Balenciaga has teamed up with Italian heritage brand Scholl to launch a footwear capsule collection.
Balenciaga and Scholl launch footwear collaboration. – Balenciaga x Scholl
The capsule merges the Parisian fashion house’s savoir-faire with Scholl’s expertise in comfortable orthopaedic footwear and insoles to introduce footwear with cork soles and footbeds, including heeled mules, booties, and boots, flat sandals and mules crafted from premium materials like Nappa sheepskin and calfskin.
Notable design features include metal buckles inspired by Scholl’s original 1956 Pescura sandal and reimagined beechwood platform clogs with perforated uppers. The collaboration also introduces co-branded versions of Balenciaga’s iconic Pool Slide Sandals.
Debuting as part of Balenciaga’s Fall 2025 collection, the collaboration stems from creative director Demna’s vision “to create the most comfortable heels ever made, infusing the House’s distinctive silhouettes with Scholl’s unparalleled comfort.”
The collection is now available at select Balenciaga boutiques worldwide and online.
Last month, Balenciaga launched a Brand Ambassador Fanclub Series, featuring a lineup of global icons, including Isabelle Huppert, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Nicole Kidman, and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn.
“Challenger Istanbulian fine-jeweller” Kismet by Milka has opened a statement flagship store on London’s luxury New Bond Street.
With the expansion “mark[ing] a significant milestone in the brand’s journey to bring their authentic designs to even more people globally”, it joins 17 stores globally and over 100 points of sale, including Neiman Marcus, 24S, El Corte Inglés, with the latest expansion “ensuring [our] presence in one of the world’s fashion capitals”.
The new store spans 1,500 sq ft across two floors, featuring Turkish-designed and fashioned fine jewellery alongside two luxury piercing studios. The latter claims to be “the first and only piercing studio driven by experienced piercers on New Bond Street, reinforcing Kismet by Milka’s expertise in blending earring and luxury piercing with fine jewellery”.
The brand was founded in 2009 by designer Milka Karaağaçlı İnce and she said: “To stand here today [on Bond Street], in the city where I took my first steps as a designer, isn’t just an achievement… it’s proof of what happens when challengers dare to believe.”
Swedish premium outdoor brand Thule has opened two stores in and outside London, with a flagship positioned in the popular Seven Dials retail neighbourhood of Covent Garden. The other has opened 14 miles south in the Greater London borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.
The label is focused on “creating solutions to simplify life’s adventures” and Thule’s store operation manager Johan Lindell said: “The response from our UK customers has been incredible already, and these stores are designed with them in mind. Covent Garden and Kingston are perfect locations for us to meet our customers in person and provide them with the expert guidance they need to make every adventure a success.”
Lindell added that a key move was “expand[ing] our physical retail presence [into] Covent Garden’s Seven Dials, where the world’s leading brands sit alongside highly specialist stores.”
The 2,100 sq ft flagship on Shaftesbury Capital-controlled Neal Street showcases the brand’s extensive range of premium products “designed to provide the perfect solution for any journey”.
This includes car accessories (roof racks, bike racks and car seats), as well as pushchairs, luggage, backpacks and bike bags.
Thule joins other recent arrivals to the Covent Garden area including luxury brand Sunspel on Floral Street, with performance footwear brand Saucony and Swiss watchmaker Swatch having signed for new spaces on James Street.
Intersport International Corporation GmbH (Intersport) has appointed Tom Foley as its new CEO. He will take up his new position at the Bern-based sports retailer on July 1, Intersport has said. Foley will succeed Steve Evers, who stepped down at the end of 2024 after six successful years in charge.
Tom Foley will take up his new position as Intersport CEO on July 1 – IIC
Foley’s appointment marks the start of a new chapter for the Intersport group, which in a press release has reasserted its commitment to strategic growth in collaboration with its country organisations and brand partners.
Foley will contribute his experience in various highly competitive international markets, and an in-depth knowledge of the sporting goods sector, according to Intersport. He previously worked at French sporting goods retailer Go Sport, where he was recently named CEO and was in charge of the store fleet and of international franchisees.
Before that, Foley was at the helm of Go Sport in the Middle East, after a stint at leading French sneakers retailer Courir. He is also the founder of the Independent Sports Retailers Alliance of Ireland, which he led from September 2005 to January 2011.
This is not the first time that Foley has worked at Intersport, having been managing director of Intersport UK and Ireland for six years, until 2017.
“I am excited to return to Intersport and to be leading the group into its next phase of transformation and growth,” said Foley. “It will be a privilege to build on the rich and long-standing legacy of supporting and empowering our local entrepreneurs in the industry across our diverse international markets,” he added.
In his new role, Foley will need to focus on strengthening Intersport’s global organisation, improving operational efficiency and consolidating the group’s position as a “leading partner” for its strategic brands, according to the press release. He will also be responsible for developing Intersport’s own brands and spearheading the group’s overall transformation.
“[Intersport’s] management board is confident that Tom’s vision, leadership and strong collaborative mindset will bring new momentum and innovation to the Intersport group,” said Corinne Gensollen, president of Intersport International Corporation GmbH. “This marks an important new phase in Intersport’s strategic growth, as we work closely with our partners and country organisations to keep delivering real value to our customers in 42 different markets,” she added.
Foley’s appointment as CEO follows the publication of Intersport’s 2024 results, which saw the group increase its revenue despite adverse market conditions. Intersport’s global omnichannel revenue was €14 billion, up 2.1% over the previous year. As of the end of 2024, it operated 5,464 stores in 42 countries.
Entertainment8 years ago