Fashion
Kendra Scott names new CEO
Published
January 7, 2026
U.S. lifestyle brand Kendra Scott on Tuesday announced the appointment of Chris Blakeslee as its new chief executive officer, effective January 12.
A sporting apparel veteran, Blakeslee was formerly the CEO of Gap Inc.-owned Athleta, a position he served in for over two years. Before that, he was president of sister activewear brand Alo Yoga, where he was credited for scaling the U.S. brand from under $50 million to a $1B+ direct-to-consumer brand in less than five years.
“Chris understands our customer-first mission, and I’m excited to see him lead with purpose—driving strategic growth and deepening brand affinity,” said Kendra Scott, chief visionary officer and executive chairwoman.
“His forward-looking vision strengthens our holistic brand world, where product, environment, community and culture work seamlessly together. Chris honors my vision while adding a dynamic perspective, making him the ideal steward for our next phase of growth,” added the brand founder.
Kendra Scott continues to strengthen its position as a lifestyle brand, with expansions into eyewear, fragrance, and home since its inception 23 years ago. In 2023, the company launched Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, alongside the brand’s recent expansion into apparel, hats, and footwear.
Under Blakeslee’s leadership, the brand said it “remains committed to a bullish retail strategy and continues to expand into new categories,” according to a press release.
“Kendra has built an extraordinary brand grounded in a deeply customer-first, experience-driven approach,” said Chris Blakeslee, chief executive officer.
“I’m energized by the opportunity to bring the world of Kendra Scott to life in richer, more immersive ways across product, environment, community, and culture—building on the strong foundation already in place as we shape the brand’s next era.”
In January last year, Kendra Scott entered the eyewear category, following a new licensing partnership with American eyewear giant, Marchon Eyewear.
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Fashion
Policy easing drives Argentina’s garment import surge in 2025
Argentina’s apparel imports surged 97.35 per cent YoY to $681.19 million in 2025, driven by import policy easing, improved access to foreign exchange and inventory restocking.
Volumes rose to 38.07 million kg, while average prices fell to $17.89 per kg.
Asia-Pacific dominated sourcing with an 84.16 per cent share, led by China, as retailers rebuilt stocks amid limited domestic manufacturing capacity.
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Fashion
Reebok India signs Olympian Manu Bhaker as brand ambassador
At just 24, Manu has established herself as one of India’s most accomplished sport shooters and a symbol of resilience and mental strength. She made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning two bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the 10m air pistol mixed team events, becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single Olympic Games and the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal. Her journey has been shaped as much by training and discipline as by results, making her a natural fit for Reebok, a brand that has long championed training, fitness and high-performance sport. Manu embodies a new generation of Indian athletes who are confident, self-aware, and deeply invested in the process. From refining technique to building mental strength, her career reflects the realities of elite sport, where progress is earned through consistency and intent.
Reebok has named Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker as its brand ambassador in India.
The partnership aligns the brand’s training-first philosophy with Bhaker’s discipline and mental strength.
The two-time Paris 2024 bronze medallist embodies resilience and preparation, reinforcing Reebok’s renewed focus on performance sport, training culture and distribution-led growth across India.
Commenting on the collaboration, Manu Bhaker said, “Every result begins long before competition day. Training, focus, and belief shape everything I do, and that’s what connects me with Reebok. I’m proud to represent a brand that stands for preparation and backs athletes through every phase of the journey.”
Speaking on the association, Arjun Ramamoorthy, Brand Head, Reebok India, added, “Manu Bhaker represents the future of Indian sport – focused, fearless, and deeply committed to the work behind performance. As Reebok sharpens its focus on training and high-performance sport in India, this partnership reflects our belief in athletes who don’t chase shortcuts, but show up prepared. It’s about empowering people to push further through training and self-belief.”
This strategic collaboration underscores Reebok’s renewed commitment to sport and distribution growth across India, strengthening its presence in performance categories and engaging communities that value the discipline of daily training as the foundation of performance. Together, Reebok and Manu Bhaker will encourage athletes and fitness enthusiasts to shift focus from podium moments to the preparation that earns them.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
Fashion
Uzbekistan to raise 2026 share of automated cotton harvesting to 70%
Around 10,000 units of agricultural machinery will be purchased in all this year, raising the fleet to 292,000 machines, the president’s official website said in a release.
Uzbekistan plans to raise the share of automated cotton harvesting to 70 per cent this year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The proportion of machine-harvested cotton is 52 per cent now.
It plans to acquire 800 cotton-picking machines, as well as 6,000 seeders, tractors and combines.
The country will seek $400 million from global financial institutions to back farmers in acquiring new equipment.
The level of mechanisation in agriculture now stands at 81 per cent.
Uzbekistan has purchased 1,756 cotton-picking machines in the last few years, raising the proportion of machine-harvested cotton to 52 per cent.
Last year, 2.1 million tonnes of cotton were harvested using automated machines.
Uzbekistan will seek $400 million from international financial institutions to back farmers in acquiring new equipment. Tractors and combines will be available on a 10-year lease at 18-per cent interest in local currency, with the first two years interest-free. The government will subsidise 8 per cent of the interest rate.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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