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.
Foot Locker
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.
The influence of Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) continues to extend beyond what’s shown on its runways and just a few months after the BFC linked with it to implement sustainability rules for London, Amsterdam Fashion Week (AFW) has announce a new partnership.
Amsterdam Fashion Week
It’s joining forces with CPHFW “to accelerate the industry’s sustainability actions across the Nordic and Benelux fashion markets”.
AFW will roll out the Sustainability Requirements framework developed by CPHFW for its official show schedule.
It starts with a one-year pilot phase to embed the Minimum Standards into its existing admission criteria and the full implementation will come into effect in September 2026.
During the upcoming Amsterdam Fashion Week that starts on 30 August, around 30 brands featured in the official show schedule “will be measured against the Sustainability Framework Requirements”.
The event’s CEO Danie Bles said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Sustainability isn’t optional — it’s the future of fashion, and we’re shaping it today. With this in mind, we are incredibly proud to announce our partnership with CPHFW. By adhering to the Sustainability Requirements, we join forces with our fellow fashion weeks to support designers in making real, measurable progress in their sustainability efforts.”
And Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week added: “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Amsterdam Fashion Week so shortly after joining forces with the British Fashion Council. With this new collaboration, we further establish the Sustainability Requirements within Europe and work even more closely on shared language and common objectives. This partnership not only fosters much-needed industry alignment but underpins the unique role fashion play in driving positive change within the industry.”
The Sustainability Requirements framework has also been rolled out to the Norwegian Fashion Hub, Oslo Runway, and Berlin Fashion Week.
Levi Strauss & Co. maintained a full-year outlook that excludes any impact from sweeping new US tariffs that are poised to significantly raise costs for multinational apparel companies.
DR
The San Francisco-based company said its guidance for fiscal 2025 “assumes no significant worsening” of macroeconomic pressure on consumers, supply-chain disruptions, increased tariffs or similar factors. Levi sees organic revenue growth, which excludes items such as currency impact and divestments, growing 3.5% to 4.5% this year.
Shares alternated between gains and losses in extended trading. Since President Donald Trump announced the tariffs on April 2, the stock has declined 19%.
Chief Financial Officer Harmit Singh said in an interview it’s “difficult to forecast or plan at this stage” for the tariffs’ impact on consumers. He said the company is focused on its relationships with vendors and the cost base for its products.
Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gass said the company is approaching the topic of tariffs with “urgency, but not being overly reactive.”
Levi is one of the first retailers to report earnings after Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs last week. The company has previously said that its sourcing from China and Mexico to the US isn’t material.
The company says it sources about 5% of its goods in the US from Mexico and 1% from China.
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.
Entertainment8 years ago