Drapers
14 April 2012
View all stories from this issue.
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‘History is awash with retailers coming to grief’
News that Forever 21 is looking to downsize its first UK store just 18 months after launch has raised questions about store size versus productivity. -
A New Look? It’ll be totally different…
Hysteria abounded last Monday as Dior finally told us who was picking up the glamorous, but lightly soiled reins from the deposed John Galliano. -
'A powerful movement of indie ambassadors is emerging’
After months of headlines, debate and waiting, it finally arrived. -
All Saints
The rockiest retailer in Bluewater has cleaned up its act for spring 12 with fewer fussy details. -
American Eagle opens in Japan
US young fashion chain American Eagle is to open its first two stores in Japan this week, starting with a large-scale flagship in Tokyo today. -
Anya Hindmarch named businesswoman of the year
Handbag designer Anya Hindmarch has been named the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year. -
Aquascutum on brink of collapse
Fashion retailer Aquascutum, owned by Harold Tillman, could be placed into administration today, threatening the end of a British heritage brand. -
Aquascutum supplier prepares bid for Corby plant and brand
Menswear business Cooper & Stollbrand is preparing a bid for the Aquascutum brand and its Corby manufacturing plant, following the collapse of the British heritage business last week. -
Aquascutum to close Corby factory
Aquascutum’s Corby manufacturing plant is being forcefully closed, making 115 staff redundant “with immediate effect”. -
Are consumers bothered about buying fashion and footwear that’s made in the UK?
Drapers’ ask four consumers if they are bothered about buying fashion and footwear that’s made in the UK. -
Augmented reality check
Retailers can use new technology to better interact with shoppers - but it must have a genuine purpose. -
Austin Reed
The tailoring specialist’s collection and store experience is anything but special. -
Barry Tulip
Gieves & Hawkes’ creative director tells Ian Wright how he is building a fresh house style at the Savile Row tailor. -
Brunello Cucinelli aims to raise £132m from IPO
Luxury cashmere and tailoring company Brunello Cucinelli debuted in Milan yesterday with its initial public offering (IPO). -
Burberry half year sales boosted by retail
British luxury brand Burberry saw revenue surge 18% over the last six months as like-for-like retail sales jumped 12% with the UK market helping drive growth. -
Burton
A straightforward strategy lacks originality and quality at a retailer saved only by its low pricing. -
Cable: It’s Government’s duty to back UK fashion
Business secretary accepts industry isn’t taken seriously enough but says Coalition is committed to its growth. -
Carven to be special guest at Pitti Uomo
Luxury French label Carven is set to be the guest menswear designer at menswear trade show Pitti Uomo in June. -
Celine to open Mount Street store
French luxury fashion house Celine is to open a store on London’s Mount Street bolstering the roster of designer names to take up residence on the road. -
Common People
Graeme Moran discovers a menswear brand with a rare blend of quality, style and tempting prices. -
Damart enlists fashion students in re-design
British thermals specialist Damart threw down the gauntlet to London College of Fashion students by asking them to re-style its autumn 12 look books. -
Debenhams profits edge up, despite loss of market share in womenswear
Debenhams has reported a rise in half year profits to £127.1m, despite a cautious outlook and “challenging” trading conditions. -
Digital Edition: April 14 2012
Hit or Miss - Find out menswear’s winners and losers in our high street survey for spring 12. -
eBay launches new spring ad campaign
Online marketplace etailer eBay has launched a spring advertising campaign to showcase brands which are now retailing on the site. -
Fashion Index
View our new fashion data pages to get a barometer of trade in the UK and worldwide. -
'Fashion’s passion should earn it the respect it deserves'
When I moved into the fashion sector a year ago, a lot of my friends and contacts in other industries greeted the news not with congratulations or even surprise - they instead laughed. True story. -
Fenwick’s Dales jumps ship to join Republic buying team
Young fashion retailer Republic has appointed Fenwick buyer Les Dales as brand manager for external brands, replacing Scott Macrae, who has taken up the role of head of footwear and accessories. -
Flannels to review selling fur after protestors disrupt fashion show
Designer indie mini-chain Flannels is reviewing whether or not to sell fur after it was the subject of anti-fur protests at its Manchester Fashion Week catwalk show last week. -
French Connection
While not particularly flashy, the menswear offer is solid - a quality step in the right direction. -
Gap
Once a destination for pocket-minded preppy guys, Gap’s product is a little stale for spring. -
Gieves & Hawkes to be acquired by licensee Trinity in £60m deal
Saville Row men’s tailoring business Gieves & Hawkes is to be acquired by its Chinese licensee Hong Kong menswear company Trinity in a deal which could be worth up to £60m. -
H&M
Despite the fast-fashion giant’s strong recent results, this store has a bit of an identity crisis. -
H&M like-for-like sales in March soar
Like-for-like sales at H&M rose 16% in March as mild weather and the timing of Easter drove shoppers into store. -
Hit or Miss - Bluewater
Bluewater has had a bit of a rough ride recently. -
How I got here - Jon Watson
Lyle & Scott’s visual merchandising manager picks out the highlights and lowlights of his career so far. -
'If you're going to take on an apprentice…rest assured’
Industry view from John West, Development manager at sector skills council Creative Skillset. -
International rescue could be the only lifeline for Aquascutum
Aquascutum is likely to be rescued by an international group according to industry sources, following the British heritage brand’s collapse into administration this week. -
Jaeger bought by Better Capital
Fashion group Jaeger has been acquired by Jon Moulton investment vehicle Better Capital, ensuring the “future of the business”. -
JD Sports on the hunt for more acquisitions
JD Sports Fashion is eyeing further acquisitions to fuel expansion despite its Blacks purchase hitting full-year profits. -
Jimmy Choo partners with Rob Pruitt
Luxury footwear label Jimmy Choo has teamed up with contemporary artist Rob Pruitt to create a capsule collection. -
John Lewis reports "superb" week
Fashion sales surged at John Lewis last week as poor weather drove shoppers into stores. -
Local heroes
Eight years after halting UK manufacturing, it’s all systems go again for Headen & Quarmby - with a little help from Mary Portas. -
London and New York Fashion Week dates confirmed
The British Fashion Council (BFC) and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have confirmed the dates for both London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week for the next two years. -
London Collections: Men - excited yet?
In lieu of the tantalisingly close schedule announcement, here’s a little something to whet your appetite… -
LVMH sales soar in first quarter
Luxury goods group LVMH reported a 25% sales jump for the first quarter of the year as its fashion brands continued to see solid growth. -
M&Co launches style advice service
Value retailer M&Co has launched a style advice service across its stores following research that revealed women don’t have enough time to find styles to complement their shape. -
Mango to focus on Russia and China as turnover rises 11% in 2011
Spanish womenswear chain Mango said turnover increased by 11% in 2011 to €1.4bn (£1.15bn) as it continues to focus on the Russian and Chinese markets. -
Marchesa in talks to launch diffusion line
Luxury womenswear brand Marchesa could be set to launch a contemporary line as it moves close to signing a deal with an investment company. -
Marks & Spencer
The safe pair of hands moves tentatively into spring with quality, if unremarkable, ranges. -
Massimo Dutti
Zara’s big brother, this cool, calm and collected player knows what it does, and does it well. -
Mephisto launches revamped website in five languages
French comfort footwear brand Mephisto has relaunched its website in five foreign languages. -
Mobile devices drive increase in online retail searches
Retail search volumes increased 11% in the first quarter of 2012, while overseas retail searches jumped 57% due to the increasing popularity of shoppers using mobile devices said the British Retail Consortium (BRC)- Google Online Retail Monitor. -
Moss Bros, Regent Street
Until recently, Moss Bros had been troubled with regular financial losses and the sense it had lost its way. -
Muji to expand in Europe after 16% profit rise
Japanese clothing and homewares retailer Muji is to expand in Europe this year, after a 16% rise in profits. -
Neoprene dream
Italian accessories brand Leghila launched its range of neoprene bags in the UK for spring 12. -
Next
Along with M&S, Next dresses the nation but it’s a shame its clothes aren’t made where they’re worn. -
Next boss Wolfson sees salary slide
Next chief executive Simon Wolfson’s pay slipped to £1.5m in the last year from £1.8m the previous year. -
Off the record, April 14 2012
Guests dug Jack Spade’s store, MPs showed their ties with UKFT and Jean Machine got artistic. -
On the radar - Marina
In just its second season, Marina is a label that caught our eye with its clean and modern silhouettes. -
One True Saxon on brink after Pentland pulls plug
One True Saxon’s future is in doubt following a decision by owner Pentland Brands to cease trading the young fashion brand from autumn 12. -
Portas Pilots to feature in Channel 4 TV series
Mary Portas is to front a new show on Channel 4 covering the progress of the Government’s town centre improvement pilot schemes. -
Reiss
Slick as ever, the premium high street retailer plays it a little safe for spring 12. -
Retail expansion is good news for the eurozone
The shortlist of candidates for the Wolfson Prize has just been published. -
Retailers face £7bn bank and bond debt refinancing this year
Retailers have to refinance $11.2bn (£7.1bn) in syndicated bank debt and bonds by the end of the year, with a further $60.6bn (£38.3bn) due by 2018. -
Retailers warned of ‘unsustainable’ online model
Online retailers face a steep rise in delivery costs because the current model is unsustainable for fulfilment firms, according to the boss of one of the UK’s largest distribution firms. -
River Island
The rumours are true - with its freshest product range for years, River is set for a strong season. -
River Island footwear team in shake-up
River Island has appointed Barratts Priceless’s Paul Phipps as men’s footwear buyer amid a number of changes to the young fashion chain’s footwear buying team. -
Savile Row tailors up in arms over The Kooples' opening
Savile Row tailors are up in arms over news that premium French retailer The Kooples is to open a store on the historic London Mayfair street. -
Shortage of best-selling stock dents Marks & Spencer sales
Marks & Spencer was hit by a shortage of top fashion lines that undermined general merchandise sales in the fourth quarter. -
Ted Baker
The most idiosyncratic store in Bluewater gives shoppers the true Ted Baker experience. -
This week’s hero - Zara
Pointing the way to the most important products, people, stories and shows in fashion right now. -
Three of the best - Photographic-print Tees
Photographic prints are leading the way for spring’s T-shirt trends - these three snappy styles are all available to stock now. -
Tommy Hilfiger to open Japanese flagship
Luxury label Tommy Hilfiger is to open a flagship store in Tokyo, Japan later this week. -
Topman
The overwhelming but on-trend product is let down by the in-store experience. -
Trendwatch - Deconstructed Macs
Tokyo, home to the world’s most extravagant fashion statements, right now finds men favouring stripped-back macs made from soft fabrics. -
Uniqlo
Fashion’s home of the quality basic steps things up a little in this well-planned space. -
Uniqlo to expand in the US
Japanese fast-fashion retailer Uniqlo is to expand its US presence with the opening of a fourth store outside of New York. -
Vivienne Westwood terminates franchise contract with Hervia Limited
Vivienne Westwood has reached an out-of-court settlement with its long-term franchise partner Hervia Limited to terminate its contract with the firm. -
West End spend set to hit £10bn by 2020
The West End is forecasted to attract more than £10bn of spending each year by 2020 but only if overcrowding and congestion are tackled, according to a report by New West End Company. -
Wet Easter fails to dampen sales
Retailers reported buoyant trading conditions over the Easter bank holiday weekend despite the wet weather. -
What menswear trends are selling best for spring 12?
Industry insider’s share their thoughts. -
Wholesale sector feels Olympic pressure
As London limbers up for the Olympics, trade shows and showrooms in the capital are shifting their schedules and locations to avoid a logistical nightmare. -
Zara
The Jekyll and Hyde of the high street surprises and delights with its daring spring collections.
