Nike could soon face another blow in its effort to revive its brand and reverse a long decline in sales: U.S. tariffs on imports from Vietnam.
Reuters
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce which countries and products he will target with a new round of tariffs aimed at encouraging domestic production and coaxing other nations to buy more U.S. goods.
Vietnam, which runs a $123.5 billion trade surplus with the United States, is a prime target.
Nike is one of several sportswear brands heavily reliant on Vietnam as a production site and higher tariffs would force the company to absorb higher costs or hike its prices at a time when it is already discounting some items to clear inventory.
Nike produced 50% of its footwear and 28% of its apparel in Vietnam in its 2024 financial year, according to its annual report. Rival Adidas, opens new tab is slightly less exposed, relying on Vietnam for 39% of its footwear and 18% of its apparel.
The average U.S. tariff rate on footwear from Vietnam is 13.6%, while the rate on apparel is 18.8%, according to calculations, opens new tab based on January trade data made by Sheng Lu, professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware.
“If tariffs are extended there, then Nike’s got a problem,” said Morningstar analyst David Swartz. Nike and Adidas are hardly alone. Vietnam has become a hub for high-tech running shoes, sportswear, and outdoor apparel as brands have sought to reduce exposure to China, opens new tab. Lululemon, opens new tab, Columbia Sportswear, and Amer Sports, opens new tab, which owns Salomon and Arc’Teryx, count Vietnam as their top manufacturing country.
But the potential tariffs come at a critical moment for Nike, which has lost market share of late to competitors viewed as fresher and more innovative, like On and Hoka.
In a quarterly earnings call last month, Chief Financial Officer Matt Friend said Nike’s revenue was expected to continue to fall next quarter.
That outlook factored in current tariffs, said Mari Shor, senior equities analyst with Columbia Threadneedle Investments, which holds Nike shares. “But what if it gets worse?”
Some smaller, younger sportswear brands are even more exposed to Vietnam. Fast-growing running brand On in 2024 sourced 90% of its shoes and 60% of its apparel and accessories from the country.
On shoes are already expensive, selling for $130 to $330 a pair, and Samuel Wenger, the brand’s chief operating officer, said tariffs were among the factors On considers when deciding on price. “Our premium brand gives us the ability to adapt our pricing thoughtfully,” he told Reuters.
Average U.S. prices of sneakers have already risen by 25% since 2019, partly because of rising production costs, said Beth Goldstein, footwear industry analyst at market research firm Circana.
Wilbur Ross, who served as commerce secretary in Trump’s first administration, said the president had generally good ties with Vietnam and had no reason to hit it hard with tariffs that would be felt on main street.
“People notice the cost of apparel because they buy it fairly frequently,” Ross told Reuters.
Spring is finally here, and fashion collabs are popping up like fresh blooms. Kicking off April, brands are teaming up with nods to postal style, boxing heritage, and the nostalgic world of Bratz dolls.
Following its recent collaboration with Bape, Crocs is back—this time with British heritage label Barbour. United by their maritime roots, the two brands have unveiled their first-ever limited-edition collection. The range includes an outerwear piece, clogs, rubber boots, and nine custom Jibbitz charms to personalize the footwear styles.
Crocs x Barbour – Barbour
The boots and clogs feature a tartan print selected to match the signature lining of Barbour jackets. “With practicality and a love for the outdoors at the heart of both our brands, this playful collaboration is a great way to celebrate our shared values,” said Ian Bergin, menswear director at Barbour. The collection is now available online.
For the first time, Eastpak has collaborated with Craig Green to launch a collection of quilted bags. The designs reimagine Eastpak’s most iconic shapes through Green’s utilitarian, workwear-inspired aesthetic. The collection pays tribute to Craig Green’s signature “Quilted Worker Jacket” and Eastpak’s military heritage.
Eastpak x Craig Green – Eastpak
Debuted during Craig Green’s Spring/Summer 2025 runway show, the capsule features three silhouettes distinguished by quilted exteriors, rope handles, nylon and rubber buckles, and multiple compartments. Available in monochrome shades of black, khaki, and navy, the pieces are already on sale.
Dr. Martens and Bratz have teamed up for the first time on a collection that blends nostalgia with a playful edge. Breaking away from its usual palette, Dr. Martens introduces Bratz-inspired pink and purple hues across three footwear styles and a crossbody bag. The designs are rich in detail, with glitter soles, mixed textures, and studded accents.
Dr. Martens x Bratz – Dr. Martens
The standout: a bold pair of 14-eyelet boots crafted in glossy Arcadia leather, finished with star details, flat velvet laces, a lace charm, a Bratz-branded tag—and a glitter sole (€250). The drop also includes glitter-trimmed sandals with faux pink fur and star-shaped buckles (€170). Launching on April 10, 2025, the collection will be available online and in all Dr. Martens stores.
Converse and Daily Paper come together for a boxing-inspired collection celebrating resilience and determination. Blending both brands’ identities with an athletic twist, the launch features exclusive Star Player 76 styles and limited-edition apparel designed to embody strength and style.
The high-top sneaker arrives in a neutral “White Sand” colorway with suede and canvas textures. The low-top version comes in black with Daily Paper detailing in red, yellow, and green, including a multicolored Star Chevron logo.
Converse x Daily Paper – Converse
The retro athletic style continues through five apparel pieces: a varsity jacket, two hoodies, wide-leg pants, and a thermal tee. Patches, satin embroidery, and Pan-African colors underscore the Daily Paper aesthetic. The collection drops on April 4, 2025, at Daily Paper flagship stores in Amsterdam and London, as well as on the Daily Paper, Converse, and SNKRS websites and through select global retailers.
To mark the opening of its second Paris store at 19 Rue de Richelieu, Merci has reunited with Carhartt WIP. The collaboration pays tribute to the location’s former life as a post office. Together, the two brands created a print featuring stamp-inspired graphic elements applied in varying compositions across the collection.
Carhartt WIP x Merci – Carhartt WIP
The line includes a Wesley jacket modeled after Carhartt WIP’s classic chore coat, an apron that nods to Merci’s core identity, and a tote bag offered in two sizes—each with an external patch pocket, an interior pocket, and a snap-button closure. Made from cotton gabardine, all pieces feature dual-branded labels. Merci’s special edition label for the new store draws on postage stamp motifs and its iconic heart-clover symbol, while Carhartt WIP signs the collection with its signature logo. The line is already available online and at the new Paris store.
In November, P&C Düsseldorf announced plans to restructure its buying strategy. Since then, Chief Product Officer Jason Morgan has been shaping a new leadership team within the buying and procurement division with a broader scope of responsibilities. As part of this transformation, Thomas Barlok has been appointed the new buying manager.
Peek & Cloppenburg
Returning to Düsseldorf, Thomas Barlok steps into the role of head of menswear, bringing experience from previous positions at Lacoste and Hugo Boss. He began his career as a floor manager at Anson’s, the menswear subsidiary of P&C. He then held senior positions at Hugo Boss and Lacoste. Most recently, he served as director at Lacoste Germany, overseeing wholesale operations across Northern and Central Europe.
Barlok will assume his new role at Peek & Cloppenburg B.V. & Co. KG on June 2. In his new capacity, he will develop and lead a comprehensive growth strategy for the menswear segment. He will report directly to CPO Jason Morgan, who also serves as managing director of buying.
Barlok replaces Stefan Jakobs, who left the company at the end of last year, along with womenswear director Kai Stolte.
Whether CPO Jason Morgan has fully assembled his new “buying and procurement leadership” team remains unclear. Earlier this year, former Sportscheck chief merchandise officer Anna Rusche joined as buying director overseeing young fashion, sportswear, and sneakers—for the first time, across both men’s and women’s categories and the entire European market. Jason Morgan is currently managing the womenswear buying division on an interim basis.
Fashion and homewares brand La Redoute has launched its latest UK collaboration with the brand’s newest ambassador, author, podcaster and columnist Louise Thompson.
The reality show star (she originally appeared in Made In Chelsea) has become a popular lifestyle influencer in recent years.
The range brings together Thompson’s “unique aesthetic to life through an exclusive edit, blending effortless elegance with her distinct personal touch”.
And for an edit, it’s extensive, featuring 100 pieces across fashion and interiors offering both wardrobe essentials and homewares pieces.
Of the spring/summer fashion edit, there are 26 curated pieces “that transition through the seasons”. From pastel knit jumpers to blazers and ballet-style flats, and we’re told “each item reflects Louise’s effortless yet refined approach to dressing”.
The interiors edit comprises of over 70 homewares pieces, with staple wooden furniture, soft furnishings and decorative accents.
Sarah Link, marketing director at La Redoute, said: “Louise’s passion for style and clean-cut aesthetic is something which aligns perfectly with La Redoute’s ethos, which makes this collaboration such an idealistic one.”
The La Redoute x Louise Thompson edit is available online, with prices starting from £14.99.