Fashion
Two bidders come forward for Claire’s France, with plans to take on 460 of its 829 staff
By
AFP
Published
October 30, 2025
On Thursday, two companies submitted proposals to the Paris Economic Activities Court to take over the Claire’s brand in France, which was placed in receivership at the end of July, and to retain 460 of the 829 employees of the budget jewellery chain in France, according to lawyers for the employee representatives speaking to AFP.
The companies in question are fashion jewellery retailer June, which has already obtained authorisation to operate the Claire’s brand and plans to take on 426 employees, and Spanish phone-case retailer La Casa de las Carcasas, which intends to take on 34 employees.
June would also take over 139 shops out of Claire’s roughly 240 existing points of sale, and La Casa de las Carcasas three shops, where it would sell its phone accessories.
These “complementary offers”, which are very likely to be approved by the court on 14 November, “are sound and sustainable and could save nearly 50% of jobs,” said attorney Eve Ouanson.
A job protection plan (PSE) has already been initiated for employees who are not included in the takeover; for most of them, this is expected to result in redundancy. “The trade unions have signed the agreement on this PSE in a responsible manner to try to limit the damage in terms of jobs,” emphasised attorney Khaled Meziani.
At the end of July, the courts opened receivership proceedings for Claire’s France, a brand best known for its small pieces of jewellery, piercings and other accessories for teenagers.
The company said this was due to the continued decline in in-store sales over the past several years, exacerbated by US tariffs on Chinese products, on which Claire’s relies heavily.
However, according to the latest published accounts, Claire’s France generated a net profit of €1.3 million between late 2023 and late 2024, and €0.8 million in the previous financial year.
A third takeover bid was at one point presented to the court-appointed administrator before ultimately being rejected.
Claire’s difficulties are not limited to France: its US parent company declared bankruptcy in August before being taken over by an investment fund.
Claire’s Spanish subsidiary also declared insolvency in September.
In early September, employee representatives reported to the courts what they described as “serious irregularities in the management of the company”, accusing the US parent company of having “emptied the coffers” via “financial flows” between the group’s numerous subsidiaries.
Paris, 30 Oct 2025 (AFP)
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Published
December 17, 2025
In 2025, South Korean fashion takes another step up on the global stage. In a sector where technological innovations are redefining production processes, South Korea stands out for its ability to turn these developments into drivers of growth and global appeal, according to a Spherical Insights study published in November.
According to the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), almost $27 million is set to be invested in 2025 to strengthen the national textile value chain.
This policy forms part of a broader strategy that provides more than $19 billion in support for firms operating in industrial textiles, the creation of an Industrial Textile Alliance, and a certification centre for technical products. The aim is to lift digital transformation across the sector from 35% to 60% and increase South Korea’s share of the global markets for industrial and sustainable textiles from 2-3% to 10% by 2030.
A dynamic domestic market
These ambitions are underpinned by an already robust industry. In 2024, South Korea imported $12.37 billion worth of clothing, including $5.08 billion in menswear. Exports totalled almost $2 billion, of which $1.7 billion comprised synthetic textiles and crocheted fabrics. This momentum reinforces a domestic market characterised by diverse demand, rapid trend adoption and strong cultural influence.
At the heart of this evolution lies the global rise of Korean menswear. Korean brands stand out for their attention to detail, mastery of cut and tailoring, and a strong appetite for exploring experimental materials, bold silhouettes and assertive colours. This stylistic approach, oscillating between minimalism and exuberance, meets a growing demand for pieces capable of expressing individual identity, according to the study.
Exports to be developed
The trends for 2025 confirm this direction: oversized cuts, unique patterns, bright colours, sustainable materials, a fusion of traditional and contemporary styles, as well as layering, athleisure and gender-fluid fashion, are at the forefront. From oversized kimono-polos to two-tone pink shirts, the Korean aesthetic offers a balance of comfort, experimentation and sophistication.
This creative ecosystem is supported by a myriad of ‘flagship’ brands. Names already recognised worldwide such as Gentle Monster, Andersson Bell, Kusikohc, Hyein Seo and We11done fuel the country’s international aura through their distinct worlds, blending art, streetwear, craftsmanship and conceptual design. In 2025, other labels are taking centre stage: Ader Error and its deconstructivist streetwear, Wooyoungmi and its modern tailoring, ThisIsNeverThat and its distinctly Korean take on streetwear, as well as 87MM, Recto, Amomento, PushButton and Minjukim, whose gender-fluid offerings are gaining visibility.
By combining massive public investment, a capacity for innovation, cultural richness and creative power, South Korea is putting its fashion industry on an upward trajectory in 2025. It can be seen not only as an exporter of aesthetics, but also as a key player in technical and sustainable textiles, with the ambition of playing a central role in contemporary global fashion.
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The EU move primarily targets parcels arriving through e-commerce channels that currently benefit from duty-free entry.
Reacting to the EU decision on de minimis exemptions and new customs duties starting July 1, 2026, the British Chambers of Commerce said the decision to charge a flat customs duty of €3 on each commodity code for consignments worth less than €150 will significantly affect UK businesses.
It will make British goods less attractive to both businesses and people in the EU and squeeze profit margins, it noted.
“Although UK-originating products will still be tariff free, they will now face customs fees and potentially separate handling charges levied by individual EU countries,” William Bain, BCC head of trade policy, said in a statement.
“This extra cost will make goods from Great Britian less attractive to both businesses and people in the EU and squeeze profit margins,” he observed.
Major EU customs reforms are due to come into force from January 2028, and the UK government is consulting on the scheme for abolishing the UK de minimis threshold from 2029, he said.
“The government must now consider wider customs reforms and the introduction of a Single Trade Window to ease costs for our firms. It will also need to review the impact of these EU changes on customs rules between Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” he added.
EU officials said the measure aims at addressing unfair competition faced by EU sellers, alongside concerns over consumer health and safety, widespread fraud, and environmental impact linked to high volumes of low-value imports. Around 93 per cent of e-commerce flows into the EU are expected to fall under the scope of the new duty, the European Council said in an earlier press release.
The €3 rate will apply to goods sold by non-EU traders registered under the EU’s Import One-Stop Shop for value-added tax purposes. The Council clarified that this customs duty is separate from a proposed handling fee being discussed under the broader customs reform and the EU’s multiannual financial framework.
The temporary duty will remain in force until a permanent system agreed in November 2025 comes into application, which would remove the €150 duty-free threshold altogether and subject all such goods to standard EU tariffs.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
Parcel tax: the e-commerce sector calls on France not to break ranks with its European partners
Published
December 16, 2025
As the European Union prepares to impose a €3 levy on small non-EU parcels valued at under €150, the French Senate wants to increase the proposed national charge from €2 to €5. E-commerce organisation Fevad says this would be a mistake that could cost France half a billion euros and is urging lawmakers to change course.
The Fédération française de la vente en ligne, which backs the French flat-rate tax proposal, is campaigning for the national levy to remain aligned with those of its neighbours. Several countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, are preparing their own €2 taxes on small non-EU parcels. In Fevad’s view, France would be shooting itself in the foot by falling out of step with neighbouring markets.
“To circumvent the new €5 French tax, non-EU platforms such as Shein and Temu will have little difficulty routing their small parcels destined for the French market via neighbouring countries where they already have logistics infrastructure, notably Belgium,” the federation says.
Fevad also points out that a €5 tax would cost France more than €500 million in lost revenue, due to parcels being redirected to port and airport hubs in neighbouring countries rather than in France.
A temporary European tax
This stance comes just days after the EU adopted a €3 EU-wide levy on non-EU parcels under €150. The measure will come into force on 1 July, but it will be temporary.
This flat-rate tax, irrespective of the parcel’s value, will apply pending the introduction of standard parcel taxation, which will then follow the usual tariff rules for personal consumer goods.
“While this is a step in the right direction towards levelling the playing field between EU-based and non-EU-based businesses, companies will also need clear operational arrangements to ensure legal certainty and to adapt their compliance models and internal IT systems in time,” says Luca Cassetti, secretary general of the European confederation Ecommerce Europe, of which Fevad is a founding member.
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