Footwear news and archive

Birkenstock: why Wall Street no longer believes in the luxury dream despite strong growth

For several years, Birkenstock seemed to have achieved what few footwear brands had before. It transformed a German orthopaedic sandal into a global object of desire, worn by tourists, fashion houses, celebrities and premium consumers alike. The narrative presented to investors during its 2023 Initial Public Offering (IPO) is now beginning to...

Retail

Kat Maconie to open in Dubai Mall in June

British footwear and accessories brand Kat Maconie, known for its maximalist aesthetic and architectural silhouettes, is expanding its retail footprint with a new boutique in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. London-based Kat Maconie, which currently operates two permanent standalone flagship stores in London, UK, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, has...

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Business

Dr. Martens returns to profit growth in FY26

British footwear and accessories brand Dr. Martens reports making “good progress” as it shifts from a channel-led to a consumer-first operating model, as it delivers a return to profit growth for the financial year ending March 29, 2026, with pre-tax profit (PBT) rising 61 percent. For the FY26, group revenue reached 764.9 million pounds, down...

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Business

Xero Shoes targets international expansion with new distribution deals

American minimalist footwear brand Xero Shoes, which specialises in barefoot-style shoes, sandals, and boots designed to let feet bend, flex, and move naturally, has doubled its global distribution network, adding five new international partners to target international growth. Founded in 2009 by Steven Sashen and Lena Phoenix, Xero Shoes has...

Retail

Pretty Ballerinas strengthens its Asian presence with its fourth store in Japan

Madrid – The Mascaró Group continues to drive the growth and international consolidation of Pretty Ballerinas, its brand specialising in ballet flats, with the opening of a new store in Japan. This is one of the Spanish company's main markets in the entire Asian region, where it now operates a total of four points of sale. Located on the third...

Fashion |In Pictures

Bruno Magli marking 90 years with a Cynthia Rowley collaboration

Italian luxury footwear brand Bruno Magli, founded in Bologna and hand-crafted in Italy, is celebrating its 90 years of craftsmanship with a multi-season collaboration with New York-based designer Cynthia Rowley. Bruno Magli, owned by Marquee Brands, said it has chosen to collaborate with Cynthia Rowley due to her “bold creativity and confident,...

Retail

Alohas expands in United States with new stores in New York and Los Angeles

Madrid – Following a 2025 marked by its decisive international offensive, the Spanish footwear brand Alohas continues on the same path of growth and expansion in 2026. It has inaugurated two new permanent stores in the United States. The brand, founded by Alejandro Porras, entered this market exactly one year ago and now operates with three...

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Business

US footwear sales reports “modest” Q1 growth

Rising prices and a strengthening in the performance segment delivered “modest” growth across the US footwear industry in the first quarter of 2026. Circana’s Retail Tracking Service data show that total US footwear sales increased by 1 percent in Q1 versus the same period last year, while overall units sold declined, and higher average selling...

People

Spanish brand Hoff appoints new CEO

Madrid – In the latest demonstration of the increasingly solid corporate structure being built at Hoff, the Spanish footwear company has announced the appointment of Nicolas de Ros Wallace as its new CEO. He takes over the role from the company's founder, Fran Marchena. The Spanish footwear company announced the appointment of Nicolas de Ros...

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Business|Interview

How Nothink Shoes solves the high heel vs. comfort dilemma

"I wanted a product that would eliminate the compromise between beauty and practicality, helping women to live with more freedom and light-heartedness," says Asia Pellegrini, the under-30 founder of Nothink Shoes, the brand for all heel lovers. The idea came from Asia Pellegrini, the under-30 founder of this shoe label. It was made possible by...

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Business

Allbirds rebrands as NewBird AI, stock jumps 400 percent

US sustainable footwear company Allbirds has announced a radical shift in corporate strategy, transitioning from a fashion retailer to an artificial intelligence (AI) compute infrastructure provider. The San Francisco-based firm, which recently divested its brand assets, intends to rename itself NewBird AI as part of a pivot toward the...

Fashion

Streetwear brand Hoodrich to launch footwear in the US

British streetwear brand Hoodrich, founded by Jay Williams from his bedroom in Birmingham, is launching its inaugural footwear collection in the US exclusively with JD Sports, in partnership with the Eastman Group, a global footwear and apparel licensing company. Hoodrich, which became part of the Iconix International group in November 2023, has...