Drapers
31 March 2012
View all stories from this issue.
-
‘Don’t be put off by the career snobs – they’re just ignorant’
Most of my working life has been in fashion retail and I’ve loved every minute of it. -
‘In a matter of months we made almost half a million pounds’
Industry view from Rob feldmann, Chief executive of private sale etailer BrandAlley UK. -
‘Let China have it! Let them have the sweatshops! We don’t want that’
Mary Portas insists the time is right for retailers, the Government and consumers to work together and create a new fashion manufacturing base in the UK. -
2012 is letting us do what we do best; that is to trade’
It’s official, you heard it here first: 2012 is going to be OK. -
30 under 30 panel
-
A day in the life of Mark Sumner
Marks & Spencer’s sustainable raw materials specialist reveals his role’s rewards and challenges. -
Agi & Sam
The print-based menswear brand has grown up for autumn 12, says Graeme Moran. -
And now for something completely different
Welcome to Directions, Drapers’ new fashion section. This is your weekly edit of the key stories, trends, products and people affecting the fashion business now. -
Back to college with Vince Cable
I had a great afternoon yesterday; I went back to university. -
Blacks' rebrand targets family market
Outdoor retailer to focus on product and store refits as it targets family market. -
Brand Alley sales swell 60% in 2011
Brand Alley sales soared 60% in its full year to December 31, 2011. -
Brand buyouts force indies to weigh up alternatives
Young fashion indies reviewing offer after sportswear giants strike deals to snap up popular brands. -
Can a value retailer ever step out of its remit and into high fashion?
This is a question we’ve put out to readers for our next issue, prompted by a wave of comments on a story about Tesco discontinuing its F&F Couture range. -
Can H&M do no wrong?
A staple of the high street and an essential label in many people’s wardrobe, H&M has managed to carve itself a very comfortable place in the UK fashion industry’s heart but could its next move prove a step too far or can the retailer do no wrong? -
Can retail make Facebook pay?
The jury is still out over whether the social networking site can be used as a successful retailing platform. -
Caroline Burstein
The creative director of pioneering London designer indie Browns tells Marie Davies how to create a winning window display. -
Cheaney to increase overseas footprint
Shoemaker Cheaney plans to double its international wholesale accounts to 100 in the next year. -
Credit insurer calls for more financial transparency from retailers with insolvencies looming
Trade credit insurer Atradius has called for greater financial transparency from retailers, as the firm expects further insolvencies in the sector throughout 2012. -
Debenhams to re-enter Russia as demand for European retailers grows
Debenhams is to re-enter the Russian market with its first store since 2007. -
Digital Edition: March 31 2012
Exclusive: Bring British Back - Mary Portas on her quest to revive UK manufacturing. -
Drapers and Retail Week PayPal etail awards
The Drapers and Retail Week PayPal etail awards are the ultimate accolade for retail businesses of all sizes excelling online. -
Drapers Market Report
Welcome to the first in a series of exclusive Drapers Market Reports, looking in detail at particular areas within our diverse and varied fashion sector. -
Drapers Next Generation
This year’s edition of the Drapers Next Generation Academy has been my proudest yet. -
Dune to take over men's footwear at House of Fraser
Footwear retailer Kurt Geiger is to cease operating the men’s footwear business in five House of Fraser stores from September and will be replaced by the Dune Group. -
Dunnes Stores to pay €20m in shopping centre dispute
Irish department store chain Dunnes Stores has lost its court battle with shopping centre developers Holtglen. -
Fashion Index
View our new fashion data pages to get a barometer of trade in the UK and worldwide. -
Fashion sales rise at John Lewis
Fashion sales enjoyed a strong performance last week at John Lewis, up by 16% for the week to March 17. -
Gieves & Hawkes chief exec to depart
John Durnin, chief executive of Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes, is set to leave the business after almost two years in the role. -
Government launches Portas Plus plans to rescue failing high streets
The Government has pledged almost £13m to save suffering high streets as it is this morning expected to accept the “vast majority” of recommendations made by the Portas Review. -
Harold Tillman
The British Fashion Council chairman looked back on a career spanning six decades. -
House Party
Never ones to say no to a good party, Wednesday night we celebrated with IPR at its ‘house warming party’ to toast a sparkly new showroom and event space. -
IMAGE GALLERY: Diane Von Furstenberg's kidswear range for Gap
The US designer launches her first kidswear range for Gap. -
IMAGE GALLERY: Swedish Hasbeens pops-up in Selfridges
Footwear brand Swedish Hasbeens is to launch a pop-up shop in Selfridges’ Shoe Galleries from today. -
Indie anger at Clarks’ home deliveries for kids
The footwear industry has hit out at Clarks, after the business announced it would introduce home delivery for its kids’ collections. -
It’s time to get Unzipped
Welcome to our new blog, the home of the Fashion Team’s interesting observations from our travels home and abroad. -
J Crew expands international distribution
American casualwear retailer J Crew has expanded its international distribution network to 107 countries. -
Jane Shepherdson
Whistles’ chief executive told Ana Santi why she left Topshop to seek a new challenge. -
M&Co to launch in Middle East
Scottish fashion retailer M&Co is to launch in the United Arab Emirates and is planning 30 stores in the region. -
Manufacturing migration?
With Mary Portas’ Bottom Line TV show highlighting the plight of UK manufacturing broadcasting across the country over the last few weeks there’s no doubt that the issues facing our home-grown textiles industry are at the forefront of people’s minds. -
Massey vows to refocus Lyle & Scott
Men’s young fashion brand Lyle & Scott will refine its collection with a renewed focus on knitwear, after appointing Carolyn Massey as head of design. -
Matthew Williamson
Young talent must have a single-minded vision, the designer told Drapers’ Caroline Nodder. -
Meet the Drapers team
Click through to meet the team and contact us. -
Mischa Barton launches clothing site
Actress turned handbag designer Mischa Barton has launched her own clothing site called Mischa’s Place. -
Mix ‘brand DNA’ with multichannel
A panel of leading brands and indies urged brands to marry strong design direction with a multichannel approach to achieve successful marketing. -
Next Generation Academy
We are delighted to have sponsored the Next Generation Academy for the third year running, and we need to congratulate the Drapers team for organising such an interesting and stimulating programme -
Nick Robertson
Giving talent a voice keeps etail giant Asos ahead of its rivals, said its founder. -
Nudie Jeans goes totally organic
Swedish denim brand Nudie Jeans has revealed that from autumn 12 its entire denim collection will be made from 100% certified organically grown cotton. -
Off the record, March 31 2012
Fashion limbered up for the Olympics; and meet the team that produces your fashion bible. -
On the radar — Religion footwear
Young fashion brand Religion has launched its first men’s footwear collection for autumn 12, comprising 20 casual and formal options to sit alongside its clothing. -
Only the brave will get noticed, buyers told
Panel of experts say giving shoppers something different is ever-more crucial in a crowded high street -
Original Penguin launches womenswear line
US brand Original Penguin is set to expand into womenswear for the first time. -
Pentland’s Rubin maps out international future
Focusing on international markets and multichannel retail is key to the success of the next generation of fashion talent, said Pentland Brands chief executive Andy Rubin. -
Quick on the draw: Nike Free Run+
Not that I’m obsessed with illustrations or anything (see my last blog post about Jean Machine if you don’t know what I’m going on about) but it’s always insightful to see behind the creative process of fashion, especially at the big boys, and they don’t get much bigger than -
Reiss forecasts steep growth in online business
Reiss expects online sales to make up 25% of its total sales within three years, according to the premium chain’s ecommerce director Dan Lumb. -
Replay 30 years
Special American Cotton Denim Capsule Collection Dedicated to Replay’s 30th Anniversary. -
Retailers bask in a brighter outlook for 2012
It’s amazing what a bit of sunshine can do for your outlook on life. But it seems it’s not just the weather making retailers feel more optimistic about 2012. -
Retailers forecast a strong year for profits
Despite economic gloom, most retailers expect profits to outstrip 2011, according to a Drapers report. -
Selfridges’ men’s footwear area to get Shoe Galleries treatment
Selfridges’ men’s footwear department is to undergo a complete overhaul in a bid to replicate the success of its women’s Shoe Galleries. -
Shapps brands Portas Review critics "misinformed"
Housing minister Grant Shapps has called critics of the Government’s response to the Portas Review “misinformed”. -
Show me the money
I remember being bombarded with mortgage offers when I was buying my house in 2006. -
Spring 13 shift at Middleton Green
Contemporary womenswear sales agency Middleton Green is to push back its spring 13 selling season because of anticipated disruption in London during the Olympics. -
Tesco launches Florence & Fred advert
Tesco’s latest F&F TV ad airs this week (March 28). -
The Portas response in detail
Mary Portas is fiery, controversial and determined. Whether the Government’s response to her High Street Review reflects any of these characteristics is questionable. -
The rise of the Machine
Monday night saw the team head over to the slightly hard to find but handily situated Protein gallery to see the autumn 12 Jean Machine range sit alongside an exhibition the brand put on for illustrator Greg Eason entitled ‘Focus’. -
This week’s hero - The Seafarer Jacket
Pointing the way to the most important products, people, stories and shows in fashion right now. -
Three of the best...
Fit and flare dresses -
Topman/Topshop to launch click-and-collect
Topman and Topshop will launch click-and-collect later this year, revealed Topman managing director David Shepherd. -
Trendwatch - Waterfall skirts
Whether gently draped or a high-low hem, the waterfall skirt was a key spring 12 trend spotted at US music and film festival SXSW. -
Two directors step down at BHS
BHS has lost two senior executives, after the womenswear buying and merchandising directors left Sir Philip Green’s high street chain. -
Updated: Tesco axes premium clothing line
Tesco has axed its ‘couture’ range following poor sales, according to reports. -
Vacancy rates reach record high
Vacancy rates on the high street hit a record 14.6% in February. -
Video: Tesco spring F&F TV ad focuses on quality
Tesco’s TV ad for its F&F spring clothing range airs tonight for three weeks. -
Wacoal acquires Eveden Group
The Eveden Group, the parent company behind lingerie brands Freya, Fantasie, Fauve, Huit, Goddess and Elomi, has been acquired by Japan-based Wacoal Holdings Corporation. -
We’ve got the key...
We’re having a bit of a spring clean here at the Drapers fashion desk and came across this massive golden key, which was sent to us by Mulberry as the ticket to February’s London Fashion week catwalk show. -
Welcome to the new look Drapers website
As you can see we’ve given our site a bit of a facelift and we hope the navigation is now more user-friendly and intuitive than before. -
Welcome to the new-look Drapers
The team here have been feverishly working away over the past few months, not only on this new design but also on some new and exciting sections and in-depth features that make Drapers the essential resource for your fashion business. -
What are your top trends for autumn 12?
Industry insider’s share their thoughts. -
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Next Generation Academy attendees posed for street style pics while we grilled them about their ambitions. -
Wolfson ‘cautious’ about Chinese opportunities
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson has warned that global powerhouse China offers limited opportunities for the fashion retailer and others like it. -
Womens and kidswear at John Lewis see boost from early warm weather
John Lewis posted a “solid” 6.5% rise in sales to £57.94m against strong comparatives last week. -
Womenswear designer CC Kuo scoops first prize
Womenswear designer CC Kuo scooped first prize in a design talent competition run by website Lookk.com. -
Zara, New York
The fact Zara has opted to open a “global flagship” at a street number more usually identified as the mark of the beast seems unlikely to have any impact on a project that has all the hallmarks of a job well done.
