Articles by AFP
SMCP Group announces sale of over 50 percent of capital
Fashion group SMCP (Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac) announced on Thursday the sale of shares representing up to 51.2 percent of its capital. The process is expected to take “several months” and could allow the company “to stabilise its shareholding structure”. Context This announcement follows the forced return of 15.5 percent of SMCP’...
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Amnesty International calls on textile giants to protect workers' rights
On Thursday, the NGO Amnesty International called on global textile companies and the governments of four Asian countries to take action to protect workers' rights and ensure decent wages. In two reports published on Thursday, the NGO states that fashion brands manufacturing in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka must urgently take...
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French retail sector unites against Shein
Major French trade federations representing sectors from mass market retail to clothing and toys are suing Shein for “unfair competition”. The Asian e-commerce giant, already under government scrutiny, described the move as a “boycott attempt”. Several sector organisations stated in a press release that Shein’s model “relies on non-compliance...
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Claire's France: two takeover bids approved by court, half of employees retained
The Paris Commercial Court approved two partial takeover bids for the Claire's brand in France on Friday. The company was placed in administration at the end of July, lawyers for the staff representatives told AFP on Monday. The lawyers detailed that around 450 out of 830 employees will be taken on by two companies. The vast majority will be...
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Maersk secures 30-year lease for Bangladesh's Chattogram container terminal
On Monday, Bangladesh signed a 30-year lease with Danish global shipping giant Maersk to manage a new container terminal in Chattogram (south-east), the country's largest port. Officials from the Chattogram Port Authority stated that APM Terminals, the Maersk subsidiary involved in the project, will invest approximately 550 million dollars over...
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Alibaba denies report accusing it of supporting Chinese army against US
Beijing - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba on Saturday denied to AFP an article in the Financial Times (FT) that accused it of assisting in Beijing's military operations against the US. Alibaba “provides technical support for the ‘operations’ of the Chinese army against US targets,” stated the report from the British newspaper published on...
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Two very partial takeover bids for footwear brand André
Two very partial takeover bids for the footwear brand André, which has been in administration since the end of April, were published on Thursday by the Paris Commercial Court. The first of these bids comes from the Brittany-based group Beaumanoir, owner of Sarenza, which has previously acquired Naf Naf, Jennyfer and La Halle. Beaumanoir,...
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Italy gears up to fight fast fashion
Milan, Italy - The Italian fashion industry is looking to defend itself against Shein. The platform recently challenged the industry on its home turf in Milan with a chic collection and an army of influencers. "Hundreds of thousands of parcels arrive at our homes every day. We must react," Luca Sburlati, president of the fashion employers'...
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Paris urges Brussels to take action against Asian platform Shein
Paris, November 6, 2025 (AFP) - The European Commission “must take action” and sanction the online platform Shein, which is “clearly in breach of European regulations,” urged the French minister of foreign affairs on Thursday. “It has been three years since the regulations were adopted; the European Commission must take action,” stated Jean-Noël...
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Shein opens first physical store in Paris, drawing bargain hunters to BHV
Paris - Out of “curiosity” or because “it’s cheaper”, customers began to gather outside the department store on Wednesday. They were waiting for the opening of the Shein store at BHV in Paris at 1pm, despite the controversies surrounding the Asian giant's practices. UPDATE France suspends operations of online platform Shein “My husband doesn’t...
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