SGB Update Apparel

RealReal Names New CEO
RealReal appointed Rati Sahi Levesque, the luxury resale marketplace’s president and COO, as CEO, effective immediately. Levesque succeeds John Koryl, who has departed from the company and no longer serves on the Board.
X-Bionic Secures Investment from Olympic Skier Marco Odermatt
X-Bionic reported that Olympic gold medalist and three-time Alpine World Cup champion Marco Odermatt has become an investor in the Swiss apparel specialist. The amount of the investment was undisclosed.

Adidas’ Debt Rating Outlook Upgraded as H1 Performance Exceeds Targets
S&P Global Ratings raised its debt ratings outlook on Adidas AG to stable from negative due to the company’s stronger-than-expected operating performance and its expectation that the brand’s growth momentum will continue.

K-Way Finds New Minority Equity Partner
Founded in 1965 in Paris by Leon Claude Duhamel, K-Way manufactures apparel, shoes and accessories for men, women and kids, including its iconic packable waterproof jacket, the “Claude,” with its distinctive colorful zip and logo inspired by the French national flag.

On Opens Flaghips in NYC and Chicago
Swiss-running brand On opened flagship stores in Chicago and New York City, bringing its store count in North America to eight. In 2020, the company opened its first global store in SoHo, a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.

Columbia Brand Appoints Marketing Chief; Launches New Brand Vision
Matt Sutton, as senior vice president and head of marketing for the Columbia brand, was hired as the Columbia Brand has reportedly worked to bring a new strategic vision to life internally over the last few months.

Craft Sportswear to Open Pop-Up in SoHo During NYC Marathon
The retail space will serve as Craft’s “basecamp” during the New York City Marathon (November 3, 2024), where it will host events and feature the Kype Pro, the brand’s latest shoe designed for elite runners.

Ken Hicks Takes the Reins at PetSmart LLC
The former Foot Locker, Inc., Academy Sports + Outdoor, Inc. and JC Penney Chief Executive has been named President and CEO, effective October 31. Hicks will also serve on the company’s Board of Directors.

NRF Expects 2024 Holiday Spending to Reach New Record
Consumer spending on the winter holidays is expected to reach a record $902 per person on average across gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items, according to the NRF’s latest consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

X-Bionic Sets Up Shop in Denver Showroom, Adds NA Leadership and Reps
Kris Kuster, the company’s President and Co-Owner, leads its North American team. An outdoor and snow sports industry veteran, Kuster formerly worked for Nitro Snowboard and Mammut Sports Group.

Nordstrom to Open Two New Rack Stores in Florida
Nordstrom plans to will open two new Nordstrom Rack stores in Melbourne (24,000 square feet) and Sarasota (27,000 square feet) Florida, in fall 2025 and spring 2026, respectively.

Fabletics Expands into Mexico with Retail Partnership Deal
The company has expanded into Mexico through a partnership with Liverpool, the omnichannel retail group that has operated for over 177 years in the country.

Report: U.S. Retail Saw Deep Declines in Fashion Categories in Fiscal September
The weakness un the apparel, footwear and accessories categories may lead to some pent-up demand for the Holiday selling season after lagging the stable performance seen in other categories at retail for the 5-week period.

Canada Goose Faces Downgrade to “Sell” on Growth Concerns
Goldman Sachs downgraded Canada Goose to “Sell” from “Neutral,” citing challenges in the competitive landscape and concerns over slowing brand momentum and luxury spending overall.

Nike Ordered to Pay Legal Fees in Trademark Dispute
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has ordered Nike to pay millions in attorney’s fees to Lontex Corporation for its “reckless infringement” of the small Pennsylvania businesses “Cool Compression” trademark.