Nextil has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the shareholders of Texas-based US company Isavela, with a view to acquiring a 51% majority stake in the company.
César Revenga, Nextil Group CEO – Nextil
As reported by the company in a statement to the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) on Wednesday, Isavela specialises in the design, manufacture, and marketing of compression and post-operative garments for the medical sector, operating in the high value-added “medical garments” segment.
Specifically, the company develops textile solutions that require premium elastic fabrics, high-quality standards, traceability and regulatory compliance, as well as close collaboration with hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals, mainly in the US.
At present, Isavela generates recurring revenues of more than 10 million dollars (8.6 million euros), with EBITDA of over 3 million dollars (2.6 million euros), reflecting a specialised, profitable business model with high recurrence.
Thus, the potential integration of Isavela would enable Nextil to complete the value chain in the medical segment, from fabric development through to the finished garment, drawing on its international industrial platform and its expertise in management, innovation and sustainability.
Following the transaction, Isavela will continue to operate independently under the leadership of its current executive team, maintaining its identity, culture, and specialisation, while benefiting from Nextil’s industrial, technological, and commercial support to accelerate its expansion in the United States and other international markets.
The agreement provides for a flexible payment structure, combining an initial cash payment and a deferred component, which may be settled in cash or in Nextil shares, at Nextil’s discretion. The MoU also includes a future option to acquire 100% of Isavela, within a timeframe agreed by the parties, with the aim of supporting the project’s growth and maximising joint value creation in the medium and long term.
Likewise, the agreement establishes a joint work period to carry out due diligence, draw up the business plan and negotiate the final agreements.
“Isavela is a company with an excellent position in the medical and post-operative sector, an exceptional team and a solid business model,” said Nextil Group, stressing that this agreement enables it to advance in a strategic segment, integrate the entire value chain and strengthen its presence in the US with a long-term vision, as it has “great ideas for product, market and design development.”
Furthermore, the company highlighted that this agreement forms part of Nextil’s strategic plan, which continues to actively analyse new opportunities for inorganic growth, especially in high value-added segments with strong potential for international expansion.
Lastly, the company stated that it will promptly inform the market of any relevant developments relating to this transaction and to the rest of the group’s strategic initiatives.
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The website of ultra-fast-fashion giant Shein won’t be closed down in France during the year-end festivities. In the early afternoon of Friday December 19, a French court has rejected the government’s request for a three-month suspension of Shein, following the discovery of illicit products on the Singapore-based marketplace.
Shein
The public prosecutor’s statements during the hearing of December 5, indicating that a total ban on the site would be disproportionate in terms of EU jurisprudence, did suggest that the court’s decision would go in that direction. But it remains a setback for the French government which, two weeks ago, in a post-hearing statement, reiterated it expected Shein to be heavily sanctioned.
The Paris court has turned down the government’s request for tough measures, pursuant to article 6-3 of the law safeguarding trust in the digital economy, to be taken against Shein.
The government had asked for the marketplace to be blocked or, at the very least, temporarily suspended, following the discovery on its digital aisles of some products like sex dolls looking like very young girls, category A arms, and banned pharmaceuticals.
At the December 5 hearing, the defence attorneys for Shein condemned what they termed a political “conspiracy.”
Shein admitted the products in question had been on sale, but defended itself by stating that they had been immediately withdrawn following the alert, and that it had then taken appropriate action. Shein, which was founded in China but is now based in Singapore, reckon it had responded adequately, even suspending its French site of its own accord.
After November 5, the only products sold by Shein in France are the clothes in its ultra-low-cost, constantly changing collections, made in China mostly using synthetic fabrics. While the site is carrying out a “complete audit” and is working to correct any “flaws.”
However, so long as the site remains accessible, the regulatory and judicial tussle is far from over. France has also asked the EU to impose sanctions on Shein.
Sportswear specialist Runners Need has partnered with Ochy, the artificial intelligence-powered running analysis app “to bring advanced gait and form assessment to stores across the UK”.
Runners Need
Its introduction marks the first time a UK retailer has offered runners an in-store movement analysis powered entirely by AI and signals “a major step forward for the running industry,” we’re told.
Enhancing the need to embrace cutting-edge technology “to elevate the customer experience and transform the traditional shoe-fitting journey”, Ochy’s platform “transforms this process into a fast, science-backed, and highly accessible experience” delivering “informed results in under a minute”.
The two firms said the new service provides detailed insights into asymmetries, stride mechanics, and shoe compatibility.
Rear-view gait analysis is free within 30 days “when a pair of shoes is purchased online or in-store. For a more comprehensive evaluation, side-view analysis is available for £25, providing deeper insight into running mechanics, including the rear-view assessment at no additional cost. Without a shoe purchase, the rear-view gait analysis is priced £15.
Andy Dopson, head of Retail at Runners Need, said: “Whatever our customers goals are, we want to make sure that they have confidence that their shoes will help them achieve it.”
There’s been quite a few end-of-year updates from shopping centres and all of them are upbeat after a busy 2025.
Image: British Land
Sheffield’s Meadowhall is one of them, noting it has been a strong year of exchanges on new leases covering 300,000 sq ft of the destination, 80% retail and 20% hospitality, including renewals from 19 tenants.
It said visitor numbers “have also remained consistently high”, headlined by its busiest Black Friday weekend in six years (262,981 visitors across the three days), while October’s school half-term was also the strongest in six years (457,000 visitors representing a 9.7% year-on-year increase).
Meanwhile, commercial brand activations continued to “perform effectively” throughout 2025, including standout initiatives from Trinny London and Jo Malone.
And, of course, new openings and expansions are the lifeblood of any centre with Meadowhall announcing fast-expanding novelty retailer Miniso has just joined its roster while fashion lifestyle brand TK Maxx has extended its presence there, “concluding a strong year of leasing activity and retail performance”.
TK Maxx has added an adjacent unit to create a 19,000 sq ft space, complete with a 173-ft fully-glazed frontage on the Upper Level The Gallery, showcasing its mix of branded fashion, beauty, homeware, and accessories.
Miniso, meanwhile, has opened a 1,759 sq ft store on Lower Level High Street, introducing its range of lifestyle, homeware, and technology products, alongside the brand’s character collections.
These additions follow several major openings in 2025, including beauty majors Sephora and Superdrug.
These introductions round off a period in which several tenants have invested significantly in upgrading and expanding their stores. More than £47 million has been spent by brands alone across 2024 and 2025, with more than a third of Meadowhall’s operators undertaking new fitouts and refurbishments in that time.
Looking ahead to 2026, operator British Land said more than 25 brands have already committed, and will be bringing a further £8 million of investment to the centre.
Louisa Holmes, Asset Director at operator British Land, said: “This year’s level of investment, from new arrivals and long-standing tenants, reflects the confidence brands have in Meadowhall as a critical part of their national portfolio. In addition to that, the centre’s success means our brands are effectively competing to bring the best and latest shop fits and concepts here, elevating the experience for our visitors.”