Articles by Diane Vanderschelden
Diane Vanderschelden is a Business Editor for FashionUnited France and UK. She covers the latest economic, financial, and regulatory news shaping the fashion industry. With a keen interest in international dynamics, she focuses on the economic, social, and cultural factors influencing different regions, particularly Asia and Europe, where she has lived for several years.
Professional equality: When Kering turns social responsibility into an intangible asset
As the luxury sector enters a phase of structural rationalisation, performance is no longer measured solely by income statements. Social governance, employer attractiveness and mastery of non-financial criteria are becoming key competitive variables. In this context, Kering's publication of its 2025 Professional Equality Index goes far beyond a...
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Unsold goods: EU bans their destruction, imposing a new model on fashion
A practice long considered a necessary evil in industrial fashion will become illegal from July 19. The EU will prohibit large companies from destroying their unsold clothing, footwear and accessories, ending the annual incineration and landfilling of millions of new items. Enshrined in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR),...
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US Congress reconsiders de minimis rule for low-value parcels
While the US administration officially ended the customs exemption for low-value parcels at the end of 2025, the de minimis issue has abruptly resurfaced in Washington. The cause is a new bill introduced in the House of Representatives. It seeks to partially reintroduce specific treatment for small imported shipments. This is a strong signal in...
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Kering 2025: moment of truth for François-Henri Pinault's powerhouse
The luxury sector is no longer smooth sailing, and Kering (Kering) has become its most sensitive barometer. With a 13 percent decline in turnover, compressed profitability, and Gucci still undergoing reconstruction, the French group concludes a 2025 financial year that management describes as transitional. Investors, however, see it primarily as...
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Brookfield Asset Management: How “Canadian Warren Buffett” became new owner of BHV Marais
The iconic Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville, with its 45,000 square metres and glass rotunda opposite Paris city hall, officially changed property owner on January 28, 2026. For an estimated sum of nearly 300 million euros, investment firm Brookfield Asset Management acquired the department store's building from the Galeries Lafayette group. This...
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Goodbye DFS, hello Sephora: LVMH's major strategic shift — an analysis of the 2025 financial year
LVMH closes the 2025 financial year with a clear-sighted assessment. Following the post-pandemic euphoria, Bernard Arnault's group reported revenue of 80.8 billion euros, a 5 percent decline on a reported basis. While this headline decline is largely exacerbated by currency volatility, particularly the weakness of the dollar and yen against the...
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Textile sector set for major gains under new EU-India trade deal
After almost 20 years of intermittent negotiations, the free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and India has been finalised. On January 27, 2026, in New Delhi, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Council António Costa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sealed what observers are...
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World Footwear analysis: a divergent market heading into 2026
World Footwear’s latest Retail Flash report, published December 23 last year, paints a starkly contrasting picture of the global footwear landscape. While e-commerce growth and margin erosion are consistent global themes, their operational impacts vary radically by region. For decision-makers, the message is unequivocal: business models must...
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Expert analysis: the limits of Jott's accelerated expansion under LBO
With the fate of Marseille, France-based casualwear brand Jott (Just Over The Top) hanging on a court decision expected in early February, its fragility is striking following a capital injection of nearly 99 million euros (116 million dollars). Vincent Redrado, an industry expert and founder of French consumer consultancy firm Digital Native...
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Groupe RAS: a French independent's strategy to compete with sneaker giants
French footwear specialist Groupe RAS (Rautureau Apple Shoes), the owner of brands No Name, Schmoove and Armistice, is entering a new phase in its history, driven by a complementary management duo. Propelled by international acceleration and a diversification into apparel, the company is now organising itself as a “creative start-up” to...
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