Bangladesh’s economy is still facing significant pressure, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which recently advised the country’s central bank to make the interest rate structure more market-oriented.

During a meeting with Bangladesh Bank officials last week, the IMF stressed the need to maintain a contractionary monetary policy to bring inflation down to 5 per cent.

Bangladesh’s economy is still facing significant pressure, the IMF said, advising the country’s central bank to make the interest rate structure more market-oriented.
It stressed the need to maintain a contractionary monetary policy to bring inflation down to 5 per cent.
It is concerned over the use of foreign reserves in forming the Export Development Fund and the growing volume of non-performing loans.

It also expressed concern over the use of foreign reserves in forming the Export Development Fund (EDF) and the growing volume of non-performing loans (NPLs).

Despite a requirement under the loan conditions to reduce bad loans in state-owned banks below 10 per cent, the figure has reportedly exceeded 40 per cent. Private banks also saw their NPL ratio surpass 10 per cent, double the stipulated 5 per cent limit.

Under the IMF’s $4.7 billion loan programme, Bangladesh has yet to fully achieve its inflation-control target.

The central bank informed the visiting IMF delegation that overall inflation had dropped to 8.36 per cent in September.

The IMF sought clarification on how the central bank plans to maintain investment momentum if the contractionary policy continues for an extended period, according to domestic media reports.

The delegation strongly objected to the bank’s practice of providing unsecured liquidity support to weak banks under its ‘lender of last resort’ policy.

It was satisfied with the current level of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves.

The IMF mission will stay in Dhaka until November 13.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

German sportswear giant Puma has reported a 10.4 per cent decline in sales on a currency-adjusted basis to €1,955.7 million (~$2.27 billion) in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, or 15.3 per cent on a reported basis, primarily reflecting reduced wholesale exposure, distribution streamlining, and lower promotional activity in e-commerce, as part of its ongoing strategic reset aimed at strengthening long-term brand health.

The gross profit margin fell by 260 basis points to 45.2 per cent, primarily due to elevated promotional activity in the wholesale channel, inventory write-downs, and increased freight costs. This was partially cushioned by a favourable mix shift towards direct-to-consumer (DTC).

Puma’s Q3 2025 sales have declined 10.4 per cent on a currency-adjusted basis to €1,955.7 million (~$2.27 billion) amid distribution clean-up, reduced wholesale exposure, and fewer e-commerce promotions.
The brand reported a net loss of €62.3 million (~$72.3 million) and a 45.2 per cent gross margin.
CEO Arthur Hoeld reaffirmed 2025 as a ‘year of reset’.

Operating expenses, excluding one-time costs, decreased 2.6 per cent to €850.6 million, reflecting early benefits from the cost-efficiency programme. However, marketing costs rose as a share of sales due to reduced revenues. Adjusted EBIT dropped sharply to €39.5 million from €237.0 million a year earlier, while reported EBIT came in at €29.4 million after accounting for €10.1 million in one-time restructuring costs. Consequently, the EBIT margin fell to 1.5 per cent. Net loss stood at €62.3 million compared with a €127.8 million net profit in the same period last year. Earnings per share came in at negative €0.42.

The company faced multiple challenges during the quarter, including muted brand momentum, elevated inventory levels across the trade, and lower-quality distribution, as part of its ongoing strategic reset aimed at strengthening long-term brand health by reducing undesirable wholesale business, curbing promotions, and improving inventory quality, Puma said in a press release.

Wholesale revenue decreased 15.4 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €1,385.7 million, reflecting reduced exposure to low-margin channels in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and Latin America. The company also phased out undesirable business and executed significant takebacks to clear excess inventory from trade partners.

DTC sales, however, grew by 4.5 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €570 million, driven by a 5.6 per cent increase in e-commerce and a 3.9 per cent rise in owned and operated retail stores. This boosted the DTC share to 29.1 per cent from 25.1 per cent in Q3 2024, as the company shifted focus towards higher-margin, brand-controlled channels.

Sales fell across all key regions due to the ongoing reset. In the Americas, sales decreased 15.2 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €678.1 million, largely due to reduced exposure to mass merchants in North America. The US market was particularly affected given its significant share of wholesale business. The Asia/Pacific region recorded a 9 per cent decline to €367.1 million, primarily due to a drop in Greater China’s wholesale business, partially offset by growth in DTC. In the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, sales declined 7.1 per cent to €910.6 million, impacted by takebacks and the deliberate scaling back of low-quality wholesale business.

All product divisions were affected by the strategic reset. Footwear sales declined by 9.9 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €1,045.8 million, with broad-based softness across most categories. Nonetheless, the Speedcat family within the Sportstyle Prime segment performed well, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Performance categories such as Basketball and Performance Running showed resilience, driven by successful launches like the HALI 1 basketball shoe and Velocity NITRO 4 running shoe.

Apparel sales decreased by 12.8 per cent to €635.5 million, reflecting weaker performance in Sportstyle, while growth in Training—bolstered by Puma’s exclusive HYROX partnership—along with Motorsport and Basketball, provided partial offsets. Accessories declined 6.1 per cent to €274.4 million.

For the first nine months of 2025, Puma’s sales decreased 4.3 per cent (currency-adjusted) to €5,973.9 million, while reported sales dropped 8.5 per cent. Wholesale declined 8.6 per cent, while DTC rose 8.4 per cent—driven by strong e-commerce growth of 14.2 per cent and retail growth of 5.2 per cent. DTC’s share of total sales increased to 28.8 per cent from 25.5 per cent.

Gross profit margin for the nine months decreased 130 basis points to 46.1 per cent due to higher promotions and currency headwinds. Adjusted EBIT fell to €102.0 million from €513.2 million, while one-time costs and impairments led to a reported EBIT loss of -€10.7 million. The company posted a net loss of €308.9 million for the period, compared to a €257.1 million profit in 2024.

“At the end of July, we stated that 2025 would be a year of reset. Since then, we have taken important steps to clean up Puma’s distribution, improve our cash management and reset our operational expenses. By expanding our cost efficiency programme, we are moving quickly to address challenges and make the business more efficient and resilient. With third-quarter results meeting our expectations, we remain committed to executing these measures with discipline,” said Arthur Hoeld, chief executive officer (CEO) of Puma.

“I strongly believe the Puma brand has incredible potential with more than 77 years of history, one of the best product archives in the industry and huge credibility in many major sports. We have identified the areas in which we need to take decisive action and outlined our strategic priorities to become one global sports brand with globally resonating product ranges and inspiring storytelling across markets. With these strategic priorities, we have the clear ambition to establish Puma as a Top 3 sports brand globally, returning to above industry growth and generating healthy profits in the medium term,” added Hoeld.

Puma has expanded its cost-efficiency programme to include a targeted reduction of approximately 900 additional white-collar roles globally by the end of 2026. The company expects these actions, alongside its distribution reset and focus on brand consistency, to create a leaner and more agile operating structure, added the release.

Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, Puma confirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, expecting sales to decline by a low double-digit percentage on a currency-adjusted basis and a reported EBIT loss for the year. Capital expenditures are projected around €250 million.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Los Angeles-based fashion house Amiri is to design the formal wear of FC Barcelona – the current Spanish Liga 1 champions, and one of the most decorated clubs in the soccer world.

The winner of a record 80 domestic trophies, and of 23 European and worldwide titles, Barcelona is one of the most glamorous clubs on the planet. Its players have won the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual prize in association football, the most for any professional team. Including 12 times for male players – like soccer legends Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff – and three times for women players.
 
“The Amiri x FC Barcelona partnership begins with the 2024/2025 season, marking the start of an ongoing collaboration between Amiri and FC Barcelona. Both sides view it as a long-term relationship — one rooted in shared values of innovation, craftsmanship, and global excellence,” Amiri told FashionNetwork.com.

Founded in 2014 by Mike Amiri, a Beverly Hills High School graduate, the brand Amiri began specializing in stage outfits for musicians in California, before developing a first capsule collection.
 
By 2018, Amiri began staging runway shows during the Paris menswear season. One year later, Renzo Rosso’s OTB took a minority stake in the LA brand. 
 
By 2020, Amiri had opened its first flagship on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, while Amiri was nominated four times for Menswear Designer of the Year at the annual CFDA Awards in New York.
 
Today, Amiri boasts a network of 31 boutiques, and retails in over 150 sales points in the U.S., Europe, Gulf and Asia.
 
The linkup with Barcelona, “marks the first partnership of its kind for Amiri, uniting with a global icon in sport, and bringing a distinctly Hollywood vision of modern luxury to one of the world’s most celebrated football institutions,” the brand noted.
 
This partnership also unites a 21st-century label and a club with 125 years of history, respecting tradition and heritage.
 
The brand will provide FC Barcelona custom suiting for all players, across both their men’s and women’s teams, alongside club executives and leadership. 
 
“The tailoring created for FC Barcelona is exclusive to the club and will not be available for public sale. Each piece was made-to-measure for the players and staff, combining Amiri’s signature relaxed Californian tailoring with nods to the club’s heritage through custom pinstripe fabrics and deep navy tones,” Amiri told FashionNetwork.com.
 
Inspiration is drawn directly from the colors of the players’ strip. Dressed in rich blue and garnet for over a century, the club is also known as equip blaugrana – the blue and garnet team. Marrying signature Amiri style with the distinct identity of FC Barcelona, for the Winter season Amiri uses the club’s deep navy blue as the primary shade on precisely tailored wool six-button overcoats, as well as tailored jackets – double-breasted for men, single-breasted for women – and gently flared trousers in a fine white-on-navy pinstripe wool. 
 
For summer tailoring, pinstripe also appears on a new shirt-collar classic blouson, an iconic Amiri style inspired by sportswear, translated to formalwear, and here returned to sports, detailed with MA Monogram embroidery on the breast pocket. 
 
Lightweight, sports-silhouette knits with contrast MA Monogram and tonal FC Barcelona embroidery round out the wardrobe for summer, while for winter pinstripe poplin shirts are teamed with a garnet and blue-striped tie and gold bar tie clip.