Fashion
Germany’s Hugo Boss lifts profitability despite 1% dip in Q3 sales
The gross margin of the company rose 100 basis points (bps) to 61.2 per cent, reflecting lower freight costs and sourcing efficiencies, while operating expenses fell 3 per cent due to stringent cost management.
Hugo Boss has reported a 1 per cent YoY sales decline in Q3 2025 but achieved stronger profitability through cost control and sourcing efficiency.
Gross margin rose 100 bps to 61.2 per cent, while EBIT held steady at €95 million (~$109.25 million) with a 9.6 per cent margin.
EPS increased 7 per cent, and free cash flow 63 per cent.
The company reaffirmed its FY25 guidance amid currency headwinds.
Operating profit (EBIT) remained broadly stable at €95 million (~$109.25 million), translating to a 9.6 per cent EBIT margin, up 30 basis points YoY. Earnings per share (EPS) increased 7 per cent to €0.85, supported by stronger financial results and lower net expenses. Free cash flow rose 63 per cent, driven by improved CapEx efficiency, Hugo Boss said in a press release.
Regionally, Americas showed renewed momentum (+3 per cent), while EMEA declined slightly (–2 per cent), with gains in Germany and France offset by weaker UK sales. The Asia/Pacific region fell 4 per cent, mainly due to lower sales in China, though Southeast Asia and Japan showed modest improvement.
“Despite ongoing global market volatility in Q3, we remained focused on our strategic priorities, emphasising long-term brand strength over short-term gains,” said Daniel Grieder, CEO at Hugo Boss. “We achieved meaningful efficiency gains, delivering notable gross margin expansion and streamlined expenses. This is clear evidence of the operational excellence and resilience at the core of our business model. Accordingly, we confirm our 2025 top-and bottom-line guidance while remaining vigilant in navigating ongoing market uncertainties.”
“Our ‘CLAIM 5’ strategy has been pivotal in driving our growth and establishing a strong foundation for long-term success. With our two iconic brands, a robust business platform, and the passion and commitment of our global teams, we are well positioned to create lasting value for our shareholders,” added Grieder.
The Boss Menswear line remained stable YoY, supported by the Beckham X Boss collection launch and the Boss Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Show in Milan, both of which significantly boosted brand engagement on social media.
By contrast, Boss Womenswear and Hugo reported sales declines of 9 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, as the company continued to refine product assortments and streamline distribution.
Channel-wise, digital sales advanced 2 per cent, driven by growth on its official website and through digital partner channels. Brick-and-mortar retail remained flat but improved sequentially from Q2, while wholesale declined 5 per cent due to delivery timing, expected to reverse in Q4.
Marketing investments fell 8 per cent to €70 million as the company prioritised high-impact initiatives like the Milan Fashion Show. Administration expenses were 2 per cent lower, highlighting strict overhead control. The company’s trade net working capital rose 11 per cent to €909 million, reflecting higher inventories and reduced payables but remained below Q2 levels.
Hugo Boss reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, expecting group sales and EBIT at the lower end of the ranges due to persistent macroeconomic and currency headwinds. Full-year sales are projected between €4.2 billion and €4.4 billion, while EBIT is forecast between €380 million and €440 million.
The company expects to maintain its EBIT margin within 9-10 per cent, improve efficiency through sourcing and administrative optimisation, and limit capital expenditure to the lower end of €200–250 million.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Cumulative French manufacturing output over the July-September quarter was higher by 1.3 per cent year on year (YoY); for the whole industry, it was up 1.1 per cent YoY in the quarter.
Output in the manufacturing of textiles, apparel, leather and related products grew by 2.6 per cent YoY in September this year and dropped by 1.6 per cent quarter on quarter (QoQ) in the July-September quarter, an INSEE release said.
France’s manufacturing output bounced back in September by growing at 0.9 per cent month on month (MoM) after a 1-per cent MoM drop in August.
Output in the manufacturing of textiles, apparel, leather and related items grew by 2.6 per cent YoY in September and dropped by 1.6 per cent quarter on quarter in July-September.
Cumulative manufacturing output in July-September was higher by 1.3 per cent YoY.
The evolution of the manufacturing index between July and August 2025 has been revised downwards, to minus 1 per cent instead of minus 0.7 per cent earlier. The evolution of the index for the whole industry has also been revised downwards, to minus 0.9 per cent from minus 0.7 per cent earlier.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
By
AFP
Published
November 7, 2025
After its troubles in France, Shein faces more opposition in Italy, where the e-commerce giant is wooing shoppers in fashion capital Milan- but where the government and industry are mobilising.
“The textile sector is under attack,” Luca Sburlati, head of Italian fashion trade body Confindustria Moda, told AFP. “Hundreds of thousands of packages arrive in our homes every day. We must react.”
Italy is known for its high-end fashion, the home of global brands including Gucci and Prada, and the industry makes up around five percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
But cheap and cheerful clothes are as popular in Italy as the rest of Europe, including bought through Shein’s ultra-competitive platform.
Founded in China and now based in Singapore, Shein last month staged its first Italian catwalk show in Milan. The same week, the government hosted urgent talks on the impact of “ultra-fast fashion”.
Adolfo Urso, the minister for the “Made in Italy” brand, warned of “an “invasion of low-cost foreign products that harm our producers and put consumers at risk.”
The clothes industry is expected to present a new strategic plan for Italian fashion next week.
At the European Union level, the industry wants an end to the exemption from customs duties for packages worth under 150 euros ($173), following a similar charge in the US.
Critics warn of the environmental impact of clothes so cheap they can be worn once and thrown away, while Shein has also come under scrutiny for conditions at its textile factories.
This week, Italy’s government brought into law a European Union directive that seeks to improve transparency in sales, particularly on the environmental impact of products. Shein has already been sanctioned in this area in Italy and France.
The French government has said it was suspending the platform after outrage over its sale of childlike sex dolls. At the same time, nearly 8,000 people queued for the opening of Shein’s first permanent store, located in Paris’s BHV department store.
In style-conscious Milan, the platform is also hugely popular. “In Milan, you can’t go out if you’re not stylish,” Mattia Trebino told AFP at Shein’s fashion show last month.
The 24-year-old, who wore a faux-crocodile skin jacket, said he receives about four Shein packages every month. “These clothes, you can only wear them once or twice at most. But they’re really cheap,” he said.
Shein’s autumn/winter collection was inspired in part by 1980s Milan, featuring three-piece-suits and faux fur coats.
“The idea was to show that everyone can find their style at Shein- and to respond to our critics,” Luca Raveillon, the show’s French artistic director, told AFP. Gesturing to the collections, he said: “Look, it’s beautiful. It’s good quality, it fits perfectly. “We look great in it, and we can express ourselves with what we wear”- while keeping costs low, as “life is getting expensive”.
Alessia Tresoldi, a 27-year-old Italian influencer sat in the front row, shared images of the show with her one million Instagram followers. Shein “looks at what’s happening on the street”, she told AFP, and described the show as “amazing”.
The website offers a 100% polyester ‘fur’ coat from the show in 15 different colours, starting at 28 euros with free shipping. Boosted by such low prices, European consumers buy 60% more clothing than they did in 2000, and keep it for half as long, according to an October report by consultants The European House-Ambrosetti.
The study’s author, Carlo Cici, said the European fashion industry must innovate more to stand out. “Consumers are very interested in sustainability but aren’t willing to pay for it,” he wrote.
Copyright © 2025 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed in this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the contents of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presses.
In the first nine months of 2025, Lenzing AG recorded revenue growth and higher EBITDA, but a market-driven volatile third quarter. This performance reflects the effects of ongoing market volatility, tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties. Nevertheless, the medium to long-term outlook remains positive.
Lenzing AG’s revenue rose 0.7 per cent to €1.97 billion (~$2.27 billion) in the first nine months of 2025.
EBITDA grew 29.1 per cent to €340.4 million (~$391.5 million) amid market volatility.
The company is optimising operations, investing over €100 million (~$115 million) in Austrian sites, and reviewing its Indonesia plant to save €45 million (~$51.8 million) annually by 2027.
The revenue generated by Lenzing AG rose by 0.7 percent to EUR 1.97 bn (prior-year period: EUR 1.96 bn) in the first nine months. EBITDA grew by 29.1 percent to EUR 340.4 mn (prior-year period: EUR 263.7 mn), including effects from the sale of surplus emission allowances and the valuation of biological assets. The EBITDA margin improved to 17.3 percent (prior-year period: 13.5 percent). Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) amounted to EUR 20.6 mn (prior-year period: EUR 38.3 mn), which corresponds to an EBIT margin of 1 percent (prior-year period: 2 percent). This result includes asset impairments of EUR 82.1 mn in Indonesia. Earnings before tax (EBT) amounted to EUR minus 98.7 mn (prior-year period: EUR minus 33.4 mn).
“We see these challenging times also as an opportunity. We are increasingly building on our strengths and are continuing to focus on what we excel at: strong brands, precise execution and bold innovation,” notes Rohit Aggarwal, CEO of Lenzing AG.
Strategic development
Lenzing AG pursues a holistically adapted strategy with a clear focus on value-generating growth. Key pillars of this strategy include enhancing operational efficiency, optimizing production sites, and targeting high-margin premium products such as TENCEL, VEOCEL, and LENZING ECOVERO. Additional growth potential is expected particularly in the fields of hygiene, packaging, filtration, as well as medical and industrial applications.
To sustainably secure this growth and strengthen long-term competitiveness, the company has initiated a strategic review of its production site in Indonesia. The planned measures – including adjustments to administrative functions – are expected to generate additional annual savings of approximately EUR 45 mn by the end of 2027. For the current reporting year, the Management Board anticipates cost savings exceeding EUR 180 mn. Furthermore, the company is investing over EUR 100 mn in its sites in Lenzing and Heiligenkreuz and aims to achieve holistic energy optimization of more than 5 percent across all production locations. Strategic options for the site in Indonesia are being evaluated, including a potential sale.
The Supervisory Board also made personnel decisions during the reporting period: The Managing Board mandate of Christian Skilich, Chief Pulp & Chief Technology Officer, was extended until May 2029. Mathias Breuer, currently Senior Vice President and responsible for the performance program, will become CFO from January 1, 2026, and succeed Nico Reiner, who is due to step down from his position at the end of 2025.
Solid financial position in a difficult environment
Thanks to its strong focus on cash management, Lenzing succeeded in leaving no doubt about its adequate liquidity position during the reporting period. As of September 30, 2025, the company held liquidity cushion of EUR 993 mn. The capital structure was strengthened by a EUR 500 mn hybrid bond and a EUR 545 mn syndicated financing facility. Net financial debt was reduced by 8.5 per cent to EUR 1.4 bn as of the reporting date. With total assets of EUR 4.80 bn, this corresponds to an adjusted equity ratio of 30.7% as of September 30, 2025.
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to EUR 284.6 mn (prior-year period: EUR 319.4 mn). Free cash flow was also positive at EUR 110.9 mn. (prior-year period: EUR 194.0 mn) Furthermore, unlevered free cash flow amounted to EUR 192.1 mn (prior-year period: EUR 228.6 mn).
Capital expenditure amounted to EUR 93.2 mn (prior-year period: EUR 93.3 mn).
Outlook
The global environment remains volatile. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects growth of 3.2 percent in 2025, but warns of trade conflicts and financial instability. Consumer sentiment is subdued, and higher tariff costs could further weigh on demand in 2026. Based on the business performance to date and the current market outlook, the Managing Board expects year-on-year growth in EBITDA in 2025. The actual business performance may nevertheless diverge from current expectations depending on geopolitical and economic factors as well as the cyclical nature of the industry. Any assessment of economic development is therefore subject to forecasting risks.
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)
Airlines cancel more than 700 U.S. flights as FAA-ordered shutdown cuts begin
Prince Harry makes bold statement about ‘wife’ Meghan as Duchess preparing to sue William
NWSL playoffs preview: Can anyone stop Kansas City? How each team will, won’t win it all
-
Tech1 week agoNew diode chain could be used to develop high-power terahertz technologies
-
Business1 week agoChocolate’s reign over Halloween is under threat from inflation, tariffs and high cocoa prices
-
Tech1 week agoHow to Keep Subways and Trains Cool in an Ever Hotter World
-
Tech7 days agoDisney content has gone dark on YouTube TV. Here’s what customers should know
-
Tech1 week agoGiant, Spooky Animatronics Are 75 Percent Off at the Home Depot
-
Fashion1 week agoUS Senate passes legislation challenging Trump’s tariffs on Canada
-
Business1 week agoDabur India Q2 Results: Net Profit Rises 6.5% YoY To Rs 444.8 Crore, Revenue Up 5.4%
-
Entertainment1 week agoTracy Morgan reflects on career and how a devastating crash impacted his life: “You have to cherish it”