The European Commission has fined luxury fashion companies Gucci, Chloe and Loewe for fixing resale prices, in breach of European Union (EU) competition rules.

The Commission’s investigation revealed that the three companies restricted the ability of independent third-party retailers they work with to set their own online and offline retail prices for products designed and sold by them under their respective brand names. This kind of anticompetitive behaviour increases prices and reduces choice for consumers, a Commission release said.

The European Commission has fined three luxury fashion brands for fixing resale prices.
A probe revealed the three brands restricted the ability of independent third-party partner retailers to set their own online and offline retail prices for products designed and sold by them under their respective brand names.
They interfered with their retailers’ commercial strategies by imposing restrictions on them.

The fines, which were reduced in all three cases due to the companies’ cooperation with the Commission, amounted to over €157 million in total.

Gucci, Chloe and Loewe are fashion companies headquartered in Italy, France and Spain respectively. They design, produce and distribute high-end fashion products, including apparel, leather goods and various accessories.

The Commission’s investigation revealed that these three fashion companies engaged in a practice called resale price maintenance (RPM).

They restricted the ability of both their online and brick-and-mortar retailers, which are independent resellers, to set their own retail prices for almost the entire range of products designed and sold by them under their respective brand names. The infringements covered the whole territory of the European Economic Area (EEA).

In particular, the three fashion companies interfered with their retailers’ commercial strategies by imposing restrictions on them, such as requiring them to not deviate from recommended retail prices; maximum discounts rates; and specific periods for sales.

In certain cases, and at least temporarily, they also prohibited retailers from offering any discounts. They strived to have their retailers apply the same prices and sales conditions they applied in their own direct sales channels.

To ensure compliance with their pricing policies, the three companies monitored the retailers’ prices and followed up with deviating retailers. The retailers in general adhered to the companies’ pricing policies, either from the start or after being requested to do so.

“These anti-competitive practices by Gucci, Chloe and Loewe deprived the retailers of their pricing independence and reduced competition between them. At the same time, Gucci, Chloe and Loewe aimed to protect their own sales from competition from their retailers,” the Commission noted.

In addition, Gucci imposed online sales restrictions for a specific product line by asking its retailers to stop selling the product online.

The practices ended for all the three companies in April 2023, when the Commission carried out unannounced inspections at their premises.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

The recently-approved Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, the rise in Chattogram Port tariffs and the timeline for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category together pose serious challenges for the balance, investment and competitiveness of the readymade garment (RMG) industry, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The association urged the interim government to reconsider the policy decisions.

The Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, the rise in Chattogram Port tariffs and the timeline for graduation from the LDC status together pose serious challenges for the balance, investment and competitiveness of the RMG industry, according to trade body BGMEA.
The association urged the interim government to reconsider the policy decisions and ensure a business-friendly environment.

After extensive discussions at the Tripartite Consultation Council (TCC) and its working committee, a balanced proposal was arrived at regarding trade union formation, allowing a union to be formed in factories employing 50 to 500 workers with the consent of at least 50 workers. However, the advisory council later changed the provision without consultation, setting the range at 20-300 workers.

“If a union can be formed with just 20 workers, outsiders may also become involved, leading to internal conflict, instability and disruption in production,” BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan was quoted as saying by domestic media outlets.

He said India requires the consent of at least 10 per cent of workers or a minimum of 100 workers to form a union, while Pakistan requires 20 per cent. Compared to these standards, Bangladesh’s proposed framework will be the weakest and most unstable in South Asia, he lamented.

The TCC had earlier decided that a company could choose either the Future Fund or Progoti scheme for pension. But under the new proposal, workers can participate in both schemes simultaneously, forcing employers to maintain two separate financial mechanisms.

This will create administrative complications, increase expenses and lead to disorder in fund management, he alleged.

The inclusion of ‘officers and employees’ in the definition of ‘worker’ as another major risk, he pointed out, blurring the line between management and workers and creating confusion in responsibility and decision-making, he said.

While rivals have already adopted investment-friendly reforms in technology, infrastructure and labour laws, such irrational laws implemented in Bangladesh will lead to a decline in foreign investment, a fall in exports and a rise in instability across industries, he cautioned.

Though the Ministry of Shipping claims port tariffs have not been raised in 40 years, as Chattogram Port collects its fees in US dollars, entrepreneurs are already paying 308 per cent more in local currency due to depreciation of taka, he said.

He urged the government to ensure a business-friendly environment, resolve the gas crisis, simplify customs and National Board of Revenue processes, improve infrastructure and logistics, and make low-cost financing available.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

JD Sports-owned Go Outdoors has filed its latest accounts and they show that the company returned to profit in the year to 1 February.

The company, which operates stores and websites under its own name as well as Go Outdoors Express, Taylor’s and Fishing Republic, said that it made a profit before tax this time of £9.7 million compared to a loss before tax of £1.5 million a year earlier.

That was despite the company’s turnover having fallen year on year by 1%, although that wasn’t quite such a problem as it sounded. The previous year had been 53 weeks so with the latest one being only 52 weeks, a 1% fall in its revenue actually looks quite good.

Revenue when taken as a 52-week comparison managed to rise year on year, driven by an increase in net space across the store estate. Store numbers actually rose to 126 from 99. And as well as opening new stores, it relocated another to make it the largest outdoor store in Europe. That store’s in York and last month the company said that a year on from its debut, this award-winning location had become the brand’s best-performing flagship while also acting as a hub for the people of York, hosting community events and product launches.

Back with those results, the company’s underlying gross margins were strong and were the main reason for the business’s return to profitability. They increased healthily to 45.7% from 41% due to the better management of inventory, while sea freight costs were much improved.

But not all of its figures were positive as it said it saw a contraction in online sales during the period. Although they’re above pre-pandemic levels, they’ve been partially offset by the positive sales performance within physical stores.

That said, overall the period saw strong demand for the company’s product range as consumers embraced the benefits of spending time outdoors.