Several global apparel & footwear brands halt Russian operations

Along with pausing operations in the country, many companies have also announced financial aid and operational assistance for Ukrainians affected by the war.

“Deeply concerned by the situation in Europe at this time, it’s with regret that we have taken the decision to temporarily close our stores in Russia and pause all our commercial activities. We will continue to stand by our local teams,” Hermès said in a post on its LinkedIn account.

“Due to growing concerns regarding the current situation in Europe, Kering is temporarily closing its stores in Russia for its Houses that the Group operates directly in the country,” Kering said on its Twitter account.

“LVMH has decided to make a first emergency donation of €5 million to support the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help the direct and indirect victims of this conflict,” the group said in a statement.

“The war has had a huge human impact already. It is also resulting in serious disruptions to supply chain and trading conditions. For all of these reasons, the company groups have decided to temporarily pause Ikea operations in Russia,” Ikea said in a press release. Moreover, Ikea Foundation, funded by Ingka Foundation, donated €20 million for humanitarian assistance to those who have been forcibly displaced as a result of the conflict in Ukraine.

Levi Strauss is donating more than $300,000 to nonprofit organisations. The company and the Levi Strauss Foundation are giving $200,000 to the International Rescue Committee, which is helping to support individuals and families displaced by the conflict, while the company’s Beyond Yoga brand is giving $100,000 to CARE, which is responding to the immediate needs of the people of Ukraine, the company said in a media release.

“Uniqlo has made everyday clothing available to the general public in Russia too, as part of our mission. However, we have recently faced a number of difficulties, including operational challenges and the worsening of the conflict situation. For this reason, we will temporarily suspend our operations,” Uniqlo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fast Retailing, said in a statement. Uniqlo also announced a donation of $10 million and clothing through its longstanding global partnership with UNHCR.

Through Crocs Cares, Crocs has made a donation to UNICEF to support UNICEF's on-the-ground humanitarian efforts with a specific focus on addressing the needs of displaced children and families throughout the region, the company said in a media release.

Skechers USA has donated $250,000 in humanitarian aid to organisations on the ground in Ukraine and Poland, as well as matching employee donations up to an additional $250,000 to support the Ukrainian people, it said in a statement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)