Against a backdrop of renewed price pressures and a weaker yen, the Japanese fashion market has experienced an uneven recovery. Interest rates have continued to rise, and consumer confidence remains subdued. Within the fashion sector, clothing inflation has outpaced that of footwear. Commercial sales also diverged, with textile sales enjoying a strong rebound, whereas apparel and accessories only returned to marginal growth. Meanwhile, despite falling volumes, footwear import value held up, supported by higher average prices   

The parent company of brands such as Zara and Pull&Bear, reported a 7.6% increase in sales during the first half of the year, driven by solid demand from customers for its spring/summer collections   

The US-based company reported higher sales and earnings in the second quarter of 2026, driven by growth in its brand portfolio. Famous Footwear continued to have a negative impact on performance   

With nearly a century of manufacturing expertise, Abílio P. Carneiro & Filhos S.A is using the FAIST project to further integrate robotics into the traditional footwear assembly process, thereby improving quality and competitiveness   

The Brazilian fashion group Arezzo & Co has announced plans to reorganise its businesses into two independent listed companies, Arezzo & Co and Soma. The former is set to concentrate the group’s Shoes & Bags operations