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Sailing and mountain specialist Helly Hansen looks to strengthen its position in urbanwear

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January 15, 2026

After winning over mountain and sailing professionals and enthusiasts, the historic Norwegian brand Helly Hansen– approaching its 150th anniversary and acquired in 2025 by the American group Kontoor Brands– is looking to strengthen its position in the urbanwear segment. And to achieve this goal, the Italian market plays an important role, as Italy country manager Michele Battocchio explains to FashionNetwork.com.

Helly Hansen at Pitti Uomo 109 – Photo: FNW/LG

“We develop garments for those who have to face the cold of Greenland; we are leaders in sailing, so why not offer this expertise to those who also want to wear a technical, high-performance garment in an urban setting?” the manager says. “We are at Pitti Uomo for the second season precisely because we want to strengthen our urban and sportswear line, which already exists but has significant growth potential.”

In 2025, Helly Hansen posted global revenue of approximately €750 million; Europe is the main market, with Italy accounting for around 4% of sales. “We aim to exceed €1 billion in revenue within five years. At present, the markets where we are investing most are North America, the home territory of the new parent company, and the Far East, particularly China, where within a couple of years we have expanded into around a hundred stores with a local partner,” the manager adds. “Italy is important not so much in terms of revenue as in terms of image; it is one of the countries with the highest levels of tourism, so it is essential to have selective distribution and a premium brand perception.”

The new Arctic Patrol Down parka
The new Arctic Patrol Down parka – Photo: FNW/LG

In Italy, Helly Hansen currently operates a single-brand store in Courmayeur and is stocked in around 250 multi-brand retailers, roughly thirty of which feature shop-in-shop concepts, mainly within prestigious seaside and mountain resorts.

“We generate 80% of our business through wholesale, and we want to continue to strengthen this channel through dedicated branded spaces,” Battocchio concludes. “Our long-term plans, over the next five years, also include opening further single-brand stores.”

Returning to professional products, Helly Hansen used the platform of Pitti Uomo 109 to present its new Arctic Patrol Down parka, developed with input from glaciologists and researchers from The Greenland Project, who provided insights into the conditions they face living and working in polar climates on a daily basis.

Specifically, the new parka has been designed to feel light on the shoulders, keep you warm even on the coldest days, and withstand hostile environments. The insulation is Allied’s HyperDRY, a special water-resistant down known for having the best weight-to-warmth ratio. For additional protection against the cold, the parka features a faux-fur trim on the hood, ideal in particularly snowy and windy conditions, which can be removed when not needed.

Every feature of the product has been designed with the feedback and needs of Arctic scientists in mind: the pockets and side zips are strategically positioned to be compatible with the use of a safety harness while wearing the parka; large pull tabs on the pockets allow them to be opened even when wearing gloves; and the outer fabric is reinforced with Cordura, a material resistant to rips and tears. Other functional features include a double-slider front zip with a double wind flap, generous internal pockets, and adjustable hem, hood and cuffs.

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Keeling launches seasonless collection, steps up commitment to environmental responsibility

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January 16, 2026

On the occasion of Pitti Uomo 109, at the Sala della Scherma at the Fortezza da Basso, the international menswear and womenswear brand Keeling, designed in Tuscany and aesthetically inspired by the world of the seas and oceans, with a strong focus on the environment, launched its first seasonless collection and organised a panel discussion entitled: “Keeling – Wear the Nature. Responsibility As a Raw Material, Style and Colour As a Language,” conceived as a forum for discussion and reflection on responsibility, sustainability and the socio-cultural value of fashion products, regarded as true raw materials of the contemporary creative process.

Keeling, Autumn–Winter 2026/27 – Courtesy

“From the outset, Keeling has pursued a concrete path towards sustainability, adopting solutions such as low-impact dyes, water recycling and purification systems, as well as ‘Clean Color’ dyeing processes that drastically reduce the water and energy consumption of one of the most critical phases of production. According to industry studies, a significant percentage of industrial water pollution is attributable precisely to the chemical treatments and dyes used in textile processing. Keeling’s patented technology can be applied either to piece-dyed fabric or to finished garments (garment-dyed),” noted Andrea Galluzzo, CEO of Keeling.

“In both cases, the process guarantees deep colour, a unique finish and a drastically reduced environmental impact. Conscious choices by companies and the evolution of production processes, particularly at the dyeing stage, are fundamental steps in reducing the sector’s environmental impact and building a more responsible future for the fashion industry.”

“Keeling is a brand born of nature and it remains deeply faithful to it in every aspect: from the choice of materials, to colours, to designs inspired by landscapes, natural harmonies and functions,” continued the brand’s Florentine CEO. “A hallmark of this commitment is the focus on water, a primary and fragile resource, safeguarded precisely through our unique and highly efficient dyeing system. In this way, Keeling not only draws inspiration from nature, but takes concrete responsibility to protect it, transforming sustainability into a real, measurable value consistent with its identity.”

Keeling, Autumn–Winter 2026/27
Keeling, Autumn–Winter 2026/27 – Courtesy

In parallel, Keeling has intensified its focus on raw material traceability and supply chain transparency. The brand has chosen to go against the grain, using mostly natural fibres, such as cotton and linen, which do not release microplastics during washing, and employing selected technical nylon, always with high percentages of recycled yarn, thus reducing the introduction of new plastic into the production cycle and synthetic microfibres into the marine ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the B-Corp, founded in 2020 by pooling capital and human resources from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, China and Italy (the design office and logistics are located in Campi Bisenzio), has created its first non-season collection, that is, not based on seasons.

“We decided to introduce it because the market asked for it, so we can frequently restock certain products and materials. Since we do our own garment dyeing, we will have, for part of the collection, a permanent, open stock, which we called ‘365’, like the days of the year,” the CEO explained to FashionNetwork.com.

Meanwhile, Keeling’s customer base in 18 countries has increased to 300, mainly thanks to the addition of the women’s collection, which debuts in stores for Spring/Summer 2026.

“It received an immediate positive response,” said Galluzzo. “Plus, we were often told that we weren’t very wintry, so I wanted to act on that, and thus the Autumn/Winter 2026/27 collection becomes more substantial, with a greater number of garments, tripled padding, and the addition of various materials.”

Keeling, Autumn–Winter 2026/27
Keeling, Autumn–Winter 2026/27 – Courtesy

Thanks to distribution expansion and the inclusion of the women’s apparel collection, Keeling’s turnover rose significantly in 2025, by as much as 60 per cent. Its leading market is the United States.

“Why? The truth is this: we bring an Italian sensibility to the brand, but we are an international company, with an aesthetic, a fit, a kind of comfort, even a ‘lower’ shoulder point, which are elements more appreciated in the Anglo-Saxon world,” the CEO replied. “Even our colours, mainly as a result of the characteristics of the exclusive Clean Color Tech dyeing process (which ensures an 84 per cent saving in electricity consumption and 93 per cent in water when dyeing linen and cotton garments, ed.), are ‘dusty’; a style less appreciated in Italy or France, for example.”

Also new is Keeling’s entry into Greece, with 30 clients.

The brand, whose name is inspired by the Keeling Islands, an archipelago of 27 unspoiled islands (plus 2 atolls) in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka, also called Cocos, features in its logo two of the stars of the Southern Cross constellation (the 5- and 7-pointed ones), which appears on the flags of Australia, New Zealand and the Cocos.

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At Balenciaga, Pierpaolo Piccioli pushes the boundaries between sport and tailoring

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January 16, 2026

Pierpaolo Piccioli seems intent on exploring how far the relationship between sport and tailoring can be pushed. On Thursday, the French fashion house unveiled and launched for sale, on its website and in its boutiques, a collaboration with the NBA, the U.S. basketball league. At the same time, ahead of the Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, it presented its lookbook for Autumn 2026.

Balenciaga

“I believe that sport is one of the most powerful ways of expressing values such as excellence, integrity and respect. On a pitch or court, people from different backgrounds, cultures and abilities come together under the same rules and with the same goals,” said the creative director of the Kering group house, in a press release.

“This shared space creates a heightened sense of connection and focus, reminding us of the discipline, commitment and intensity that define sport at its highest level.”

For the NBA line, that commitment is expressed through key sportswear pieces reinterpreted in materials such as leather, satin, cotton poplin and Japanese denim, and, in addition to black, in the NBA’s historic colours: red, blue and white. The brand adopts sporting codes by marking T-shirts and coach jackets with the number 10, a nod to the address of its headquarters on Avenue George V in Paris, or with a stylised “B” on the back or over the heart.

But sport permeates the Balenciaga universe well beyond this. The brand’s Autumn 2026 proposal, captured in the streets and métro of Paris by photographer Robin Galiegue, explores the potential of imposing tailored pieces, echoing the house’s past designs, such as cashmere capes and neo-gazar coats, which the creative director is working to revive.

Balenciaga

Today, Piccioli goes further and pairs them with techwear pieces. Heavy wool coats and oversized leather jackets are worn over a shorts-and-leggings duo crafted from Probody fabric, which offers moisture-wicking, breathability and antibacterial properties. In the age of wellbeing, this trend runs through most of the looks in the Autumn 2026 collection.

The designer has not forgotten the importance of accessories, either. While these creations are designed for training or yoga, they are also accompanied by a new bag model, the 7, patinated crystal jewellery and exceptional shoes from a collaboration with Manolo Blahnik.

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Gabriela Hearst names Cohen its new president

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January 15, 2026

Gabriela Hearst has made a major leadership team announcement with Michele Cohen becoming its president, effective 15 January. It’s a new role that has been “defined to reflect the brand’s continued commercial momentum and to support its next phase of global growth”.

Michele Cohen – Photo: Max Fargo

It means Cohen will be leading the brand’s global commercial strategy, overseeing wholesale, retail, and e-commerce. She’s been tasked with expanding the business across markets, channels, and categories “while preserving the craftsmanship, responsibility, and long-term vision that define Gabriela Hearst”.

This is an internal promotion with Cohen having joined the business in 2015 as global head of sales and having “played an instrumental role in the brand’s growth and evolution over the past decade”.

The company cited her “deep expertise across global markets and hands-on leadership approach,” as well as the fact that she’s worked closely with founder Gabriela Hearst to “help build the business while preserving its commitment to craftsmanship, values, and long-term thinking”.

Hearst, who earlier this decade was also creative chief at Chloé before leaving to focus on her own label, said that of “all the announcements in my career this is the one I am the most proud of. Michele understands our values and culture of true quality, integrity, authenticity because she helped build it. It is extremely rewarding having worked along side her for the past decade to see her grow into her leadership. I can’t be more excited for the future of our house”.

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