Fashion News – The most important events of week 45 / 2025

Week 45 brought a wave of shocks that are redefining the luxury landscape on both sides of the Atlantic. Olivier Rousteing's sudden departure from Balmain ends one of the most influential eras in the digital fashion era, while in the US, Ralph Lauren proves the power of classic heritage by raising forecasts against market trends. At the same time, European regulators are targeting Shein following a product scandal, and restructuring at Swarovski and controversy surrounding the cover of Vogue US signal deeper tensions between commerce and creative integrity.

Key Events of the Week

The end of an era at Balmain: Olivier Rousteing departs after 14 years

• Facts: On 5 November, Olivier Rousteing announced his departure from his position as creative director at Balmain. The French designer, who took the helm at just 25 years old, spent 14 years revolutionising the Parisian fashion house, combining couture archives with the global aesthetic of pop stars and building a “Balmain Army” based on the power of social media.
• Analysis: This is a seismic change for Balmain and its owner, the Qatari fund Mayhoola. Rousteing's departure closes the chapter on the ‘celebrity director’ and raises fundamental questions about the brand's future identity. For the industry, it is a test of whether a brand so strongly identified with one visionary can successfully carry out succession and maintain commercial momentum.

Ralph Lauren raises forecasts, demonstrating the strength of the premium segment

• Facts: On 6 November, Ralph Lauren Corp. significantly raised its annual revenue forecasts after publishing quarterly results that exceeded analysts' expectations (revenue increased by 16.5 per cent year-on-year). The company pointed to continued strong demand for its higher-priced products, particularly among affluent consumers.
• Analysis: At a time when the mass market is battling inflation and luxury is slowing down, Ralph Lauren is demonstrating the resilience of the ‘quiet luxury’ and ‘modern preppy’ models. The strategy of raising prices and focusing on key, affluent customers is paying off. This proves that consumers are still investing in quality and brand heritage, treating its products as long-term value rather than a passing trend.

France calls on EU to impose sanctions on Shein following product scandal

• Facts: The French government called on the European Commission to launch an investigation and impose sanctions on Shein. The reason was the discovery of a number of illegal products on the platform. The scandal coincided with the opening of Shein's first brick-and-mortar store in Paris, which was met with protests.
• Analysis: Europe's patience with the ultra-fast fashion model is clearly running out. For Shein, which is trying to legitimise its business ahead of a planned IPO, this is a major image and regulatory crisis. This incident strengthens the position of EU regulators (under the DSA) and shows that the era of unregulated trade based on uncontrolled third-party suppliers is coming to an end.

Swarovski cuts 400 jobs as part of transformation

• Facts: On 6 November, Austrian jewellery company Swarovski announced a restructuring plan that will see 400 jobs cut at its headquarters in Wattens by the end of 2026. The reasons given were a slowdown in the B2B sector and high energy and labour costs in Austria.
• Analysis: Swarovski continues its painful transformation from a mass crystal manufacturer to a luxury brand. The job cuts signal that, despite attempts at repositioning, the company continues to struggle with structural issues and cost pressures. This is a strategic shift towards a smaller but more profitable organisation, at the expense of its historical scale of operations.

The controversial cover of Vogue USA featuring Timothée Chalamet

• Facts: The December cover of American Vogue for 2025, featuring Timothée Chalamet against a cosmic backdrop (a nebula), has been widely criticised in the industry. The photograph, taken by Annie Leibovitz, has been widely described as ‘cheap’, ‘outdated’ and reminiscent of amateur designs from 2012.
• Analysis: Anna Wintour's presumed final cover has become a symbol of the magazine's identity crisis. In the digital age, where images are generated instantly, such poor artistic execution undermines Vogue's authority as a style arbiter. The controversy no longer concerns only the figure on the cover, but the fundamental quality and creative direction of the ‘fashion bible’.

The events of week 45 show a growing rift between heritage and hyper-modernity. While historic fashion houses such as Balmain and Vogue are undergoing identity crises and fast-fashion giants such as Shein are colliding with regulatory realities, classic brands (Ralph Lauren) are showing their strength. The industry is entering a phase where creativity alone is not enough – what counts is a realistic strategy, transparency and the ability to adapt.