X posts of the week range from allegations of a prison ID being found in a Regatta coat to Puma completing its biodegradable sneaker experiment. Credit: Shutterstock.

Other X posts of the week came from the Spanish arm of Greenpeace tracking garments placed in recycling bins in both Mango and Zara stores to see where they would be sent and outdoor brand Decathlon announcing its acquisition of Bergfreunde, a German online retailer specialising in mountain sports and climbing gear.

Following The Guardian‘s report on a Chinese prison ID allegedly being found inside the lining of a Regatta coat, the British outdoor brand told Just Style it “refutes the implication it has used forced prison labour”.

In an official statement, Regatta told Just Style it had taken the incident reported by a customer very seriously and an immediate investigation commenced. It has also taken advice from the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and pointed out that ETI supports the company in its ongoing commitment to ethical trading practices.  

US President Biden has announced nearly 30 new measures to strengthen the supply chains that are said to be vital to both the economic well-being and national security of the US, as part of his “Bidenomics” agenda to lower prices for inflation-weary American consumers.

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The US apparel sector has commended his bid to strengthen supply chains with the creation of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, however, concerns remain over his lack of commitment to global trade policies and tackling domestic forced labour.

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Campaign group Greenpeace claims one item was reused from the 29 geolocators it placed on clothing recycled across Spain, including at Zara and Mango stores over four months.

The organisation placed the items, tagged with tracking devices, in 11 containers located on public roads and in Zara and Mango stores across different areas in Spain between July and August. The items donated were used but still in good condition.

French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has announced the acquisition of Bergfreunde, a German online retailer specialising in mountain sports and climbing gear, a move that will allow the company to explore what a GlobalData analyst called “premium price positions”.

Through the deal, signed on 24 November, Decathlon intends to support Bergfreunde’s leadership long-term, fostering continued development and growth. The collaboration is anticipated to yield benefits for Bergfreunde’s dedicated customer base, partners, and internal teams.

German sportswear brand Puma shared its successful pilot completion of a “biodegradable” sneaker.

Puma ran a two-year-long RE:SUEDE experiment during which it piloted turning the experimental version of its classic suede sneaker into compost.

The brand said it produced 500 pairs of the experimental RE:SUEDE in 2021, which were made using Zeology-tanned suede, a TPE outsole and hemp fibres. As the next step, these shoes were given to volunteers in Germany who wore them for six months to test their comfort and durability.

Our signals coverage is powered by GlobalData’s Thematic Engine, which tags millions of data items across six alternative datasets — patents, jobs, deals, company filings, social media mentions and news — to themes, sectors and companies. These signals enhance our predictive capabilities, helping us to identify the most disruptive threats across each of the sectors we cover and the companies best placed to succeed.