Ultra-fast-fashion giant Shein, widely criticized for its practices, will open its first-ever permanent physical store worldwide on Wednesday at BHV in Paris, BHV’s owner, Société des Grands Magasins (SGM), announced on Instagram on Friday.
Shein will open its space at BHV on Wednesday, November 5, at 1 p.m. – FNW/ Samuel Gut
On the sixth floor of the Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville, a historic department store, the brand—whose factories are primarily located in China—will offer thousands of low-cost items, despite fierce controversy. Shein is set to open five additional stores in France later in November at Galeries Lafayette locations operated by SGM.
“BHV Shein opening on November 5 at 1 p.m.,” posted SGM CEO Frédéric Merlin on Instagram, adding “world first” to highlight that this will be the platform’s first permanent physical store anywhere in the world. Until now, Shein has operated exclusively online, founded in China in 2012 and headquartered in Singapore.
The French government, Paris City Hall, BHV’s partner brands, the inter-union group of BHV employees, an online petition with over 110,000 signatories, and numerous players in the French textile sector have all voiced their opposition. Despite near-universal indignation, the alliance between Shein and BHV is set to become a reality.
Shein and Société des Grands Magasins (SGM), owner of BHV since 2023, will open a space of more than 1,000 square meters. This marks the first step in Shein’s physical retail rollout, with plans to open five additional stores at Galeries Lafayette in Dijon, Reims, Grenoble, Angers, and Limoges, all of which are owned by SGM.
Targeted by a bill aimed at curbing the rise of ultra-fast fashion, Shein has been fined three times this year in France for a total of €191 million ($204 million) for non-compliance with online cookie regulations, false promotions, misleading information, and failure to declare the presence of plastic microfibers in its products.
Paris, October 31, 2025 (AFP)
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After a 2025 marked by confirmed trends, Luxurynsight and Heuritech unveil their 2026 trend calendar, revealing a fashion landscape centred on sustainability, textures, volumes and statement pieces.
Last year, several signals stood out: suede, boat shoes and the colour cinnamon far exceeded expectations, as did the Euro summer theme, which propelled buttermilk yellow alongside gingham and oversized polka dots. These latter trends recorded growth of between +17% and +87%, confirming their rapid adoption and long-term potential, while the “city boy” aesthetic—with its vertical stripes, raw denim and cylindrical “duffle” bags—left its mark on urban menswear, signalling an appetite for versatile, functional silhouettes inspired by major global metropolises.
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For 2026, the calendar highlights month-by-month trends, each with its own growth forecast. January opened with fur detailing, turning fur into subtle accents on collars, hems and accessories, with visibility forecast to rise by +15% in the first quarter and over the next twelve months.
February spotlighted leather trousers, seen on red carpets and sports grounds, with growth forecast at +8% in the first quarter and +2% over the year, while animal prints and croc-embossed leather complement the masculine aesthetic.
March was dominated by raw denim, appearing in trousers, jackets and monochrome silhouettes, with growth of +11% in the first quarter and +9% over the year. In April, performance football trainers benefited from anticipation of the World Cup, with +12% forecast for the second quarter and +14% over twelve months, while pink trainers emerge as a distinct phenomenon at +19%.
May spotlighted loafers, reinterpreted in suede with playful details such as laces, forecast at +15% in the second quarter and +14% over the year, with suede continuing to gain ground across all categories of footwear. June saw the emergence of shades of green and yellow, “greenfinch” for men and “pickle green” for women, with growth of +15% and +7% respectively—versatile colours suited to sportswear and urban pieces—while tones such as aqua green are set to stand out.
July highlighted draping, celebrating volume, fluidity and sculptural forms across blouses, skirts and trousers, with +5% expected in the third quarter and +7% over the year, while draped tops and dresses reach +15% and +12%. August showcased irregular, tennis-inspired horizontal stripes, forecast at +10% in the third quarter and +5% over twelve months, creating a strong, modern motif.
DR
September introduced structured bags, with +10% visibility in the third quarter and +18% over the year, adopted particularly by consumers seeking a minimalist yet sculptural style. October spotlighted flat-lock stitching details, bringing a technical and graphic finish to silhouettes, forecast at +19% in the fourth quarter and +1% over twelve months.
November confirmed the rise of large polka dots, an oversized and photogenic print, expected to grow by +147% in the fourth quarter and +43% over the year, driven by links with contemporary art and visibility at events such as Art Basel Paris.
Finally, December saw the return of tartan, with +16% for men and +12% for women over the year, incorporating coordinating pieces and varied silhouettes from accessories to over shirts, confirming the relevance of reworked classics in a unisex and sustainable winter wardrobe.
The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms enabled this study to detect emerging signals and anticipate consumer behaviour. The combination of quantitative precision and qualitative expertise ensures actionable forecasts, offering brands a strategic guide to meeting the expectations of a demanding audience attuned to the stylistic coherence and sustainability of their fashion choices.
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Bloomingdale’s has appointed Russ Patrick as its new general merchandise manager of home.
Bloomingdale’s names Russ Patrick GMM of home. – Bloomingdale’s
Patrick joins Bloomingdale’s after a 33-year career at Neiman Marcus, where he most recently served as senior vice president, general merchandise manager and head merchant of men’s, gifts, home and children’s. He departed the Dallas-based retailer in 2023, and has since acted as an industry consultant.
“The strength of the team, the clarity of the vision and the opportunity ahead make Bloomingdale’s the destination,” Patrick said. “I’m energized to take on this next chapter as GMM of Home, contributing to the continued evolution of such an iconic company, and to do so in New York — the center of retail energy.”
In his new role, Patrick succeeds Dan Leppo, who transitioned last March to sister company Macy’s as senior vice president and general merchandise manager of men’s and kids’.
Long regarded as a core pillar of corporate strategy, DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) is now going through a turbulent period. Under intensifying political, economic and social pressures, it has reached a pivotal moment. The sixth White Paper from the International Association of Department Stores (IADS) examines whether inclusion remains a fundamental priority or risks being pushed into the background.
Inclusion in the United States is under strain amid pressure from the presidential administration – Shutterstock
The 2025 edition looks at DE&I at a time when commitments are being put to the test. The year 2024 saw heightened scrutiny of inclusion programmes. In January 2025, the signing of a controversial US presidential executive order entitled “Ending Radical and Costly Government Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs and Preferences” prompted immediate reactions from major North American companies fearing legal reprisals, according to IADS.
The myth that inclusion penalises businesses
The 2025 report draws on a set of concrete observations from an analysis of the practices of leading retailers worldwide. It highlights four dimensions in which DE&I, when embedded in day-to-day operations, serves as a measurable driver of performance. Firstly, organisations with diverse leadership teams report stronger decision-making and greater strategic agility.
Secondly, companies that value inclusion see improved employee retention, thereby reducing turnover costs in a historically volatile sector. Thirdly, inclusion fosters more effective communication within teams, which reduces operational errors and strengthens cohesion.
DE&I is a legacy of civil rights struggles
Finally, retailers note that some of the most relevant ideas come directly from frontline teams who, thanks to their diverse experiences, contribute significantly to innovation and to adapting to varied customer expectations. These findings show that DE&I is not only an ethical value, but also a concrete driver of organisational effectiveness.
Despite conservative rhetoric, inclusion and diversity are an asset for companies, says IADS – Shutterstock
The report also notes that DE&I forms part of a longer legacy, rooted in the civil rights movement and in the historic demands of retail frontline teams for fair treatment and safer working conditions. However, contemporary expectations, often unclear or poorly defined, have given rise to what some stakeholders describe as “DE&I fatigue”, fuelled by doubts about the sincerity of commitments rather than by clear strategic thinking.
Inclusion, between intention and ‘strategic advantage’
The White Paper further points out that DE&I cannot be one-size-fits-all: priorities vary by region — from gender parity, ethnicity and disability to socio-economic background and national integration — and expectations regarding language and transparency differ considerably. For international groups, tailoring local approaches while upholding universal principles of equity is a major operational challenge.
Finally, IADS sets out the conditions that enable inclusion to take root for the long term: listening to employees, setting clear behavioural expectations, fostering collaboration between stores and headquarters, and ensuring fairness in recruitment and development processes. Beyond intention, these capabilities help retailers turn DE&I into a tangible strategic advantage, strengthening resilience, engagement and relevance in a constantly evolving environment.
Founded in 1928, IADS coordinates exchanges between department stores worldwide and publishes an annual White Paper on a key industry issue. Previous publications have focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, digital transformation, sustainability, retail media and the role of middle management.