Alibaba Invests $250M in Meitu, US Faces Tourism Decline and Miniso Reports Revenue Growth

L’Occitane Expands Biodiversity Initiatives from Provence to China

French skincare brand L’Occitane en Provence continues its long-term commitment to biodiversity through sustainable sourcing and ecological programs. In Provence, it supports almond tree conservation through organic farming and pollination practices. In China, it has planted 310,000 drought-resistant shrubs since 2022 as part of a desertification control project in Ningxia. The brand aims to plant one million shrubs and integrate ecological restoration into its business model.

Hermès Expands Bespoke Offerings with Launch of Luxury Headphones

Hermès’ Ateliers Horizons, known for crafting custom items from foosball tables to private jet interiors, has introduced the brand’s first headphones, blending industrial design with traditional craftsmanship. Designed for Bluetooth and wired use, the $15,000 headphones feature handstitched leather and finishes inspired by Hermès icons. The release follows previous sound-related projects like custom jukeboxes and speakers. The workshop continues to develop limited, highly detailed creations beyond Hermès’ traditional fashion offerings.

US Faces Potential Economic Impact from Decline in International Tourism

International tourism to the US is declining due to trade tensions and tighter security measures, with Canadian visitors leading the drop. A projected 10 percent decline could reduce GDP by $23 billion and eliminate around 230,000 jobs, mostly in hospitality, entertainment, and retail. Labor income losses could exceed $13 billion. While part of the March decline was due to a late Easter, overall inbound tourism is still expected to fall 8.7 percent in 2025.

Adidas Reports Data Breach Involving Customer Contact Information

Adidas has disclosed a data breach involving an unauthorized party accessing consumer contact details via a third-party customer service provider. The company confirmed no passwords or credit card data were compromised. An investigation is underway with cybersecurity experts, and affected customers are being notified.

Miniso Reports 19 Percent Revenue Growth in Q1 2025

Miniso reported a 19 percent year-on-year revenue increase in Q1 2025, reaching 4.43 billion RMB, with gross margin rising to 44.2 percent. Overseas revenue grew 30 percent to 1.59 billion RMB, accounting for a larger share of total income. The company is focusing on larger-format stores and IP-driven product strategies. Its toy brand Toptoy recorded a 59 percent revenue increase, with global expansion efforts underway.

Deckers Brands Sees Sales Growth in FY2025 Led by Hoka and Ugg

Deckers Brands reported a 16.3 percent increase in revenue for fiscal year 2025, reaching $4.99 billion, driven by strong sales from Hoka and Ugg. Hoka sales rose 23.6 percent to $2.23 billion, while Ugg increased 13.1 percent to $2.53 billion. Domestic sales grew 11.3 percent, and international sales rose 26.3 percent. The company expects Q1 FY2026 revenue between $890 million and $910 million.

Fliggy Sees Strong Travel Product Sales During 618 Campaign

As of May 23, Fliggy reported nearly 2 million travel products sold during its 618 shopping festival, including flight passes, hotel packages, and theme park tickets. Sales of themed tours, cruises, and EV road trips more than doubled year-over-year. Top domestic destinations included Hainan, Guangdong, and Yunnan, while Japan, the Maldives, and Singapore led for overseas travel. Fliggy’s livestream channels saw a threefold increase in transaction volume.

Alibaba Invests $250M in Meitu to Deepen AI and E-commerce Collaboration

Meitu announced a $250 million convertible bond investment from Alibaba, with plans for strategic collaboration across AI, e-commerce, and cloud computing. Alibaba will promote Meitu’s AI tools on its platforms and support the development of data-driven content generation for merchants. As of 2024, Meitu reported a 23.9 percent revenue increase and 12.61 million paid subscribers, driven by its AI imaging and design products.