Latest news with #PrimaveraSound
Metro
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Acclaimed singer cancels all upcoming shows due to ‘continued illness'
Michael Kiwanuka has been forced to cancel all his upcoming gigs, including major festivals, due to 'continued illness'. In a statement released on his Instagram story, his team apologised for the cancellations but didn't share any further details on his health. The news comes only weeks after he took to the stage in Spain for Bilbao BBK Live as well as performing at Primavera Sound last month. He was scheduled to perform at the likes of Victorious and We Out Here festivals in the UK, as well as Budapest's Sziget Festival next month. Later this year, Michael, 37, was also set to be the support act for Mumford & Sons on their North America tour, with the UK leg set for December. The statement read: 'We are so sorry to announce that due to continued illness, and on the advice of doctors, Michael will sadly be unable to perform at the rest of his scheduled festival performances throughout the rest of the summer and the shows in North America in October (including the support tour with Mumford & Sons. 'We know this is disappointing news to hear, and nobody is more disappointed and saddened than Michael to no longer be taking to the stage as planned. 'Love and thanks to everyone for their understanding.' The Cold Little Heart singer shot to popularity in 2012 with his debut album Home Again and cemented his rising star status by winning the BBC's Sound Of… Award that year. He followed up with Love & Hate four years later, again gaining critical acclaim and securing a number one spot on the UK album charts. Michael has been nominated for numerous awards over the past decade, including Brits, MTV Europe Music Awards and Grammy Awards. More Trending He won the coveted Mercury Prize in 2020 with self-titled Kiwanuka, after being nominated for both his previous albums. Last year saw the release of his fourth album, with Michael embarking on a UK tour earlier this year. He recently collaborated with Little Simz, featuring on her latest album Lotus as a guest artist on the title track. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Huge British rockstar launches UK's largest multi-venue music festival MORE: Rock band reschedule and cancel handful of shows to 'grieve' Ozzy Osbourne MORE: Olly Murs has a surprising reaction after losing his wedding ring days after anniversary
Fashion Network
16-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
How Levi's is blending music, tech and fashion to drive growth
Levi Strauss is riding a fresh wave of momentum, posting a 9% increase in like-for-like sales for the first half of its 2025 financial year. Building on that growth, the denim giant now expects full-year sales to rise by 1% to 2%. But according to CEO Michelle Gass, the results reflect more than a temporary boost—they validate the vision and restructuring she has led since taking the helm in 2023. Under her leadership, Levi's has made bold moves, including divesting its Denizen brand in Asia, exiting its footwear division, and selling Dockers, the iconic chinos label. The company's ' Project Fuel' transformation plan, launched in early 2024, also included a major reorganization of its regional headquarters. These decisions align with Gass's broader ambition to turn Levi's into a global lifestyle brand rooted in denim, with a direct-to-consumer focus. 'The brand has never been stronger, and that's thanks to a combination of things,' Gass told analysts during a recent earnings call. 'We have a rich heritage, but you have to earn that relevance every day. That means showing up wherever the consumer is—on social media, in music, at cultural events, through Beyoncé or Shaboozey's wardrobe.' The Beyoncé partnership, linked to her 'Cowboy Carter' album and tour, is a powerful example of how Levi's continues to blend culture and commerce. 'This quarter, we launched the third chapter of our 'Reiimagine' campaign with Beyoncé, recreating a classic Levi's ad from the archives,' Gass said. 'We rolled out a limited-edition product line and worked directly with her team through our House of Strauss platform to design exclusive, custom looks for her tour. Staying deeply connected to music culture remains a pillar of our marketing strategy.' Levi's music push doesn't end there. In Europe, the brand recently partnered with Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival, launching a capsule collection and branding three performance stages. It also released a special-edition collection in tribute to the legendary British band Oasis. Still, Gass is quick to point out that Levi's rebound isn't built on celebrity campaigns alone—particularly in Europe, where sales rose 15% year over year on a like-for-like basis. 'Last month, I visited key cities like Paris, Barcelona and Milan. I was genuinely impressed by the brand's strength in these markets—both in-store and with younger consumers. Our teams have made real improvements in how and where Levi's shows up,' she said. The group's operating margin hit 17.2% in Q2, a 210 basis-point improvement. France, the UK, Italy and Spain all posted double-digit sales growth. Gass said she met with key franchise partners as well as retail heavyweights like Zalando and Galeries Lafayette —and sees continued potential for growth across Europe. Another bright spot is Levi's 'tops' category, which includes T-shirts, dresses and jumpsuits. 'Last year, we restructured our tops division—and it's paying off. This category is driving our evolution from jeans-only to full lifestyle,' Gass noted. The brand also introduced a new fast-track design function to bring tops and graphic tees to market faster and respond to trends through its direct channels. The brand is leaning into the westernwear revival, citing strong sales for subtle western-inspired silhouettes. Long, baggy shorts—a nod to the Y2K aesthetic—have also performed well. Levi's is branching out from its denim roots with fabric innovations like the 'Linen plus Denim' blend, designed for warmer climates and now used across a wider range of product categories. These innovations support Levi's shift toward a more premium segment. The brand recently partnered with high-end label Sacai and launched its elevated Blue Tab line—moves that allow it to justify selective price increases. Still, Levi's remains a mass-market brand at its core. Gass is focused on leveraging technology and data to refine product offerings and enhance profitability. 'We've streamlined our assortment and introduced newness with discipline,' she said. 'That's helping us drive better productivity and more full-price sales. These choices are key to maintaining our market leadership and growing the average spend per customer.' That discipline appears to be paying off. With strong investor confidence, Levi's and its ambitious CEO are now one step closer to hitting their goals of 5% annual organic growth and 15% operating margins.
Fashion Network
16-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
How Levi's is blending music, tech and fashion to drive growth
Levi Strauss is riding a fresh wave of momentum, posting a 9% increase in like-for-like sales for the first half of its 2025 financial year. Building on that growth, the denim giant now expects full-year sales to rise by 1% to 2%. But according to CEO Michelle Gass, the results reflect more than a temporary boost—they validate the vision and restructuring she has led since taking the helm in 2023. Under her leadership, Levi's has made bold moves, including divesting its Denizen brand in Asia, exiting its footwear division, and selling Dockers, the iconic chinos label. The company's ' Project Fuel' transformation plan, launched in early 2024, also included a major reorganization of its regional headquarters. These decisions align with Gass's broader ambition to turn Levi's into a global lifestyle brand rooted in denim, with a direct-to-consumer focus. 'The brand has never been stronger, and that's thanks to a combination of things,' Gass told analysts during a recent earnings call. 'We have a rich heritage, but you have to earn that relevance every day. That means showing up wherever the consumer is—on social media, in music, at cultural events, through Beyoncé or Shaboozey's wardrobe.' The Beyoncé partnership, linked to her 'Cowboy Carter' album and tour, is a powerful example of how Levi's continues to blend culture and commerce. 'This quarter, we launched the third chapter of our 'Reiimagine' campaign with Beyoncé, recreating a classic Levi's ad from the archives,' Gass said. 'We rolled out a limited-edition product line and worked directly with her team through our House of Strauss platform to design exclusive, custom looks for her tour. Staying deeply connected to music culture remains a pillar of our marketing strategy.' Levi's music push doesn't end there. In Europe, the brand recently partnered with Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival, launching a capsule collection and branding three performance stages. It also released a special-edition collection in tribute to the legendary British band Oasis. Still, Gass is quick to point out that Levi's rebound isn't built on celebrity campaigns alone—particularly in Europe, where sales rose 15% year over year on a like-for-like basis. 'Last month, I visited key cities like Paris, Barcelona and Milan. I was genuinely impressed by the brand's strength in these markets—both in-store and with younger consumers. Our teams have made real improvements in how and where Levi's shows up,' she said. The group's operating margin hit 17.2% in Q2, a 210 basis-point improvement. France, the UK, Italy and Spain all posted double-digit sales growth. Gass said she met with key franchise partners as well as retail heavyweights like Zalando and Galeries Lafayette —and sees continued potential for growth across Europe. Another bright spot is Levi's 'tops' category, which includes T-shirts, dresses and jumpsuits. 'Last year, we restructured our tops division—and it's paying off. This category is driving our evolution from jeans-only to full lifestyle,' Gass noted. The brand also introduced a new fast-track design function to bring tops and graphic tees to market faster and respond to trends through its direct channels. The brand is leaning into the westernwear revival, citing strong sales for subtle western-inspired silhouettes. Long, baggy shorts—a nod to the Y2K aesthetic—have also performed well. Levi's is branching out from its denim roots with fabric innovations like the 'Linen plus Denim' blend, designed for warmer climates and now used across a wider range of product categories. These innovations support Levi's shift toward a more premium segment. The brand recently partnered with high-end label Sacai and launched its elevated Blue Tab line—moves that allow it to justify selective price increases. Still, Levi's remains a mass-market brand at its core. Gass is focused on leveraging technology and data to refine product offerings and enhance profitability. 'We've streamlined our assortment and introduced newness with discipline,' she said. 'That's helping us drive better productivity and more full-price sales. These choices are key to maintaining our market leadership and growing the average spend per customer.' That discipline appears to be paying off. With strong investor confidence, Levi's and its ambitious CEO are now one step closer to hitting their goals of 5% annual organic growth and 15% operating margins.
Fashion Network
16-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
How Levi's is blending music, tech and fashion to drive growth
Levi Strauss is riding a fresh wave of momentum, posting a 9% increase in like-for-like sales for the first half of its 2025 financial year. Building on that growth, the denim giant now expects full-year sales to rise by 1% to 2%. But according to CEO Michelle Gass, the results reflect more than a temporary boost—they validate the vision and restructuring she has led since taking the helm in 2023. Under her leadership, Levi's has made bold moves, including divesting its Denizen brand in Asia, exiting its footwear division, and selling Dockers, the iconic chinos label. The company's 'Project Fuel' transformation plan, launched in early 2024, also included a major reorganization of its regional headquarters. These decisions align with Gass's broader ambition to turn Levi's into a global lifestyle brand rooted in denim, with a direct-to-consumer focus. 'The brand has never been stronger, and that's thanks to a combination of things,' Gass told analysts during a recent earnings call. 'We have a rich heritage, but you have to earn that relevance every day. That means showing up wherever the consumer is—on social media, in music, at cultural events, through Beyoncé or Shaboozey's wardrobe.' The Beyoncé partnership, linked to her 'Cowboy Carter' album and tour, is a powerful example of how Levi's continues to blend culture and commerce. 'This quarter, we launched the third chapter of our 'Reiimagine' campaign with Beyoncé, recreating a classic Levi's ad from the archives,' Gass said. 'We rolled out a limited-edition product line and worked directly with her team through our House of Strauss platform to design exclusive, custom looks for her tour. Staying deeply connected to music culture remains a pillar of our marketing strategy.' Levi's music push doesn't end there. In Europe, the brand recently partnered with Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival, launching a capsule collection and branding three performance stages. It also released a special-edition collection in tribute to the legendary British band Oasis. Still, Gass is quick to point out that Levi's rebound isn't built on celebrity campaigns alone—particularly in Europe, where sales rose 15% year over year on a like-for-like basis. 'Last month, I visited key cities like Paris, Barcelona and Milan. I was genuinely impressed by the brand's strength in these markets—both in-store and with younger consumers. Our teams have made real improvements in how and where Levi's shows up,' she said. The group's operating margin hit 17.2% in Q2, a 210 basis-point improvement. France, the UK, Italy and Spain all posted double-digit sales growth. Gass said she met with key franchise partners as well as retail heavyweights like Zalando and Galeries Lafayette—and sees continued potential for growth across Europe. Another bright spot is Levi's 'tops' category, which includes T-shirts, dresses and jumpsuits. 'Last year, we restructured our tops division—and it's paying off. This category is driving our evolution from jeans-only to full lifestyle,' Gass noted. The brand also introduced a new fast-track design function to bring tops and graphic tees to market faster and respond to trends through its direct channels. The brand is leaning into the westernwear revival, citing strong sales for subtle western-inspired silhouettes. Long, baggy shorts—a nod to the Y2K aesthetic—have also performed well. Levi's is branching out from its denim roots with fabric innovations like the 'Linen plus Denim' blend, designed for warmer climates and now used across a wider range of product categories. These innovations support Levi's shift toward a more premium segment. The brand recently partnered with high-end label Sacai and launched its elevated Blue Tab line—moves that allow it to justify selective price increases. Still, Levi's remains a mass-market brand at its core. Gass is focused on leveraging technology and data to refine product offerings and enhance profitability. 'We've streamlined our assortment and introduced newness with discipline,' she said. 'That's helping us drive better productivity and more full-price sales. These choices are key to maintaining our market leadership and growing the average spend per customer.' That discipline appears to be paying off. With strong investor confidence, Levi's and its ambitious CEO are now one step closer to hitting their goals of 5% annual organic growth and 15% operating margins.
Fashion Network
16-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
How Levi's is blending music, tech and fashion to drive growth
Levi Strauss is riding a fresh wave of momentum, posting a 9% increase in like-for-like sales for the first half of its 2025 financial year. Building on that growth, the denim giant now expects full-year sales to rise by 1% to 2%. But according to CEO Michelle Gass, the results reflect more than a temporary boost—they validate the vision and restructuring she has led since taking the helm in 2023. Under her leadership, Levi's has made bold moves, including divesting its Denizen brand in Asia, exiting its footwear division, and selling Dockers, the iconic chinos label. The company's 'Project Fuel' transformation plan, launched in early 2024, also included a major reorganisation of its regional headquarters. These decisions align with Gass's broader ambition to turn Levi's into a global lifestyle brand rooted in denim, with a direct-to-consumer focus. 'The brand has never been stronger, and that's thanks to a combination of things,' Gass told analysts during a recent earnings call. 'We have a rich heritage, but you have to earn that relevance every day. That means showing up wherever the consumer is—on social media, in music, at cultural events, through Beyoncé or Shaboozey's wardrobe.' The Beyoncé partnership, linked to her 'Cowboy Carter' album and tour, is a powerful example of how Levi's continues to blend culture and commerce. 'This quarter, we launched the third chapter of our 'Reiimagine' campaign with Beyoncé, recreating a classic Levi's ad from the archives,' Gass said. 'We rolled out a limited-edition product line and worked directly with her team through our House of Strauss platform to design exclusive, custom looks for her tour. Staying deeply connected to music culture remains a pillar of our marketing strategy.' Levi's music push doesn't end there. In Europe, the brand recently partnered with Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival, launching a capsule collection and branding three performance stages. It also released a special-edition collection in tribute to the legendary British band Oasis. Still, Gass is quick to point out that Levi's rebound isn't built on celebrity campaigns alone—particularly in Europe, where sales rose 15% year over year on a like-for-like basis. 'Last month, I visited key cities like Paris, Barcelona and Milan. I was genuinely impressed by the brand's strength in these markets—both in-store and with younger consumers. Our teams have made real improvements in how and where Levi's shows up,' she said. The group's operating margin hit 17.2% in Q2, a 210 basis-point improvement. France, the UK, Italy and Spain all posted double-digit sales growth. Gass said she met with key franchise partners as well as retail heavyweights like Zalando and Galeries Lafayette—and sees continued potential for growth across Europe. Another bright spot is Levi's 'tops' category, which includes T-shirts, dresses and jumpsuits. 'Last year, we restructured our tops division—and it's paying off. This category is driving our evolution from jeans-only to full lifestyle,' Gass noted. The brand also introduced a new fast-track design function to bring tops and graphic tees to market faster and respond to trends through its direct channels. The brand is leaning into the westernwear revival, citing strong sales for subtle western-inspired silhouettes. Long, baggy shorts—a nod to the Y2K aesthetic—have also performed well. Levi's is branching out from its denim roots with fabric innovations like the 'Linen plus Denim' blend, designed for warmer climates and now used across a wider range of product categories. These innovations support Levi's shift toward a more premium segment. The brand recently partnered with high-end label Sacai and launched its elevated Blue Tab line—moves that allow it to justify selective price increases. Still, Levi's remains a mass-market brand at its core. Gass is focused on leveraging technology and data to refine product offerings and enhance profitability. 'We've streamlined our assortment and introduced newness with discipline,' she said. 'That's helping us drive better productivity and more full-price sales. These choices are key to maintaining our market leadership and growing the average spend per customer.' That discipline appears to be paying off. With strong investor confidence, Levi's and its ambitious CEO are now one step closer to hitting their goals of 5% annual organic growth and 15% operating margins.
