How Formula 1 racing has inspired both athleticwear and designer collections

Formula 1 inspiration/ main photo Credits: Formula 1
inspiration/Launchmetrics Spotlight
A-list celebrities including Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Lupita Nyong'o and
Heidi Klum came out to watch the inaugural edition of the Las Vegas
Grand Prix, held November 16-18 2023, confirming the booming interest
in Formula 1 racing in The U.S. Consequently, opportunities for
licensing and partnerships with both athletic and apparel brands have
grown exponentially.
As reported last month by FashionUnited.com, Puma named A$AP Rocky as creative director
for its Puma x Formula 1 partnership. Puma said its focus will be on
the intersection of motorsport and streetwear.


Tracing the trend




A bit like soccer, F1 was a sport that lagged behind in interest with
the American public compared to the rest of the world. That all
changed in 2019 with the debut of the Netflix series, ‘Formula 1:
Drive to Survive.’ The series introduced millions of Americans not
only to the excitement of futuristic-looking cars zooming around race
tracks at speeds of over 200 miles, but also to the glamorous stars of
the sport like Mercedes team member, Britain’s Sir Lewis Hamilton. Not
only is Hamilton considered to be the greatest F1 driver of all time,
he’s a closely watched fashion icon both on and off the tracks, endorsing many products
Interestingly, even though F1 is majorly dominated by men, it has
piqued the interest of both male and female designers and consumers.



Ferrari collection

Ferrari ss23/ look 12 Credits: Ferrari
ss23/Launchmetrics Spotlight


Formula 1 is a very exclusive sport with just ten teams, including the
racing division of Ferrari named Scuderia Ferrari.
Sensing a growing market within the fashion world, the brand hired
fashion designer Rocco Iannone and started producing both men’s and
women’s collections inspired by the racing team’s uniforms as worn by
star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Ferrari ss23/ look 30 Credits: Ferrari
ss23/Launchmetrics Spotlight
Christian Dior




At Christian Dior, both the women’s designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri and
the men’s, Kim Jones have gained inspiration from Formula 1.
For fw22 Chiuri showed jackets and gloves associated with the sport.

Dior fw22/ look 16 Credits: Dior fw22/Launchmetrics
Spotlight Credits: Dior fw22/Launchmetrics Spotlight


In 2022 Jones collaborated with the creators of the automotive game.
Gran Turismo 7. They first created a digital one-piece racing suit,
helmet, gloves, and rally-inspired ‘Diorizon’ boots. The outfit was
then brought to life by the Dior ateliers.






Polish model Sabina Jakubowicz attended the ss24 Dior show wearing a
version of the look.

Sabina Jakubowicz in Dior Credits: Sabina Jakubowicz
in Dior/Launchmetrics Spotlight
Post-Pandemic motorsport fashion




Several collections, both men and women’s, have referenced the sport.


Marni ss22, designer, Francesco Risso

Marni ss22/ look 34 Credits: Marni
ss22/Launchmetrics Spotlight


Look 34: a leather moto jacket in red, blue, black and white color
blocks over blue and white shorts and a leg warmer, sporty socks and
sneakers.


David Koma fw23

David Koma fw 23/ look 10 Credits: David Koma fw
23/Launchmetrics Spotlight


Look 10: a collarless moto jacket in black, white and red with
Marlboro logos over a white shirt and black tie; a color-blocked
shearling skirt in red and black and mismatched red and black thigh
high boots and gloves.


Casablanca ss24: designer, Charaf Tajer

Casablanca ss24/ look 7 Credits: Casablanca
ss24/Launchmetrics Spotlight


Look 7: a crocodile print pressed leather moto jacket in color blocks
of yellow, orange, black and white with the brand’s logo. The jacket
was shown over a long black dress accessorized with colorful jewelry
and black point toe sling-backs. The model carried a racing helmet.



Motorsport street style


Alexandra Guerin in Lamarque

Alexandra Guerin in Lamarque Credits: Alexandra
Guerin in Lamarque/Launchmetrics Spotlight


Childrenswear designer Alexandra Guerin was seen at the AZ Factory
ss24 show wearing a black and red leather moto jacket and matching
mini skirt, both from Lamarque by Adelina Hodzic.


Indira Scott in Namilia by Nan Li and Emilia Pfohl

Indira Scott in Namilia Credits: Indira Scott in
Namilia/Launchmetrics Spotlight


American model Indiri Scott was seen during Milan fashion Week fw23
wearing a vegan leather motocross jacket in black, white and blue by
Namilia x Need For Speed worn with turbo moto thigh-high boots.




Look for Formula 1 and motorsports to continue to influence fashion during 2024.


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BFC announces hosts for British Fashion Awards

British Fashion Awards Credits: BFC



Maya Jama and Kojey Radical are set to host The Fashion Awards 2023 (TFA), presented by Pandora, at London's Royal Albert Hall on December 4.


Maya Jama, known for her on-screen and entrepreneurial success, and Kojey Radical, a British musician at the forefront of mainstreaming underground Black music, bring their distinctive styles to the hosting duties. The event will also feature Law Roach hosting the Red Carpet LIVE served by smartwater, engaging in live conversations with fashion, music, and entertainment pioneers.


The Fashion Awards Red Carpet LIVE will be accessible on BFC social channels, starting at 6:30 pm GMT on December 4. The event serves as a fundraiser for the BFC Foundation, with support from partners such as Don Julio, Getty Images, Moët & Chandon, Royal Salute, smartwater, and The Peninsula London.


Caroline Rush, Chief Executive, British Fashion Council, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to announce the brilliant Maya Jama and Kojey Radical as hosts for The Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora as we focus this year on celebrating British creativity and leadership. The two are pioneers in their respective industries and represent fashion's position at the intersection of culture. I look forward to seeing their dynamic energy on stage as we celebrate the many achievements of the fashion industry this year.”


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Nanushka launches UK garment repair service in partnership with SOJO

Nanushka launches UK in-store garment mending service Credits: Nanushka x SOJO



Nanushka has joined forces with London-based fashion-tech platform SOJO to provide customers with product repair services, aiming to extend the lifecycle of the brand’s garments.


The Budapest-based fashion company and platform have curated a limited capsule collection that showcases creative mending practices. The collection features reimagined Nanushka garments adorned with hand-embroidered kopjafa symbols, woven fringing, and patchwork panelling. The launch is accompanied by a creative campaign, including a short film highlighting the craftsmanship of SOJO's expert tailors.


Sandra Sandor, Founder and Creative Director of Nanushka, expressed her excitement about the collaboration with SOJO, emphasizing the convenience it brings to conscious customers seeking to prolong the lifespan of their garments. The partnership introduces a door-to-door repair and creative mending service for Nanushka's UK customers.


The brand’s London flagship store at 30 Bruton Street allows shoppers to explore the collaboration and drop off their own Nanushka garments for repairs or creative mending.


Rise of the circular economy




The popularity of in-store garment mending services is on the rise, reflecting a growing trend towards sustainability and conscious consumerism. Retailers are recognizing the shift in consumer priorities, with many individuals seeking to extend the lifespan of their clothing rather than succumbing to the throwaway culture that has long prevailed.


In response to this demand, an increasing number of fashion brands like Nanushka are incorporating in-store garment mending services as part of their offerings. The benefits of in-store garment mending services are multifaceted, contributing to the reduction of textile waste by repairing and repurposing items that might otherwise end up in landfills. This aligns with the broader movement towards circular fashion, emphasizing the importance of keeping clothing in use for as long as possible.


These services also empower consumers to make more conscious choices by fostering a sense of responsibility for the longevity of their wardrobe. By investing in repairs and alterations, individuals can develop a more sustainable relationship with their clothing, moving away from the disposable mindset perpetuated by fast fashion.


Moreover, in-store garment mending services enhance the overall customer experience, providing a personalised and value-added service that goes beyond the traditional transactional nature of retail.


Nanushka garment repair service UK Credits: Nanushka x SOJO


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Seasalt eyes US expansion, plans four store openings

Jason McNary, Seasalt's consulting director, North America Credits: Seasalt.



British brand Seasalt has set its sights on growing in the US market, as it reveals plans to open four new stores in the country during 2024.


The first store to open will be located in the New England area, within the northeast region where the brand’s focus currently is, with a dedicated US website to also launch in the summer.


From there, up to 20 stores are planned to open over the next three years, building on Seasalt’s already established presence in the US, which has primarily been operated through an online partnership with department store chain, Belk.


In a release, Paul Hayes, chief executive officer of Seasalt, said: “Our US market entry strategy has been in development for some time now and we have established a strong foundation in the country through our partnership with Belk as a springboard to accelerate our expansion.”


Consulting director for North America appointed to help with growth




The announcement comes as Seasalt further announced the appointment of Jason McNary as its consulting director, North America, who has been tasked with leading the expansion.


McNary was most recently chief executive officer of Spanish jewellery brand Unode50, and had previously served as president of French fashion brand Agnés B, prior to which he had also held positions at the likes of BCBG Max Azria, Abercombie and Fitch and Hoss Inropia.


To help in accelerating its international expansion, Seasalt said it has further partnered with Rarely Heard Voices to help identify and establish the right partnerships to drive growth in North America and Europe.


While the US expansion goes ahead, the company noted that the UK would remain a primary focus, with store openings expected to continue on the same trajectory through the next year, following the launch of several new stores across the UK, Ireland and and New Zealand over the last 12 months.


On the strategy, McNary said: “Seasalt is a company that I have long admired for its many strengths: it has a fantastic high-quality product and is a company with strong sustainability credentials, commitment to inclusion and diversity and world-class customer service.


“I look forward to working with Paul and the wider team to bring the Seasalt brand to a new audience and lead the US plans in this next phase of development.”


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Walmart Q3 revenues increase by 5.2 percent

Credits: Image: Walmart



Consolidated revenue of 160.8 billion dollars at Walmart, were up 5.2 percent or 4.3 percent in constant currency.


For fiscal 2024, the company expects consolidated sales to Increase approximately 5 percent to 5.5 percent, operating income to increase approximately 7 percent to 7.5 percent, and adjusted EPS in the range of 6.40 dollars to 6.48 dollars.


“We had strong revenue growth across segments for the quarter, and we’re excited to get an early start to the holiday season. Looking ahead, our inventory is in good shape, the teams are focused, and our associates are ready to serve our customers and members whenever and however they want to be served,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Walmart.


Walmart U.S. sales of 109.4 billion dollars rose 4.4 percent, while the company delivered 24 percent growth in ecommerce, led by strength in pickup & delivery. Walmart Connect advertising sales grew 26 percent. The company added that the sales strength was led by grocery and health & wellness, while general merchandise sales declined modestly. Gross profit rate increased 5 bps for the quarter under review.


Walmart International sales of 28 billion dollars increased 10.8 percent or 5.4 percent in constant currency but ecommerce sales declined 3 percent, while advertising grew 4 percent. Gross margin rate increased 151 bps and operating income in constant currency improved 10.7 percent with strength across markets.


The company’s consolidated gross margin rate rose 32bps, while on an adjusted basis, gross margin improved 37bps.


Walmart said consolidated operating income was up 3.5 billion dollars or 130.1 percent, and adjusted operating income increased 3 percent. Adjusted EPS for the quarter reached 1.53 dollars.


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The Children’s Place posts drop in Q3 sales and earnings

Credits: Gymboree/The Children’s Place



The Children’s Place reported third quarter net sales decreased 28.9 million dollars or 5.7 percent to 480.2 million dollars. The company’s comparable retail sales decreased 7.3 percent for the quarter.


The company attributed the decrease in net sales to the impact of the continued slowdown in consumer demand resulting from the unprecedented inflation impacting the customer and from other domestic and geo-political concerns weighing on consumer confidence, an increase in promotional activity across the sector, and the impact of permanent store closures.


Commenting on the trading performance, Jane Elfers, the company’s president and CEO said, ““While our core customer remains under significant pressure, we were pleased with our ability to drive top-line above our expectations throughout the third quarter. November is off to a strong start with consolidated retail sales running up low single digits quarter to date versus last year, driven by the continued strength of our digital business.”


Review of The Children’s Place Q3 results




The company added that gross profit and adjusted gross profit for the quarter decreased by 14.8 million dollars to 162.1 million dollars and adjusted gross margin decreased 110 basis points to 33.7 percent of net sales.


Operating income was 45 million dollars, while adjusted operating income was 47.9 million dollars. The third quarter 2023 adjusted operating income dropped 160 basis points to 10 percent of net sales.


Net income for the quarter decreased to 38.5 million dollars or 3.05 dollars per diluted share and adjusted net income decreased to 40.6 million dollars or 3.22 dollars per diluted share.


The Children's Place year-to-date net sales down 8.4 percent




Net sales for the nine month period decreased 104.9 million dollars or 8.4 percent to 1.147 billion dollars and comparable retail sales decreased 8.1 percent.


Gross profit for the period decreased 88 million dollars to 346.4 million dollars and adjusted gross profit decreased 87.4 million dollars to 346.4 million dollars. Adjusted gross margin declined 440 basis points to 30.2 percent.


Operating loss was 22 million dollars in the nine months and adjusted operating loss was 1.6 million dollars. Year-to-date adjusted operating margin declined 550 basis points to negative 0.1 percent of net sales.


Net loss for the period was 25.7 million dollars or 2.06 dollars per diluted share, while adjusted net loss was 10.6 million dollars or 85 cents loss per diluted share.


The Company ended the third quarter with 591 stores. Consistent with the Company’s store fleet optimization initiative, the company permanently closed five stores during the quarter and has permanently closed 608 stores since 2013. The company is planning to close approximately 64 more stores by the end of the fourth quarter, leaving it with a fleet of approximately 530 stores.


The Children’s Place forecasts low-single digit sales increase for Q4




For the fourth quarter of 2023, the company now expects net sales in the range of 460 million dollars to 465 million dollars, representing a low single digit increase.


Adjusted operating profit is expected to be approximately 2 percent to 3 percent of net sales and adjusted net income per diluted share is estimated to be in the range of 25 cents to 45 cents based upon an anticipated weighted average number of shares of 12.6 million.


The company now expects net sales for the full year 2023, to be in the range of 1.605 billion dollars to 1.610 billion dollars, adjusted operating profit is estimated to be in the low single digit percentage range of net sales and adjusted net loss per diluted share is estimated to be in the range of 59 cents to 39 cents based upon an anticipated weighted average number of shares of 12.5 million.


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Buckle Q3 comparable sales drop by 9.2 percent

Credits: Image: Buckle store. Photo: 42031454 © Boggy | Dreamstime.com



Buckle third quarter net income decreased to 51.8 million dollars or 1.05 dollars per share or 1.04 dollars per share on a diluted basis.


Net sales for the quarter decreased 8.7 percent to 303.5 million dollars, while comparable store net sales decreased 9.2 percent and online sales decreased 16.2 percent to 46.1 million dollars.


Net income for the 39-week fiscal period decreased to 140.3 million dollars or 2.83 dollars per share and 2.81 dollars per share on a diluted basis.


Net sales for the nine months decreased 6.9 percent to 878.7 million dollars, while comparable store net sales decreased 7.3 percent and online sales decreased 9.4 percent to 141 million dollars.


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Activists slam conditions at Europe's fur farms

Renard. Credits: Margaret Weir, Unsplash.



Helsinki (AFP) - Animal rights group on Friday decried conditions at 31 fur farms in Europe, following the emergence of videos
showing dead mutilated foxes lying in cages and minks with severe eye infections.


The videos, released by animal rights group Humane Society International
(HSI), were filmed clandestinely at 20 fur farms in Lithuania, five in
Finland, two each in Poland and Spain, and one each in Denmark and Latvia.


They were shot between April and November this year by several animal
rights associations, including Oikeutta elaimille in Finland, Otwarte Klatki
in Poland and Tu Abrigo Su Vida in Spain, an activist at Oikeutta elaimille,
Kristo Muurimaa, told AFP.


The groups made around 100 visits in total to the fur farms, the HSI said.


The photos and videos, seen by AFP, show caged minks, foxes and raccoon
dogs sick and in convulsions, as well as a number of animal cadavres with open
wounds lying in the cages.


The Humane Society International, speaking on behalf of the associations,
said the images illustrate the need for a ban on fur farming.


"We need a Europe-wide ban on fur farming because it is quite evident that
animal suffering is part of the fabric of the fur farming industry,"
spokeswoman Wendy Higgins told AFP.


A petition calling for an end to the fur industry has garnered more than
1.5 million signatures from EU citizens and has been submitted to the European
Commission, surpassing the one million required to trigger a response from the
Commission.


Its answer is expected by December 14, HSI said.


The fur industry dismissed the criticism.


"I am not going to react to (the conclusions drawn by) people who break
into farms and frighten the animals and create videos which are misleading,"
said Mark Oaten, the head of the International Fur Federation representing the
industry.


"We welcome a scientific review of fur farming at the EU level, we have
nothing to hide," he told AFP.


Oaten said an outright ban would lead to thousands of job losses in an
industry he said was valued at $18 billion worldwide.


Twenty European countries have banned fur farms, including 15 EU member
states.


Europe's leading fur farming nation Finland has around 400 farms and some
1.3 million animals, primarily minks and foxes.


Denmark, the previous holder of the title, reauthorised mink farming as of
January 2023, after a two-year ban during the Covid pandemic to combat mutated
strains of the virus (AFP).


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Retail sales fall in October as wet weather dampens spending

Princess Street, Manchester, UK. Credits: Unsplash.



New figures by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have revealed that retail sales fell in October as the wet weather impacted footfall and spending across the country.


According to the organisation, retail sales volumes fell 0.3 percent over the month, following a steeper 1.1 percent decrease in September. In the three months to October, sales volumes fell 1.1 percent compared to the prior three months.


Non-food stores sales volume fell by 0.2 percent, up from the 2.1 percent in September, with cost-of-living, reduced footfall and wet weather being cited as the main impacting factors.


Clothing stores had reported a 0.9 percent drop in sales, attributing the decrease to “unseasonably warm weather” that affected the sale of autumn and winter wear.


Department store sales had less of an issue, with just a 0.1 percent drop in sales throughout the month, largely due to a drop in consumer confidence.


The only sub-sector to see positive growth was reported to be other non-food stores, with sales rising 0.8 percent as watches and jewellery stores saw a partial rebound following a fall in the month prior.


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Marks & Spencer, H&M and Adidas in Forbes best companies for women 2023 ranking

H&M storefront. Credits: Courtesy of H&M



How do you define the best companies for women? Those who take the initiative for their well-being and development? According to Forbes magazine, these are companies that offer flexible working arrangements, skills development programmes, family leave options and a mission that is aligned with women's empowerment. This list of criteria is, of course, non-exhaustive.


At a time when the International Labour Organisation estimates that 47 percent of the world's workforce is made up of women, compared with 72 percent of men. And while female employees tend to hold lower-quality jobs, Forbes wanted to shine a spotlight on the good performers, those companies which, through their policies, are succeeding in developing women. To do this, the magazine teamed up with market research firm Statista to draw up a ranking of the world's best companies for women in 2023.


In the fashion industry, Marks & Spencer was the first company to feature in the ranking. The British retail chain, which employs over 72,000 people, came in sixth, and was directly followed by H&M, the Swedish fashion giant that employs 106,522 people. Intersport then came in eighth place, Adidas in 10th place, while the PHV group came 27th. In 35th place was Zalando.


Luxury brands not at the top of the rankings




Far behind, Chanel came in at 65th place, followed by Gap. The French brand, owned by the Wertheimer brothers, is the first luxury company to appear in the ranking. Proof that, according to the women surveyed for this ranking, working in the luxury sector is no guarantee of having the ideal conditions for professional advancement. Another luxury brand, France’s Hermès, is ranked 81st.


To compile this list, the two organisations questioned some 70,000 women working for multinationals in 37 countries. Participants were asked to indicate whether they would recommend their employer to friends or family members, and to rate the company both on general workplace practices and on gender-related issues, including pay equity between men and women, handling of cases of employee discrimination, and whether men and women have equal opportunities for promotion.


It should be noted that the ranking, which takes into account 365 international companies, is dominated by a French company. With 9,327 employees, the insurance company La Maif is in first place among the best companies in the world for women in 2023.


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Tanking Alibaba drags Hong Kong as markets rally fades

Credits: Alibaba




Hong Kong - Asian stocks fell Friday as a rally fuelled by the likely end of US interest rate hikes ran out of puff, while Alibaba dragged Hong Kong down after saying it would cancel the planned spinoff of its cloud computing arm.


After an exciting few days on trading floors, the week headed for a tepid
finish, with Wall Street drifting even as a forecast-beating jump in US
jobless claims added to optimism the central bank would not tighten again.


The latest labour market figures follow weaker-than-expected prints on
consumer and producer price inflation, which indicated more than a year of
rate hikes were having the desired effects.


The readings sparked a surge across markets and sent Treasury yields
tumbling, with some traders even entertaining the idea of several cuts to
borrowing costs next year.


"This unexpected increase may further reinforce the view that the economic
situation may require or at least suggest a shift in the Federal Reserve
policy is warranted," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.


"When taken with cool reads on consumer and producer prices, this week's
claims update argues, at minimum, against additional Fed hikes."


However, traders remain on edge that the Fed has left the door open to a
possible hike if data takes a turn for the worse, leading to warnings the
economy could be in danger of slipping into recession.


Those worried about a downturn pointed to unemployment benefits being at
their highest in two years, factory production dropping more than forecast and
homebuilder sentiment at its weakest in 2023.


In early trade, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and Wellington
were in the red. Tokyo was marginally lower.



Taken aback'





Hong Kong led the losses as market-heavyweight Alibaba was hammered more
than nine percent after its shock decision not to spin off its cloud computing
arm because of the US-China chip war.


In one of its most wide-ranging restructurings, Alibaba said in March it
planned to split the vast group into six distinct entities that would be able
to separately pursue funding through public listings.


But on Thursday, it called off the creation of its Cloud Intelligence arm
in light of "the recent expansion of US restrictions on export of advanced
computing chips".


Washington has cited national security grounds in moving to bar the
shipment to China of powerful chips, including those from California-based
Nvidia, which are crucial to the development of artificial intelligence.


The firm said in an earnings release Thursday that the spinoff "may not
achieve the intended effect of shareholder value enhancement".


"Accordingly, we have decided to not proceed with a full spin-off, and
instead we will focus on developing a sustainable growth model for Cloud
Intelligence Group under the fluid circumstances," it added.


The announcement surprised traders, and its US-listed shares tanked more
than nine percent, as it was one of the most high-profile victims of the
China-US standoff.


It was the latest blow to the firm, which has in recent years been under
the hard gaze of Beijing and hit by a series of restrictions on the domestic
tech sector


"I was quite taken aback," said Kevin Net, at Tocqueville Finance. "My
initial thoughts are that the whole corporate restructuring... could be at
risk."


And Forsyth Barr Asia's Willer Chen simply said: "The market is scratching
its head."


Crude prices inched higher but made very little headway into Thursday's
collapse of more than almost five percent that came on the back of demand
worries, China's economic woes and rising US stockpiles.


West Texas Intermediate fell into a bear market having shed more than 20
percent from its recent peak, with pledges from Saudi Arabia and Russia to
maintain output cuts unable to provide enough support (AFP).


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Vestiaire Collective cuts out H&M, Zara and more in expanded fast fashion ban

An image showing the accumulation of textile waste Credits: Vestiaire collective



Second-hand resale platform Vestiaire Collective has said that it will be expanding its ban of fast fashion in a bid to further its efforts of tackling waste in the industry.


While in 2022, the ban impacted the likes of Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing, Asos and Shein, now the company will also be permanently banning Gap, Zara, Urban Outfitters, Uniqlo, Mango, Benetton, Bershka, Oysho and H&M, among others, from its platform.


Like the ban prior, the move comes ahead of Black Friday and contributes to Vestiaire’s three-year plan to counter unsustainable practices in fashion and ultimately remove all fast fashion brands from its offering.


The initiative sees Vestiaire work together with The Or Foundation, which works towards raising awareness around clothing waste, particularly in Ghana where a reported 15 million fashion items arrive at the Kantamanto market every week.


This latest move was announced in a letter on Vestiaire’s website from founders Fanny Moizant and Sophie Hersan, who said the reason behind launching the ban was down to hefty production and the rising amount of textile waste.


The letter stated: “Every year, the fashion industry produces 100 billion garments. Zara and H&M alone produce more than one billion garments per year.


“As we consume more and wear less, 92 million tons of textile waste is discarded on a yearly basis - most of it coming from fast fashion brands. This is enough to fill the Empire State Building every day, and has a major environmental and social impact.”


Vestiaire is instead urging people to “think first, buy second”, a movement that it is complementing with the introduction of a 400 euro voucher giveaway, available for customers to participate in through its social media site.


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EIDM to launch pop-up store dedicated to ‘sports and fashion’

Credits: International School of Fashion and Luxury (EIDM)



From 30 November, fashion school EIDM will be hosting a pop-up store run by its third year bachelor students.


Called "Hybris", the pop-up store will be devoted to the theme of "sport and fashion". In a press release, the EIDM students said: "When we talk about fashion and sport, we're no longer just talking about functional clothing, but a genuine expression of identity, personality and passion. Beyond aesthetics, fashion and sport share common values: perseverance, discipline, ambition and determination, all qualities shared by athletes and fashion designers alike".


The launch of the pop-up store will be accompanied by an evening event attended by the school's partners and invited guests. It will take place on Thursday November 30 2023 at 29 rue Keller in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Clothing and accessories by several designers selected by the students will be presented and sold on 1 and 2 December.


EIDM offers state-recognised professional courses from bac+3 to bac+5 in fields such as fashion design, art direction, communications and marketing. The school has partnerships with 16 international universities and a large network of alumni from luxury brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace and Mugler.


This article was originally published on FashionUnited.FR. Translation and edit from French into English by Veerle Versteeg.


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The Body Shop sold to Aurelius for 207 million pounds

The Body Shop Bond Street store Credits: The Body Shop



Beauty


British ethical beauty brand The Body Shop has been sold by Brazilian beauty group Natura &Co to international private equity group Aurelius for 207 million pounds.


Natura &Co said the move to sell the retailer would allow the beauty group “to simplify and refocus its operations,” and allow it to accelerate the integration of the Natura and Avon brands in Latin America, focusing on its core relationship selling model and further optimising Avon International's footprint.


The Body Shop’s new owner Aurelius, which has experience in the retail sector through its investments in omni-channel fashion and sportswear retailer Footasylum, said it will work with the London-based beauty brand’s management team to help drive "operational excellence" across the business, leveraging its expertise and experience in the omnichannel retail and wholesale markets.


Aurelius added in a statement that it believes that, despite the challenging retail market, there is an opportunity to "re-energise" the business and enable it to take advantage of positive trends in the high-growth beauty market.


The Body Shop Body Butters Credits: The Body Shop



Aurelius acquires The Body Shop from Natura &Co




Ian Bickley, chief executive of The Body Shop, said: “Today, we celebrate a truly historic moment for The Body Shop as we join forces with Aurelius to begin a new chapter, allowing us to continue building the relevancy of this global brand for future generations. With a presence in over 80 countries, The Body Shop is not only a beauty brand, but also an iconic social business that has captured hearts in nearly every corner of the world.


“We are deeply grateful to Natura &Co for their unwavering support and I'm looking forward to working hand in hand with Aurelius as we adapt and flourish in new global retail environments, always with an eye on sustainable and profitable growth.”


The Body Shop, founded in 1976 by Anita Roddick, is headquartered in London and employs around 7,000 staff, and has operations in 89 markets with over 900 company-owned stores in 20 countries and partnerships with head franchisees who operate approximately 1,600 franchised stores in a further 69 geographies.


The brand’s key products include natural ingredient-based bath and body, skincare, fragrance, hair care, make-up and gifting.


Under Natura's ownership since 2017, The Body Shop has undergone an overhaul of its product portfolio and a rejuvenation of the brand, notably through a more contemporary redesign of its stores, with the ‘Changemaking Workshop’ that enhanced stores and customer experience worldwide, as well as the introduction of a refills service.


Refill station in The Body Shop Bond Street store Credits: The Body Shop



Commenting on the acquisition, Tristan Nagler, partner at Aurelius, added: “We are delighted to be undertaking this acquisition of an iconic British brand, which pioneered the cruelty-free and natural ingredient movement in the health and beauty market.


“We look forward to working with CEO Ian Bickley and his team to drive operational improvements and re-energise the business, and help to deliver the next chapter of success.”


The transaction is expected to close in December, subject to approval by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities. On top of the purchase price of 207 million pounds, Natura is also in line for a 90 million pounds "earn-out" from The Body Shop's revenues over the next five years.


Fabio Barbosa, chief executive officer of Natura &Co, said: "With the sale of The Body Shop, we are taking another important step in Natura &Co's new development cycle to unlock significant value. Refocused, deleveraged and leaner, Natura &Co will now be able to fully concentrate on its core relationship selling expertise in Latin America while also continuing the optimization of Avon International's footprint and investing in initiatives and innovations that positively impact people and the planet.


"We are pleased to have found a strong home for The Body Shop to write the next chapter in its remarkable story, and we extend our sincerest thanks to all The Body Shop's associates, who contributed immensely to broadening Natura &Co's horizons. We wish them continued success under the stewardship of Aurelius."


http://dlvr.it/SyvF0f

Oiselle names Arielle Knutson as chief executive

Arielle Knutson, chief executive of Oiselle Credits: Oiselle



Women’s running brand Oiselle has appointed Arielle Knutson as its new chief executive.


Knutson, who has a background in active lifestyle, outdoors and consumer packaged goods brands, joins the female-led running brand from sports hydration brand Nuun, where she served as vice president of marketing.


She takes over from interim chief executive Atsuko Tamura, who served as president until mid-2022 when she stepped into the CEO role following founder Sally Bergesen's departure from Oiselle. Tamura will take on an advisory role with Oiselle and support Knutson “in developing a strategic growth plan for the women-led brand”.


Commenting on the appointment, Tamura said in a statement: "I am thrilled that Arielle is joining the team, particularly as she has been a part of the sisterhood as a customer and fan of Oiselle from the early days.


"Arielle brings a unique perspective from one of the industry's leading brands, and I know she'll be a driving force in elevating Oiselle's position, supporting our incredible Volée community, and ensuring that every Oiselle woman is celebrated for their progressive individuality and qualities."


In her new role, Knutson has been tasked with continuing to lead and grow the Oiselle brand, including building up and nurturing the Volée community, a commitment to women-specific running and active apparel, an elite and emerging talent pool as part of Haute Volée, and building on established retail partnerships, events and experiences for women in the run and active lifestyle spaces.


Knutson added: "I've been a huge fan of Oiselle ever since I put on my first pair of Distance Shorts in 2011 and am incredibly excited and honoured to be joining Oiselle as CEO. I found the brand while searching not just for the best running apparel but also for a running community, and I'm still part of the community that I found back then. I am thrilled to help lead the brand into this next chapter of growth."


http://dlvr.it/SyvDkZ