Festive spending in London’s key West End shopping neighbourhood is forecast to rise just 1.3% this year. But while there are still fewer tourists than desired because of the lack of tax-free shopping for them, the increase this time will still be driven by international visitors.
Photo: Sandra Halliday
That’s according to the New West End Company that said festive spending across November and December should total £1.7 billion. As mentioned, international sales will remain the primary driver of growth across the festive period, with tourist spending expected to rise 1.9% versus the same period in 2024.
Domestic sales are forecast to see more modest growth of up to 0.9%. This is the flattest predicted year-on-year growth since 2021.
Flight bookings to London across November and December are currently tracking 2.8% higher than 2024, driven in part by an increase in planned visitation by high-spending tourists from countries including the United Arab Emirates (21.7%), Switzerland (14.7%), and Qatar (5.4%). But with international spending over the festive period predicted to be up only by the aforementioned 1.9%, NWEC said it underlines “the need for a policy environment which ensures the capital’s competitiveness as a tourist destination”.
The reasons for the more anaemic domestic spend in the last two months of the year are believed to be the late Autumn Budget and stubborn inflation. That said, as a demographic, “domestic visitors have had the most consistent spend year-to-date, highlighting their importance”.
Throughout the festive season, footfall and spend are expected to track together, surging at weekends across November, before an acceleration of weekday spend from the start of December – on average, 16.8% higher than weekdays in November.
NWEC added that “consumer sentiment in the West End remains positive” and on-street surveys conducted by the body found that visitor ‘satisfaction’ and ‘loyalty’ are both up. And 77% of those interviewed were on a planned visit to the West End, compared to 58% in the same period in 2024.
And it said the area has been bolstered by a raft of new openings and experiences this year, “including the long-awaited opening of IKEA’s city centre destination; new flagships for Space NK, Rolex and Michael Kors; the return of Topshop with a pop-up in Liberty; investments in new retail concepts for the likes of Pandora and Miu Miu; and the opening of the Jamie Oliver Cookery School in John Lewis”.
The group’s CEO Dee Corsi said: “The West End is an iconic destination all year round, but it becomes truly exceptional during the festive season. Our sales forecast reflects its resilience as a flagship destination, backed up by on-street surveys which reveal the depth of loyalty and affection visitors have for the West End. That said, it is clear that consumers are still feeling the pinch and, whilst the West End’s appeal to visitors is enduring, growth is stalling.”
A year and a half after his co-founder, Max Svärdh, stepped back, Albin Johansson is likewise taking a step back at Axel Arigato, the label they co-founded in 2014. In June 2024, the Swedish brand, renowned for its trainers and chic streetwear, appointed Jens Werner as creative director, a role previously held by Max Svärdh.
Axel Arigato boutique – Axel Arigato
At that time, Albin Johansson retained the role of chief executive of the brand, in which Eurazeo acquired a majority stake in 2020. However, at the start of 2026 the company- which reportedly surpassed SEK 1 billion in revenue in 2024 (over €90 million)- has handed this role to Frédéric Serrant. He brings more than 16 years’ experience in international leadership roles across Asia and Latin America, gained at the sports and lifestyle giant Adidas.
His expertise is expected to help Axel Arigato reach a new milestone after years of expansion. The brand operates more than 15 own-name stores in major Scandinavian cities, as well as in key locations such as London, Paris, New York, Dubai, and Berlin. It is also stocked in numerous department stores worldwide. That expansion, however, has posed challenges, eroding the company’s margins between 2023 and 2024. The company, which has yet to file its 2025 results in Sweden, has therefore had to refine its strategy to improve profitability.
‘I am genuinely impressed by the remarkable work done so far to make Axel Arigato such a strong, distinctive, and inspiring brand. It truly reflects the talent, passion and commitment of the teams, and I am convinced that the brand’s potential is enormous. I look forward to joining the team, learning alongside them and writing the next chapters of the Axel Arigato story together,’ said Frédéric Serrant in a message on LinkedIn.
Albin Johansson will remain chairman of the board of directors.
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Everything is in place for the major innovation of Pitti Immagine’s Winter 2026 shows: the concurrent scheduling at Florence’s Fortezza da Basso of the events dedicated to childrenswear and yarns, with Pitti Bimbo 102 scheduled for January 21 and 22 and Pitti Filati running from January 21 to 23.
On the Top Floor of the Central Pavilion, Pitti Bimbo brings together more than 100 childrenswear brands, over 65% of which are from abroad. “This winter edition of Pitti, and the one next June, are very important for the fair, because we expect them to provide feedback- and we trust it will be a positive endorsement- of the new approach we have given to the exhibition offering, aligning it with the profound transformations in children’s clothing and accessories, which in recent seasons have accelerated at a very fast pace,” commented Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine. “The fragmentation of the production structure, the polarisation between luxury and fast fashion, the drastic downsizing of retail, not to mention regressive demographic trends and their effects on consumption models and volumes. It was inevitable that all this would completely call into question the entire international trade fair system, including our show. We do not hide the difficulties; the next steps are crucial, but Pitti Bimbo remains the most important event in Europe and the only champion of Italy’s industry in the sector- a high-quality, long-established industry. Reacting, innovating, and proposing effective meeting formats are our duty, and we are working on this with great determination.”
Interpreting the “Motion” theme of Pitti Immagine’s winter shows through the cute penguin Pitt, the star of the campaign created by Amedeo Piccione, the show will bring together on the Top Floor of the Central Pavilion all the facets of childrenswear: from the big names and leading brands that reinterpret adult fashion in mini-me form, to younger, pioneering research labels spanning fashion, design, toys, objects, and small furnishings.
Spanish brand Bobo Choses is a partner in The New Edit project.
During the show, Miniconf celebrates 35 years of Sarabanda with an art project that reinterprets the brand’s most iconic campaigns through a contemporary lens, spanning four decades of style and creativity with four works created by Casentino artist Elia Fiumicelli.
New for this edition is the debut of The New Edit, a project focused on contemporary childrenswear that pairs collections with special events and presentations, developed in collaboration with Spanish brand Bobo Choses, which leads the line-up alongside Cozmo, Grey Label, Maison Mangostan, Mini Rodini, PiuPiuChick, The Campamento, The New Society, Tangerine, and True Artist.
The Family Circle, the marketplace founded in Hamburg by Nadine Jung, once again brings to the fair a selection of lifestyle labels and emerging designers that combine quality, attention to materials, and a playful approach to style. The featured brands are 2StoriesKids, Alwero, Bygge, FabFabStickers, Holzwald, Igelkind, Kiko+ & gg, Little Who, and Organicera. In addition to individual stands in the Pitti Bimbo exhibition itinerary, The Family Circle curates a collective exhibition area dedicated to the latest trends, featuring the brands Ambosstoys, Cosy Roots, Routinchen, The Momence Club, and Yogitier.
Finally, Ama Gioconaturalmente, Italy’s leading distributor of brands specialising in kids & family lifestyle, presents a carefully curated selection of high-quality labels, perfect for supporting children’s growth and fulfilling their wishes: Hoppstar, Kids’ Concept, Oli&Carol, Play&Go, Petit Jour Paris / Maison Petit Jour, Quut, Scoot&Ride, Wild&Soft, Egmont Toys, We Are Gommu, and Trixie.
Turning to Pitti Filati, 103 companies are presenting their S/S 2027 collections, including many of the most important Italian and international spinning mills. In detail, there are 67 exhibitors in the Filati area (including nine from abroad: the UK, Japan, Turkey, China, Peru); 21 companies in the CustomEasy area (five from abroad: Japan, Romania, China); 10 exhibitors within the KnitClub area (three from abroad: Hong Kong, Japan, the US); and five companies in the Institutional Area (including one from Australia).
During the show, the Feel the Yarn knitwear contest returns, now in its 17th edition, showcasing the mood boards of 34 participants, selected from over 150 entries and paired with 34 spinning mills from the Feel the Yarn group.
The two shows have separate entrances, but childrenswear brands and designers also have the opportunity to visit Pitti Filati and its Spazio Ricerca to draw inspiration for their future collections.
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Chiara Baravalle is the new General Manager of Dsquared2.
Previously, Baravalle, who began her career in Silicon Valley after graduating from Stanford University, served as general manager at Elisabetta Franchi and as a management consultant at Bain & Company in the Fashion and Luxury division.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chiara to Dsquared2,” said the brand’s founders and creative directors Dean and Dan Caten. “Her strategic vision, operational expertise and hands-on leadership style make her an ideal partner to embark on the next chapter of the brand’s journey. 2026 marks the beginning of a new phase, focused on reactivating the brand and laying the foundations for sustainable growth. Chiara knows that brands are living systems, built on people, culture and clarity of purpose.”
Baravalle will be tasked with leading a strategic reset focused on strengthening the brand’s foundations, sharpening execution, and ensuring long-term growth. In particular, her goals will be to win over younger consumers and accelerate expansion in key markets.
“Dsquared2 is a bold and iconic brand that anticipated many of the product and marketing strategies that have since become industry standards. The dualism at the heart of Dsquared2- between Canadian utility and Italian tailoring, between pioneering spirit and irreverent sensuality, between two creative forces- feels more relevant than ever,” said Baravalle, commenting on her appointment.
“The AW26 fashion show was a powerful demonstration of Dean and Dan’s mastery of showmanship, while the product itself reflects their sartorial expertise. It is a pleasure to work with Dean and Dan, whose iconoclasm and sincerity set them apart in the industry, and whose life’s work it is an honour for us to carry into the future,” Baravalle said.
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