Stitch Fix) has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2026 ended August 1, 2026.

US apparel group Kontoor Brands, owner of Lee and Wrangler, has appointed Jamie Caulfield and Michael Skipworth to its board of directors, effective immediately.

The company also announced an increase in the size of its board from seven to nine members.

Caulfield, age 67, recently served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of beverage and convenient foods company PepsiCo, which generates nearly 94 billion dollars in net revenue. Over a 30-year career at the business, Caulfield held various senior leadership positions across corporate strategy, financial planning, and investor relations. He will serve on Kontoor's audit committee as well as the nominating and governance committee.

Skipworth, age 49, currently serves as president and chief executive officer of US restaurant operator Wingstop, which operates and franchises more than 3,000 locations globally. Before taking on his current position, Skipworth held key roles in operations, finance, and accounting at the business, including president and chief operating officer. He will join Kontoor's audit committee and talent and compensation committee.

“We are excited to welcome Jamie and Michael to Kontoor's board of directors,” said Scott Baxter, chief executive officer and chairman of Kontoor Brands. “Jamie brings decades of financial and portfolio leadership from one of the world's most respected consumer companies, where he helped guide the business through significant periods of change and expansion. Michael's proven track record scaling a high-growth consumer brand will be equally valuable. Together, their perspectives will help inform how we manage our portfolio, drive growth and strengthen our multi-brand platform.”

Farm Rio, a key brand within the Azzas 2154 (Azzas) group, recently dissolved its merger with Soma. The brand, which is now being considered for sale, is receiving non-binding proposals until the end of September. It is worth noting that following the demerger, Farm Rio will become an independent entity, with capital from both controllers, Alexandre Birman and Roberto Jatahy.

Madrid – Following the personal growth formulas that some of the leading Spanish models of recent decades have embraced, Basque actor and model Jon Kortajarena has launched his own business venture, “SMTHELSE”. This is the name he has chosen for his own beauty line, which specialises in haircare.

It takes one billion dollars to enter FashionUnited's 2026 ranking of the Top 100 richest people in fashion, the threshold set by Christian Louboutin at number 100. Together the members hold 1.07 trillion dollars, though that wealth sits overwhelmingly at the top: the five largest fortunes account for just over half the total. Leading the list is Inditex founder Amancio Ortega with over 130 billion dollars.

US apparel brand Levi Strauss & Co. and UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), in partnership with SE Advisory Services, the global consulting practice of France-based Schneider Electric, have launched the Fashion Renewable Collaborative (FRC). Announced during New York Climate Week on September 22, 2026, the initiative aims to help global fashion suppliers adopt renewable electricity through coordinated brand engagement and practical implementation support.

Global AI glasses shipments reached 4.2 million units in the first half of 2026 (1H26), representing a 127 percent increase year-over-year (YoY).

Italian technology group Dedagroup has opened a new US headquarters in New York, marking a milestone in its North American growth strategy. The expansion comes after more than ten years of operating in the US market, where the business has existing locations in Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Chinese tech giant Alibaba unveiled plans on Wednesday to expand its overseas data centres, targeting markets across Europe and the Middle East. Hangzhou-based Alibaba is one of the frontrunners in China's artificial intelligence industry, with its Qwen model among the world's most downloaded AI models.

Meta has spent billions to stay competitive with artificial intelligence, but the tech giant faces growing pushback as CEO Mark Zuckerberg prepares to announce new products built for the AI era on Wednesday. The company will kick off its annual Connect conference from its Menlo Park headquarters at 4:00 pm PT (2300 GMT) Wednesday, and Zuckerberg will deliver a keynote address to the developer-focused event.

Australian department store operator Myer Group (Myer) reported its financial results for the 52 weeks ended July 25, 2026, revealing a statutory net profit after tax loss of 276.50 million Australian dollars (196.39 million dollars).

With an expected turnover of 18.1 billion euros (20.7 billion dollars) in 2026 and growth over the last ten years at a rate more than six times higher than the national GDP, the cosmetics industry continues to create value, skilled employment and competitiveness for the country. These figures were presented last week at Assolombarda during the event “Beauty that creates value. The numbers of Italian cosmetics and the strategic role of Lombardy in the beauty economy”. This was the inaugural conference of Milan Beauty Week 2026, an initiative by Cosmetica Italia in collaboration with Cosmoprof and Esxence, which concluded on September 20.

Swiss sportswear provider On Holding AG presented its new financial targets for the period up to 2029 on Tuesday, ahead of an investor day. The company also confirmed its current annual forecasts.

Ugg has introduced Born to Feel, a long-term global brand platform, and will start a related series of consumer events in New York City this weekend. The brand, a division of Deckers Brands, said the platform is built around the comfort associated with its products and is designed to run across product, culture and experience rather than as a single seasonal campaign.

Since its launch in 2023, Another Cotton Lab has grown from a Düsseldorf-based lifestyle label into a company that achieved a double-digit million euro turnover in 2024. The next phase is set to follow, focusing on increased performance, more of its own stores and a stronger international presence. The collaboration with Puma is a gateway into a market where the label aims to become a much stronger player. In an interview with FashionUnited, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) David Ebisch explains how far Another Cotton Lab intends to push its transition into a performance brand.

Puma is restructuring its European management. Fokko de Rooij will take on the position of managing director Europe on October 1, the Herzogenaurach-based sportswear company announced on Monday. Daniel Pustina becomes managing director of the Central cluster with immediate effect. The two succeed Javier Ortega and Bas van den Bemt, who left Puma this month.

De Rooij joins Puma from the US sports company Nike. There, he held various management positions in the EMEA region, China, and at a global level. Most recently, he was responsible for the wholesale business in the EMEA region as VP EMEA sales. According to Puma, in his role, he strategically realigned the wholesale business and returned it to a growth trajectory.

After leaving Nike in 2025, De Rooij worked as an independent consultant for CEOs and boards in the sports and fashion industries. At Puma, he will now take responsibility for the European business, reporting to CEO Arthur Höld.

Höld has also temporarily taken on the duties of chief commercial officer. The position is expected to be filled at a later date.

Pustina takes over central cluster

Daniel Pustina has been with Puma since 2020 and has held various management positions since then. Most recently, he served as managing director Oceania, based in Melbourne. Previously, he was responsible for the DACH region and Central Europe, among other roles.

As managing director cluster Central, Pustina will now oversee the DACH, Benelux, Eastern Europe, and Ukraine markets. In this role, he will report to De Rooij.

Puma CEO Arthur Höld explained the appointments by citing the experience of both managers. De Rooij brings international leadership experience and expertise in transformation processes. Pustina has extensive knowledge of the Central European market.

The leadership of the other two European clusters remains unchanged. Christophe Cance continues to be responsible for the South cluster, which includes France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Lucynda Davies remains in charge of the North cluster, covering the UK and Ireland, as well as Scandinavia. Both will also report to De Rooij in the future.

With De Rooij and Pustina, Puma is thus refilling the two leadership positions that became vacant following the departures of Ortega and van den Bemt. De Rooij will take responsibility for the European region, while Pustina will lead the Central cluster with its DACH, Benelux, Eastern Europe, and Ukraine markets.

“I look forward to building on Puma's long history and strong brand to further advance the European business,” said De Rooij on his appointment.

Donatella Versace is back.

Esprit Holdings Limited is facing a statutory demand for almost 4 million dollars. The Hong Kong-listed company announced on Thursday that it was served a so-called 'Statutory Demand' on September 16.

US luxury brand St. John, owned by Shanghai-based luxury group Lanvin Group, has appointed Humberto Leon as creative director.

Leon co-founded retail concept Opening Ceremony with Carol Lim in 2002. From 2011 to 2019, the duo served as creative directors of French fashion house Kenzo, where they introduced a contemporary identity to the brand. Prior to joining St. John, Leon served as creative director of global girl group Katseye, managing the visual identity and image of the music group.

Appointment of Leon marks a new direction for St. John, which aims to build on its nearly 65-year heritage while introducing a fresh perspective to its core offering, including knitwear, sportswear and jewelry.

The partnership reflects a shared California sensibility, respect for craftsmanship and a focus on garments that balance aesthetic appeal with comfort.

Whether the listing counts as a success depends on who is measuring. Shein raised 13.6 billion Hong Kong dollars and reached a public market after failed attempts in New York and London. Anyone who bought at the offer price is down more than a fifth.

Marcolin and Marchon Eyewear, companies part of Vsp Vision, have announced new appointments. The new organisation establishes integrated leadership in key geographical areas. According to a statement, the objective is to foster greater collaboration between the Marcolin and Marchon structures, accelerate decision-making processes, and ensure an increasingly effective and consistent approach towards customers and partners globally.

In this context, Marco D’Acunzo, previously chief executive officer North America of Marcolin, assumes the role of president eyewear Americas. He will be responsible for the activities of Marcolin, Marchon, Altair and Allure. A senior executive with over 15 years of experience working with premium brands in the automotive, sports and hospitality sectors, D’Acunzo will lead the development of the eyewear business in the US, Canada and Latin America.

“These appointments represent an important milestone in the evolution of our eyewear organisation,” Nicola Zotta, president of eyewear and managing director of Marcolin and Marchon Eyewear, stressed in the statement.

“Adopting an increasingly integrated leadership model allows us to strengthen alignment between the different markets, accelerate the integration process and further improve our ability to support customers and brand partners worldwide. Ross Brownlee, Marco D’Acunzo, Lorenzo Barberio and Antonio Castiglione bring an important wealth of expertise and strategic vision. This will contribute to guiding the next chapter of our organisation's growth and generating sustainable value in the long term.”

Antonio Castiglione, currently general manager of Marcolin Mexico, is appointed managing director Latam. This region includes Mexico, Brazil and South America, for both Marcolin and Marchon Eyewear.

Marcolin and Marchon also announce the appointment of Ross Brownlee, effective September 1, as president eyewear Emea & Apac. This is a new position created to lead the two regions as a single, fully integrated business unit. Brownlee has extensive international experience in the eyewear sector. Most recently, he served as chief executive officer of Hilco Vision, after holding numerous senior leadership positions in the industry. In his new role, he will be responsible for the performance, organisation and strategic direction of the integrated activities in the Emea and Apac regions.

At the same time, Lorenzo Barberio, formerly head of sales Apac at Marcolin, has been appointed managing director Apac of Marcolin and Marchon. With over 20 years of international experience in the luxury and fashion sectors, Barberio will lead the integrated organisation of the Asia Pacific region. He will enhance synergies between the two companies' teams and support their growth path.

These appointments, the statement explains, are part of the broader integration process between Marcolin and Marchon. This process is progressively involving all corporate functions in view of the full unification of the two organisations, scheduled for early 2027.

Eyewear specialist Design Eyewear Group is reorganising its French division. The company announced on Monday the appointments of Philippe Berthoux as sales director for France and Romain Terrollion as key account manager for France.

To optimise its support for strategic partners, the group appointed Romain Terrollion in March 2026, according to information provided by Design Eyewear Group in a statement. With a background at major optical networks such as Krys and Luz, the new key account manager brings a precise understanding of market challenges and the expectations of industry professionals. His expertise aims to sustain and develop the company's commercial agreements with its key accounts nationwide.

In parallel, the appointment of Philippe Berthoux in June 2026 as sales director for France aims to manage and energise the sales force. His managerial support skills are intended to enable the local sales team to align effectively with the growth ambitions set by the group.

This restructuring of the French team is part of a broader organisational strategy. Vincent Chamaillard, who previously held the position of sales director for France, now takes on the role of sales director for Europe. This internal promotion indicates a desire to harmonise sales practices and accelerate the development of Design Eyewear Group across all its continental markets.

This article was partially written with the support of an artificial intelligence tool before being verified, completed and edited by a FashionUnited journalist.

Presley Gerber died on Sunday at a rehab facility in Los Angeles. A representative of his family confirmed the news to CBS, saying, "the family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time." He was 27.

Presley is the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber. He started his career as a model at the age of 15, after signing with IMG Models. He walked the runway for Moschino and was featured in campaigns for Celine, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Bottega Veneta, among other brands, over the course of his career.

In 2019, Presley Gerber was arrested for a DUI in Beverly Hills and sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to complete a DUI program. Since the incident, he’s been vocal about his mental health challenges and drug use.

"Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that's all I need to do,” Presley told the Studio 22 podcast in 2023. In the following year, he started his “Mental Health Mondays” series on Instagram “to spark real conversations about the stuff most people hide. It’s been incredible seeing how far that message has spread and how many people it’s helped.”

In August, Kaia Gerber, his sister, discussed her brother's struggles with addiction in an interview with Vogue. "We have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, 'I'm gonna be very human for everyone,'" she said. "There's only so much you can hide from the world. Trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you're ashamed of them."

Presley turned 27 in July. Crawford celebrated the date with a post on Instagram, saying, “I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy! Love you.”

The fashion industry influences almost a third of the world’s agricultural land when leather and wool are included alongside textile crops, according to a new report from researchers at the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and Environment and DIRT Charity.

Mothercare has provided an update regarding its financial outlook following a cash injection from the liquidation of its former retail subsidiary.

Steven Kolb has resigned as president and chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, four days after the trade body placed him on leave over a physical altercation with PETA protesters at New York Fashion Week.

Kolb announced the decision in a statement posted to his Substack, Steven Says. "After twenty years leading the CFDA, I have made the difficult decision to step down as CEO and President. I am enormously proud of what we have built together and believe this is the right moment for both me and the organization to begin a new chapter," he wrote. He listed strengthening the organisation financially, expanding programmes and partnerships, scholarship and philanthropic work, sustainability and circularity initiatives, support for emerging and underrepresented designers, and the growth of New York Fashion Week among the achievements of his tenure. He did not refer to the altercation in the statement.

The CFDA board of directors issued its own statement, describing Kolb as a dedicated leader and tireless champion of American fashion across more than two decades at the organisation, including fifteen years as chief executive. "We respect Steven's decision to step down and are grateful for his many years of leadership and service to the CFDA and our industry. He leaves the organization well positioned, with a clear mission and dedicated team, to carry out the important work ahead as we look to the future of American fashion," the board's statement says.

The resignation follows the Cos show on September 13 at WSA at 175 Water Street, where activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals walked onto the runway carrying placards over the use of sheep's wool by the H&M Group-owned brand. Footage circulated widely online shows Kolb wrestling one protester to the floor and pushing another against a window, covering their mouths in both cases. Kolb said on Instagram that he had "reacted inappropriately" and should have left the situation to the security team, later posting a fuller apology in which he said he was taking voluntary leave and had accepted an invitation from PETA to discuss its concerns. Both activists said they were filing a police report and intended to pursue criminal charges.

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement on the day of the protest: "Today's actions show how top people in fashion use violence to silence people who expose how sheep are beaten, bloodied, and violently killed for scarves and sweaters. PETA is calling on H&M and COS to ban wool from its collections and is urging everyone to shop elsewhere until they do." Responding to the resignation, PETA said the incident that cost Kolb his job would not have taken place had H&M acted on its earlier requests.

Kolb joined the CFDA as executive director in 2006, initially working alongside then-president Diane von Furstenberg, and became chief executive in 2011. The organisation represents more than 300 American designers and runs the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the annual CFDA Awards. The season in which he departed was the first at New York Fashion Week under the CFDA's ban on animal fur in collections.

CLO Virtual Fashion, the global leader in digital garment solutions and developer of CLO and Marvelous Designer, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Munich office with the most impactful CLO Summit to date. The event brought together the European fashion and 3D community—300 professionals from leading brands including Lacoste, VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, Zalando, s.Oliver, Fjällräven and more, alongside educators, creators, and industry pioneers.

Speed emerged as the defining principle. "This milestone celebrates not just our Munich office, but the entire European 3D community," said Jaden Oh, Founder of CLO Virtual Fashion. "Ten years ago, we started here. Today, we're embedded across the continent because we listen to what the community needs while staying grounded in our own vision of where the industry must evolve. Speed isn't about racing—it's about eliminating the friction in handoffs between design, development, and production. And 3D is what makes that possible: it is the best live data container, letting data build and flow smoothly from the very first step of garment creation to the last. That conviction comes from both listening and leading."

CLO's vision and roadmap presentation reinforced this principle: progress comes from understanding where real friction exists in workflows. CLO's direction is shaped by continuous user feedback across global markets—last year's European audience identified a critical need: advanced 2D CAD solutions that enable faster pattern-making and eliminate bottlenecks between design and production. Rather than pursuing shiny new technology, CLO is focused on what the industry needs: rapid pattern drafting, streamlined workflows, and seamless integration across design, BoM, and tech pack systems that flow directly to manufacturing. This roadmap represents both what the community needs and where CLO believes the industry must evolve.

Lacoste delivered the keynote, sharing their multi-year journey to implement 3D in the organization. "Each edition of the CLO Summit brings together a passionate community where everyone, in their own way, contributes to shaping the future of our industry, united by a shared ambition: to advance practices and push the boundaries of innovation," said Jérôme Triquet, Global Lead for 3D at Lacoste. "It is this collective energy, this contagious enthusiasm, and this determination to build the future together that make this event so inspiring." By strategically integrating 3D into design & development, marketing and B2B divisions, Lacoste built the operational foundation that enables 3D to scale. Their approach mirrors CLO's philosophy: build value iteratively, learn from what works, then scale what creates impact. Lacoste will bring this presentation to CLO's NYC Summit, extending the knowledge-sharing across global markets.

Panel discussions on size and fit addressed a critical retail challenge: static 2D size charts cost brands millions in online returns. Experts from Arts University of Bournemouth, Zalando and Fjällräven explored how 3D body mapping and avatar standardization can solve the industry's fit crisis, turning product accuracy into a driver for margin recovery and customer loyalty. Ben Hanson, Editor-in-Chief of The Interline, provided context from the publication's recently released AI Report.

A pivotal panel on the future of the digital fashion pipeline brought together perspectives across the entire ecosystem. Mihai Ursu from Hypedrop at Bestseller—a fully demand-driven, "born digital" fashion brand—shared how native AI and 3D driven workflows shape decision-making from the ground up. Ben Hanson contextualized industry trends through The Interline's latest research, while Yazan Malkosh from swatchbook by CLO brought the vendor perspective on how assets flow through interconnected systems. The conversation underscored a critical insight: the pipeline is converging. When design, production, and commerce systems operate on shared 3D data, friction disappears and speed compounds.

CLO's exhibition showcased ecosystem interoperability, with EPP partners SHIMA SEIKI and VIZOO demonstrating how smart assets aim to close the design-to-production gap.

The initiative to connect students with industry took center stage through the Rising Talent Award, which demonstrated significant growth this year. Fifty-eight universities across Europe participated, with 100+ students exploring the theme "Mycelium Bytes," investigating the intersection of organic systems and digital innovation. Entries were evaluated by a jury of industry leaders including Alfonso Navarro (Zara), Marthe Hentschel (Vorn), Matteo Mazzani (On), and Yao Yao (VIVIENNE WESTWOOD). Winners gained more than monetary prizes: the winner of the Conceptual Design Award secured access to elite European Master's programs, including an ESMOD Master's degree in the academic program of the winner's choice, plus one-year CLO subscriptions and entry into CLO's New Talent Hub—connecting emerging designers directly with industry's most forward-thinking organizations.

The European 3D community is finding its focus. By extending participation to academia, freelancers, and enterprise clients for the second year, the Summit created a convergence point across the ecosystem. In an industry captivated by AI headlines, CLO remains laser-focused on eliminating the friction that holds designers back and building tools that work for real workflows. CLO's thought leadership is defined by clarity: what the community needs, where the industry must evolve, and how technology serves both.

About CLO Virtual Fashion

Named for the word "clothing," CLO Virtual Fashion exists to empower every step of the garment journey, from concept and design to manufacturing, marketing, fitting, and styling. Built on more than 20 years of R&D in accurate garment simulation, CLO leads the industry through a state-of-the-art 3D cloth simulation algorithm that digitally creates and unifies every aspect of garment creation.

With CLO's products and services, users design garments faster, more easily, and more accurately than ever before, producing hyper-realistic clothing that can move between entertainment, games, and the physical world. As fashion undergoes its digital transformation, CLO is at the center; defining the standards, building the tools, and shaping the future of how garments are designed, made, and experienced. Learn more at clo3d.com.