Yohji Yamamoto has revealed plans to stage a residency during Milan Design Week in the city’s most famous boutique, 10 Corso Como.

The residency marks the latest significant presentation by Yamamoto in the boutique, 16 months after a brilliant exhibition of his fashion in the same store, entitled “Letter to the Future.”

Yohji’s residency will run from Tuesday, April 1, to Tuesday, April 22, while Milan Design Week, or the Salone del Mobile Milano, runs from April 1 to 13.

“The poet of black [will] transform the 10 Corso Como pop-up into an immersive experience. The residency, a harmonious blend of art, fashion, and innovation, underscores Yamamoto’s enduring legacy as a pioneer in avant-garde design,” said Yamamoto in a release.

Built inside the iconic 10 Corso Como cutting-edge space, the brand’s dedicated installation will offer “an intimate exploration of Yamamoto’s signature creations, showcasing a carefully curated selection from his latest Spring/Summer 2025 womenswear, menswear, and Discord collections.”

The collaboration is intended as a celebration of the visionary craftsmanship that has solidified Yohji Yamamoto’s reputation as a global luminary in contemporary fashion, offering a deep dive into the singular world of the designer.

“A place where poetry and radical style converge, it redefines the boundaries of contemporary elegance, celebrating the artistry, craftsmanship, and rebellious spirit that have long distinguished Yohji Yamamoto’s creations,” added the house of Yamamoto.

10 Corso Como is an iconic destination for “Fuorisalone,” the Milanese term for events dotted around the city, highlighting independent ideas during Design Week. It is “the ultimate place to discover the latest trends. For the Salone del Mobile, it transforms itself into a creative hub to offer high-profile insights and entertainment to visitors hungry for the latest in the design scene,” added Yamamoto.

The residency deepens the links between Yohji and Corso Como, which staged a rare retrospective of Yamamoto’s work last June. Curated with smart understatement by Alessio de’ Navasques, that exhibition also marked a new moment in the life of Corso Como after its acquisition by Tiziana Fausti, the noted Bergamo boutique owner.

Featuring a geometric felt origami coat dress dating from Fall/Winter 1996 and a series of looks showcased at Yamamoto’s recent Paris City Hall shows, the exhibition was a must-see fashion statement by a designer from fashion’s pantheon, who made his Paris runway debut four decades ago.

So, expect something very novel in this latest Italo-Japanese tandem.

Foot Locker, Inc. announced on Wednesday that Franklin Bracken, currently executive vice president and chief commercial officer, has been appointed to the role of president, effective immediately. 

Bracken will continue reporting to Mary Dillon, Foot Locker’s chief executive officer. 

In his new role, the president will work alongside Dillon on the execution of the firm’s “Lace Up Plan”, aimed to elevate the omni-retail experience, enhance productivity, and create long-term shareholder value. Bracken will also continue to oversee global retail operations, merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty, and real estate.

With over 30 years of experience in brand management, consulting, digital transformation, marketing, merchandising, and retail operations, Bracken joined Foot Locker in 2010 and has since held several senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility across the company.

Prior to Foot Locker, Bracken held senior management roles at The Coca-Cola Company, SABMiller, and began his career as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“We are delighted to recognize Frank’s leadership and valuable contributions to Foot Locker, Inc. with this appointment,” said Dillon.

“Over his 15-year tenure, Frank has led several important initiatives across the business, including playing a critical role in the development and execution of our Lace Up Plan, building our brand partnerships, and advancing our omnichannel capabilities. I look forward to continuing to partner with him in his new role as we execute our strategies, further our significant progress in advancing the Lace Up Plan, and create sustained value for our stakeholders.”

Foot Locker is a U.S.-based specialty footwear retailer which today boasts some 2,400 retail stores in 26 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

“It’s an honor to be named president as we continue building on the momentum of our Lace Up Plan,” said Bracken. “Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025 and beyond, we are well-positioned to accelerate our progress and deliver on our long-term operational and financial goals as we enter the next phase of execution. We remain committed to expanding sneaker culture and elevating the omnichannel experience for our customers and brand partners, and I’m confident our proven consumer-focused initiatives will further deepen customer engagement, strengthen our market position, and drive meaningful business results.”

In its most recenting trading update earlier this month, Foot Locker announced a fourth-quarter sales drop of 5.8%, in the three months ended February 1.

The company, which operates Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Atmos and WSS, said sales reached $2,243 million, as compared with sales of $2,380 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.  
 

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled her latest budget — or the Spring Statement as it’s officially known — and while she stuck to earlier promises not to increase taxes on working people, there was little good news to be had.

For a start, it looks like the economy will remain sluggish and that’s likely to depressed consumer spending. Reeves said this year’s growth estimate for the UK economy has been halved to 1% by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). 

And while earlier news on Wednesday about inflation was encouraging, it remains above what the OBR had predicted back in the autumn, although Reeves said it should be on target to reach the desired 2% by 2027. That’s down from a peak of 11% that it reached under the last government.

Much of the heavy lifting in terms of big announcements affecting fashion and retail was done in the Autumn Budget so there were few surprises this time. There was also little said about issues that directly affect the fashion and retail sectors. There was no mention of that big bugbear for the industry, business rates, nor of any intention to restore tax-free shopping for tourists.

The Autumn Budget had said small retail businesses will receive a 40% relief on business rates with the current 75% discount expiring next month.

The Chancellor clearly has little wiggle room and re-emphasised that “the global economy has become more uncertain”. This has impacted the UK economy but she said that the country’s “fiscal rules are non-negotiable. They are the embodiment of this government’s unwavering commitment to bring stability to our economy”. That contrasts with some other countries, such as Germany for instance, where certain rules have been torn up in the current circumstances.

Reeves did announce “increasing capital spending by an average of £2 billion per year compared to the Autumn to drive growth in our economy and deliver in full our vital commitments on defence” but said “overall, day-to-day spending will be reduced by £6.1 billion by 2029-30 and it will now grow by an average of 1.2% a year above inflation compared to 1.3% in the Autumn”.

There are cuts being made to welfare spending that the OBR said will save £4.8 billion and that will affect the spending power of a large number of people in lower income groups.

Importantly though, despite the general gloom, Reeves added: “I am pleased that the OBR confirm today that Real Household Disposable Income will now grow this year at almost twice the rate expected in the autumn. And living standards will rise twice as fast this parliament compared to the last.”

And the industry reaction? Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, repeated her concerns about tax-raising policies that were announced back in the autumn and also said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to ‘drive growth in the economy’ and the retail industry is keen to play its part in this mission. As the Chancellor aims to drive down the number of those who are ‘economically inactive’, there is a need for better routes back into work for those that want or need it after a period of inactivity. The retail industry provides a perfect solution. It is filled with people joining and returning to the workforce. It offers local, flexible jobs, often requiring few qualifications, and part-time jobs that allow people to find their feet, work as much or as little as they are able, and balance work with other important life commitments.

“But the costs from the Budget, and uncertainty about how the Employment Rights Bill and new business rates policy will be implemented, mean it will be much harder for retailers to keep creating these kinds of jobs. So the government should avoid unintended consequences and provide clarity about the implementation of these policies as soon as possible.”

And Dee Corsi, head of the New west End Company, added: “Today’s Spring Statement underscores the harsh reality; that the UK’s economic outlook remains challenging and the support many businesses urgently need is still missing. While we welcome government action to support growth through initiatives like the recent Planning and Infrastructure Bill, for businesses on flagship high streets like those we represent in the West End, there’s an urgent need for more holistic policies to reduce the burdens they face.

“Key to this is the looming hike in business rates, which is a major barrier to the government’s growth agenda, threatening to hit retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses hardest, with potentially devastating consequences. Just as important is the continued absence of tax-free shopping, which cost West End businesses £640m last year, hampering the UK’s global competitiveness and stalling any growth potential.

“We urge the Government to reconsider their proposed reforms [in order] to protect businesses on flagship UK high streets, attract inward investment, and support national and local growth.”