The Japanese fashion retail sector is enjoying a standout year, with apparel and footwear sales surging to record highs, despite early signs of cooling demand. Strong Chinese tourist spending has helped to boost results, although geopolitical tensions pose risks for the future. Meanwhile, e-commerce continues to grow much faster than physical retail. Inflation is now converging across categories, with footwear prices rising in line with general inflation. However, the weakening yen is pushing up import costs, leaving retailers reliant on steady consumer demand to absorb rising costs   

An international conference dedicated to the future of the Portuguese and European footwear industries was held as part of the FAIST project on the 18th and 19th of November   

The Spanish owner of brands such as Zara and Massimo Dutti has reported accelerated sales growth in the third quarter of the year, emphasising its strong start to the final quarter of 2025   

The expected growth in European defence investment could present an opportunity for the Portuguese footwear industry, which aims to double exports of technical footwear to 100 million euros by 2030   

The Italy-based luxury group has completed its acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings for approximately 1.3 billion euros. The deal was announced in April