All Shoe Intelligence articles in Volume 27, Issue 19+20
View all stories from this issue.
-
PDF NewsletterShoe Intelligence Executive Edition: Vol. 27 - 19+20
EU and Indonesia sign free-trade deal | EU plans to finalize a free trade agreement with India by year end | Italian footwear manufacturers revenues drop by 5.6% in first half of 2025 | German footwear industry revenues up 1.3% in H1 | Concentration in German brick-and-mortar footwear and fashion retail hits new high | Brazilian exports hit by US tariffs | Micam attracts over 20,000 visitors | Birkenstock hikes its full-year sales guidance | Däumling stops shoe production in Germany | Onygo closes all stores after failed rescue attempt | H&S files for insolvency | Marc O’Polo expands in Europe with first store in Italy, new outlet in Poland | NeroGiardini hopes to stabilize revenues as it celebrates its 50th anniversary | Golden Goose continues to post a double-digit growth rate | Steve’s plans opening a temporary store in Courmayeur | Spartoo continues to see a decline in sales | US footwear distributors and retailers expect to pay $2bn more in import duties this year | Vida Shoes buys Munro | Caleres’ earnings, sales fall in Q2 on declining sales and margins | Shoe Carnival lifts earnings guidance as rebranding strategy gains momentum | Designer Brands ‘cautiously optimistic’ after Q2 earnings beat | Shoe Carnival reappoints Kerry Jackson as CFO | Genesco unites Journeys, Schuh and Little Burgundy under the same leadership | Roots opens a flagship store in Vancouver | Foot Locker reshuffles its top management | Cambrelle launches production in Vietnam | Lubrizol creates a Foam Center of Excellence in Seoul and Shanghai for midsoles | Mysize buys ShoeSize.Me to offer footwear sizing recommendations
-
News briefs
Aeffe and Pollini apply for negotiated settlement procedure to overcome financial crisis
Aeffe said that its board has applied for a negotiated settlement for the financial crisis affecting the Italian luxury goods company and its footwear unit Pollini. The group also requested the appointment of an independent expert and ”the application of protective measures” for the two businesses. Aeffe pointed out that ...
-
News briefs
FENC develops recycled midsole technology
Far Eastern New Century Corporation (FENC), the Taiwan-based global polyester producer, announced that it has achieved a breakthrough in sustainable footwear materials by creating the first commercially available midsoles made from discarded PET bottles. The new recycled thermoplastic polyester elastomer (rTPEE) has already been supplied to French outdoor brand Salomon ...
-
ArticleDäumling stops shoe production in Germany
After more than seven decades of domestic manufacturing, the children’s shoe brand Däumling is shutting down its production facility in Bruchweiler-Bärenbach, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. The move comes amid declining sales and mounting cost pressures, marking another blow to the country’s struggling footwear industry, which has seen ...
-
ArticleOnygo closes all stores after failed rescue attempt
The insolvent German shoe and fashion retailer Onygo is permanently closing all its remaining stores across the country and laying off 150 employees, following a failed rescue attempt. The move marks another casualty in Germany’s struggling retail sector. In an interview with trade magazine TextilWirtschaft, Onygo’s Managing Director, Frank ...
-
News briefs
Shein to open physical stores in France
Shein, the fast-fashion e-tailer founded in Nanjing, China, and now headquartered in Singapore, will be opening physical stores as of November, starting in France. To this end, according to the BBC, it has secured a deal with Société des Grands Magasins (SGM), a French family-owned company founded in 2018 that ...
-
News briefs
Allbirds launches waterproof wool sneakers
Allbirds launched three wool sneaker styles that it claims are fully waterproof. “We wanted to redefine what waterproof shoes could be, with an Allbirds twist. While most waterproof shoes lean utilitarian and technical, we believe that by looking to natural materials like wool, we can bring something new and exciting ...
-
ArticleLubrizol creates a Foam Center of Excellence in Seoul and Shanghai for midsoles
Lubrizol, a US producer of specialty chemicals, announced the creation of a Foam Center of Excellence (COE) based in Seoul and Shanghai to foster innovation in footwear midsoles. “Located within Lubrizol’s thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) innovation centers, the new Foam COE brings together scientists with significant expertise in material science, cutting-edge ...
-
ArticleVida Shoes buys Munro
New York-based Vida Shoes International has acquired Munro, an Arkansas-based footwear brand specializing in comfort and fit-driven styles for women. The purchase aims to strengthenVida’s position in the comfort category. “Munro is a brand rooted in quality, integrity and a loyal customer base that spans generations. We’re honored to welcome ...
-
ArticleSpartoo continues to see a decline in sales
In the first half of 2025, Spartoo suffered an 8.3 percent year-over-year decline in gross merchandise value (GMV) to €83.4 million, resulting in an 8.2 percent drop in revenues to €59.9 million. In the full year 2024, the group posted a 7.7 percent decrease in GMV to €184.7 million, resulting ...
-
News briefs
OrthoLite enters partnership with Bureau Veritas
OrthoLite, US provider of comfort and performance foam technologies for footwear being bought by Coats, entered a multi-year partnership with Bureau Veritas Hong Kong Ltd., an inspection, certification and auditing services company. “This collaboration highlights OrthoLite’s commitment to establishing standardized testing practices across all global operations, ensuring consistency while staying ...
-
ArticleGenesco unites Journeys, Schuh and Little Burgundy under the same leadership
Genesco, the US footwear group with more than 1,250 stores in North America, the UK and Ireland, as well as a portfolio of owned and licensed lifestyle brands, announced the formation of the Journeys Global Retail Group which unites the banners Journeys, Schuh and Little Burgundy. “This alignment creates ...
-
News briefs
LVMH joins Global Fashion Agenda
LVMH has joined the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) as a Strategic Partner. The partnership was announced during Climate Week NYC, an annual charity event that promotes climate action, hosted in New York City from Sept. 21 to 28. Through this partnership, LVMH will collaborate with other industry stakeholders to scale ...
-
ArticleBirkenstock hikes its full-year sales guidance
Birkenstock Holding, the UK-based parent company of the German sandal maker, has increased its full-year sales guidance and is acquiring a manufacturing site in Germany. The company expects fourth-quarter revenues to total at least €520 million, representing year-over-year growth of at least 14 percent on a reported basis and 18 ...
-
ArticleShoe Carnival reappoints Kerry Jackson as CFO
Shoe Carnival appointed Kerry Jackson as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective Sept. 28. Jackson rejoined Shoe Carnival in June 2025 as Senior Vice President, New Business Development after retiring in May 2023. He previously served as the US footwear retailer’s Chief Financial Officer for 27 years and ...
-
Article
H&S files for insolvency
The Bavarian shoe retailer H&S Schuhhandelsgesellschaft has filed for bankruptcy as part of a restructuring effort amid economic pressures from rising energy, personnel and rental costs. Around 82 employees across 15 stores are affected. The company submitted an application for self-administration to the Aschaffenburg District Court, which appointed attorney ...
-
News briefs
New Balance and Sézane in sneaker collaboration
The French fashion brand Sézane and New Balance will collaborate for the first time on a limited-edition sneaker. Inspired by the 471 model, these shoes are made with materials and colors designed for autumn days. The exclusive launch will be available in early October on Sézane.com, on the app ...
-
News briefs
Converse has a new VP of global footwear and design
Chavon Webster is the new Vice President of Global Footwear and Design at Converse. Most recently, she served as Senior Director, Women Sport and Training Footwear, at parent company Nike. Webster joined Nike in February 2022 as Director of Kids’ Lifestyle Footwear. Before Nike, she spent nearly eight years ...
-
News briefs
Bär opens a new store in Passau
The German shoe manufacturer Bär Schuhe has expanded its retail network with the opening of a new store in Passau, in the Bavaria region of Germany. Located at Ludwigsplatz 1a, in the heart of Passau’s historic city center, the new shop marks Bär’s 22nd location nationwide. Covering approximately ...
-
ArticleNeroGiardini hopes to stabilize revenues as it celebrates its 50th anniversary
NeroGiardini is celebrating its 50th anniversary. During Micam, the international footwear trade show held from Sept. 7 to 9 at the Fieramilano Rho exhibition center outside Milan, the Italian shoemaker held an event at its showroom in central Milan for domestic and international customers. As part of the celebrations, there ...
