Latest news with #BjørnGulden
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Adidas Is No Longer Sourcing Kangaroo Skins for Its Athletic Shoes
Adidas is no longer sourcing kangaroo skins for its production of athletic shoes, the company announced on Thursday at its annual stockholders meeting. Chief executive officer Bjørn Gulden revealed that Adidas exited the kangaroo skin trade several months ago and will not continue with any purchasing of kangaroo skins. The announcement followed the in-person pleas of Wayne Pacelle, the president of the Center for a Humane Economy, who traveled to Fürth, Germany to advocate for the halt of the practice at Adidas' annual general meeting. More from WWD ANDAM Doubles Down on Fashion Innovation Award With Two Prizes Loro Piana's Mongolian Initiative; Thermore's New Drop; Challenge the Fabric's 2025 Winner: Short Takes EXCLUSIVE: Sedef Uncu Aki Named CEO at Next Gen Materials Company Gozen The Center for a Humane Economy launched a campaign in 2020 called Kangaroos Are Not Shoes, combatting the slaughter of the animal for use in the production of footwear. The campaign had already resulted in brands such as Diadora, Puma, Nike and New Balance leaving the kangaroo skin trade. Pacelle was joined in his efforts at the Adidas meeting by German animal rights advocates Milla Widmer and Vanessa Hagler. 'The mass killing of kangaroos has been driven by exports mainly for kangaroo skins,' Pacelle said in a statement. 'With Adidas exiting the trade, we have shut down sourcing of skins by the world's top five athletic shoe brands. We now will redouble our efforts to secure similar pledges from Japanese companies Asics and Mizuno and end this trade once and for all.' 'Adidas' decision marks a historic milestone in animal protection and corporate responsibility,' said Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs for the Center for a Humane Economy, in a statement. 'This sends a clear message: compassion is not a compromise. Cruelty has no place in commerce.' Best of WWD Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos] Crocs Collaborations From Celebrities & Big Brands You Should Know
Fibre2Fashion
23-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Germany's Adidas ends use of kangaroo leather in athletic footwear
German sportswear manufacturer Adidas has officially ended its use of kangaroo leather, following a direct appeal by Centre for a Humane Economy president Wayne Pacelle at the company's annual general meeting. CEO Bjørn Gulden has confirmed that Adidas exited the trade months ago and will not resume sourcing kangaroo skins, marking a significant win for animal welfare advocates. 'Adidas' decision marks a historic milestone in animal protection and corporate responsibility,' said Jennifer Skiff, director of international programmes at the Centre for a Humane Economy . Adidas has officially ended its use of kangaroo leather, following sustained advocacy by the Centre for a Humane Economy. CEO Bjí¸rn Gulden confirmed the decision, marking a major step for animal welfare. The move follows years of global campaigning, with kangaroo kills in Australia dropping from 2 million to 1.3 million. Advocates call it a milestone in ethical sourcing and corporate responsibility. Since the launch of the Kangaroos Are Not Shoes campaign in 2020, the Centre for a Humane Economy has led investigations, protests, litigation, and international coalition-building to expose the commercial slaughter of kangaroos in Australia. The kill has already dropped from 2 million to 1.3 million, the organisation said in a press release. "Adidas joining its competitors in ending the use of kangaroo leather is not only a win for animals—it's a win for transparency, ethics, and global consumer expectations. Australians and animal lovers worldwide owe a great deal to the relentless work of the Centre for a Humane Economy and the global coalition that made this possible," said Emma Hurst, member of parliament, Animal Justice Party, Australia . Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Man of Many
21-05-2025
- Business
- Man of Many
adidas Copa Mundial 'World's Most Iconic Boot' Faces Radical Redesign After CEO Reveal
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 21 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. adidas Copa Mundial is the world's best-selling and most iconic football boot Production of kangaroo leather has ended, transforming the Copa Mundial forever CEO Bjørn Gulden confirmed the discontinuation at adidas' Annual General Meeting adidas joins Nike, Puma, and others in banning kangaroo leather use Likely the final chance to buy the Copa Mundial in its original form Worn by Zinedine Zidane and Diego Maradona, the adidas Copa Mundial is the most iconic football boot ever created and is the best-selling model of all time. While boot technology has progressed and they're not a performance-focused choice for players anymore, they're just as desirable as they were when launched in 1982, thanks to their retro design and premium kangaroo leather construction. That's about to change as adidas has quietly ceased the production of Kangaroo leather products, and this will take the Copa Mundial with it, at least in its purest and most original form. adidas ceased production of the boot months ago, but CEO Bjørn Gulden only recently announced the news at the company's Annual General Meeting in Fürth, Germany. While no public statement was made, the news was confirmed in a press release from the Center for a Humane Economy, which has lobbied sneaker brands around the world to cease the production of kangaroo leather products for some time. adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas Decision to Cease Kangaroo Leather Production adidas is not an outlier in this decision, they're the latest brand to join the list of kangaroo-free sneaker makers, which currently includes ASICS, Diadora, Puma, Nike, and New Balance. 'The mass killing of kangaroos has been driven by exports mainly for kangaroo skins,' said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action. 'With adidas exiting the trade, we have shut down sourcing of skins by the world's top five athletic shoe brands. We now will redouble our efforts to secure similar pledges from Japanese companies ASICS and Mizuno and end this trade once and for all.' 'Adidas has been the most important supporter of the Australian kangaroo kill for years,' continues Pacelle. 'Its exit from this trade is thrilling news.' Kangaroo Commercial Harvesting in Australia It's hard to pinpoint the number of kangaroos in Australia because of the vast areas they roam, but trained observers regularly conduct ground and aerial surveys in states where 'commercial harvesting' takes place (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania). From these surveys, the kangaroo population is estimated to be around 32 million. Quotas are then set for the harvesting of the population, which was set at 4.8 million two years ago, but eventuated in the harvesting of 1.2 million, or about 3.7 per cent of the national population. Scientific research from the Ecological Society of Australia says some species of kangaroos have become so plentiful that they threaten the biodiversity of the land due to a lack of predators and grazing impacts. However, others don't share this view. 'The brutal commercial slaughter of kangaroos has operated in the shadows for too long,' said Emma Hurst, Member of Parliament, Animal Justice Party, Australia. 'Adidas joining its competitors in ending the use of kangaroo leather is not only a win for animals—it's a win for transparency, ethics, and global consumer expectations. Australians and animal lovers worldwide owe a great deal to the relentless work of the Center for a Humane Economy and the global coalition that made this possible.' Diego Maradona wearing adidas Copa Mundial untied during a training session in Boston with Renato Cesarini's youth team during the 1994 World Cup in the United States | Image: Supplied Where That Leaves the adidas Copa Mundial Made in Scheinfeld, Germany, the adidas Copa Mundial (1979) stands next to The Puma King (1966) as the most iconic football boot of all time. 'Copa Mundial' in Spanish translates to 'World Cup' in English, and the football boot was first introduced to the world ahead of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. Throughout history, it's been worn by the likes of David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. However, Diego Maradona is the one who made them famous, wearing them untied during a training session in Boston with Renato Cesarini's youth team during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Design-wise, the boot has gone through several changes over the years, including changes to the letter colours on the side of the shoe and refinements to the tongue and heel collar, but its most important features have remained true to the 1982 original. The 12 moulded studs, the die-cut EVA midsole that distributes stud pressure, and the soft kangaroo leather upper with reinforced heel panel have all stayed true through the shoe's nearly 50-year history. While it's unlikely the shoe will move away from using a leather upper, this is the last chance you have to buy the adidas Copa Mundial with its iconic kangaroo leather upper, as the brand has ceased production of kangaroo leather products. Priced at AUD$280 the Copa Mundial is available at linked below. adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas adidas Copa Mundial | Image: Supplied / adidas
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amid U.S. Uncertainty, Adidas Turns Focus Elsewhere
Updated 1:20 p.m. ET April 29 Given uncertainty in the U.S. market, Adidas may have to try and make more of its money elsewhere, chief executive officer Bjørn Gulden said during an online press conference reporting first-quarter results Tuesday morning in Germany. More from WWD Devin Booker and Nike Collaborate With Chevrolet on Americana-inspired Collection Jeremy Scott's Long-distance Design Relationship With Berlin's $14 Million Theatrical Revue Under Armour's New Courtside Collection Bridges Performance and Style Despite market uncertainty and global tariff turmoil, Adidas reported organic growth of 12.7 percent in the first quarter to 6.15 billion euros. The sportswear giant's operating profit also grew significantly, rising 81.7 percent to 610 million euros. 'It has been a very good quarter and I'm very proud of what the teams around the world achieved,' Gulden said. 'As you know it's not been an easy quarter when it comes to external factors.' The company, which produces hardly any product at all inside the U.S., had already taken various measures to try to compensate for the impact of on-again, off-again tariffs by the Trump administration. Over the past seven years or so, both Adidas and competitor Nike have been steadily moving production out of China and into countries like Vietnam. Adidas now makes around 40 percent of its footwear there. The U.S. government is leveling tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese-made goods but also recently targeted Vietnam with higher tariffs, before dropping them back to 10 percent. In response, Gulden said Adidas had tried to clear as much product through U.S. customs as possible before tariffs were imposed and had rerouted products made in China to other markets or left them in the Chinese market itself. As yet, Adidas hasn't raised prices in the U.S. nor has it seen any shortages or any adverse reactions from American consumers, company executives noted. In fact, any Adidas products that might be impacted by tariffs — even the reduced 10 percent tariffs currently on Vietnam — have yet to land in North America. 'Nothing is visible yet,' Gulden explained. Some products will land in the second quarter and might have a slight effect on Adidas' margins, but it won't be until the last half of the year that tariffs really hit, he said. At that stage, Adidas will be watching consumer reactions closely and respond accordingly. 'We've flagged the uncertainty going forward,' Gulden explained. 'We have about 20 percent of our business in the U.S. — so important for us, is also that we focus on the other 80 percent which you can see we have momentum in. The whole organization is focusing on more of the other markets, making sure that we continue with our momentum and that we maybe get even more growth out of them than we currently have.' In fact, it is even a somewhat 'ironic' advantage that Adidas isn't as exposed to the U.S. market as others, Gulden said, likely a veiled reference to Nike, which manufactures abroad but sells around 40 percent of its products at home. In the first quarter, European revenues rose 14 percent. In Greater China and in Japan and South Korea — Adidas now tallies the two latter countries together — the brand saw growth of 12.7 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively. Emerging markets and Latin America rose 23.4 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively. In North America, sales grew 2.8 percent. But Adidas executives noted their first-quarter tallies no longer included any of the previously very profitable Yeezy products, the result of a now-canceled collaboration with the controversial rapper formerly known as Kanye West. When Yeezy sales were excluded from that calculation, North American sales would actually have increased 13 percent between January and March. In all other territories, Adidas' sales growth was one to two percentage points higher in the first quarter, when Yeezy products were taken out of the comparatives. In the first quarter last year, Yeezy goods brought in around 150 million euros and Adidas executives emphasized the group's growth without Yeezy reflected the current strength of the brand. A trend for so-called 'terrace' shoes has helped Adidas climb out of the financial hole caused by cancelling the Yeezy line. Some market analysts have pondered how long Adidas' good fortune with the 'terrace' trend can last. 'Many of you question if this is not dangerous…in the sense that things can slow down,' Gulden conceded. 'But I can tell you that the heat in these different franchises is being kept — by updating them with different materials, doing limited editions, and then extending the franchises, depending on the heat in different markets. We are not afraid of this,' he declared. The so-called 'low-profile' trend is also benefiting Adidas, with one collaborator, Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny, popularizing a kind of gender-bending, ballerina-meets-sneaker look, he said. 'And if you want an insider tip, anything with animal print is flying off the shelves,' Gulden added, laughing. Adidas is also placing bigger bets on 'lifestyle' running shoes, including a 3D-printed sneaker to be released shortly and the Adizero Evo SL, an affordable version of a much pricier shoe designed for professional athletes. The latter 'was meant as a training, running shoe,' Gulden explained. 'But because of the design, the weight, the comfort and yes, because of the look, it has become a major lifestyle shoe.' Adidas reiterated its guidance for the full year, first issued earlier in March. However, because of 'external volatility and macroeconomic risks,' the range of possible outcomes had to be widened, the company said in a statement. Adidas now expects sales to grow at a high-single-digit level in 2025 and for its operating profit to fall somewhere between 1.7 billion and 1.8 billion euros. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dallas Market Center Launches Campaign Pushing 90-Day Pause on China Tariffs
The Dallas Market Center (DMC) is taking a stand to support Main Street retailers. The center, a wholesale marketplace in North America and home to leading trade events supporting U.S. small businesses, is initiating a grassroots campaign that advocates for a 90-day pause on all tariffs between the U.S. and China. The initiative—'Stand With Main Street. Turn Off Tariffs'—is aimed at allowing for the free flow of goods critical to the upcoming holiday selling season. DMC has launchd a petition on its website in connection with the campaign to unify support across all retailers, manufacturers and their sales representatives, as well as service providers and other retail stakeholders. More from Footwear News Rocky Brands Confirms Price Hikes Starting in June, Plans Production Shifts Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden on Tariffs, Growing the Brand's Non-US Business - And How the Bad Bunny Low Profile Trend Is Appealing to Men DMC said that the tariffs have placed 'an immediate and significant burden on Main Street retailers,' representing a 'vital share' of the 4.6 million retail businesses in the U.S., as well as the firms that supply them with goods. It also noted that the impact is growing more severe by the day, with the holiday season fast approaching because if the goods 'are not in transit within the next few weeks, economic consequences will be dire for the 55 million American jobs supported by retail.' The holiday season is expected to represent nearly $994 billion in retail sales. The final push for goods slated for holiday need to be in transit before the end of August. In addition to the petition, DMC is coordinating different events, including with the National Retail Federation, a trade organization, to get the word out regarding business insights and how to navigate the tariff backdrop. The petition on the DMC website said the industry is already seeing canceled or sharply reduced orders from retailer to manufacturers, resulting in factories stopping production. It also noted that delayed or canceled shipments are causing a reduction in inventory. Looking ahead, supply chain disruption is expected soon if action isn't taken as shipments resume. That's because container availability will become tight and prices will be high. The result is likely reduced stock or empty store shelves during the 'most crucial quarter for retail revenue,' DMC said. Another risk cited by DMC is 'dangerously lowered margins' for retailers already navigating economic challenges. And DMC added there's also the risk of higher unemployment as retailers and manufacturers lay off workers. In addition to the 90-day pause, the petition is also seeking the development of 'trade policy that strengthens U.S. business without sacrificing the retail backbone of our economy.' Best of Footwear News A Complete Calendar of All the Footwear Trade Shows in 2025 A Timeline of Nike's 5 CEOs That Have Held the Role Since 1972 These Theories About How Black Friday Got Started Will Surprise You
