Fashion news

The UAE and Egypt renewed a five-year currency swap valued at AED 5 billion (~$1.36 billion), equivalent to EGP 69 billion (~$1.32 billion).
The arrangement is aimed at supporting bilateral trade, investment and local-currency settlements between the two markets.
For exporters, importers and sourcing teams, it signals continued official backing for cross-border payment channels.

Germany had around 45.41 million residents in employment in August 2026, down 0.1 per cent month on month after seasonal adjustment.
The unadjusted count fell 0.2 per cent from July and 0.5 per cent from August 2025, extending the year-on-year decline since January 2025.
For apparel and textile employers, the data point to a softer labour market backdrop in Germany.

Turkiye’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage point month on month to 7.8 per cent in August 2026, as the number of unemployed declined by 106,000 to 2.74 million.Employment increased by 136,000 to 32.507 million, while the employment rate edged up to 48.4 per cent.Youth unemployment dropped 1.1 percentage points to 13 per cent.

Nike has introduced Apex, its most advanced marathon racing system, pairing four Air Zoom units in two stacked pairs with ZoomX LT foam, Flyknit X and a redesigned carbon fibre Flyplate.
Designed with zero-drop geometry and a 40-millimeter stack height, the shoe delivers up to 40 per cent more energy return than Alphafly 3 in a men's size 10 while weighing over 10 per cent less, and arrives in January 2027.

Dutch manufacturing output prices were 6.8 per cent higher year on year in August 2026, after a 5.1 per cent rise in July, according to the CBS.
Export-market output prices rose 1.3 per cent from July, while domestic prices increased 0.8 per cent.Oil-linked petroleum derivatives and chemicals saw sharper annual price rises, relevant for buyers tracking input-cost pressure.

Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze has launched its first academic year, enrolling more than 1,500 students in over 40 programmes delivered by the Group's Houses and seven partner schools across six Italian regions.
The network offers approximately 62,000 training hours and more than 22,400 internship hours, supported by over 400 master artisans and professionals.

H&M reported 1 per cent local-currency sales growth in Q3, but Consumer Edge data shows its share lower across 18-34, 35-54 and 55+ shoppers.
The 55+ share averaged 12.0 per cent in January-August, down from 13.8 per cent in the same 2025 stretch.
Zara is holding or growing, and Uniqlo's August share rose more than 20 per cent year on year in every age group.

EU and euro area sentiment weakened in September 2026, with ESI at 97.9 in both and employment expectations below long-term average.
Consumer confidence fell and retail trade was stable, signalling softer demand visibility for suppliers to Europe.
Industry confidence improved, but higher price expectations and uncertainty keep cost and order planning mixed for manufacturers and sourcing teams.

China’s outstanding external debt rose 4 per cent from end-March to $2.4982 trillion at end-June, with trade credit and intercompany lending higher.
Goods imports and exports grew 18.4 per cent year on year in Q2, signalling active flows relevant to sourcing and shipment finance.
SAFE said debt-risk indicators stayed within safety thresholds, while yuan debt share rose to 56 per cent.

Asia-Pacific supplied $5.788 billion of the Netherlands' apparel imports in January-July 2026, lifting its share to 53.77 per cent.
Overall imports fell 13.60 per cent to $10.764 billion, while Europe supplied $4.097 billion for a 38.06 per cent share.
Cotton led fibre categories at $5.043 billion, and trousers and shorts led products at $2.638 billion.