Drapers
28 October 2011
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1950s
Spring 12 -
Abercrombie & Fitch to open Spanish store
American casualwear retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is to open its first store in Spain on Thursday (November 3). -
Adidas flagship introduces virtual shopping wall
German sportswear brand Adidas has unveiled its first Virtual Footwear Wall at its Oxford Street flagship store. -
Aigle set for UK retail debut via pop-up
French heritage brand Aigle is to open its first European pop-up shop next week in Covent Garden, London. -
Aurora-backed Bastyan brand to open pop-up store
Contemporary womenswear label Bastyan, which is backed by Coast, Warehouse and Oasis owner Aurora Fashions, is to open a pop-up store. -
Box clever
Trend summaryThere has been less of a focus on jackets since Balmain-style power shoulders reached saturation levels, but designers played with boxy proportions on outerwear for spring 12. The duster coat and cropped jacket were two of the key looks.How to buy itCollarless jackets look the most trend-led options alongside exaggerated proportions at Balenciaga. The duster coat offers a different way to wear a boxier silhouette and can work -
Brands heed scam security warnings
Brands are improving their security procedures on telephone and email orders after more were targeted by a scam. -
BRC calls on Chancellor to tackle 2012 business rate increases in pre-Budget statement
Chancellor George Osborne must address significant business rate increases, retail jobs and improving access to overseas markets in his autumn statement, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has urged. -
Burberry bolsters senior management team
Luxury retailer and brand Burberry has bolstered its senior management team with the creation of the roles of senior role vice-president, customer insight, and chief technology officer. -
Cheap Monday to launch first standalone UK store
Swedish denim brand Cheap Monday is set to open its first UK store in February after making its UK retail debut via a concession in Selfridges in August. -
Copenhagen trade shows to merge
Copenhagen trade shows CPH Vision and Terminal-2 are to merge into one location from August next year in a move to drive footfall and make the event more accessible. -
Crombie gears up for global stockists hunt
Menswear brand Crombie is on the lookout for international stockists as part of an effort to rapidly grow wholesale turnover both overseas and in the UK. -
Deckers ups full-year outlook after revenues rise
Deckers Outdoor Corporation has upped its full-year outlook after posting positive financial results for third quarter until the end of September late yesterday. -
Directory sales power third quarter sales growth at Next
A strong third quarter performance from Next’s Directory business helped compensate for weak store sales and full-year profits are expected to be up. -
Elvis Jesus and Ringspun cut prices to drive orders
Young fashion brands Ringspun and Elvis Jesus will cut their wholesale prices for spring 12 and autumn 12 respectively, as part of moves by parent company Redinc to secure higher order volumes. -
Fashion firms introduce mobile parcel tracking
(Updated 07.11.11) Customers of fashion businesses Asos, Radley and Jules B will be able to track and make changes to deliveries through their mobiles from this week as a result of the retailers’ carrier DPD launching a mobile site. -
Fenn Wright Manson’s Hollins joins Asos as trading director
Online giant Asos has hired Fenn Wright Manson interim merchandising director Maria Hollins as its new trading director. -
Fifth Luke store lands in Leicester
Men’s young fashion brand Luke opened its fifth store last week, in Leicester. -
Finalists shine out amid the gloom
Last week it was my privilege to chair the Drapers Fashion Awards panel judging sessions to decide on this year’s winners. -
Flower Power
Spring 12 -
Georgie Cook & Louise Power
The two sisters behind London indie Hub have defied the doubters to build a successful menswear business. -
Goodstead in Edinburgh
Chosen by Anna Fenlon, marketing executive at young fashion etailer Boohoo.com -
Hackett posts 19% profit growth
Classic men’s lifestyle brand Hackett posted a profit growth of 19% for its last financial year as its niche positioning helped sales propel despite the economic uncertainty. -
Half term hinders high street sales
Sales at clothing and footwear retailers suffered from the half term holiday last week with overall sales down 6.7%, as sales at independent retailers also continued to decline. -
Highs and lows
Spring 12 -
Hong Kong businessman receives Walpole Medal of Excellence
The Hong Kong property and trading entrepreneur Dr. Christopher Cheng is this year’s recipient of the Walpole Medal of Excellence, awarded by the organisation that promotes British luxury brands and craftsmanship. -
How to be a Junior buyer at a high street womenswear retailer
Julie Man, Consultant, buying & merchandising, Fashion & Retail Personnel -
IMAGE GALLERY: Christmas comes to Oxford Street
With just 54 shopping days left until Christmas shoppers turned out in force last night to witness the Oxford Street Christmas lights being switched on. -
John Lewis in "Made in UK" product push
John Lewis is to push British-sourced products in its stores to support UK manufacturing. -
Kate Walton
Director of premium womenswear indie, Havetolove in Gosforth, Newcastle. Brands include 2nd Day, American Retro, By Malene Birger, Sass & Bide. -
Keep those fans coming
Two retailers have launched Facebook campaigns that engage existing customers and lure new ones -
Kidswear Indicator (0-4 year olds), October 28 2011
Access Drapers’ unique source of sales information from kidswear retailers, revealing the best-selling brands, the hottest products and the latest issues to affect kidswear by clicking on the PDF -
Kidswear Indicator (5-12 year olds), October 28 2011
Access Drapers’ unique source of sales information from kidsswear retailers, revealing the best-selling brands, the hottest products and the latest issues to affect kidswear by clicking on the PDF -
Kurt Geiger acquisition boosts Jones Group profits
US brand house Jones Group has posted 42.4% increase in profits for its third quarter, helped in part by the acquisition of premium UK footwear retailer Kurt Geiger earlier this year. -
Let’s hear it for the autumn colour scene
This autumn’s womenswear collections have been the most exciting for a few years – at the Dressing Room, the store is full of colour. -
Marc James looks to up stockist count
Occasionwear brand Marc James has appointed six sales agents for autumn 12 as it aims to capitalise on the absence from the market of the Frank Usher, Michel Ambers, Coterie and Dusk labels. -
Mary Portas to champion UK manufacturing
Retail guru Mary Portas is to head up a new clothing factory in Middleton, Greater Manchester in a wider move to promote the UK manufacturing industry, the story of which is set to feature in a new Channel 4 series, yet another boost to Drapers Save Our Skills (SOS) campaign. -
Matalan's credit rating downgraded
Matalan’s credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor on Tuesday, with one debt facility cut to ‘junk’ status, it is understood. -
Menswear’s success in the downturn surprises Austin Reed as flagship opens
Menswear sales at Austin Reed are outperforming womenswear despite the economic downturn, according to the retailer’s chief executive Nick Hollingworth. -
Missguided to launch first TV campaign
Fast fashion etailer Missguided is to launch its first television campaign to promote the retailers Christmas party collections. -
More fuel for Portas’s town centre debate
Spotting a trend is in your fashion blood. -
Mulberry to receive government support for new factory
Luxury British brand Mulberry is to receive government support for training staff at a new factory. -
My-Wardrobe hunts for chief executive as it looks to global markets
Premium etailer My-Wardrobe is looking for a chief executive to take the company to international markets, according to reports. -
Oasis, Argyll Street, London
The intriguing new interior at the womenswear chain’s flagship, complete with iPads and limited-edition garments, is likely to put it back on must-visit lists. -
Off the record, October 28 2011
Drapers gets the lowdown on the latest gossip and reports back from the hottest parties and events -
Party is So Serene in Solihull
Solihull indie Serene Order hosted a party to mark the opening of its sister store, So Serene, at Mell Square Shopping Centre. -
Playful prints
Spring 12 -
Pretty pastels
Spring 12 -
Prim peplums
Spring 12 -
Primark concessions to open in Selfridges
Value chain’s first concessions set for Birmingham and Trafford Centre stores -
Profits plunge at JJB
Sports retailer JJB has suffered a slump in interim profits and poor second half trading has forced a re-budgeting. -
Psyche links up with college for diploma
Indie department store Psyche has teamed up with Middlesbrough College to create a diploma in fashion retail. -
Rachel Owen
Junior buyer, casualwear and online, Wallis -
Ready to shine
Spring 12 -
Refit spurs sales at Coes’ Ipswich store
Indie department store group Coes has recorded a double-digit sales rise at its Ipswich store since completing a major refurbishment in July. -
River Island launches international shipping
Young fashion retailer River Island has introduced international shipping from its website from today (November 1). -
Sales rise at John Lewis as Christmas buying begins
Signs of early Christmas shopping were evident last week at John Lewis department stores with fashion sales rising 5%. -
Salvatore Ferragamo to expand presence in South America
Italian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo is to expand its presence in Latin America as it looks to tap into the growing luxury market there. -
Satchel brands set for ‘copycat’ battle
Leather satchel brand The Cambridge Satchel Company has made a claim against rival brand Zatchels for infringement of intellectual property rights. -
Scottish knitwear manufacturers set aside rivalries to launch programme addressing critical skills gap
Scottish knitwear companies have set aside long-standing rivalries to launch an apprenticeship scheme to help them meet a critical skills gap facing their businesses over the next five years. -
Shop Direct hires former Clarks finance director Mark McMenemy
Shop Direct has hired former Clarks group finance director Mark McMenemy. -
Shoulder appeal
Spring 12 -
Simone Rocha
Fresh from her label’s first solo show at LFW, the daughter of John Rocha tells Graeme Moran she was destined to be a designer. -
Sin Star
Set up as a sideline by two musicians, this T-shirt brand is proving a hit with indies. -
Sports aesthetic
Spring 12 -
Staff take Mandarin lessons at Selfridges
Chinese language training is being given to staff at Selfridges in Manchester to help capitalise on the rising number of Chinese shoppers visiting the store. -
Stone-Dri seeks to whet the appetite
Menswear brand Stone-Dri has made its autumn 11 range available for short order in a bid to entice retailers to trial the brand, which specialises in technical outerwear. -
Store Twenty One launches label with Katie Price
Value retailer Store Twenty One has teamed up with model Katie Price to create a new label called Katie’s Boutique. -
Straight and slim
Trend summaryThe timeless pencil skirt made a welcome return in a longer length that fell just below the knee. Styles ranged from plain and printed to appliqué in leather, cotton and silk.How to buy itThe pencil skirt looks great on every shape and size, and high-waisted options can make a woman look taller and slimmer. For the younger customer, merchandise it with bandeau tops, or for a classic look a crisp shirt or printed blouse looks -
The 1920s
Spring 12 -
Topshop to launch mobile site as mobile sales climb
Topshop is to launch an app and mobile optimised site in the coming months as mobile becomes an increasingly important channel for retailers. -
Tribal gathering
Spring 12 -
Two more Towie stars join womenswear label cast list
Amy Childs and Lauren Pope, stars of The Only Way Is Essex, are the latest members of the ITV reality show to launch their own fashion collections. -
Under the sea
Spring 12 -
USC puts a third of stores on the market
Branded young fashion chain USC is understood to be looking to offload about a third of its stores as part of a strategic review of its property portfolio. -
www.thekooples.co.uk
A year ago, no one had even heard of French brand The Kooples in the UK. Now it seems to be everywhere – on the high street via its 18 stores, in ads on buses – and it is fast becoming a favourite with fashion editors.It landed in the UK with the sort of style and swagger only the French can pull off. With achingly cool couples acting as brand ambassadors on both above-the-line advertising and online videos, it is one of the most interesting newcomers in quite some time.The webs -
Xavia jerseywear acquired by SFS
Tesco and Primark supplier Simon Foster Sourcing (SFS) has snapped up London-based jerseywear supplier Xavia Fashions. -
Yellow sea
Spring 12
