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Ann Summers stabilises after key launches, but still loss-making

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Ann Summers stabilises after key launches, but still loss-making


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December 10, 2025

Ann Summers has filed its accounts to the end of June 2025 and it’s certainly encouraging to see that the lingerie specialist — which has struggled in recent periods — looks to be heading towards a recovery despite still posting losses.

Knickerbox.com

The company said that its 2024/25 financial year was one of “resilience and strategic adaptation”. 

Turnover was “stable”, although it actually increased slightly but not enough to make up for the impact of inflation. It rose to £93.4 million from £93 million, although the cost of sales also edged up slightly.

The business remained loss-making, as mentioned, but the operating loss before tax and exceptional expenses narrowed to £5 million from £9.8 million a year earlier. The loss on ordinary activities before tax, as well as the net loss, showed an even greater decline at £3 million compared to £13 million12 months before. 

So what happened in the 12-month period? Against the backdrop of persistent economic uncertainty, rising inflation and the ongoing cost of living crisis, Ann Summers said it managed to overcome major retail headwinds.

Trading conditions stayed tough with discretionary spend under pressure but it optimised its store estate while maintaining a strong presence physically with 75 locations. It also continued its expansion through third-party partnerships including its collaboration with LIWA, which has opened new opportunities in the Middle East

Its web channel remained a key part of its omnichannel strategy for both the UK and abroad. But during the year it made the strategic decision to close Connect, its direct selling channel. That ceased trading after the financial year ended, in October 2025.

A milestone was the launch of knickerbox.com in July 2024, so that came right at the start of the financial year in question. That brand is well known so should be a source of future growth. 

Alongside the launch it also introduced KBX, its new in-house brand that claims to offer “stylish, effortlessly sexy, everyday lingerie”. The company said this strategic move allows it to connect with the border audience and strengthen its digital presence.

The company hasn’t posted a profit since the year to June 2021 and its losses have added up to £40 million since then. But this latest set of numbers, along with the new developments and strategic closures, suggests that the picture could change soon.

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CVC plans sale of Japan’s FineToday after scrapped IPO, sources say

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CVC plans sale of Japan’s FineToday after scrapped IPO, sources say


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Reuters

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December 10, 2025

Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is seeking a sale of FineToday Holdings, the Japanese personal-care company behind the Tsubaki shampoo brand, after shelving plans to list it in Tokyo, said four sources with knowledge of the matter.

The Tsubaki shampoo brand retails in numerous Asian countries – The Beauty Room- Facebook

FineToday, which counts China as its second-biggest market, postponed its Tokyo Stock Exchange initial public ⁠offering (IPO) in October, citing market conditions, according to a company statement. FineToday was expected to debut with a market capitalisation of about 169 billion yen ($1.08 billion) in the postponed ⁠IPO. The company had previously targeted roughly 219 billion yen in a 2024 attempt to go public.

Both valuation outcomes fell short of CVC’s internal expectations, two of the sources said. One of the sources said CVC is now seeking a valuation of over $2 billion, ‍or around ‌14–15 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), for FineToday.

Interest has emerged from global buyout ⁠firms and at least one Chinese strategic ‌investor, one of the sources added, but declined to name any of the interested ‌parties. All the sources declined to be identified as the information is confidential.

CVC and FineToday declined to comment on Wednesday.
The planned sale comes amid renewed strains in Japan–China relations. FineToday noted in its latest preliminary offering document that sales in China and Hong Kong were hit by a consumer backlash against Japanese ‍brands after Japan released treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2023, and warned that it remains exposed to any future geopolitical tensions.

FineToday was created in 2021 after Shiseido Co carved out its personal-care ‌unit and sold it ⁠to ​CVC in a 160 billion yen deal. The Tokyo-based company manufactures and markets haircare, skincare ⁠and deodorant ​products under brands including Tsubaki, Fino, Senka, Uno, Ag Deo24 and Kuyura, according to its official website and IPO filing.

About half of its sales come from overseas markets, with China a key market. In ​the six months ended June 30, 2025, 35.9% of revenue came from China and Hong Kong, while Japan contributed 44.3%, the filing showed.

FineToday posted 107.3 billion yen ($688.66 ⁠million) revenue in 2024 and 56.6 billion yen in ⁠the first half of 2025, with an adjusted EBITDA margin improving to 21.0% from 15.5% a year earlier, according to the filing.

© Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.



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Arena launches swimwear collection with LYCRA ecomade fibre

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Arena launches swimwear collection with  LYCRA ecomade fibre



arena, one of the leading brands in the world of swimming, is presenting its first collection of swimsuits made with the renewable LYCRA EcoMade fibre, raising the bar of innovation with an absolute novelty. This project celebrates the connection between the body and nature, transforming every movement into a gesture of awareness and style.

Arena has launched its first swimsuit collection made with renewable LYCRA EcoMade fibre, featuring the sustainable Vitalife fabric with 70 per cent plant-based elastomer.
Offered in three women’s styles and nature-inspired colours, the line blends performance and eco-responsibility.
Supported by athlete Sahika Ercumen, it promotes mindful, environmentally respectful swimming.

The Vitalife Fabric: Performance and Sustainability

At the heart of this collection is Vitalife, a revolutionary fabric that combines high performance with a profound commitment to sustainability. Its uniqueness lies in the use of an innovative LYCRA elastomer composed of 70% plant-based materials, primarily corn, a renewable resource harvested annually. The new fibre offers a concrete and sustainable alternative to traditional fossil raw materials, while guaranteeing the same performance as the original LYCRA and proven resistance to degradation caused by chlorine, UV rays, and sun creams.

Style and Functionality for Every Woman

The collection is aimed primarily at those who do not compromise between style and performance, with a particular focus on sustainability. The swimsuits are offered in three distinct models, designed to enhance every silhouette and perfectly adapt to the needs of every woman:

  • Single shoulder: for a femininity expressed with elegance.
  • O back: a comfortable and trendy design for those seeking a modern look.
  • Swim pro-back: ideal for swimmers facing intense training, without sacrificing style.

Colors that Tell the Story of Nature

The color palette is an ode to nature, with ethereal and pastel shades that evoke lightness and elegance, mixed with intense and dusty colors, an echo of earthly strength. Deep blues, on the other hand, recall the hidden life of the ocean, creating a harmonious dialogue between the aquatic and terrestrial worlds.

Each model is available in three color variations, in a mix of shades that combines earth tones and pastel hues: Morocco-Valencia, Film-Stone blu, and Caviar-Valencia.

“Since I was little, I had to deal with asthma, a condition that limited my breathing and my freedom – said Sahika Ercumen Turkish freediver who hold several records. “To overcome this challenge, I started practicing swimming and, later, freediving. Water was not just a sport for me, but real therapy and salvation. Immersing myself transformed my relationship with breathing, allowing my respiratory problems to progressively improve until they almost disappeared. But water also became the stage for a continuous challenge with myself, a challenge that pushed me beyond my limits and allowed me to achieve many world records. It is proof that what seems like a weakness can become our greatest strength.

Today, I am honored and profoundly happy to have become an ambassador for the ‘Vitalife’ swimwear line, because the values embodied in these designs are also my own. The dedication to protecting nature and in particular the care and respect for water are the same ones I firmly believe in. I love how their colors vibrate and are inspired by the Earth’s palette, with shades ranging from the deep sea to the horizon, ideally uniting the sky and the water. For me, Vitalife’. is a manifesto that celebrates life, the environment, and well-being. They are values that I will carry with me in every dive”.

“At arena, we are committed to creating high-performance swimwear that is durable, chlorine-resistant, and safe”. stated Peter Graschi, CEO of arena.” Many of our products already feature recycled fibres such as nylon and polyester, and our collaboration with the LYCRA Company, marks a further step towards sustainability. By introducing bio-derived elastane—sourced from renewable materials—we reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based resources without compromising on quality.

Using responsible fibers, such as recycled, organic or bio-based, is part of our broader commitment to environmental protection and responsible innovation.

This choice reflects our long-term vision as a Società Benefit, where business success goes hand in hand with social and environmental responsibility. Through trusted partnerships and rigorous testing, we ensure that sustainable materials continue to meet our exacting standards of performance, while contributing to meaningful, lasting change”.

“The LYCRA Company, always at the forefront of innovation in the textile world, is actively committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the value chain. We believe that every player in the supply chain—from suppliers to brands, up to the final consumer—has a fundamental role. Only through shared commitment can we build a truly sustainable future for future generations,” declared Alistair Williamson, Vice President EMEA & South Asia of The LYCRA Company.

This collection, therefore, goes beyond a simple swimsuit, celebrating a new way of experiencing sport and fashion, in harmony with the environment. Vitalife is not only a cutting-edge technical proposal but also an invitation to swim while respecting the environment around us, transforming every stroke into a gesture in favor of the planet. The collection will be available online starting December 4th. In 2026, the collection will also be available in the best sports stores.

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 (HU)



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South India yarn steady as rising fibre costs pressure spinners

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South India yarn steady as rising fibre costs pressure spinners



In Mumbai, cotton yarn prices hovered at previous levels as demand showed no signs of improvement. Finer counts of cotton yarn were under greater pressure. A trader from the Mumbai market told Fibre*Fashion, “Spinning mills are feeling more pressure in selling finer counts. The domestic consumer industry has yet to ramp up buying of finer-count cotton yarn for requirements of the upcoming summer season. There was better buying of coarse-count cotton yarn.”

In Mumbai, ** carded yarn of warp and weft varieties were traded at ****;*,****,*** (~$**.****.**) and ****;*,****,*** per * kg (~$**.****.**) (excluding GST), respectively. Other prices include ** combed warp at ****;****** (~$*.***.**) per kg, ** carded weft at ****;*,****,*** (~$**.****.**) per *.* kg, **/** carded warp at ****;****** (~$*.***.**) per kg, **/** carded warp at ****;****** (~$*.***.**) per kg and **/** combed warp at ****;****** (~$*.***.**) per kg, according to trade sources.



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