Amputee Fashion Show in Japan Features Paralympic Athletes

Erina Yuguchi, an athlete, participates in a fashion show dubbed ‘Amputee Venus Show’ in Tokyo on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP)
Erina Yuguchi, an athlete, participates in a fashion show dubbed ‘Amputee Venus Show’ in Tokyo on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP)
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Amputee Fashion Show in Japan Features Paralympic Athletes

Erina Yuguchi, an athlete, participates in a fashion show dubbed ‘Amputee Venus Show’ in Tokyo on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP)
Erina Yuguchi, an athlete, participates in a fashion show dubbed ‘Amputee Venus Show’ in Tokyo on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. (AP)

Paralympic athletes took to the catwalk in Tokyo on Tuesday for the “Amputee Venus Show” which was originally scheduled to be held in conjunction with the opening of the Paralympic Games.

With the Olympics and Paralympics postponed for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fashion show went ahead anyway.

It featured a dozen models who came down the catwalk wearing the latest fashion and prosthetic legs. Several Paralympic athletes were among the group, including Japan's Kaede Maegawa who finished fourth in the long jump in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.

“Thanks to the show it sank in that there is only one year left until the Paralympic Games,” Maegawa said. "When I was rehearsing, I felt like I was attending the opening ceremony and almost cried. The show was such a great opportunity for me.”

The Paralympics are now scheduled to open on Aug. 24, 2021, and will feature about 4,400 athletes. The Olympics are scheduled to open on July 23, 2021, with 11,000 athletes.

Tokyo organizers have said both events will happen, but they have yet to provide details on how athletes will be safe, if fans will be allowed, and who will pick up the bill for the delay. Estimates suggest the cost of delay will be $2 billion to $6 billion with Japanese taxpayers picking up most of the bill.



UK Fashion Group ASOS Names New Finance Boss 

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
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UK Fashion Group ASOS Names New Finance Boss 

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)
ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years. (AFP)

British online fashion retailer ASOS on Tuesday named Aaron Izzard, director of group finance, as its new CFO as the current finance boss, Dave Murray, will be stepping down on June 30 to pursue other opportunities.

Murray, a former Amazon executive who joined ASOS as CFO in April 2024, will remain with the company for a handover period, ASOS said.

Izzard, who joined ASOS as head of retail finance in 2017, has held several finance roles at the company over more than eight years. His appointment will be effective July 1.

Since the end of April 2024, when Murray took up the role of CFO, ASOS shares are down roughly 8% as of Monday's close.

ASOS is navigating a changing competitive landscape, with rivals Shein and Temu gaining ground in its core markets of the UK and the United States in recent years.

However, the British retailer could benefit from new headwinds facing its Chinese competitors, including high US import tariffs under President Donald Trump and changes to customs rules on direct-to-consumer shipments in both countries.

In April, ASOS said it was well-positioned to withstand the impact of the US tariffs and reported a rise in half-year earnings, signaling early progress in efforts to revive its fast-fashion appeal among younger shoppers.