The global fashion business journal

January ends with the Modaes Global Fashion Benchmark down 4.61% even as global markets flourish. Luxury heavyweights like LVMH, Kering, Richemont, and Prada are the main contributors to the fall.

The Swedish giant is gearing up for a massive capital expenditure of nearly €1 billion by 2026. With its supplier network and logistics framework now streamlined, the company is set to accelerate product delivery.

With fashion and leather goods slipping and Moët Hennessy presenting challenges, the French luxury powerhouse leaned on Sephora’s strength, bolstered by robust cash reserves for strategic investments and timely adjustments.

Under pressure from rising costs, Asian competition, and global uncertainty, Colombia’s fashion industry is pivoting swiftly towards a model driven by value-added, specialization, and product innovation, aiming to carve out a niche in international sourcing.

Amid a judicial investigation in Italy over alleged labor abuses in the luxury sector, the Italian group has severed connections with 222 workshops since 2020 after implementing a stringent “zero tolerance” audit of its supply chain.

With a 6.75% drop in sales and a staggering 55.6% decline in operating profit, Swatch feels the impact of tariffs and sluggish demand. The company, however, sets its sights on recovery by 2026.

In a bid to regain financial stability after a 60% sales plunge, the brand is set to cut one-third of its Italian workforce. Union leaders warn of the broader implications on the supply chain.

Inditex charts a strategic course for 2026, marking it as a cornerstone year for market expansion. With Bershka venturing into the US and Brazil, Lefties is poised to explore France and the UK, enhancing its digital outreach.

The American denim giant wraps up 2025 with soaring profits, skillfully offsetting tariff impacts through strategic price hikes and a focus on premium product positioning amid a global business transformation.

H&M wrapped up its fiscal year with a rise in net profit but a drop in sales when measured in Swedish kronor. However, sales grew by 2% in local currencies. The company forecasts a challenging start to the year with declining sales, while continuing to streamline its store network.

The UK-based group, under the leadership of Newton-Jones, has expanded its portfolio by acquiring the luxury London fashion brand, unveiling an ‘innovative’ strategic plan. LK Bennett caught the eye of British retailer Next earlier this year.

In a bid to navigate the reputational crisis surrounding department stores, the group distances itself following the controversy over hosting the first permanent Shein store in the country. A Canadian asset manager might be the potential buyer.

The company, having finalized the $600 million sale of Dickies last September, reported a 1.48% sales boost for the period ending last December. The gross margin reached 56.3% for the quarter.