With its a cast of thousands (around 56,000 to be more precise) and an international audience of millions, the TCS London Marathon (27 April) is obviously a major draw for brands, with New Balance again taking a lead position as the official Footwear and Apparel Sponsor for an eighth year.
New Balance
The US-based brand has unveiled the latest instalment of its campaign ahead of the this year’s history-making (the biggest ever entry for a marathon) event.
Elite New Balance athletes will lead the pack, including British triathlete, Alex Yee, making his standalone marathon debut, alongside Swiss athlete Catherine Debrunner, who’s the reigning London Marathon wheelchair race champion.
These will be joined by a diverse group of brand run crews from across the world, including ‘Endorphins Running’ from North America, ‘division:bmp’ from Germany, and ‘Run The Boroughs’ from the UK and France – with several of their runners featuring in this year’s campaign.
Across 24-28 April the brand will debut the New Balance Townhouse in central London as “a vibrant hub dedicated to celebrating global running communities”.
It will feature a range of activities before, during, and after marathon day, driven by community members, with the Townhouse serving “as a welcoming base for runners throughout the weekend, further championing the brand’s commitment to supporting all types of runners”.
Coinciding with the race, New Balance will also reopen the doors of its Oxford Street store to the public on 17 April, serving as a hub for runners in the build-up to the event, with a programme of activities for runners and supporters across 23-28 April.
And of course there’s product involved and to celebrate the race’s 45th anniversary, and the brand’s ongoing partnership, it’s also officially launching the TCS London Marathon training and racing collection. The limited-edition range, “inspired by London’s rich underground party scene and sports culture” features marathon essentials and colourful new takes on New Balance’s premium race day shoes, the Fresh Foam X 1080 and FuelCell SuperComp Elite.
The Ibiza island summer vibe has arrived in London in the shape of De La Vali. Describing itself as “the fashion brand hedonistic and bohemian soul of Ibiza, the fashion retailer has taken a temporary position on London’s Carnaby Street for the summer.
Under the creative direction of Jana Sascha, the store showcases the brand’s the SS25, Pre Fall 25 and Bridal collections (the latter available via walk-in or private appointments), on Marshall Street.
Sascha said the boutique features its key line-up of “floaty silhouettes and statement prints, offering a refreshed vision for the latest collection, balancing refined sophistication with the bohemian heritage that first captivated its audience”.
The latest albeit temporary opening shows the brand continues “to maintain its enchanting free-spirit roots with expanded offerings including jewellery, coffee table books, and exclusive prints of Ibiza in the 70s”.
Carnaby continues to be a big draw for niche and mainstream brands looking to make a grand London statement or as an introduction to physical retail via a temporary location. It’s particularly popular as a venue for pop-ups and the massive number of visitors from around the UK and abroad mean it can be hugely effective in driving both sales and awareness for the brands that choose to open there.
As tensions between the U.S. and China persist, NGOs warn that mounting cost pressures from brands could jeopardize hard-won progress in protecting the rights of textile workers.
The collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka on April 24, 2013 – Shutterstock
The Clean Clothes Campaign raised this concern on April 24, marking exactly twelve years since the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The disaster claimed 1,138 lives and sparked a global outcry over labor conditions in factories serving Western markets.
“All additional costs resulting from U.S. tariff policies should be absorbed by companies that have the means to do so, rather than passed down to the most vulnerable links in the supply chain,” stated the Clean Clothes Campaign.
The NGO, along with its French affiliate Collectif Éthique sur l’Étiquette, called on companies not to repeat the mistakes made during the pandemic, when major apparel groups prioritized profitability by suspending payments and canceling orders without notice, often leaving suppliers unable to pay their workers.
Shutterstock
“The first signs of the old reflex to exploit the situation by cutting wages and rolling back workers’ rights are already visible,” the NGOs noted, citing companies such as Gap, Walmart, and Levi’s. These brands have reportedly begun demanding price cuts or pressuring suppliers to absorb the full cost of tariffs.
Observers have also noted that several governments are now openly considering lowering minimum wages in anticipation of potential production relocations. Signs of strain are mounting across textile supply chains, particularly among the largest suppliers to the U.S. after China.
An African worker on a loom in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2012. – Shutterstock
French fragrance specialist Interparfums has announced an 8.8% revenue rise at constant exchange rates in Q1 2025, citing a positive start to the year and welcoming the prospect of new licensing agreements.
Lacoste Parfums
The company, whose portfolio includes the Jimmy Choo, Montblanc, Moncler and Karl Lagerfeld perfume licenses, recorded Q1 revenue of €235.5 million, compared with €212.7 million in the same period last year.
The uptick was chiefly driven by the performance of Jimmy Choo fragrances, whose revenue grew 40%, and of Lacoste, which recorded a 34% revenue rise, according to the company.
Interparfums also said that it has taken steps to respond to the tariff decisions taken by the US administration, including an increase in retail prices of between 6% and 7% as of August 1.
In February, Interparfums indicated it was aiming to grow its revenue in 2025, with a target now sitting between €930 million and €935 million, taking into account the US dollar’s recent appreciation.