French Economy Minister Roland Lescure said on Monday that he would block access to Shein in France if the online retailer resumed selling child-like sex dolls — products the Asian e-commerce company says it has already removed from its site.
Roland Lescure – AFP
“If such behavior is repeated, we will be within our rights — and I will request — to ban access to the Shein platform in the French market,” Lescure said on BFMTV and RMC.
“For terrorist acts, drug trafficking, and items of a child pornographic nature, the government can request a ban on access to the French market if such behavior occurs again or if the items in question are not removed within 24 hours,” he added.
“These horrendous items are illegal, and there will be a judicial investigation,” he said.
On Saturday, France’s consumer fraud watchdog, the DGCCRF, announced that it had reported the sale of “child-like sex dolls” to the courts after finding them listed on Shein’s website. Shein, which plans to open its first permanent physical store in Paris on Wednesday, confirmed that it had removed the listings.
Shein stated that “the products in question were immediately removed from the platform as soon as we became aware of these serious breaches,” emphasizing its “zero-tolerance policy toward any content or product that contravenes our internal policies or applicable laws.” The company’s management said the items were listed through its third-party marketplace, which it is now “completely reviewing to identify and remove any similar products that other sellers might post.”
The sale of illegal products on online marketplaces — and how authorities oversee them — remains a crucial issue.
“It’s not just Shein; there are many other platforms, both well-known and lesser-known, and we have been alerted to other cases,” said Sarah El Haïry, High Commissioner for Children, on franceinfo on Monday.
Lescure also acknowledged that French law could be bypassed through the use of VPNs. “France does not have the means to combat this at this stage,” he conceded.
Founded in China, Shein has established a massive global presence in fast fashion and has become a major player in online retail since entering the French market in 2015. The company often faces criticism for alleged unfair competition, environmental harm, and poor working conditions.
Despite public backlash, Shein plans to open its first permanent store on Wednesday inside BHV Marais, the historic Paris department store, in a space exceeding 1,000 square meters.
“I walked along Rue de Rivoli this weekend and saw Shein’s banners all along the shopfront — it’s provocation,” Lescure said.
Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, said on X that he hoped “the discovery of child-like sex dolls on the Shein site by the DGCCRF will lead to the site being formally CLOSED by the authorities as soon as possible.” He also urged BHV to abandon the project.
With AFP
This article is an automatic translation. Click here to read the original article.
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.
DR
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.
This article is an automatic translation. Click here to read the original article.
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.