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Sporty & Rich CEO David Obadia leaves

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Nicola Mira

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January 7, 2026

David Obadia’s tenure at Sporty & Rich is over. The American premium casualwear label, the offshoot of the Sporty & Rich project developed in 2014 by Emily Oberg, former editorial producer at Complex magazine, has announced the departure of its CEO. Obadia, who took office in 2018, was in charge of the label’s various Paris-based departments, looking after design, sales and finance. In a press release, Sporty & Rich stated that Oberg has taken over the label’s management and design.

David Obadia – Sporty and Rich

Sporty & Rich is positioned in the affordable luxury segment, its collections blending streetwear codes with 1980s and 90s looks typical of country clubs, tennis clubs, and trendy beach and ski resorts. In the last seven years, the label has posted double-digit annual revenue growth. Oberg, who was born in Calgary, Canada, has openly referenced Ralph Lauren as a benchmark brand.

Sporty & Rich has also tapped into the wellness trend, and some of its t-shirts and sweatshirts are emblazoned with slogans like ‘Health is Wealth’, ‘Eat More Veggies’ and ‘Drink More Water’. The label was launched online and became established by means of regular capsule collection drops, as well as collaborations with popular brands like Adidas and Lacoste. Over time, it won over high-profile retailers like Le Bon Marché and Galeries Lafayette in France, WOW in Spain, Luisa Via Roma in Italy, and End Clothing and Harrods in the UK. More recently, it has opened monobrand stores in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Seoul.

“It has been an honour for me to work alongside Emily Oberg in developing Sporty & Rich during the last seven years. I would like to thank her for this experience and I am sure she will lead the brand into a new growth phase,” said Obadia, 36, in a press release, adding that he is leaving “to engage in new professional projects.” 

Obadia started his career with French designer Stéphane Ashpool’s Pigalle label. In 2010, he co-founded Parisian premium streetwear brand Brooklyn We Go Hard (BWGH). In 2014, he founded Harmony Paris, a label blending streetwear and tailored looks, of which he is also the creative director. 

Sporty & Rich has not disclosed its financial results but, according to various US news outlets, it generated revenue between $35 million and $40 million (€30 million to €35 million) in 2025.

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Sainsbury’s hails strength of Tu offer in weak market

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January 9, 2026

The Sainsbury’s Q3 trading update on Friday came with news that its Tu clothing offer was “strong” in a tough market. The weakness of the market was amply demonstrated by a number of retailers reporting sluggish discretionary sales for the season.

Sainsbury’s Tu Clothing

As for Sainsbury’s it said that its overall approach in the 16 weeks to 3 January saw it making “significant Christmas market share gains”.

Its total sales excluding fuel rose 3.9% in the quarter and 3.3% in the six weeks to 3 January. But while grocery was up 5.4% and 5.1%, respectively, across those periods, General Merchandise and Clothing combined dipped 1.1% in Q3 and 1% in the six weeks. And the Argos operation fell 1% for the quarter and 2.2% for the six weeks.

But Sainsbury’s said that “despite softer demand and milder weather, Tu clothing achieved a strong performance within a weak market and delivered an exceptional performance in Christmas categories, including record sales of Christmas pyjamas. Our volume growth outperformed the clothing market by 10 percentage points, reflecting a step up in style and quality perceptions and improved availability both in-store and online”.

It didn’t give a specific percentage for Tu, however, so we don’t know whether its strength against a tough backdrop meant its sales rose, flatlined or even dipped.

If the Sainsbury’s experience was anything like that of rival Tesco, chances are that fashion sales will have risen. On Thursday Tesco had reported unimpressive combined Clothing and Home sales for the festive season but at Clothing alone, its said its like-for-like sales rose 4.4% with fashion continuing its outperformance compared to the weaker home operations.

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Next sales and marketing chief Shields to retire, Barnes steps up

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January 9, 2026

Next said Friday that Jane Shields, its group sales, marketing and HR director, is planning to retire from the company in May.

Next

She’ll step down from the board on 21 May with the company saying she retires “after 40 years of outstanding service”. She actually joined as a sales assistant way back in 1985, was promoted to sales director 14 years later, then group sales & marketing director in 2010. She joined the board three years after that.

So who’s taking her role? Matt Barnes will be promoted to the role of group sales and marketing director and “will take on most of Jane’s operational remit”. That means e-commerce, brand marketing, retail stores and online customer services.

Barnes is another company veteran who joined in 1999. He’s currently online customer service director and won’t be joining the board “at this stage”.

Meanwhile the company also announced some non-exec director board changes with Jonathan Bewes, senior independent director and chairman of the Audit Committee, set to retire from the board on 21 May after a nine-year tenure.

Annette Court and digital specialist Jeni Mundy will be appointed as independent non-executive directors with effect from 1 March and 1 April, respectively. Court will be appointed as senior independent director from 21 May. Soumen Das is also being appointed Audit Committee chair at the same time.

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New Balance names Olivier Kamp retail director EMEA

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January 9, 2026

Oliver Kamp has been appointed retail director EMEA at New Balance, stepping down from his role at Lacoste after nine years with the brand.

New Balance names Olivier Kamp retail director EMEA. – New Balance

In his new role, he will oversee retail strategy and operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The move positions him within a brand experiencing strong global momentum and continued investment in retail and innovation.

Commenting on the appointment, Kamp said he was drawn to New Balance’s heritage, athletic credibility and innovation-led mindset.

“Stepping into my new role at New Balance as retail director EMEA fills me with a mix of excitement, curiosity & drive. It’s a brand with real momentum, a heritage with substance & an athletic, innovation-focused mindset that resonates deeply with me. I’m genuinely looking forward to contributing to the next stage of this journey,” Kamp announced on LinkedIn. 

Kamp’s departure marks the end of a nearly decade-long chapter at Lacoste, where he most recently served as retail and omnichannel director for Central and Northern Europe.

Prior to joining Lacoste, Kamp served as head of retail for the DACH region at Mammut Sports Group AG and previously held the same role at Quiksilver.

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