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Nike Sinks as Gloomy Sales Forecast Fans Growth Concerns

The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
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Nike Sinks as Gloomy Sales Forecast Fans Growth Concerns

The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)

Nike shares slumped 15% premarket on Friday as a forecast for a surprise drop in annual sales amplified investor concerns about the pace of the sportswear giant's efforts to stem market share losses to upstart brands such as On and Hoka.

The company on Thursday projected a mid-single-digit percentage fall in fiscal 2025 revenue, compared to analysts' estimates of a near 1% rise, dragging shares of rivals and sportswear retailers across Europe, UK and US on Friday, Reuters reported.

British sportswear retailer JD Sports fell as much as 6.6% and Germany's Puma lost 4%, while Adidas was flat after briefly rising nearly 2%.

"Nike shares are headed for a stay in the proverbial penalty box until new product innovations actually start to manifest themselves and management regains investor trust," Wedbush analyst Tom Nikic said in a note.

To be sure, Nike has cut back on oversupplied brands including Air Force 1 to curb a worsening sales decline as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting plan launched late last year.

Nike is set to roll out this year an Air Max version and Pegasus 41 with full-length foam midsole made from ReactX to boost sustainability, responding to concerns over stagnating innovation.

The company was "also accelerating planned reductions for our three largest franchises ... while we have work to do, we are very focused on scaling the newness to offset this planned reduction," CEO John Donahoe said on a post-earnings call.

Newer sporting goods brands, including Hoka, Asics, New Balance and On, accounted for 35% of global market share in 2023 compared to the 20% held over the 2013-2020 period, according to a RBC research report released in June.

"They know where the problems are, but they're having trouble right now generating demand and it is going to be a transition period that is going to take some time in different markets," Morningstar analyst David Swartz said.

Nike's US market share in the sports footwear category fell to 34.97% in 2023 from 35.37% in 2022, and 35.40% in 2021, according to GlobalData.

At least six brokerages downgraded the stock and 15 cut their price targets on Nike.

Nike's shares were trading at 25.13 times profit estimates while On and Deckers were trading at 37.41 and 31.13 times earnings expectations.

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Fashion

Hermes Beats Sales Expectations, Sees Positive Signs in China

The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)
The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)
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Hermes Beats Sales Expectations, Sees Positive Signs in China

The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)
The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)

Hermes, whose handbags sell for $10,000 and more, on Thursday reported stronger than expected fourth-quarter revenue growth, lifted by strong sales in the United States and Japan.

Thanks to its ultra-wealthy clients and large order backlog, the group has weathered a luxury sector slowdown better than most of its rivals, consistently increasing revenue while sales at other luxury groups, like LVMH and Kering , have been under pressure.

"The group is going into 2026 with confidence," said CEO Axel Dumas, adding that this year's ‌price increases would ‌be around 5-6%, down from a 6-7% rate in ‌2025, ⁠attributing the slower pace ⁠to currency shifts.

Hermes shares gained 2% in early trade, Reuters reported.

Chiara Battistini, luxury equity analyst at J.P. Morgan, said the price increases Hermes imposes on its deep-pocketed customers this year will be key for the company's growth outlook.

Many of its rivals have put the brakes on price rises due to falling sales. Gucci owner Kering's CEO earlier this week said a price hike "bonanza" post-pandemic had contributed ⁠to the company's revenue slide.

Sales of products, including Birkin and ‌Kelly bags, silk scarves and perfume, grew ‌by 9.8% in the fourth quarter in currency-adjusted terms, compared to an analyst consensus compiled ‌by Visible Alpha of 8.4% growth.

Sales in the Americas region, mainly ‌the United States, rose by 12.1%, beating expectations of around 9%, while sales in Asia excluding Japan - a region mainly driven by China - grew 8%.

POSITIVE SIGNS IN CHINA

In a call with analysts, Dumas said he was seeing positive signs in China, ‌a major luxury market that has slowed significantly in the past few years due to the impact of ⁠a property crash on ⁠the country's economy.

"I do not see the situation deteriorating," he said. "There are positive moves, in particular the way they are managing the property crisis."

Revenues in Hermes' leather division, which accounts for most of its profits, grew by 14.6% organically.

Hermes' full-year operating profit came in at 6.57 billion euros ($7.79 billion), with a 41% profit margin, slightly ahead of estimates of a 40% margin. The company said it would pay a dividend of 18 euros per share.

Hermes has grown its overall annual sales by around 38% in the past three years even as most of the luxury industry stalled. Its shares are up 36% over the same period.

With just 25,000 staff globally, family-controlled Hermes has become France's second-largest company by market capitalization after rival LVMH.

Fashion

‘Saudi 100 Brands’ Showcases Heritage-Inspired Fashion Presentation at Saudi Cup 2026

The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA
The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA
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‘Saudi 100 Brands’ Showcases Heritage-Inspired Fashion Presentation at Saudi Cup 2026

The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA
The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA

The Saudi Fashion Commission announced the participation of the Saudi 100 Brands program in the Saudi Cup 2026, set to take place on February 13-14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, marking the initiative’s fourth consecutive presence at the global sporting and cultural event.

The participation reflects a celebration of the history and evolution of Saudi fashion, as the initiative presents national heritage through a dynamic and innovative fashion presentation.

The showcases will run over two days, with each day featuring presentations by three Saudi fashion brands, in addition to the participation of three jewelry and accessories brands displaying selected pieces at the accompanying exhibition. This provides a unique opportunity for Saudi designers to present their work to a global audience.

The presentations will highlight the fusion of traditional Saudi heritage with contemporary design, offering a fresh perspective on the Kingdom’s creative identity, with the participation of a selection of Saudi brands.

“Since 2022, the Saudi 100 Brands program has been an integral part of the Saudi Cup, positioning fashion as a cultural expression within one of the Kingdom’s most globally visible events,” said Saudi Fashion Commission chief executive Burak Cakmak.

"This platform has enabled brands to bring together heritage and contemporary narratives that reflect identity, creativity, and innovation. This year represents a natural evolution from an exhibition to a curated showcase, reinforcing fashion’s role as a dynamic cultural platform within the Saudi Cup.”

The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, continues to support emerging Saudi designers by providing them with the tools, expertise, and platforms needed to expand their reach and influence in the global fashion industry.

The showcased pieces draw inspiration from heritage motifs, textiles, and storytelling, reinterpreted through innovative design to resonate with modern aesthetics and international audiences. The presentations aim to celebrate national identity, highlight the depth of local creative talent, and showcase the distinctive direction of Saudi fashion as part of the Kingdom’s cultural evolution.

The showcases also offer visitors an opportunity to explore the intersection of craftsmanship and cultural expression, while introducing global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s vibrant and expanding fashion ecosystem.

This participation underscores the Saudi Fashion Commission’s broader vision to foster a thriving fashion sector rooted in cultural heritage and driven by international ambition, by blending cultural narratives with innovative design and creating pathways for Saudi fashion to contribute meaningfully to global creative industries, while nurturing talent and positioning Saudi brands for sustained success.

Fashion

Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2026 Collection a Mix of Romantic Adventure with Metallic Flair 

A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)
A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2026 Collection a Mix of Romantic Adventure with Metallic Flair 

A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)
A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)

With more than 50 years in fashion, Ralph Lauren is still looking for adventure. Lauren took his celebrity guests on an adventure into the English countryside Tuesday for his fall 2026 runway show.

Set amid the beaux arts architecture of the Clock Tower building in Manhattan, Lauren delivered a stylish take on softness and strength, pairing luxurious earth-toned rich fabrics with metallic detailing for his latest collection.

Lauren’s ethereal models with their hair flowing behind them strutted on opulent rugs as celebrity guests including actor Anne Hathaway, singer Lana Del Rey and actor Lili Reinhart looked on from antique style chairs; a romantic painted landscape canvas filled the walls surrounding them.

In his show notes, Lauren described his muse as a woman whose style is not defined by time.

“I love the adventure of fashion,” Ralph Lauren wrote, adding his fall collection “is inspired by that kind of renegade spirit and the confidence of the woman who will wear it in her own personal way — to tell her own story.”

The 86-year-old designer has never been one to follow trends but drive them. At Tuesday’s show, accessories added a modern flair from leather gloves paired with a knit off-the-shoulder dress to shimmering silver detailing.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid opened the show in a wool corseted top and maxi skirt accentuated with a silver waist chain. Other models walked the runway with silver belt chains and metallic brooches that stood in an edgy contrast to Lauren’s romantic Victorian tops and tailored jackets. Lauren pinned metallic glimmering brooches to lush wool cloaks that were elegantly draped over models’ shoulders in a show of strength.

In a modern twist on Joan of Arc, Lauren designed a chain mail top that delicately peeked out from underneath one model’s tweed jacket. Lauren complemented the look with a printed scarf and leather pants.

“There were several looks that had this beautiful chain mail kind of detailing,” actor Ariana DeBose told The Associated Press. “What a way to give a woman beautiful armor.”

Even with his contemporary additions, Lauren’s collection still included his signature touches from his riding boots, exquisite tailoring and elegant high neck blouses.

Lauren’s brand is an American staple that continues to prevail in an ever-changing industry. As part of his enduring legacy, Lauren was once again tapped to design the uniforms for Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan, marking his sixth time designing for the games.

“From being in Italy with the greatest athletes in the world and then coming here to New York City to put on a fashion show that’s so elegant, it’s two different sides of Ralph Lauren and two different sides of what an American company can do to reach the world,” David Lauren, the company's chief branding and innovation officer, said.