Fashion Responds to War in Ukraine

KEY INSIGHTS

• Adidas has suspended its partnership with the Russian Football Union as sports organisations pull back from the country.
• Nike and YNAP said they were no longer shipping online orders to Russia, making therm among the first major fashion companies to indicate operations have been impacted by the war.
• Vogue Ukraine called on luxury fashion companies to halt distribution of luxury goods in Russia; Condé Nast and Vanguard-owned Nanushka pledged donations to support Ukraine.

Nike, YNAP No Longer Shipping to Russia

A growing number of fashion brands and retailers say they have stopped processing online orders to Russian customers, citing logistical difficulties.

On Nike’s Russian-language website, the activewear giant said it “cannot currently guarantee delivery of goods to customers in Russia,” and was halting sales in the country through its website and app. It directed customers to its stores.

Richemont-owned e-tailer Yoox Net-a-Porter Group (YNAP) also said it is no longer shipping to Russia as a result of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a statement published on the company’s Russian websites.

“Due to the current situation, we are unable to complete any new orders in your country. All order fulfillment has been suspended until further notice,” the statement, which now serves as the landing page for both the Net-a-Porter and Yoox Russia websites, said.

On its Russian website, luxury Farfetch posted a message warning customers that “there may be problems with the delivery of orders and returns in Russia,” but had not suspended shipments as of Tuesday evening.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been met with severe Western sanctions, compounded in recent days by a rising wave of businesses who have pulled back from the country while condemning its government’s actions. Among them are Fedex, UPS and other major parcel delivery companies that handle international e-commerce shipments.

— Sarah Kent

Vogue Ukraine Calls for Embargo of Fashion Goods to Russia

On Tuesday, the magazine published a call to action on its Instagram account in response to Russia’s military invasion.

In its post, it called on luxury companies including LVMH, Kering and Richemont to withhold fashion and luxury goods from distribution in Russia.

“Showing your conscience and choosing humanity over monetary benefits is the only reasonable stand one can take in confronting the violent behaviour of Russia,” the publication wrote.

Vogue Ukraine called on the fashion industry to speak up about the war and asked readers to join in on its call to stop fashion products from being shipped to Russia.

The publication is owned and operated by Media Group Ukraine, a media conglomerate in the country. It licenses the Vogue name and branding from Condé Nast International.

— Chavie Lieber

Adidas Suspends Partnership With Russian Football Union

The German sports company said Tuesday it will halt its years-long relationship with the Russian Football Union, joining large sports organisations in pulling back from the country following its invasion of Ukraine.

On Monday, football associations FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia and its teams from all competitions, adding to a growing cultural boycott of the country.

Adidas has partnered with the Russian Football Union since 2008. In 2020, the company had sales of €584 million ($649 million) in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, or roughly 3 percent of total sales. — Sarah Kent

Condé Nast, Budapest-based Nanushka Pledge Support for Ukraine.

In a company-wide statement, Roger Lynch, Condé Nast chief executive, said that the media company will donate — as well as match employee donations —to the International Committee of the Red Cross and their Ukraine Emergency Fund.

”We begin this week in a collective state of shock and horror as the invasion of the Ukraine continues to unfold in frightening ways. Many of us have been left reeling from the news reports as the scale of the human toll has become clearer,” said Lynch in the statement.

Nanushka announced it is partnering with Hungarian charity the Order of Malta to help provide food, clothing, shelter and transport to neighbouring Budapest for Ukrainians fleeing their country. The Vanguard-owned brand said it was also introducing a programme to help Ukrainian fashion businesses stay afloat “whether that be through a place to work or access to advice and education.” It encouraged employees to make their own donations, or use their platforms to share information. — Joan Kennedy