Jigsaw has appointed Melanie Walker as design director, bringing in a designer who spent nearly a decade building Victoria Beckham's ready-to-wear business to lead product and creative direction through the next phase of its turnaround.

The appointment lands a day after the brand reported an 18 percent year-on-year sales increase for spring/summer 2026, covering the six months to July. Store sales rose 11 percent on a like-for-like basis and online grew 21 percent, split between 19 percent in the UK and 48 percent internationally. Dresses were the standout category, up 43 percent on occasion wear and print, and a yellow suit launched in March sold out inside three weeks.

Walker's brief, as the company describes it, is to sharpen a recognisable Jigsaw signature and build on the categories already selling, while making the product offer robust enough to scale across channels and into the United States.

Two decades behind other people's labels

Walker joined Victoria Beckham in 2008 as the brand's first employee, helping establish its ready-to-wear infrastructure when it was still a small capsule business. She became head of design for ready-to-wear in 2013, running mainline and pre-collections and overseeing the design and studio teams, and stayed until 2017.

Her career began at Roland Mouret, followed by Jonathan Saunders and then Freda, the in-house womenswear label at Matches Fashion, where she was head of design. Since 2017 she has worked independently, consulting for Hurlingham 1875, Alice Made This and Paper London, and most recently leading a uniform redesign for travel company Abercrombie & Kent as part of its brand repositioning.

"It is a great honour to join Jigsaw as design director," Walker said. "I have always been inspired by the rich history of this British brand and its strong connection to arts and culture. Excellent quality, fit and fabric will be at the forefront of every design decision."

Tikki Godley, managing director, said she had followed Walker's career for years and expected her to "bring a creative and modern vision to Jigsaw, inspired by our rich history making clothes for people who care about how clothes are made: quality, fit and fabric, and a commitment to backing British design."

Target has appointed Mark Weinstein as chief marketing and guest experience officer, filling a role it created in February and has been recruiting for externally ever since.

Weinstein starts immediately and reports to chief executive Michael Fiddelke. He arrives from Hilton, where he was global chief marketing officer across the group's 28 brands and its Hilton Honors loyalty programme, and also headed its luxury brands.

His remit at Target runs wider than marketing. Alongside brand and guest experience across discovery, shopping and cultural presence, he takes responsibility for Roundel, the retailer's retail media network, and Target+, its curated third-party marketplace. Both are margin-accretive businesses that sit outside conventional marketing ownership.

"As we continue writing the next chapter at Target, deepening how we know and engage our guests will be critical to our success," Fiddelke said. "Mark has a proven ability to understand what consumers value and turn those insights into brand connections that feel relevant and personal."

Weinstein said the retailer had "the rare ability to be both deeply familiar and continually surprising", adding: "We have an enormous opportunity to bring the brand to life across every interaction with consumers, creating experiences that feel unmistakably Target while giving people new reasons to engage with, choose and prefer us."

The last seat at the table

The appointment closes out a leadership rebuild Fiddelke began within days of taking over from Brian Cornell in February. That reshuffle moved Cara Sylvester from chief guest experience officer to chief merchandising officer and Lisa Roath from food and essentials to chief operating officer, saw chief commercial officer Rick Gomez depart and merchandising chief Jill Sando retire, and launched an external search for a combined guest experience and marketing role. Weinstein is the result of that search, and the only outside hire among the four.

He joins at a better moment than the one Fiddelke inherited. Target had posted three consecutive years of declining comparable sales, weighed down by discretionary categories that account for close to a third of annual revenue, and by consumer backlash over changes to its diversity policies. The company also cut about 1,800 corporate roles in October 2025.

Performance has since turned. Target reported a 6.7 percent rise in net sales to 25.4 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2026, with digital comparable sales up 8.9 percent, and raised full-year net sales growth guidance to around 4 percent. Comparable sales rose 2.7 percent in the quarter ended in August, with food and beverage up 7.2 percent. Fiddelke has described home and apparel as a multi-year repair job.

Takko Fashion is continuing its record-breaking performance.

Madrid – Building on our latest analysis of the Spanish fashion multinational, Tendam reported its results for the first half of its 2026 financial year on Monday. The company appears to be moving away from its aggressive commercial policy based on a discounted pricing model. The six-month period, from March 1 to August 31, saw the owner of Cortefiel, Springfield and Women'secret close with a solid performance, showing double-digit growth in sales and profit.

Marco Viganò is the new CEO of Jil Sander. The manager takes on the role this Tuesday and reports directly to Otb Group CEO Ubaldo Minelli. Minelli led Jil Sander on an interim basis during the transition period (Serge Brunschwig left the company on July 31, 2025, for personal reasons).

New ceo to support brand development and further strengthen its positioning

“Jil Sander is a brand with a creative heritage and a distinctive identity that make it unique in the global luxury landscape. Marco Viganò's experience and his knowledge of international markets will contribute to its growth path, supporting its development and further strengthening its positioning,” Ubaldo Minelli, CEO of Otb Group, said in a statement.

Marco Viganò has extensive international experience in the luxury sector. Before joining Jil Sander, he held the position of global chief client officer and president Emea at Moncler. There, he led client development and customer experience strategies, aiming to strengthen the relationship between the brand and its international clientele.

Throughout his career, the manager has taken on roles of increasing responsibility at some of the most prestigious international luxury companies. He has held commercial and operational leadership positions, including chief commercial officer at Audemars Piguet and chief operating officer at Saint Laurent. He has also held positions at Louis Vuitton, Gucci and L'Oréal, developing an international career path across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Russia, complemented by his experience at McKinsey & Company.

Viganò holds a degree in Business and Economics from the Catholic University of Milan.

Over 450 FashionUnited business articles spanning the half-year reporting season, published until Monday, describe an industry that is cautiously upbeat but sharply divided. In six out of 10 reports, companies described rising sales or improving profits, and that majority widened from July into August as second-quarter figures came in. More companies raised full-year guidance than cut it: Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Levi Strauss, Birkenstock and most US off-price and department store chains lifted their outlooks, while JD Sports, Zalando, Lululemon and Under Armour moved the other way. The mood is relief rather than confidence.

Danilo Piarulli is the new chief executive officer of Autry.

"The appointment marks a significant step in Autry's evolution. The brand aims to capitalise on the international growth recorded in recent years through an increasingly structured and agile approach to developing direct retail, selective distribution, geographical expansion and brand consolidation," a statement explained.

“This is a forward-looking choice, which I consider a natural evolution of our corporate organisation,” said Roberta Benaglia, chief executive officer of Style Capital and chairwoman of Autry.

Piarulli has over a decade of experience managing the growth and international development of global brands. The executive joins Autry after 13 years at Golden Goose, where he held several leadership roles, eventually becoming chief consumer officer and an executive member of the board of directors.

The executive began his career in finance, gaining experience at companies like PwC before moving into the fashion sector, first at Geox and later at Golden Goose. At Golden Goose, he progressively expanded his responsibilities. He started as chief financial officer and later focused on business development, brand strategy and international markets. This demonstrated a comprehensive vision for the organisational and commercial challenges associated with growing a premium brand.

Style Capital acquired a controlling stake in Autry in 2024

“He is a manager with a strategic vision who is also extremely operational and focused on execution: processes, people, control and orderly growth. The combination of intuition and execution, along with his deep knowledge of the premium lifestyle sector and experience in the various stages of a company's development, make Danilo the ideal profile for Autry. The brand will continue to strengthen its organisation; expand its retail with discipline; maintain distribution selectivity; grow its identity and focus on internationalisation,” Benaglia continued.

“The brand's fundamentals, encapsulated in an exceptional product positioned in a protected and favourable price range, deserve to find the right acceleration in international development. This should be guided by an imagery and narrative capable of speaking directly and empathetically to the consumer, making them fall in love with genuine, unadulterated values. In the transition from a product-driven success to a truly global brand, there is only one natural strategic response: getting ever closer to the end customer through the development of direct-to-consumer,” Piarulli explained.

Style Capital acquired a controlling stake in Autry in 2024. The brand has seen rapid growth, reaching a turnover of 150 million, driven by the wholesale channel, an already consolidated digital presence and the promising development of its retail network.

The company currently has 12 stores across Europe and Asia. It aims to progressively develop its direct retail network, seizing further opportunities in strategic international markets, with a particular focus on the US, South Korea and Japan.

Rhone has created a chief merchandising officer role and filled it with Alexa Andersen, most recently senior vice president of merchandising at Puma North America, WWD reported.

Andersen will oversee both the merchandising and design teams at the Stamford, Connecticut company. She brings more than 20 years in performance apparel, having run Puma's North America merchandising organisation across wholesale and direct-to-consumer, covering footwear, apparel and accessories as well as collaborations and partnerships.

Before Puma she was at Lululemon, leading product creation and merchandising for strategic initiatives including technical performance categories and global brand moments such as the Olympic Games. Earlier in her career she held merchandising leadership roles at Adidas, Asics and Nike.

Nate Checketts, chief executive and co-founder, said Andersen's record building merchandising organisations at major brands spoke for itself, but that what stood out was the alignment in values. "Alexa understands that great product and long-term brand building go hand in hand, and she's going to be an incredible partner as we continue to grow with intention," he said.

Andersen, who was raised in Mexico and has lived in the United States, Italy and the Netherlands, framed the move as a deliberate step away from scale. "After spending my career at some incredible big brands, I've seen how the pressure to deliver short-term growth can sometimes pull focus away from long-term vision and brand building," she said. "What drew me to Rhone is the chance to be part of a business that's moved past the start-up stage but is still very much in growth mode, where you can actually see the fruits of your labor."

Where the business stands

Rhone was founded in 2014 by brothers Nate and Ben Checketts, initially as a web-only men's activewear label pitched at what the founders called weekday warriors. It began with a 100,000 dollar friends-and-family round and has since raised roughly 37 million dollars in total, with its most recent round in January 2025.

The company reached profitability in 2020 and has built out physical retail steadily, operating around 20 stores in the United States as of early this year, including a Hudson Yards flagship in New York it redesigned in 2024. Wholesale runs through Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and REI, and the brand has positioned itself as the leading men's partner for Equinox and Peloton.

Recent activity has leaned into lifecycle and community rather than new categories. In January the company launched reRhone, a brand-owned resale operation built with the platform Archive, starting with inventory from selected customer returns and slated to widen through 2026. Its marketing continues to centre on mental fitness, a theme Andersen singled out in her statement.

Rhone is privately held and does not disclose revenue.

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and edited by a FashionUnited journalist.

U.S. Polo Assn. has appointed David Swetman as global design lead for men's and boys', recruiting from Abercrombie & Fitch as it builds out its senior team, WWD reported.

Swetman spent 18 years at A&F, most recently as senior concept designer for global menswear, where he is credited with a significant part in the reinvention of the company's men's business. A Central Saint Martins graduate, he previously interned at Paul Smith and Reiss.

His remit covers design vision and product direction for all men's and boys' apparel across the brand worldwide, including design, trend forecasting, concept development, seasonal storytelling and category innovation. He will work with the brand's licensee network to set a single global design direction while leaving room for regional variation.

J. Michael Prince, president and chief executive of USPA Global, tied the hire to the company's growth target. "As we continue to expand around the world, we remain committed to investing in exceptional talent that can elevate our product offerings, strengthen our global design capabilities, and shape the future of our men's and boys' businesses around the world," he told WWD, citing Swetman's role in "one of the industry's most notable brand transformations" as the brand executes its elevated plan and goal of 4 billion dollars in global retail sales.

The numbers behind the target

The appointment comes off five consecutive record years. USPA Global reported 2.7 billion dollars in worldwide retail sales for 2025, up from 2.5 billion in 2024 and 2.4 billion in 2023, with North America its largest region and growth reported across India, the Middle East, Western Europe and Latin America.

The 4 billion dollar figure Prince referenced is a long-term goal rather than a forecast, and sits alongside targets of 1,500 stores, 100 digital sites and 25 million social media followers. The brand currently operates around 1,200 stores worldwide, having raised its store target timeline to 2030, and sells in more than 190 countries through roughly 50 e-commerce sites in 20 languages.

Much of that reach runs through licensees rather than owned operations, which is what makes a single global design authority for menswear a structural change rather than a personnel one. Swetman's job is to impose one product direction across a network that has grown market by market.

The brand's marketing continues to lean on the sport itself. Its ESPN partnership, which carries the U.S. Open Polo Championship from the USPA National Polo Center in Palm Beach County, has been extended through 2026, with further broadcast deals covering TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India and BeIn Sports in the Middle East.

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and edited by a FashionUnited journalist.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America has placed president and chief executive Steven Kolb on leave following an altercation with PETA protesters at the Cos runway show during New York Fashion Week, Business of Fashion reported.

In a statement, the organisation said it takes the matter very seriously and that Kolb will be on leave pending a full review, adding that the CFDA is committed to working with dissenting voices and to respectful engagement with differing viewpoints.

The incident took place on Sunday at WSA at 175 Water Street, where activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals walked onto the runway carrying placards and shouting about the use of sheep's wool by Cos and its owner, H&M Group. Footage captured by Fashionista and circulated widely online shows Kolb wrestling one protester to the floor and pushing another against a window, covering their mouths in both cases.

Kolb issued an initial statement saying he had reacted inappropriately and should have left the situation to the security team. He posted a fuller apology to his personal Instagram Stories on Monday.

As reported by Business of Fashion, Kolb wrote that reviewing the videos had made him understand the reaction they generated and that he did not recognise the person in them. He said he was taking voluntary leave and meeting a professional to ensure it never happened again, that he held himself accountable, and that he had accepted an invitation from PETA to discuss its concerns and hoped to apologise in person to the two individuals involved.

Calls for Kolb's resignation or a formal reprimand grew as the footage spread. PETA confirmed that the activists involved in the altercation were filing a police report and plan to pursue criminal charges. “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 Founder Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement on Sunday. “PETA is calling on H&M and COS to ban wool from its collections and is urging everyone to shop elsewhere until they do.”

The protest targeted H&M Group's wool sourcing. PETA has accused the retailer of misleading consumers over responsible wool claims, citing a PETA Asia investigation into a certified South African operation in the group's supply chain.

Kolb joined the CFDA in 2006 and was appointed chief executive in 2011. The organisation represents more than 300 American designers and runs initiatives including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the annual CFDA Awards.

Madrid – Spanish fashion and beauty multinational the Puig Group is strengthening its position in the strategic dermo-cosmetics segment. It has formalised an agreement with the pharmaceutical company Esteve to acquire its 50 percent stake in the dermo-cosmetics and skincare brand Isdin. The transaction, valued at a total of 1.2 billion euros, will result in the company, chaired by Marc Puig, holding 100 percent of the dermatological company's share capital.

Bob Mackie, the designer whose work shaped the public images of Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross and other high-profile performers, has died at 87. The announcement was made Monday through Mackie’s official Instagram account.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today. He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do. His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world," read the statement.

No cause of death was immediately announced.

Mackie worked across television, film, theater and fashion during a career that lasted more than six decades. He received multiple Emmy Awards and three Academy Award nominations, and won a Tony Award for his costume designs for The Cher Show. His costumes combined glamour, humor and theatricality, often using sequins, feathers, crystals, metallic fabrics and revealing silhouettes. His clients included Cher, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Elton John, Miley Cyrus and Diana Ross. He became widely known as the “Sultan of Sequins," as well as one of the inventors of sheer dressing.

Mackie's creative partnership with Cher was especially influential in his career. Mackie designed many of the singer’s most recognizable stage and public appearances, helping establish the bold, highly stylized image that became central to her career.

He was also closely associated with The Carol Burnett Show, designing costumes for the long-running television program and collaborating with Burnett on some of its best-known characters and sketches. His work for the show demonstrated his ability to make clothing function as both fashion and comedy.

Burnett paid tribute to Mackie in a statement to USA Today on Monday.

“Sadness doesn't come close to how I feel. I loved him very much,” she wrote. “As for his genius, there are fashion designers who don't do costumes and there are costume designers who don't do fashion. Bob did it all. There was no one like him.”

The costume designer also owned his namesake brand through an entity called Bob Mackie Design Group, which was 60 percent owned by Schwartz and only 40 percent by Mackie.

Tom Beckbe has sold a minority stake to Cox Outdoors, giving the Birmingham, Alabama outdoor apparel maker a backer from one of the largest family-owned companies in the United States as it expands its store network.

What Goes Around Comes Around has appointed Rachel Zoe as style director, formalizing a relationship between the stylist and the vintage luxury reseller that goes back decades.

Zoe's remit covers seasonal collections, styling, special projects and events across the year. Her first output, The Rachel Zoe Edit, is a selection drawn from the company's archive, unveiled at its Wooster Street store in New York during fashion week and now selling in store and on whatgoesaroundnyc.com. Further projects and appearances are due over the next year.

Seth Weisser, co-founder and chief executive, said: "Rachel has been part of the WGACA story for decades, and she understands this business in a way that very few people do. When we started, vintage wasn't a part of the luxury conversation. Rachel has played a huge role as has WGACA in changing the public perception to where we are today. Bringing her style direction to the company will help continue to build the business and trust we have earned over the past three decades."

Zoe said the company had long been her first stop for vintage. "Every time I visit their stores or website, I'm inspired and excited to add to my collections. Their curations are unrivalled as is their impeccable focus on the best of the best of all of my favorite brands. Expanding my long-standing relationship with the WGACA in this official role feels like a natural evolution."

Gerard Maione, co-founder and chief creative officer, framed the appointment around shared instincts. "Rachel and WGACA have always shared the same belief that great vintage pieces are timeless heirlooms that reflect individuality," he said. "She has such a strong sense of fashion history, but her instinct is always to make it feel on trend, relevant and translatable. Creatively, there's a real alignment in how we see things, and I'm excited to see where we can take that together."

Zoe built her reputation styling celebrity clients through the 2000s and became a public figure in her own right through the Bravo series The Rachel Zoe Project, which ran from 2008. She has since worked across her own label and styling ventures.

Weisser and Maione founded WGACA in 1993. The business operates stores in New York and other US markets alongside its e-commerce site, and positions itself on authentication of pre-owned luxury goods.

That positioning has been tested in court. A federal jury in Manhattan found in 2024 that the company had infringed Chanel's trademarks, and a final judgment entered in February 2025 imposed 4 million dollars in statutory damages, a permanent injunction on its use of Chanel branding and disgorgement of profits on unauthorised Chanel-branded items. WGACA has appealed to the Second Circuit and has maintained its authenticity guarantee throughout.

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and edited by a FashionUnited journalist.

The British Fashion Council has announced that Sandra Choi will receive a Special Recognition Award at The Fashion Awards 2026, held on November 30 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Choi has led the creative direction of Jimmy Choo since joining in 1996 as one of the brand's founding creative voices, making her among the longest-serving creative directors in the industry. The BFC cited her ability to combine creative direction with commercial performance over three decades, keeping the label among Britain's most influential luxury brands.

The council also pointed to her work outside the studio, describing her as an advocate for craftsmanship and emerging talent who has mentored others and represented British fashion internationally.

"I am truly honoured to receive this recognition from the British Fashion Council. When I think back to where we began in East London all those years ago, I could never have imagined where this journey would take us. What stays with me most are the talented people I have had the privilege to work alongside," said Choi. "Fashion is never the work of one person; it is built through creativity, craft, collaboration, and a shared belief in making something meaningful."

Laura Weir, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, said: "Sandra Choi is one of fashion's most respected creative leaders. Her vision has shaped Jimmy Choo into an enduring global brand while continually championing the people and talent that drive our industry. We are delighted to honour Sandra at The Fashion Awards 2026 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to fashion."

Proceeds from The Fashion Awards fund the BFC's work supporting British designers and businesses. Pandora returns as presenting partner, with Johnnie Walker and The Peninsula London as official partners.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the Monceau hotel in Paris where Céline Dion is staying. The concert, her first in five years, showed that her ‘heart will go on’ for her audience despite a debilitating illness. The performance also featured several outfit changes, none of which were done ‘all by herself’.

What did Céline Dion wear for her first concert in Paris?

The Québécois superstar entered the stage to the sound of On ne change pas, frequently changing her looks throughout the performance.

She first wore a Christian Dior dress, designed by Jonathan Anderson for the fall/winter 2026 couture show, inspired by Christian Dior's Francis Poulenc silhouette from the spring/summer 1950 haute couture collection.

The dress, crafted from black muslin and organza, is constructed around a fully pleated bustier. This extends at the waist into a sculptural peplum, creating a corolla silhouette. Its impact stems from textile experimentation and the resulting technique and craftsmanship.

Around her neck, Céline wore Boucheron’s “The Address” necklace. This high jewellery piece is set with an emerald-cut diamond of over ten carats and required 1,107 hours of work to create.

From Dior to Givenchy, J’irai où tu iras

For her performance of the song from Titanic, she wore a total look by Schiaparelli. She then launched into a disco medley featuring I Feel Love; I’m Alive; That’s the Way It Is; and Sweet Dreams. The jacket was inspired by a 1937 creation by Elsa Schiaparelli.

Wearing a total look by Maison Alaïa, the singer delivered a spectacular a cappella rendition of “anymore” from the track All by myself. The performance was a display of vocal prowess, ending with tears and a sigh of relief.

For this custom Alaïa look, Céline wore a sculptural black plastron paired with a long skirt. The construction echoes the house's archives, specifically the famous moulded black leather bustier created by Azzedine in 2003.

She also wore an openwork black Tom Ford dress by Haider Ackermann to perform Ziggy. The high-cut dress-jumpsuit was fitting for a girl unlike any other.

Finally, Celine Dion paid tribute to her icon, opera singer Maria Callas. She wore a Givenchy dress by Sarah Burton, covered in silver embroidery and enhanced by a custom cape of powder pink torn organza.

Performing to Alfredo Catalani's La Wally, she proved that, in her own words, ‘il suffisait d’aimer’ and believing in one's dreams could revive the vibrato in her voice.

Ebay has appointed Saskia Meier-Andrae as its vice president (VP) and general manager (GM) for Europe.

Meier-Andrae is taking on a newly created position that consolidates the management of the entire EU marketplace business, Ebay announced on Friday. She has been promoted from within the company. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has been responsible for the German market as general manager since March 2024, and additionally for the Central Europe region since September 2025. Previously, she worked for the US-based online furniture retailer Wayfair, most recently as head of Germany. In her new role, she will continue to manage the German market and report to Oliver Klinck, VP and GM of global markets and consumer-to-consumer.

“Over the past two and a half years, Saskia Meier-Andrae has played a decisive role in shaping our strategic growth course. She also understands how to combine the advantages of scale with the diverse requirements of our European markets. This makes her the right person to bring our EU marketplaces closer together and shape the next phase of our development in Europe,” said Klinck.

Stronger positioning at a European level

The appointment is intended to promote cross-border trade within the EU. According to the statement, Ebay also aims to prioritise more at a European level, build cross-market capabilities and scale successful solutions more quickly. The goal is for the country-specific marketplaces to work more closely together, while responsibility for individual markets will remain with the local teams.

“For us, the question is not: European or local? The question is: where does European scale create more value, and where is local proximity the decisive advantage?” said Meier-Andrae. “Proximity to our community is one of Ebay’s great strengths and therefore remains an essential part of our model.”

According to Ebay, the authenticity guarantee for pre-loved fashion and luxury items demonstrates what closer integration can look like. Since August, the service has been available to buyers and sellers in France and Italy as well as Germany, with authentication continuing to take place in Germany. Approved items receive greater visibility across the three markets.

Ebay has been expanding its fashion business for some time. In February, the company announced the acquisition of the resale marketplace Depop from Etsy for around 1.20 billion US dollars.

Madrid – Following its acquisition in July 2025 by the Emirati company 2PointZero—formerly known as Multiply Group—the Spanish fashion multinational Tendam is set to play a key role within the new retail division of its new parent company. This position contrasts sharply with the long-standing off-price policy of its various portfolio brands. It seems clear the company is preparing to move away from this approach through a “value generation” strategy.

StyleBuddy is making a bigger bet than simply adding AI features to a fashion website. Under Founder and CEO Siddharth Pandit, the company is building an AI-powered commerce layer designed specifically for fashion - one that helps brands move shoppers from discovery to styling, visualisation and purchase within a more intelligent journey.

Pandit's starting point is straightforward: online fashion still asks shoppers to do too much imagining. A product grid can show what is available, but it cannot easily answer whether a look suits the shopper, works for a particular occasion, pairs with other pieces, or feels right before checkout. StyleBuddy is being built around that decision gap.

The company has already built a community of more than 100,000 users and engaged with 100+ fashion brands. It is now expanding that foundation into a broader StyleBuddy AI fashion commerce platform for brands, with three connected growth paths: Sell With StyleBuddy, Agentic Storefront and Virtual Try-On. All three are powered by the same AI styling engine and product catalogue layer.

Sell With StyleBuddy gives fashion brands access to StyleBuddy's shopper ecosystem, where products can be discovered through styling-led recommendations rather than being buried in a conventional feed. The ambition is to make discovery more contextual: shoppers arrive with an occasion, a mood, a budget or a style intent, and AI helps connect that intent to relevant products and complete looks.

The Agentic Storefront takes the same intelligence into a brand's own e-commerce site. StyleBuddy's AI stylist sits on top of the existing storefront and allows shoppers to describe what they are looking for in natural language. The system can recommend coordinated outfits from the brand's own catalogue, remember shopper preferences and keep the customer inside the brand's checkout journey. The goal is to make the storefront behave less like a database and more like an always-on digital stylist.

Virtual Try-On addresses another major point of hesitation: visual confidence. StyleBuddy's technology lets shoppers see how garments may look before purchase, while also giving brands a faster way to create visual fashion content. The company is extending this capability with AI content tools for product imagery, styling and background generation, making the proposition relevant to merchandising and marketing teams as well as to shoppers.

What makes the platform distinctive is the way these pieces are being connected. StyleBuddy is not positioning virtual try-on as an isolated widget, or conversational AI as a chatbot attached to a product page. Its vision is one intelligence layer across the fashion journey - discovery, styling, visualisation, content and commerce - with brands able to adopt one capability or combine them.

That ambition is closely tied to Pandit's own view of what fashion commerce should become. Digital shopping removed much of the emotional confidence of trying something on in a store and replaced it with flat images, filters and guesswork. StyleBuddy's aim is to put more intelligence and confidence back into that journey, while still keeping the brand in control of the customer relationship.

The company is also designing for scale. Its current brand proposition is built for fashion businesses across markets and digital channels, and StyleBuddy has stated an ambition to grow its ecosystem to more than 2 million users and 500+ participating fashion brands over the next 12 months. Its platform already references activity across 40+ markets, while the company continues to invest in consumer adoption, brand partnerships and AI-powered fashion experiences.

For Pandit, however, the longer-term goal is larger than user and brand counts. StyleBuddy wants to become part of the infrastructure through which fashion brands sell online: an AI layer that understands shopper intent, turns products into styled looks, helps customers visualise themselves in those looks, and creates a stronger bridge between inspiration and purchase.

Fashion e-commerce will continue to use search, filters and product grids. StyleBuddy's bet is that those interfaces will increasingly sit behind something more intelligent - a storefront that can listen, interpret, style, visualise and sell.

If that transition happens at scale, StyleBuddy wants to be one of the platforms defining it.

Following the failed takeover by Frasers Group, the supervisory board chairman of fashion group Hugo Boss is stepping down. Stephan Sturm has decided to resign from his position as a member of the supervisory board, effective October 15, the company announced on Monday in Metzingen. The decision follows “constructive discussions against the backdrop of recent changes in the shareholder structure”.

Background to the takeover attempt by Frasers Group

Frasers Group had attempted to take control of Hugo Boss in recent months. Although the takeover narrowly failed, the British company recently held almost 48 percent of the fashion house. The relationship between the major shareholder and the company's management has been tense for some time. Frasers withdrew its confidence in supervisory board chairman Sturm in December, for example. There was also disagreement over the dividend payment.

Sturm had been a member and chairman of the board since May 2025. Hugo Boss will now search for a successor.

Madrid – The US has remained Inditex's largest market by turnover, second only to Spain, since 2021. This is a position the Spanish fashion multinational fully intends to build upon. The company's chief executive officer has announced a new “country plan” through to 2027, following the release of its results for the first half of 2026.

CEO Interview

US outdoor apparel and gear brand Tom Beckbe has secured a minority investment from Cox Outdoors to support its next phase of growth. The investment will support the brand’s plans for new retail stores, product development and its conservation initiatives. Its latest store, in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighbourhood, is due to open this month.

US fashion platform Rent the Runway, Inc. (Rent the Runway) has reported a 20.8 percent increase in total revenue to 97.70 million dollars for the second quarter ended July 31, 2026, compared to 80.90 million dollars in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

Madrid – Spanish fashion and accessories firm Bimba y Lola has once again demonstrated its solid business model. The company has successfully navigated a challenging first half of 2026, as reflected in the key financial figures released for the first half of its new fiscal year.

US apparel and e-commerce company Digital Brands Group (DBG) says it has secured a binding two-year US programme worth 165 million dollars, covering apparel, footwear and toiletries for 771,481 people re-entering the workforce.

US sustainable fashion brand Reformation Inc. (Reformation) has reported a 24.1 percent increase in net revenue to 155.20 million dollars for the second quarter ended June 27, 2026, up from the prior-year period.

October’s Very Own (OVO), the lifestyle and apparel label co-founded by Drake, is facing further legal complications following its recent deal with Authentic Brands Group and Vince Holding Corp., with lender A.R.I. OVO Growth Capital claiming it was not informed of the transaction and remains owed more than five million Canadian dollars.

Matthias Bäumer, chief commercial officer (CCO) at Puma, is stepping down from his role on the executive board at the end of the month.

Bäumer has decided to take this step for “personal reasons”, Puma announced on Friday. His term will end on September 30. His responsibilities as head of sales and head of subsidiaries will be temporarily taken over by Puma's chief executive officer (CEO) Arthur Hoeld. A successor will be announced at a later date.

Bäumer has been with the German sporting goods group for almost 20 years. He joined the company in 2007 as sales director for the German, Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg markets. Two years later, he took over as general manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH), a position he held for ten years. He was then responsible for the global Teamsport business unit. After leaving the executive board, he will continue to work for Puma in an advisory capacity and will represent the company on the supervisory board of the football club Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA.

“I would like to thank Matthias for his commitment to the brand, which he has shown in various roles within the company, and for his contribution to our three-year transformation process,” said Hoeld. “I am very pleased that he has agreed to continue to support us as a consultant.”

Bäumer was only appointed to the executive board in April 2025. His departure after around 18 months is the fourth change to the management team in a year and a half. This follows the change from Arne Freundt to Hoeld at the head of the group; the appointment of Andreas Hubert as chief operating officer (COO) in September 2025; and the change from Markus Neubrand to Mark Langer as chief financial officer (CFO) on May 1.

From October, the Puma executive board will consist of CEO Hoeld, CFO Langer, chief brand officer Maria Valdes and COO Hubert.

Alvanon, a leading sizing technology company for the fashion industry, has appointed two new senior executives to strengthen its US and global product and consultancy support team.  Tabitha Chilton, previously a product development leader at HanesBrands, joins Alvanon as regional director, Alvanon Canada, and Mid-West and Southern US markets, while apparel brand founder, entrepreneur and ecommerce specialist, Laura Berens, joins as regional director for the company’s US Western territories.  

The appointments reinforce Alvanon’s drive to help brands and retailers leverage data-driven size standards and fit expertise, to accelerate product development, optimize inventory management, increase sales conversions, and reduce returns and waste. 

Tabitha Chilton brings over 20 years of technical apparel design and product development experience across global brands. She joins Alvanon from HanesBrands where she led Digital Product Creation (DPC) and 3D proto processing initiatives, improving efficiencies from design ideation through to final fit. Chilton standardized technical fit and product development across HanesBrands activewear and innerwear product ranges. Partnering closely with Alvanon, she helped develop and implement core sizing, body growth charts and body grading, utilising Alvanon Body Platform digital 3D avatars and its physical ‘twin’ AlvaForm mannequins.  

 “Working with Alvanon at Hanes gave me deep insight into creating fit consistency among the brands,” said Chilton. “I’m excited to bring that experience to help Alvanon clients identify the best digital and physical tools, processes and strategies that can deliver measurable business results.”  

Laura Berens has over 15 years of experience in strategic business development, data-driven ecommerce, digital marketing, agentic commerce and omnichannel brand growth. She founded the successful DTC maternity and postpartum activewear brand ‘Love & Fit’ and, since 2023, has advised entrepreneurial businesses through her ecommerce and brand strategy consultancy, ‘ITSLAURABERENS’, on how to launch and scale product-based businesses focusing on brand positioning, go-to-market strategy and digital growth.

“Success in the agentic era means making accurate, consistent product data available to AI agents and breaking down legacy silos between teams,” said Berens. “I will work closely with technical and ecommerce teams to create more collaborative processes, ensuring that what is made is accurately represented online and ultimately delivered to the consumer.” Berens’ focus will help brands address key challenges including ecommerce returns, inventory inefficiency and the growing need for product consistency across the digital commerce ecosystem.    

Tabitha Chilton holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in textile marketing & design and business administration, from University North Carolina at Greensboro. Laura Berens studied business at the University of Minnesota and is a liberal studies graduate of Santa Monica College.

US specialty retailer Zumiez Inc. (Zumiez) has reported a 2.5 percent decrease in net sales to 209 million dollars for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, compared to 214.30 million dollars in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Footwear retailer Shoe Station has posted a decline in second-quarter net sales to 284.3 million dollars for the period ended August 1, 2026, down from 306.4 million dollars in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

Apparel group Vince Holding Corp. has reported an 11.7 percent increase in net sales to 81.8 million dollars for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, compared to 73.2 million dollars in the same period last year.

Columbia Sportswear Company has appointed Peter Rauch as the new president of its technical outdoor brand Mountain Hardwear. Rauch currently serves as the general manager of Columbia Brand North America.

He will assume the role on September 28, 2026. Rauch brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience across the Columbia family of brands.

"Throughout his career, Peter has built strong cross-functional partnerships, developed high-performing teams, and delivered meaningful business results,” said Peter Bragdon, president of Columbia Sportswear Company. "His deep understanding of our business, combined with his commitment to the outdoor industry and consumers we serve, positions him well to lead Mountain Hardwear into its next chapter.”

Current Mountain Hardwear president Troy Sicotte will transition into a new position as global vice president of sales for the brand, also effective September 28, 2026. Sicotte joined Mountain Hardwear nearly eight years ago and has led the brand as president for almost five years. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening marketplace and retail relationships.

Craig Zanon, executive vice president of Europe direct, Asia direct and emerging brands, added: "We are grateful for Troy's contributions and are excited about the leadership he will continue to bring to the brand. His deep industry expertise, strong retailer partnerships and global perspective position him well to help drive the Mountain Hardwear brand's next phase of growth and success.”

British footwear brand Dr Martens has announced the appointment of Katie Morton as global customer director. Morton will officially join the business on October 26, 2026, reporting directly to chief brand officer Carla Murphy.

In her new role, Morton will be responsible for strengthening the company's consumer-centric approach globally. She will also join the leadership team to support the business in executing its Levers for Growth strategy and reinforcing consumer insight within its operating model.

"Katie has an outstanding track record helping some of the world's most iconic brands better understand and serve their consumers," said Murphy. "Together with the recent appointments across our product and brand leadership teams, Katie's arrival strengthens our ability to better understand our consumers, respond to their evolving needs and create memorable brand experiences."

Morton brings over two decades of experience in consumer, omnichannel and business transformation across the fashion and retail sectors. She spent more than 17 years at luxury label Burberry, where she held various global leadership positions, most recently serving as global vice president of online to offline. More recently, she worked as an independent consultant advising brands such as department store Fortnum & Mason.

The appointment follows other recent additions to the leadership team at Dr Martens, including Isadora Versiani as global product design director and Nadia Svensson as global merchandising and product director.

US-based fashion company G-III Apparel Group (G-III) will directly assume control of its brand operations across Spain and Portugal starting December 31, 2026, ending its distribution alliance with All We Wear Group (AWWG).

US department store group Macy’s has raised its full-year 2026 guidance after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, with comparable sales increasing across its portfolio.

British sportswear manufacturer Castore has found itself at the centre of sale speculation after reportedly receiving a series of unprompted takeover approaches from competitors.

Weekend Offender has appointed Jordan Wildrianne as managing director. He announced the move on LinkedIn on Wednesday.

Wildrianne joined the Welsh casualwear brand in March 2021 as head of global sales, a role he held until his recent promotion. Before Weekend Offender he worked at Wolverine Worldwide as account manager for CAT Lifestyle UK, and earlier as a running specialist at The Derby Runner.

Weekend Offender was founded in 2004 by friends Sam Jones and Rhydian Powell in South Wales, initially as a T-shirt range sold from Jones's store. The pair later brought in Aaron Thalmann as a partner as the label outgrew them. Its design language draws on British terrace casual culture, acid house, football fandom, music and cult film and television.

The label occupies the mid-market British casualwear space built around terrace and subculture heritage, competing with names such as Fred Perry, Ellesse, Lyle & Scott and Stone Island at a lower price point. Its core is menswear, with outerwear, polos, sweats and graphic pieces, though it now also lists womenswear, childrenswear, footwear and accessories.

Distribution runs through its own e-commerce site, UK independents and multi-brand retailers, and outlet retail — it has a store at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.

The renowned Madrid-based communications and event production agency Pelonio Press is beginning a new chapter under the name AM, with a new visual identity, headquarters and corporate structure. The change also marks the separation of the activities previously carried out jointly by its three founding partners.

Footwear and accessories group Designer Brands announced financial results for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, recording an increase in net income to 17.6 million dollars, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of 0.31 dollars, compared to the same period last year.

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has found new leadership in Pavita Cooper, who will be taking up the role of chair from October 1, 2026. Cooper will succeed David Pemsel, who announced his exit from the council and its board last month, with his departure date set for September 30.

Cooper will bring a plethora of experience to the BFC, having held senior executive positions at Lloyds’s Banking Group and Christies. She is also currently on the board of The Old Vic and The King’s Trust, which oversees YNAP’s Modern Artisan Project and Chanel’s Métiers d’Art Atelier Fellowship.

In a statement, Cooper said it was an honour to take up the helm of the BFC, adding: “My priority will be to champion fashion as an important driver of UK growth and help strengthen the environment in which British designers, entrepreneurs and businesses can start, scale and compete globally.”

BFC 2030 in full swing

Her appointment comes on the back of the BFC announcing a new strategy: ‘BFC 2030: Access, Creativity, Growth’, a four-year roadmap focused on commercialising British fashion and supporting long-term industry growth. As part of the strategy, the BFC is set to implement the Fashion Britain initiative at the upcoming London Fashion Week in September, broadening the reach of the event throughout the country.

Cooper’s appointment reflects the organisation’s further ambitions to strengthen its influence among government and policymakers. She has been tasked with helping to “champion the strategic importance of the sector”, a mission that has been amplified under Laura Wier, who stepped into the chief executive officer role last year.

Cooper will be joined by Caroline Issa, the chief executive officer of Tank magazine, who is stepping into the newly created role of deputy chair. Issa will bring to the role her expertise and relationships across the global industry, as well as her connection to the designer community associated with the BFC.

Pemsel commented that the development of board appointments reflects the “importance of bringing together the right people” to deliver BFC 2030. “The mix of expertise represents the diversity and ambition in the strategy and our commitment to support, defend and promote British fashion. The appointment of Pavita as chair directly delivers on the need to supercharge the organisation's ability to engage with government and support the industry with its policy work and access to investment,” he continued.

Months after falling into administration, LK Bennett is set to be revived through a new strategic partnership between IMG Licensing and its parent company Gordon Brothers. The US brand management firm has tapped IMG to lead a regimaging of the British label that will see it move beyond its fashion-focus to become a broader lifestyle brand.

Harvey Nichols has relaunched its e-commerce operations weeks after Frasers Group acquired the luxury department store and rescued it from the clutches of administration.

Recycled materials firm Recover has named Enes Adak and Fehmi Yüksel as co-chief executive officers, marking the next stage of development in the company’s evolution.

Adak will continue to serve as chief product officer, overseeing Recover’s product, commercial and operations functions, while Yüksel will maintain the role of chief financial officer, leading strategic direction and stakeholder engagement.

In the dual CEO position, Adak and Yüksel have been tasked with leading Recover’s growth journey, centred around strengthening customer service, partner support across the textile value chain, enhancing operational delivery and expanding its global platform.

Adak has previously held senior leadership roles at Li & Fung and Forever 21, bringing nearly 20 years of experience to his new role at Recover. Yüksel, meanwhile, holds over 15 years of leadership experience, including in his prior positions at McKinsey & Company, where he served on the firm’s transformation and sustainability teams.

Recover’s executive chairman, Hans Ploos van Amstel, said the co-CEO structure intends to combine Adak’s operation and product leadership with Yüksel’s expertise in strategy, finance and business transformation. Ploos van Amstel added: “Together, they bring complementary capabilities that will help accelerate execution, strengthen our partnerships, and continue scaling the business globally.”

Adak said the focus will be on turning the “strong foundation” Recover has built into “greater scale and commercial impact”, while Yüksel noted that Recover was positioned with confidence amid a period in which the textile industry is accelerating its circular transition.

Yüksel continued: “Our priority is to strengthen partnerships across the industry, accelerate the adoption of recycled cotton at scale, expand our global platform, and continue building a business that creates long-term value for customers, shareholders and partners.”

Nautica, an Authentic Brands Group-owned label, has ventured into the Brazilian market through a new e-commerce platform, as part of an ongoing expansion strategy underway at the brand.

In September 2026, the general shareholders' meeting of Manifattura Mario Colombo & C. SpA approved the composition of its new board of directors. The reorganisation of the group, owner of the Colmar brand, follows the death of former chairman, Mario Colombo, in April.

Structured managerial continuity

The new governance structure is designed to ensure the continuity of the strategic vision initiated by the previous management. The key board positions are distributed as follows:

• Giulio Colombo now assumes the role of chairman.
• Laura Colombo has been appointed vice-chairwoman.
• Carlo Colombo and Stefano Colombo hold the positions of directors.

To steer the corporate strategy, Giulio, Carlo and Stefano Colombo have also been appointed as managing directors. Each has been given specific responsibilities to streamline the group's operational management.

The new chairman, Giulio Colombo, detailed the group's ambitions in a statement sent to FashionUnited on the occasion of his appointment: “Through the renewal of its governance structure, Manifattura Mario Colombo & C. SpA reaffirms its commitment to sustainable and long-term growth, while preserving its strong family roots and further strengthening its focus on innovation and international development.”

This article was partly written with the support of an artificial intelligence tool before being supplemented and edited by a FashionUnited journalist.

UK e-commerce group THG PLC (THG) has announced its interim financial results for the half-year ended June 30, 2026, recording a 7.2 percent increase in group revenue on a continuing constant currency (CCY) basis to 828.7 million pounds (1,123 million dollars). Revenue reached 828.7 million pounds on a statutory basis, up 5.8 percent compared to 783.4 million pounds in the first half of 2025.

Theory has announced the appointment of James Kelly as its new global chief executive officer as part of a leadership shuffle at the Fast Retailing-owned brand. Kelly will succeed Dinesh Tandon, who will be stepping into the role of global co-chief operating officer and will also return to the position of CEO of Theory’s China arm.

The company said the change in executive leadership forms part of a strategic realignment designed to back growth across markets, with Tandon to oversee one of the brand’s most important growth regions, China.

For Kelly, meanwhile, the new role extends his time within the Fast Retailing portfolio, which he has been a part of for 13 years. After helping to scale Uniqlo in the US before leading its market expansion in Canada, Kelly joined Theory in 2022 as chief financial officer and later as global co-COO.

He was credited with contributing to the stabilisation of Theory’s D2C business, while also overseeing business transformation across the US, UK and Europe. As global CEO, a position he holds alongside serving at the helm of sister brand Helmut Lang, Kelly will oversee global headquarters functions, commercial operations and growth initiatives.

In a statement, Kelly said: “It is an honour to lead Theory, a brand with an enduring legacy of timeless design, exceptional quality and New York creativity. Together with our talented teams, we will continue building on that foundation by delivering exceptional product and experiences for our customers globally.”

UK-based conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF) has issued a trading update for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 ended September 12, 2026, revealing that group adjusted operating profit is expected to align with previous expectations, while adjusted earnings per share will exceed prior forecasts.

Worn Brand, the premium performance merino wool apparel label, has announced the death of its founder, Bryan Marville, from glioblastoma at the age of 43. His life partner, Paige Kendig, will take over leadership of the company.

Marville founded Worn in 2019 out of his passion for the outdoors. An avid surfer, bow hunter and snowboarder, he developed the patented Arrowool fabric to make socks that could stand up to all weather conditions while holding their shape. As the socks grew in popularity, the range expanded into briefs, T-shirts, midlayers and outerwear.

"Saying goodbye to Bryan was the hardest thing I've ever done and I will miss him immeasurably, not only for who he was but also who he inspired and what he created with Worn," said Kendig, Worn director. "I'm honored to lead the Worn team forward and continue to share his love of the outdoors with the world."

Kendig previously worked in television production, most recently as a senior producer for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." She became an official Worn employee only recently, but has been involved in the brand's operations and marketing for the past seven years.

Worn's patented fabric combines merino wool with a technical fibre at thread level, producing apparel that manages moisture and regulates temperature while offering durability and range of motion. The brand cites merino's lower environmental footprint against cotton, describing it as renewable, biodegradable and free of irrigation and microplastic shed.

Worn was founded in, and remains headquartered in, New York's Hudson Valley.

The French lingerie brand Aubade has made a key appointment. On Thursday, the company, which is part of the Swiss textile group Calida Group, announced the appointment of Anne Gilbert as head of human resources.

“With 17 years of experience in the luxury and retail industry, Anne Gilbert has extensive expertise in HR strategy; organisational transformation; employee relations and talent development,” Aubade stated in a press release.

In her new role, she will “support Aubade’s teams in the continued development of the Maison, placing talent, dedication and collective performance at the heart of her work,” the lingerie brand stated. Her appointment will also “further strengthen Aubade’s all-female senior leadership team.”

EXCLUSIVE

Specialty apparel retailer Destination XL Group (DXL) reported financial results for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, recording a net income of 2.0 million dollars, or 0.04 dollars per diluted share. The result marks a return to profitability compared to a net loss of 0.3 million dollars, in the prior-year period.

Womenswear retailer J.Jill recorded net sales of 154.8 million dollars, up 0.5 percent for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026 compared to 154 million dollars in the same quarter of fiscal 2025.

American footwear company Caleres reported its financial results for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, recording net sales of 695.5 million dollars, up 5.6 percent compared to the same period last year. Excluding the impact of the newly acquired Stuart Weitzman brand, net sales declined 0.8 percent to 653 million dollars.

US fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) announced financial results for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, recording an 8 percent increase in total net revenue to 1.38 billion dollars. Total comparable sales rose 6 percent, driven primarily by strong momentum at Aerie.

Interview Melanie Marsden co-founded Lounge in a spare bedroom in 2016 with 1,000 pounds and a conviction that comfortable underwear could still feel luxurious. A decade and more than 100 million pounds in annual sales later, she is applying the same argument to blazers, trousers and athleisure.

Paris - The number of visitors to the Temu and AliExpress websites significantly declined in France during the second quarter. This drop occurred even before the implementation of the three euro European tax targeting small parcels, Fevad and Médiamétrie revealed on Wednesday.

Bostick will advise NRF president and chief executive Matthew Shay and the board on legal, regulatory and reputational risk. Her brief covers litigation, governance, antitrust compliance, tax-exempt and political-law matters, intellectual property, contracting, privacy and cybersecurity, alongside management of the in-house legal team.

Shay said: "Marissa's diverse experience as a prosecutor and litigator in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, combined with her work representing a global retail and technology company, makes her an ideal choice for this role. Her insights and perspective will be indispensable as we work to achieve NRF's policy and legal goals on behalf of our members."

Bostick joins from Sideman & Bancroft, where she was the inaugural partner and head of the firm's Washington, DC office. Before that she was global head of litigation at the Motion Picture Association of America and a founding member of Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit, the enforcement team the platform set up to pursue sellers of fake goods. She served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, is a Fulbright Scholar, and began her career at O'Melveny & Myers in New York after taking her JD at Columbia Law School.

"NRF has long been the leading voice for retail on Capitol Hill and in courts across the country," Bostick said. "Retail touches every community large and small, and I look forward to bringing my experience in litigation, brand protection and policy to help NRF's members navigate an increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape."

The appointment gives the association a legal chief with counterfeit and IP enforcement experience at a point when its stated policy priorities include organised retail crime, tariffs and card interchange fees. NRF litigates directly as well as lobbying, filing suits of its own, joining actions brought by member companies and other trade groups, and submitting amicus briefs in cases affecting the industry.

The federation says retail is the largest private-sector employer in the United States, contributing 5.3 trillion dollars to annual GDP and supporting 55 million jobs, or more than one in four.

Puma has appointed Steve Cecchini as senior vice president of sports marketing. He will take up his new position on October 1, 2026, and will report directly to CEO Arthur Höld, the Herzogenaurach-based sporting goods manufacturer announced on Wednesday.

In his new role, Cecchini will further develop the company's sports marketing organisation and proactively build and manage partnerships that reflect the company's brand identity, according to the announcement. Through these partnerships and collaborations with athletes, the company's position as a leading global sports brand is to be strengthened.

“Partnerships with our athletes, teams and federations are crucial to who we are as a brand,” said Puma CEO Arthur Höld. “I am firmly convinced that Steve is the right person to lead our team proactively and strategically and to manage Puma's sports marketing portfolio. He will help us create high visibility for Puma and its performance products and clearly position us as one of the top three sports brands in the world.”

The world of sport is not new to Cecchini. The designated senior vice president of sports marketing is moving to Puma from Nike. At the US sports company, he held the position of general manager of global football clubs, federations, leagues and partnerships. In this role, he was responsible for complex, long-term partnerships and also developed and implemented a product, marketing and market strategy for this business area. He previously worked in various strategy and business development positions at Nike and at Hilfiger's parent company, PVH Corp.

Burton Snowboards has appointed Denny Bruce as chief executive, ending a search that began when John Lacy left the Vermont company in the spring after nearly 29 years.

Bruce starts on September 21 and succeeds Donna Carpenter, the company's owner, who has held the post on an interim basis since June. Carpenter remains chairman of the board. The appointment lands as the family-owned business, founded in 1977, approaches its 50th anniversary.

Bruce worked at Burton once before, as Mid-Atlantic brand manager between 2003 and 2005. He went on to senior roles at Vans, Skullcandy and Traeger, and served as global brand president of Dickies at VF Corporation, where he oversaw the repositioning of the century-old workwear label across core and premium lifestyle channels. Most recently he was chief executive of pizza oven maker Gozney, which he took from a European direct-to-consumer business to an omnichannel one with global distribution.

Burton framed his remit in commercial terms: building the marketplace strategy, brand platform and commercial architecture to carry the company through its next phase, without loosening the rider relationship the business was built on. His portfolio covers both Burton and Anon, the group's helmet and goggle line.

"When we started this search, I knew we needed someone pretty unusual, someone who could lead and grow a global business, but who also deeply understood our culture, our values, our sport and why protecting the heart and soul of this company matters so much," Carpenter said. "Denny doesn't need to be taught what Burton means or why snowboarding matters. It's already part of who he is. He loves what Burton is, believes in what we can become, and has the experience to get us there. He respects what it means to be rider-driven, and he understands that being family-owned is one of our greatest strengths."

Bruce said the return carried personal weight. "To come back to the company where my snowboarding career began, and to work alongside Donna mentoring the next generation, is incredibly meaningful to me," he said, adding that he intends to act as "an advocate for the community that has been foundational to everything I've done in my career."

A leadership gap since the spring

Lacy's departure was confirmed in April and took effect at the end of June. He had joined Burton in 1997 in a rider service role, became president in 2015, then co-chief executive alongside Carpenter in 2018, before taking sole charge in February 2020 following the death of founder Jake Burton Carpenter. His tenure covered the pandemic, subsequent supply chain disruption and an expansion push in China. Burton declined at the time to give a reason for the exit.

The company has not disclosed revenue or trading figures. It remains privately held and owned by Donna Carpenter, with headquarters in Burlington, Vermont and offices in Austria, Japan, Australia, Canada and China. Burton was the first snowboard company to obtain B Corporation certification.

H&M has appointed Aneta Pokucinska managing director of North America and general manager for the United States, combining regional oversight with direct control of the group's largest market outside Europe.

Pokucinska has held the North America managing director role since July 2026. The addition of the US general manager title gives her responsibility for day-to-day performance in the market alongside the wider regional brief covering the United States and Canada. She sits on H&M's executive management team and reports to group chief executive Daniel Ervér.

The company said her focus will be on strengthening market performance, improving the customer experience and supporting the development of the business across both countries.

"I'm honored to take on these expanded responsibilities and help shape the future of H&M across North America," Pokucinska said. "Our success is driven by our customers and our teams, and our ability to continuously evolve. Together, we will strengthen our market position, elevate the customer experience, and deliver growth across both the U.S. and Canada."

Two decades inside the business

Pokucinska joined H&M in 2006 as a part-time sales associate in Katowice, Poland, while studying at the University of Silesia, moving into visual merchandising the following year. She was named head of merchandising for the East Europe region in 2014, covering five countries, before relocating to the Stockholm head office as global head of merchandising for the H&M brand in 2018. She has also served as head of business transformation.

Her regional experience spans three continents. Before the North America appointment she was regional manager for the Americas as well as North East Asia and East Asia, having earlier led the business in Japan and other Asian markets.

Madrid – The Spanish fashion multinational Inditex group (Inditex), parent company of popular fashion chains such as Bershka, Massimo Dutti and Zara, its flagship and “star” chain, reported its results for the first half of its current 2026 fiscal year earlier today. The period, from February 1 to July 31, saw the company once again record new all-time highs in both sales and profits.

Swiss luxury group Compagnie Financière Richemont (Richemont) has appointed Anton Rupert as non-executive co-deputy chairman of the board of directors.

Rupert will serve alongside Bram Schot, who was appointed non-executive deputy chairman in 2024 and will continue in his role as non-executive co-deputy chairman. The two non-executive co-deputy chairmen will maintain complementary remits within the business.

Rupert is set to oversee matters relating to the Maisons' Strategic Product and Communications Committee (SPCC), focusing on continuity across the group's creative and commercial direction. Meanwhile, Schot will assume responsibility for board and committee-related governance matters, including the coordination of board committees and the corporate governance framework.

According to the group, the division of responsibilities reflects the board's commitment to governance while ensuring strategic priorities receive dedicated attention at the non-executive co-deputy chairman level.

“This appointment is an important step in the Board's long-term succession planning,” said Johann Rupert, chairman of Richemont. “Richemont's strength has always rested on the continuity that comes from close family involvement, on rigorous governance, and on an unwavering commitment to creativity and craftsmanship.”

Rupert added: “Having Anton and Bram serve together as Non-executive Co-Deputy Chairmen ensures that each of these foundations is given the attention it deserves: Anton will continue to safeguard the creative and product priorities that define our Maisons, while Bram will ensure that our governance remains of the highest standard.”

Richemont operates across three primary business divisions: Jewellery Maisons, including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist Watchmakers, including IWC Schaffhausen and Jaeger-LeCoultre; and Fashion & Accessories Maisons, including Chloé, Montblanc and Dunhill.

Interview G.H.Bass is celebrating two anniversaries at once in 2026: It’s been 150 years since George Henry Bass entered the shoe-making business in Wilton, Maine, in 1876, and 90 years of the Weejuns penny loafer, introduced in 1936. The brand is commemorating both with a limited-edition capsule collection, released in select quantities and carrying a specially minted anniversary penny.

CEO Interview When the American sports-fashion brand Off Season launched in January 2025, it had five NFL teams, one product category and a founder the internet already knew. Kristin Juszczyk, the self-taught designer whose custom Chiefs jacket for Taylor Swift went viral in 2023, supplied the creative story supported up by Emma Grede, co-founder and CEO of Good American and founding partner of Skims. Puffer vests started at 295 dollars and the debut sold out.

A study published in PLOS One found that women may show a stronger preference for visible luxury products around ovulation, when fertility is highest.

A lavish Chinese client, who spent millions of euros on luxury goods at the Louis Vuitton store on the Champs-Élysées, allegedly received improper tax refunds. Five people, including former company executives, have been on trial since Monday at the Paris Criminal Court for organised fraud.

Skims has hired Natalie Buchberger, former senior manager at Tapestry, as its new director of franchise for international markets.

Buchberger will lead Skims’ franchise business across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

“After 8 incredible years at Tapestry, it’s time to close a very special chapter and start an exciting new one,” Buchberger shared on her LinkedIn. “A big thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey at Tapestry. I’m looking forward to this next chapter and everything that comes with it.”

Buchberger started at Tapestry as Coach’s senior sales account executive for Central Europe in 2018. She was later promoted to key-account manager in 2020, and to head of sales for Continental Europe and emerging markets in 2022. Two years later, she became head of sales for Coach and Kate Spade across the EMEAI regions.

Skims’ executive team has seen several changes lately. In August, the brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede appointed Jasmine Sevan as vice president of communications; promoted Kim Schraub to chief brand officer and named Erin Magee chief design officer.

Scottish luxury leather brand Strathberry has secured growth investment from Soho Square Capital to support its next phase of international expansion, with a particular focus on North America.

Madrid – The H&M Group appears determined to end the period of gradual decline it has been experiencing in Spain, both operationally and commercially. The company has announced the opening of a “production office” in the country. This department will now operate from Barcelona, strengthening the Swedish fashion multinational's product development capabilities.

Sabato De Sarno is the new creative director of Icicle. “In this role, Sabato De Sarno will oversee the artistic direction of Icicle for the women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, accessories and eyewear. His first collection for Icicle will be presented for autumn/winter 2027-2028,” the company explained via its Instagram account.

“I have always been fascinated by design beyond the final product: from the origins of the raw materials to the craftsmanship that shapes them. I was drawn to Icicle because of the deep harmony between its principles and my creative philosophy. The harmony between man and nature is an idea that Icicle has been exploring for almost 30 years, and I feel it is more relevant today than ever. I am grateful to Mr Ye (Ye Shouzeng, CEO and co-founder of the brand, ed.) for his trust as we begin to write this chapter together with the whole team,” Sabato De Sarno said in the post shared via social media.

Bénédicte Laloux, who has played a central role in shaping the creative identity of Icicle's women's ready-to-wear and the Paris Design Studio since 2013, will continue in her role as design director of the women’s show collection, working under the creative direction of Sabato De Sarno.

De Sarno grew up in Naples. He began his career at Prada in 2005

“Since the founding of Icicle in 1997, our ambition has always been to reconnect people with nature through lasting fashion. We believe that this vision can only be realised by uniting creative talent from around the world with the deep cultural roots and industrial strength of Icicle in China. Sabato's arrival marks an important step forward in this direction,” emphasised Ye Shouzeng, CEO and co-founder of the brand.

De Sarno grew up in Naples. He began his career at Prada in 2005, then moved to Dolce & Gabbana, before joining Valentino in 2009. There, he held positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in his appointment as fashion director overseeing the men's and women's collections. In 2023, he joined Gucci as Alessandro Michele's successor.

In February 2025, the Florentine house announced the departure of creative director De Sarno.

Tennis fashion has long crossed into everyday style, as shown by Lacoste and Fred Perry over the decades. But in 2021, the word “tenniscore” transformed it into a global trend that has quickly been embraced by luxury brands and sportswear labels everywhere. Within that saturated market, Courtney Kelly, founder of Courting, is betting there’s still space for innovation.

Investment fund Regent Apparel Group has appointed a new chief executive officer. Guillaume de Blic rejoins the company around ten years after leaving the entity that includes the Dim brands (DBI, Dim Brands International), owned by Regent L.P.

This new appointment marks a significant return for the executive. The chief executive officer is returning to a familiar environment and will once again oversee the teams at the DBI division, which includes historic lingerie and underwear brands such as DIM; Playtex; Wonderbra; Lovable; Abanderado; Nur Die and Bellinda. “I am proud and grateful to be joining Regent and excited about the opportunity that awaits me,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Beyond DBI, the new executive will lead a diverse group of entities. Regent Apparel Group owns players in the lifestyle, ready-to-wear and accessible luxury markets, including Petit Bateau, Bally, Escada, Club Monaco and La Senza.

The new management's stated objective is to meet with the global teams and to delve deeper into each brand's strategy to unlock the portfolio's potential. Commenting on his appointment, the executive stated: “A new adventure begins, with great brands, talented people and a lot of ambition for what we can build together.”

Prior to joining Regent, Guillaume de Blic spent ten years at French brand Lacoste, where he had held the position of CEO for Europe, the Middle East and Africa since 2022. The executive announced his departure a few days ago in a LinkedIn post, stating: “When I look back on this journey, what I feel most is gratitude and pride for what we have built together, with a common ambition: to grow Lacoste and to strengthen, day by day, its appeal and its global reach.”

The Alliance for American Manufacturing has asked the Federal Trade Commission to open an inquiry into the AI shopping assistants operated by major online retailers, arguing that the tools may be obscuring country-of-origin information and steering shoppers away from American-made goods.

Central Group is strengthening its management team. The Thai corporate group has appointed Wallaya Chirathivat as president, the department store operator announced on the professional network LinkedIn on Monday. The appointment of the manager, who has been part of the group for 40 years, is intended to strengthen the company for its next phase of growth and further expand its position in Thailand and on international markets.

The designated president's career to date includes roles in retail, real estate and corporate management, all within the group. In her new role, she will drive key group-wide priorities, strengthen collaboration between the various business units and represent Central Group to government agencies; private sector organisations; investors; business partners and international networks, according to the announcement.

“Wallaya brings a deep understanding of our business areas, extensive experience in leading large organisations and a continuous track record of success. I am confident that she will be another driving force in our management team and will help lead Central Group confidently into the future,” said Tos Chirathivat, executive chairman and CEO of Central Group.

The new president also sees her main task as building on the group's existing strengths and creating new business opportunities. “The key to our next step is to build on our capabilities and create more opportunities together – to add value for our customers, suppliers, employees, partners and stakeholders, guided by our corporate purpose: Central of Life – the center of life.”

It took Vinted a few months to become a serious enough problem to appear in Wall Street analyst notes.

Patagonia has joined a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s decision to reduce two national monuments in Utah, arguing that the move threatens public land protections, Tribal sovereignty and areas of environmental and cultural importance. The outdoor clothing brand announced the lawsuit on September 2, challenging President Donald Trump’s July proclamation reducing Bears Ears National Monument by around 91 percent, as well as also significantly cutting the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Paying an influencer to create content does not necessarily give a fashion brand the right to reuse it. A brand may commission a short video for a product launch, then repurpose it for paid advertising, its website, an email campaign or an in-store screen. Months later, it may revive the content for a new colourway, even though the original permissions may not cover those later uses.

Traceability is increasingly seen in the apparel industry not as a competitive advantage, but as a prerequisite for market access. This is the key message of the recently published annual report from Oeko-Tex. New legal requirements in the EU, US and Canada increasingly demand that companies can prove the origin of their products and raw materials, as well as their manufacturing processes. Companies that can document their supply chain from raw material to finished product are therefore better prepared for customs inspections, regulatory audits and trade restrictions.

FashionUnited's Turkish job board includes fashion vacancies from across the country, from design, buying and e-commerce roles in Istanbul to merchandising, quality and denim jobs in Bursa, Denizli and Gaziantep. Whether you want to work brand-side, in a sourcing office, on the production floor, or in fashion retail, this is where Turkey's fashion openings sit in one place.

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

What fashion jobs are in demand in Turkey?

Turkey's fashion sector has shifted toward higher-value work, so today's openings cluster around a handful of functions:

• Production & merchandising: merchandiser, planner and production manager roles at manufacturers and sourcing offices.
• Sourcing & compliance: supplier audits, chemical management and documentation for EU due diligence rules.
• Technical: pattern makers, technical designers, fit and quality specialists.
• Denim development: wash, laser and finishing technicians.
• Sustainability & ESG: reporting, certification and traceability, driven by the EU's digital product passport and due diligence rules.
• Commercial: account manager, export sales and key-account roles at mills and vendors.
• Retail & e-commerce: store manager, marketplace and performance-marketing roles at Turkish chains expanding abroad.

Where are the fashion jobs in Turkey?

Fashion hiring follows Turkey's biggest cities. Istanbul has by far the most vacancies: head offices, brand stores, design studios and e-commerce teams all cluster there, followed by the country's other major commercial centres. Pick your city and jump straight to its listings:

Istanbul · Ankara · İzmir · Bursa · Antalya · Adana · Gaziantep · Kocaeli

Who is hiring in fashion in Turkey?

Turkey's fashion employers are a mix of global names and homegrown chains. Among the brands currently hiring on the board are international players with stores and offices across the country, such as Mango, Nike, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger (PVH), Hugo Boss and EssilorLuxottica, recruiting for store, stockroom and head-office roles.

Alongside them, Turkey's own retail giants do much of the domestic hiring: LC Waikiki, DeFacto, Koton, Mavi, Boyner, Vakko, Beymen, İpekyol and Penti. And on the supply side, denim mills and manufacturers such as Bossa, Isko, Çalık Denim, Orta Anadolu, Yeşim and Şahinler recruit across production, development and export, while many European and American brands run sourcing and liaison offices in Istanbul.

See all the brands hiring now →

Why Turkey hires

Turkey's edge over Asian sourcing markets is speed: a truck leaving a factory near Istanbul reaches Germany or France in three to seven days, which is why Zara, H&M and Marks & Spencer buy directly from Turkish suppliers. The country is unusually vertically integrated: spinning, weaving, dyeing, washing, garment-making and finishing all happen domestically, often in the same industrial zone. It is also the leading denim fabric supplier to the European Union, holding more than a quarter of that market.

Turkey is the EU's third-largest clothing supplier after China and Bangladesh (İHKİB). Basic cut-make-trim work has moved to lower-cost markets, but that has pushed hiring toward the skilled, better-paid roles that stayed: design, sourcing, sustainability, denim development, e-commerce and export sales.

Can you get a fashion job in Turkey?

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

• English-speaking, office-based roles. Sourcing offices, export departments and the Istanbul offices of international brands often work in English. These are the most accessible if your Turkish is limited: sourcing, compliance, export sales, e-commerce, design and product development.
• Turkish-speaking, floor-based roles. Most factory, retail and commercial jobs need Turkish. Each posting on the board states the language requirement, so you can filter as you go. Applying from abroad? You'll need a work permit, which the employer applies for after making you an offer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Turkish to work in fashion in Turkey? For most factory, retail and commercial roles, yes. Sourcing offices, export departments and international brand offices in Istanbul often work in English, and each posting states the requirement.

Which city has the most fashion vacancies? Istanbul, by a wide margin. Head offices, design studios and buying teams are concentrated there.

Can I apply from outside Turkey? Yes. Non-Turkish nationals need a work permit, which the employer applies for after making an offer.

What fashion roles are most in demand? Merchandising and production, sourcing and compliance, technical design, denim development, sustainability and ESG, and e-commerce.

Which companies hire fashion designers in Turkey? Retail groups like LC Waikiki, Koton, Mavi, Vakko and Beymen, plus vertically integrated manufacturers and the Istanbul offices of international brands.

Start your search

Browse by city: Istanbul · Ankara · İzmir · Bursa · Antalya · Adana · Gaziantep · Kocaeli

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

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

Burlington Stores is moving its corporate headquarters from New Jersey to West Philadelphia, with the department store chain planning to invest 370 million dollars and create at least 2,000 jobs in the city over the next five years.

Beijing urged France on Thursday to abandon its recently implemented law on ultra-fast fashion, lambasting the new measure targeting major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein and Temu as "clearly discriminatory".

The slump in Lululemon shares following weak figures and a revenue and profit warning is also expected to weigh on the shares of Adidas and Puma on Friday.

The main trading company of British department store Harvey Nichols owed an estimated 270.5 million pounds to unsecured creditors when it entered administration last month, with creditors expected to recover only a fraction of the money owed, according to a report from administrators FTI Consulting filed with the UK's Companies House.

US apparel group Oxford Industries, Inc. (Oxford Industries) reported consolidated net sales of 394 million dollars for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 ended August 1, 2026, marking a decrease from 403 million dollars in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

US footwear retailer Genesco Inc. (Genesco) announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2027 ended August 1, 2026, reporting a 3 percent decrease in net sales to 530 million dollars compared to 546 million dollars in the second quarter of fiscal 2026.

US direct-to-consumer (D2C) apparel, intimates, and accessories brand Torrid Holdings Inc. (Torrid) reported an 11.8 percent decrease in net sales to 231.7 million dollars for the second quarter ending August 1, 2026, compared to 262.8 million dollars in the second quarter of last year. Comparable sales decreased 6.3 percent during the period.

US activewear brand Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Lululemon) reported a 4 percent decrease in net revenue to 2.4 billion dollars for the second quarter of 2026, ending August 2, 2026. On a constant dollar basis, net revenue fell 5 percent.

Interview

With the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India has gained a significant tariff advantage to strengthen its presence in the European textile market. How does the country plan to transform its industry and offering to capitalise on this? FashionUnited spoke exclusively with Neelam Shami Rao, secretary of the Indian Ministry of Textiles, during her visit to the Texworld trade fair.

India's industrial strategy behind the Free Trade Agreement

Neelam Shami Rao: “The entire Indian textile industry is enthusiastic about this free trade agreement. We are eagerly awaiting its ratification and implementation. This is also the feedback we are getting from sourcing professionals.

In India, we are preparing to supply more clothing, fabrics and value-added products to Europe. We have strong assets in natural fibres, but we are also diversifying into man-made fibres. By combining these two strengths, we should be able to meet the demand of the European market.

Europe represents a very important market for us, which we consider a single market. Our goal is to strengthen this cooperation by combining European design and fashion sensibilities with the expertise of Indian artisans and the production capabilities of Indian factories. This will allow us to meet the expectations of European consumers.”

How the Indian textile industry plans to adapt its offering to the European market

“We need to act on several fronts.

Firstly, we must invest in product lines that we have not developed so far, or that we have not sufficiently promoted in European markets.

Secondly, we need to better consider the European market's design expectations and develop more products specifically for it. This involves moving beyond the traditional image associated with Indian products. India has many assets that are still little known in Europe, and we must build on them.”

How the Indian government is supporting the textile industry's growth

“The Indian textile industry is a labour-intensive industry. It generates many jobs and employs a large number of women.

Today, we want to increase our production capacity. The Indian government already supports the manufacturing industry through numerous programmes in infrastructure and logistics. These are implemented at both the central government and state levels.

We are also developing education and training programmes, particularly through the National Institute of Fashion Technology and many other design schools. Nearly 4,000 young fashion designers graduate from these institutions every year.”

Market segments India aims to develop in Europe

“Until now, Indian products have been mainly associated with cotton. We know, however, that the European market uses more man-made fibres. India is already the world's second-largest producer of these. We therefore want to further develop this offering and translate it into products and designs adapted to the European market.

Furthermore, India has long been seen as a country specialising in summer products. We now want to offer a range that covers all seasons, particularly with products dedicated to autumn and layering. We see significant potential here.”

A focus on embroidery

“Yes, particularly embroidery and other artisanal skills, which we want to rely on more.

We would also like to better promote high-end materials, such as pashmina wool, as well as certain very fine and rare materials that are difficult to find elsewhere. We believe they have strong potential in the European market.”

Victoria’s Secret is facing scrutiny once more in regard to its supply-chain practices after New York City’s Commission on Human Rights issued a compliance notice concerning a local casting call for its upcoming “Angels Among Us” campaign.

Luxury group Kering is continuing to strengthen its centres of excellence with the appointment of Marilyne Trebus as its new product director, effective immediately this Tuesday, according to a report by WWD. In her new role, she will report to Carlo Mocci, chief client officer, who took up his position last May and joined the group's executive committee.

Confirmed expertise in the luxury sector

Marilyne Trebus joins Kering from American brand Coach, where she held the positions of chief merchandising officer and general manager of lifestyle. She spent almost 12 years at the leather goods specialist, holding various strategic roles. A graduate of ESCP Business School, Trebus began her career in 2003 as a retail buyer for Celine in New York. Her career later took her to Valentino in New York and Milan. She then moved to Chloé in Paris, where she served as marketing and merchandising director for ready-to-wear.

"Reconkering" strategy in action

The new director's main mission is part of the broader internal strategy dubbed “Reconkering”. According to a group statement reported by WWD, her role is to “partner with the houses and provide sharper capabilities in marketing; product; omnichannel; commerce and customer growth”. She will therefore work closely with the various brands in the portfolio, which include Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Brioni and McQueen. The objective is to consolidate merchandising, pricing, integrated business planning and product development, with a focus on more agile and consumer-centric working methods.

Strategic reorganisation driven by management

Under the leadership of its new chief executive officer Luca de Meo, Kering announced in March 2026 the creation of two centres of excellence, focused on industry and the client. This initiative aims to optimise operational efficiency and support the sustainable growth of the houses. This global reorganisation has led to several key appointments, including Stéphane Noël as industrial director; Fedele Usai as marketing director; and Daniele Zito as commercial director. The chief executive officer highlighted this ambition at the time: “With these new centres of excellence, we are clarifying the organisation, connecting teams and guaranteeing efficiency at Group level to give our Houses the means to go faster and further.”

The potential sale of British online retailer Very Group is reportedly close to being scrapped after prospective buyers declined to meet the two billion pound asking price.