Fashion
Germany Retail: cautious forecasts reign amid uncertainty
Although the retail sector has shown modest year-on-year growth overall, the footwear segment continues to struggle. Meanwhile, online sales have recorded double-digit increases since September 2024. The truth is that despite signs of easing inflation and seasonal discount campaigns, both retailers and consumers remain cautious amid geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. The rebound seen earlier in the year has given way to cautious forecasts, particularly in light of the sharp downturn in footwear imports and the potential ramifications of shifting trade policies
Spain Retail: the fashion sector is now under pressure
Unlike our previous forecast, the Spanish fashion sector is currently under pressure, with its turnover down by 2.56% year-on-year in the first half of the year. The footwear sector, in particular, is showing worrying signs, with low prices and cautious consumer behaviour. This has left retailers with high inventory levels and high hopes for summer discounts. However, only time will tell if the slowdown of the Spanish economy due to mounting global geopolitical and financial uncertainty will affect their prospects
Netherlands Retail: mixed signs in the first half of the year
Despite a strong start to 2025, the Dutch retail sector has been experiencing some volatility. Sales in the footwear sector recorded significant fluctuations, reaching their lowest point in April with a decline of 7.5%, before recovering to a decline of 2.5% in May. Notably, the footwear sector experienced negative inflation in these months, meaning consumers paid less for footwear. However, imports to the Netherlands have increased in the first quarter, and Retail confidence remains above zero. Therefore, despite negative consumer confidence and a challenging macroeconomic backdrop, there may still be some hope for the rest of the year
Uniqlo parent company reports strong nine-month performance
The Japan-based fashion retailer Fast Retailing has reported a strong performance over the first nine months of its fiscal year, reiterating its outlook for the full year
Miguel Vieira in the spotlight in Milan
In an effort to reach a broader audience, the Portuguese fashion designer returned to the Milan Fashion Week runway to present his Spring/Summer 2026 collection
Gerry Weber closes all its stores, sells trademark rights
The German fashion retailer is closing all its stores in Germany and Europe while selling its trademark rights to Spanish retailer Victrix. This follows its third insolvency in a few years
Primark plans significant workforce cuts
The international retailer plans to reduce staff in key support functions, impacting about 7% of Dublin HQ jobs, as it restructures to maintain competitive pricing and invest in overseas markets
H&M reports first half progress
Despite reporting only a slight increase in sales in the second quarter and the first half, Daniel Ervér (CEO) highlighted the progress that the Sweden-based fashion group is making towards achieving healthier profitability
British consumers cut back on non-essential spending
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), May recorded the slowest growth in retail sales in 2025, as fashion and full price big-ticket items suffered from lower consumer confidence
EU Commission targets Shein over consumer protection concerns
The European Union Commission has urged Shein to comply with EU consumer protection laws, warning that the fast-fashion retailer could face fines if it fails to address the concerns that have been raised
Inditex reports slower growth in the first quarter
The Spain-based fashion retailer saw a 1.5% year-on-year increase in sales in the first quarter of 2025. However, these figures fell short of expectations, highlighting a more challenging economic environment
Authentic Brands Group expands its portfolio with Dockers acquisition
The US-based brand management group has announced that it will acquire the Dockers brand from Levi Strauss & Co. for 311 million USD. The transaction is expected to be finalised in the third quarter
US Retail: bleak prospects amid growing uncertainty
The footwear retail sector is definitely underperforming, especially compared with clothing and accessories. The current trade war between the US and its trading partners is not helping consumers recover from last year’s inflationary crisis. Consumer confidence has fallen by almost 30% in the first four months of the year as people believe that shoe prices may rise significantly again. Against this backdrop, importers are at a standstill, trying to guess the best course of action. Uncertainty is the word that best describes the current situation in the sector
UK Retail: the sector appears to be holding its own
The UK retail sector appears to be holding its own despite fears of increased costs as a result of the new Employment Rights Bill. In particular, retail sales of Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) have risen back-to-back in the first quarter of the year, and the improvement in footwear inflation from negative to neutral in March may suggest a boost to demand. Although consumers aren’t exactly optimistic about the future, especially with new rising bills and the ongoing US trade war, retailers still have reasons to restock
Zalando reiterates full year guidance
The fashion online retailer has reported a strong first quarter with growth in revenue and profits. As a result, it has confirmed its full year outlook despite the challenging macroeconomic environment-
-
Footwear Consumer 2030
A study reflecting on the main global consumer trends and the key changes for the footwear industry.
-
World Footwear Public Calendar
Click here to subscribe an updated version of the calendar displaying the footwear trade shows.
-
-
-
Media Partners
Media Partners
-
Schuhkurier
Shoes Report
ARS ARPEL
MPA Style