Drapers
3 February 2007
View all stories from this issue.
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... as London Oxford Street store is sold
Dolcis has shed its loss-making London Oxford Street store after trading from the site for more than seven years. -
All change at Warehouse and Principles as McKeon departs
Warehouse and Principles chief operating officer of clothing Mark McKeon is to leave the business at the end of February to become chief executive of Dutch department store chain Vroom & Dreesman. -
Arnotts drafts in former Selfridges merchandiser
Ex-Selfridges merchandising director David Elliott has been named interim buying director for fashion at Dublin department store Arnotts. Elliott, who has been consulting at the store since the end of last year, replaces Aiden Magennis. -
Banana Republic signs store for UK launch
Banana Republic, the more upmarket chain operated by Gap Inc, has signed its first UK store on London's Regent Street. It is due to open in 2008, and the site is thought to be the former Dickens & Jones building, which will also house H&M. -
Berlin hits the mark
From mini-me womenswear and kidswear to ultra-glam LA eveningwear, Drapers rounds up some of the top brands on show at Premium in Berlin -
Box Clothing clarification
Branded fashion retailer Box Clothing, which has acquired north-east independents Van Mildert and Strides, is to rebrand Strides and retain the Van Mildert name, not as stated in Drapers (January 27). -
Brand shake-up on the cards at Dolcis
New Dolcis owner rethinks brands and own-label offer .. -
Brantano looking for investment to go private
Belgian footwear retailer Brantano has completed a strategic review and will reveal its plans in the next fortnight. It is believed to be courting an investment of about EUR116 million (£77m) that would enable Brantano, listed on the Euronext stock exchange, to go private. -
Can foreign retailers spice up the UK?
February has kicked in with the usual spinning of the fashion jobs roundabout. This week's issue is full of news of executive entries and exits across all areas of the high street - it seems that those CVs were being polished up before the turn of the year. -
Change of venue and new area for Margin
Streetwear show Margin has changed its venue for February and introduced a new area called Kreateur, featuring directional designerwear. The show will now take place on February 11-13 at Vinyl Factory Gallery, 45 Foubert's Place, London W1F. -
Chilli Pepper fixes a new strategy
Young fashion brand Chilli Pepper has unveiled a new shop-in-shop and concession strategy for autumn 07. -
Chukka gallops into the kidswear market
Polo-inspired casualwear label Chukka is launching its first kidswear collection Chukka Kids. The range is for boys and girls aged four to 11, with retail prices starting at about £20. Chukka sells via mail order and also has 35 stockists in the UK. -
Clarks' no-show angers Scots
Clarks has shunned its Scottish stockists after deciding not to show product in their home territory to save on costs. -
Drapers Share Monitor - Poor Xmas fails to dent Intimas sales
Lingerie company Intimas Group said its full-year results would show improved trading, despite a challenging run-up to Christmas. Order intake for the first quarter had been encouraging, the company said. Shares rose 0.75p to 18.75p. -
Eclectic styles dominate Paris men's catwalks
This week's Paris men's catwalks hosted a parade of eclectic styles, from tight leather outerwear at Junya Watanabe to nautical styles at Paul Smith. Colour - absent from Milan two weeks ago - was still thin on the ground, but the more playful Paris shows offered commercial uses, particularly in bright knits at Lanvin. For a full report on the Paris men's catwalks, see next week's Drapers. -
Elizabeth Rose
Creative flair and impeccable customer service are two of the traits that helped Kent-based family store Elizabeth Rose clinch Independent Womenswear Retailer of the Year at The Drapers Awards 2006 -
Former Bread & Butter brands find new showgrounds in Berlin
UK buyers were sparse at Berlin's Premium and the new BBB at Kraftwerk shows, as last-minute jitters among some brands led to part of Premium's exhibition failing to get off the ground. -
Former Sand sales manager sets up online database of indies
Ex-Sand womenswear sales manager Fiona Huntingford has launched an online business called Fashion Unzipped.com. The site is a database of about 50 UK independent fashion retailers, including Flannels, Giulio and Jules B. Each retailer's page features a full brand listing, and the site is searchable by brand or region. Huntingford said the aim was to help independents fight back against designer discount sites. -
Gabby Logan in Betty Barclay deal
BBC sports presenter Gabby Logan is to put her name to a signature range for classic womenswear brand Betty Barclay. The collection will encompass seven outfits selected by Logan and her stylist, and Logan's name will feature in the garment label or swing tag. Betty Barclay will back the launch with a print campaign in national and local press, as well as point-of-sale marketing material. Logan and Betty Barclay collaborated on a fundraising campaign for breast cancer research in autumn 06. -
George at Asda unveils premium range advertising campaign
George at Asda is launching an advertising campaign for premium range Collections at George. The campaign will be the first since the collection debuted in 2003, and will feature in national newspapers and glossy magazines. The collection includes tailoring, smart separates, eveningwear, lingerie, accessories and footwear. -
Germany's Mustang strides into UK with denim range
German denim brand Mustang is poised to make its debut in the UK, with its first deliveries scheduled for June. -
Ghost grows its high street haunts
Womenswear chain Ghost is squaring up to Whistles and Reiss with an aggressive 12-store roll-out target this year. -
Global Baugur role for UK managing director
Icelandic investment firm Baugur has promoted UK managing director Gunnar Sigurdsson to a role running the group's retail operations worldwide. The firm's UK high street investments include Mosaic Fashions, House of Fraser, Jane Norman and Criminal. -
H&M bumps up its footwear offer with first full range
Swedish fashion giant H&M is to launch its first full range of footwear in the UK this month, as it reveals plans to debut its new premium concept in London in March. -
H&M comes of age with COS fascia
The Swedish fashion giant hopes to tempt a more mature customer with its new upmarket chain -
Harrods launches personal shopping for men
London department store Harrods has introduced a personal shopping service for its menswear department. A dedicated 1,650 sq ft space will open on the lower ground floor to house the service, which will specialise in menswear, bespoke tailoring, watches and gadgets. -
Harrods' merchandising boss calls it a day
Buying and merchandising director Nigel Blow has left Harrods. A company spokesman said: 'Nigel resigned for personal reasons and the company has accepted his resignation with immediate effect.' General merchandise managers will report to managing director Michael Ward in the interim. -
Harvey Nichols ready to debut in Indonesia
The next overseas Harvey Nichols store is to open in Jakarta, Indonesia, through the company that holds the Indonesian franchise for Debenhams and Marks & Spencer. -
Heather Graham joins as face of Anna Rita N
Italian womenswear label Ann Rita N has signed actress Heather Graham as the face of its spring 07 and autumn 07 ad campaigns. The label offers short-order and forward-order collections and is represented in the UK by Rockit Agency. -
High-profile LFW designers say no to size zero
The UK fashion industry can police itself and does not need an outright ban on skinny models, designers told Drapers this week ahead of London Fashion Week. -
HoF's Untold story grows for roll-out
House of Fraser will expand its new womenswear label Untold to include accessories and footwear, as it rolls out the range to 25 stores. -
Hoss Intropia confirms London launch date
Spanish fashion brand Hoss Intropia is to open its first UK standalone store on February 12 on London's Regent Street. It plans to open four to six UK stores and is believed to be looking at another London site, on Brompton Road. It has 15 stores in Spain and one in Portugal. -
Icelandic bank Kaupthing leads £51.5 million Phase Eight buyout
Womenswear chain Phase Eight has been sold to a group led by Icelandic bank Kaupthing. Jane Norman chief executive Saj Shah and finance director Ian Findlay are also investing in the buyout, alongside ex-Kookai boss Michael Rahamim. Shah and Rahamim have been named non-executive directors of the company. Phase Eight chairman David Brock will remain, but it is thought chief executive Joy Walters will leave once a replacement is found. -
International visitors up at Premier Kids
Kidswear show Premier Kids reported a 20% rise in international visitors compared with last year, with strong figures from the Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Greece, Finland and Spain. Total visitor numbers were on a par with last year, a spokeswoman said. Premier Kids, which takes place at Birmingham NEC, is organised by Drapers publisher Emap Retail. See page 41 for a full report. -
Jaeger and Fat Face join Ringwood line-up
Fat Face and Jaeger have opened shops at The Furlong retail park in Ringwood, Hampshire. The retailers join Hobbs, Phase Eight, Millets and Peacocks at the scheme, which is owned by Development Securities. -
James Jeans and Blossom in maternity tie-up
Denim brand James Jeans is collaborating with maternitywear business Blossom Mother & Child to create a range of maternity jeans for spring 07. The premium denim collection, called James, will include five-pocket bootcut styles. The jeans, in white and indigo shades, feature a Lycra panel and come in sizes 26 to 32. They will wholesale for £65. -
Joules steps into fresh territory with footwear
Multi-channel retailer Joules Clothing is launching its first footwear range, with two styles debuting in May and the rest to follow in the autumn. The five-store business, which also has a wholesale business, is opening stores in Aldeburgh in Suffolk and Burnham Market in Norfolk this spring, plus a concession at the Celtic Manor Resort in the Usk Valley, south Wales, in February. An outlet store will open at Clarks Village in Street, Somerset, later this year. -
Kingdom of men
Selfridges is confident its revamped menswear floor will put the London Oxford Street store at the forefront of men's fashion -
Legal notices
PETITIONS PRESENTED -
Limited Edition range helps to keep Hobbs' sales rising
Womenswear retailer Hobbs is to continue its Limited Edition range for autumn 07 after 'huge success' with the spring launch of the capsule collection. Sales for the 13 weeks to December 31 rose 19.6% compared with the same period last year. Profit for the year to January 31 would meet targets, chief executive Nick Samuel said. -
Lingerie labels set to debut at Harrogate show
Lingerie brand Myla will be exhibiting for the first time in the UK at the Harrogate Lingerie Show next month. Other new exhibitors include Casa di Stella, Faveo, What Katie Did, Veritus, Priwell, Patricia, Papillon Bleu and Love Hearts. The show is on February 25 - 27 at the Harrogate International Centre in North Yorkshire. For more information visit www.lingerie-show.com. -
Mailbox store marks Olivier Strelli's UK debut
Belgian designer brand Olivier Strelli has signed its first UK store, at The Mailbox in Birmingham. The 1,000 sq ft shop will sell menswear, womenswear, accessories and perfume. The brand has about 100 stores internationally. -
Marks & Spencer bridalwear is a hit online
Marks & Spencer sold more than 160 wedding dresses online in the first three days after launching the offer last week. The range is being trialled on the internet, and will be joined by men's and kids' formalwear before the collections go into shops on February 27. -
Men's mainstream footwear - Shoppers' desire for quality over price is a boon for the old-timers
When Drapers last surveyed the men's mainstream footwear sector on November 4 last year, retailers said there was a distinct split between customers seeking quality and those driven by price. -
Monsoon ramps up Fusion as new boss takes control
Monsoon is to double the distribution of its trend-led capsule collection Fusion this year as part of a strategy to be led by new boss, former House of Fraser finance director David Adams. -
Mulberry plans airport web shop
Luxury accessories brand Mulberry is negotiating with airport owner BAA to install an online shop in the departure lounge of the new Heathrow Terminal 5, and is looking to roll out the concept to Eurostar. -
N Brown sees growth ahead for Simply Be
Home shopping company N Brown is to expand its Simply Be plus-size catalogue by 50% and launch a homewares spin-off after the brand posted growth of more than 20% for the 21 weeks to January 20. -
Next delivers third-party distribution network
Next has extended its third-party services division Ventura, which operates call centres for a number of firms, with the launch of a retail distribution network. The network consists of seven transport depots, one million sq ft of warehousing, 200 vehicles and an 800-strong logistics team. -
Next outsources its returns in north-west trial
Next is testing an outsourced returns network run by Brussels-based company Kiala. Consumers can return product to any of Kiala's 130 drop-off points in the north-west of the UK, including at dry cleaners, newsagents, petrol stations and florists. The six-month trial area covers Manchester, Liverpool and Preston. Kiala works with more than 100 retailers and has 4,450 collection and delivery points across Europe. It first entered the UK market in August last year. -
Oasis goes big on volume for spring 07
Oasis is picking up the volume trend for spring 07 with a series of simple shapes and bold single-colour palettes. The dress trend has moved on from wrap and shirt dresses to more contemporary trapeze shapes, super-short tunics and A-line minis. Childlike details include oversized buttons, billowing sleeves and pockets. Sportswear-influenced pieces have been given a futuristic feel through tech-luxe materials, such as parachute fabrics used in racer-back short suits, button-through romper sui -
Off the Record
Rumours, gossip, parties -
Pick'n'mix
Premier Kids was awash with bright colours, from candy cane pinks and paisley prints to spots and stripes and all things nice -
Psyche rejigs its fashion layout
Independent department store Psyche in Middlesbrough is undergoing a total overhaul that will create a new 8,000 sq ft young fashion hall and boost its menswear areas. -
Retail Trust auction tops £1 million
The usual bidding war broke out at the Retail Trust's annual fundraising ball this week - this time between Arcadia owner Sir Philip Green (pictured right with Retail Trust chief executive Nigel Rothband) and Baugur boss Jon Asgeir Johannesson. After Sir Philip won a VW Beetle for £99,000, he put it back into the auction, where Johannesson bought it for £101,000. It took the total to nearly £1 million, but Sir Philip made up the rest. Shoe Studio chief executive John Egan won a visit from TV -
Riding the peaks and the troughs
It's another year, and Hilary Cookson is no closer to solving the seasonal mysteries of fashion -
Seeing the sense in computer logic
A stint working on the shop floor convinces Bashir Mohammed to embrace the latest technology -
SOS launches men's denim capsule
Italian womenswear brand SOS is trialling a 16-piece denim range for men, with prices starting at £66, not as reported in Drapers (January 27). -
Spicy red tipped to be the hottest colour of the year
A shade of red called chili pepper will be the colour of 2007, according to Pantone, the company that examines global colour trends. The colour's predominance would make 2007 a year of 'passion, exoticism and individualism', the firm claimed. The colour, which is Pantone number 19-1557, was seen on the Paris couture catwalks of Christian Lacroix and Vivienne Westwood last month. Pantone executive vice president of fashion, home and interiors Lisa Herbert described the shade as an engaging, de -
Spring launch for Ralph Lauren kids' polos
Ralph Lauren has unveiled a limited edition kids' polo shirt collection for spring 07. Two styles, one for boys and one for girls, are due to hit stores in April and will retail at £65. Sizes range from two to 16 years for girls and two to 10 years for boys. -
Starry nights
Geisha glamour and religious iconography were among the influences on party dresses and red carpet gowns at the Paris couture catwalks cranked up the A-list glitz -
The Drapers Fashion Fix Poll
Every week we ask Drapersblog.com readers their opinion on the question of the week. -
Upmarket relaunch for Step2wo
The founders of kids' footwear company Buckle My Shoe are to relaunch and expand their Step2wo brand for autumn 07. -
US department store rumours on Regent St
Speculation that a US department store is coming to London was revived by rumours that the Crown Estate is close to signing a space on Regent Street. The site, believed to be 20,000 sq ft to 30,000 sq ft, is suitable for a department store mini-format. -
Women's mainstream footwear - Footwear from the Far East grows in popularity as quality improves
Mainstream women's footwear retailers polled for this week's Indicator have praised the quality of footwear produced in the Far East. Although most believe that Germany is home to the highest-quality manufacturers, the price points delivered by suppliers from the Far East are becoming ever more appealing. -
Wrangler skips into town with new logo
Denim brand Wrangler is to unveil a London flagship store on Carnaby Street next month with a new look for its branding, ahead of a European store push. The 2,000 sq ft shop, which will sport Wrangler's retro rope logo, will be one of five UK stores to open in the next five years, according to retail development manager Andy Gooday. Wrangler, which is owned by VF Corporation, is also aiming to open three to four overseas stores a year for the next five years, including shops in Paris, Amsterd
