eBay is “redefining the pre-loved fashion experience” with the launch of a wider Authenticity Guarantee in the UK. Expanding its “industry-leading authentication service”, it will now cover the entire outfit, from apparel and shoes to accessories.
It says the move “reinforces eBay’s commitment to building trust in the pre-loved market, offering shoppers even greater confidence when buying pre-loved designer fashion”.
It adds the expansion also allows the retailer to extend its expertise across the entire fashion spectrum, “marking a significant milestone for both circular fashion and pre-loved credibility”.
From now on, every eligible item will be “meticulously verified by expert authenticators before it reaches your doorstep, offering shoppers full-look confidence from head-to-toe”.
Authentication’s free for the buyer (with no hidden fees, it stresses), and the process is “fast, seamless and fully integrated into the eBay experience”.
The Authenticity Guarantee service now spans five fashion and luxury categories: sneakers from select brands listed at £100+; watches from select brands priced at £1,500+; handbags and accessories from select luxury brands; jewellery from select brands priced at £500+; and apparel, shoes and accessories from select brands priced at £200+.
Kirsty Keoghan, GM European Fashion, eBay, said: “Trust is one of the biggest hurdles in pre-loved fashion. Expanding Authenticity Guarantee to clothing gives people the confidence to buy the styles they love, from staples to statement pieces, knowing every item has been verified by experts. With whole-look authentication now possible, our goal is to make pre-loved fashion a natural first choice.”
Meanwhile, eBay said it has continued to scale the programme globally and in the April-June period, it says the programme surpassed one million items inspected in a single quarter for the first time globally, with 15 million items having been inspected to date.
And according to its latest ‘Watchlist Trend Report’, search behaviour on the platform “reflects a growing appetite for pre-loved designer fashion, spanning established legacy brands to rising accessible luxury labels”.
Calvin Klein opened on Tuesday a new global flagship in New York City, marking the brand’s return to its hometown.
Calvin Klein opens new flagship store in SoHo, New York. – Calvin Klein
Located at 530 Broadway in SoHo, the over 3,000-square-foot store draws inspiration from New York’s signature loft apartments, characterized by open wood ceilings, cast columns and concrete flooring, paired with neutral tones and stainless steel fixtures.
Meanwhile, the store’s exterior is finished in the brand’s charcoal tone, with large windows displaying a seasonal visual concept created in partnership with Perron Studios.
The store features curated spaces with denim and underwear at the center of the assortment, alongside men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. Beginning in spring 2026, the location will offer select styles from Calvin Klein Collection during designated periods. To mark the opening, the SoHo flagship is releasing a limited capsule collection of tees, sweatshirts, hats and totes featuring custom Calvin Klein SoHo branding.
“We are proud to return to one of the world’s most fashionable cities – and the birthplace of our iconic brand – with an elevated retail expression,” said David Savman, global brand president, Calvin Klein.
“This new global flagship, located just steps from our landmark Houston Street billboard, is a tribute to Calvin Klein’s New York heritage. It represents both the evolution of our retail experience and a tangible expression of the world of Calvin Klein. Calvin Klein embodies a distinctive, global way of living that meets culture, and this store is the latest step on our journey of taking our brand to the next level.”
The store follows recent flagship openings in Paris and Tokyo and reflects the company’s strategy to create premium lifestyle destinations built around its minimalist design DNA.
“New York is central to the DNA of the Calvin Klein brand,” added Stefan Larsson, CEO, PVH Corp.
“This homecoming is a key milestone as we build Calvin Klein into one of the most desirable lifestyle brands in the world. Step by step, we’re deepening brand relevance, driving consumer engagement and strengthening brand positioning across North America and globally.”
The Italian competition authority said on Tuesday it had opened two investigations into Swiss watchmaker Swatch and Japan’s Citizen Watch.
Reuters
The probes involve an alleged infringement of European rules on the fixing of retail prices displayed online by the groups’ authorised distributors.
The two companies may be limiting price competition among their retailers through a vertical agreement, by imposing retail prices on their distributors and adopting “retaliatory commercial measures” against those that fail to comply, the antitrust authority said in a statement.
The agency’s officials carried out inspections at the Italian offices of Swatch and Citizen on December 3.
Swatch and Citizen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
British retail tycoon Mike Ashley has pledged around 670 million pounds ($890.6 million) worth of shares in his sportswear and fashion retailer Frasers Group Plc as collateral for a loan from HSBC, according to filing on Tuesday.
Reuters
Ashley’s holding company, MASH Beta Limited, which holds the majority of Frasers’ issued share capital, pledged about 103.6 million ordinary shares.
Frasers’ shares were down about 1.3% at 646.5 pence as of Tuesday’s last close.
This move comes after the company’s heavy investments in newer geographies and taking or increasing shareholding in recent months across companies, from fashion groups to electrical retailers. Mike Ashley holds roughly a 73% stake in Frasers, according to data compiled by LSEG.
The company whose portfolio includes Sports Direct, House of Fraser and Flannels, reaffirmed its full-year profit forecast earlier this month.