Drapers
8 April 2011
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Peacocks unveils higher-priced range
Fast fashion chain Peacocks has launched a higher-priced collection of catwalk-inspired clothing. -
A look we love
Elbow-length sleeves. -
Asos sales up 70% in Q4 driven by soaring international sales
Asos’ group sales soared by 70% in its fourth quarter driven by its growing international arm which overtook the UK for the first time. -
Back to White
The white box aesthetic is increasingly being used in store design as retailers opt for a minimal, gallery-like environment to introduce a new concept or flagship store. -
Be commercial and creative, ambitious designers told
High street and premium designers urged the next generation of design talent to marry commerciality with creativity to succeed in today’s competitive market. -
Beales plots own-label push after snapping up 19 stores
Beales will return to profit within 18 months after completing a reverse takeover of 19 Westgate department stores from Anglia Regional Co-operative Society (ARCS), which will give the department store group more stores than John Lewis. -
Bobby Langley
The merchandising boss at Sony Records talks to Martin Teall about the music label’s Deconstructed T-shirt brand. -
Bonmarché moves step closer to sale
The Peacock Group has entered exclusive talks with private equity investor Duke Street about a sale of its mainstream womenswear chain Bonmarché. -
Boutique by Chic in Manchester relaunch
Accessories and footwear show Boutique by Chic is to relaunch as Boutique Manchester and relocate to the city for its October edition. -
Brian Rennie
Basler’s new creative director, best known for his 20-year stint at Escada, is blending his luxury design aesthetic with the mainstream womenswear brand’s German efficiency. -
Buying experts share their experience
Top buyers (from left) Selina Jones, senior buyer, menswear at House of Fraser, Burton head of buying Glen George and Claire’s buying director Lisa Bardell said the key to a good buyer lies in understanding the customer and the competition, putting product and trend above price, while offering value for money. -
Capsule trend: Country girl
Two previous trends, country heritage and the 1970s, collide to create a fresh look for A/W 11/12. -
Caterer
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CDU administrator vows to fulfil orders
Stockists of occasionwear brands Frank Usher, Michel Ambers, Coterie and Dusk will receive the “majority” but not all of the outstanding orders for spring 11, after the brands’ manufacturer, CDU, went into administrative receivership last month. -
Christian Louboutin sues Yves Saint Laurent
French footwear designer Christian Louboutin is suing luxury label Yves Saint Laurent for alleged trademark infringement. -
Clothing and footwear prices rise by 1.1%
Clothing and footwear prices rose by 1.1% between February and March, compared with a 1.8% increase during the same period a year ago. -
Dialogue is ‘critical’ in online marketing
Businesses that engage in two-way communication with their customers will deliver the most effective online marketing campaigns, said leading marketers at the Drapers Next Generation Academy. -
Douglas & Grahame deliveries hit by turmoil in Middle East
Brand house Douglas & Grahame has been hit by delivery delays after political unrest in the Middle East slowed production and freight out of the region. -
Easter is crunch time for retailers
Sitting in the beer garden of your average edge-of-town pub in Nottingham a fortnight ago, I was shocked to overhear that the thrust of conversation among weekend drinkers was solely around jobs and money, or rather a lack of them. -
Fashion’s young stars can plot a bright future
The second edition of the Drapers Next Generation Academy took place at east London nightclub Fabric last week and welcomed double the number of delegates. -
Footwear only category to grow in dismal March
Footwear was the only category in the retail sector to grow in March as clothing sales fell further below their year-earlier level to show the largest decline since August 2009. -
Harvey Nicks profit up despite hit to shoppers’ spending
High-end shoppers are not immune to the slowdown in trade experienced in recent weeks, with luxury shopping destination Harvey Nichols reporting a fall-off in trade. -
How to be a...Buying director for a denim retailer
Nicola Wensley Manager, buying and merchandising, Michael Page -
Hungry for knowledge
Attendees at the Next Generation gave their thoughts on the event, and revealed their career ambitions -
It’s inspiring to be involved in the Next Generation
Success Appointments is delighted to be sponsoring Drapers Next Generation for the second year running. -
Jaeger pulled from market after 'too low' offers
Jaeger owner Harold Tillman has pulled premium chain Jaeger from the market after it failed to attract bids north of £100m, according to reports. -
JD Sports cautious despite 28% profit jump
JD Sports Fashion has warned of a tough outlook despite notching up a 28% increase in full year pre-tax profits. Its sports fascias outperformed its young fashion chains but trade has deteriorated in the last eight weeks. -
Jean-Paul Gaultier attracts new interest
Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido has joined forces with private equity partnership Fung Capital to put forward a bid for French fashion house Jean-Paul Gaultier. -
John Lewis' fashion sales soar
Fashion sales surged by 16% at John Lewis last week boosted by the sunny weather and Mother’s Day gift buying. -
Lesley Torson
Buying director, Trilogy -
Louboutin launches second lawsuit for trademark infringement
French footwear designer Christian Louboutin is suing a second footwear company for the use of red soles on its shoes, less than a week after the designer filed a lawsuit against Yves Saint Laurent for alleged trademark infringement. -
M&S launches carbon neutral lingerie
Marks & Spencer has launched the high street’s first range of carbon neutral lingerie called Autograph Leaves. -
Mainstream Menswear Indicator, April 8 2011
Access Drapers’ unique source of sales information from mainstream retailers, revealing the best-selling brands, the hottest products and the latest issues to affect menswear by clicking on the PDF. -
Mainstream Womenswear Indicator, April 8 2011
Access Drapers’ unique source of sales information from mainstream retailers, revealing the best-selling brands, the hottest products and the latest issues to affect womenswear by clicking on the PDF. -
Making a mark at M&S
Marks & Spencer trading director Annette Browne (pictured left) was grilled by Drapers editor Jessica Brown (right) about the challenges of her role and how teamwork and passion will get you noticed. -
Mango sales soar 11% in 2010
Spanish fashion chain Mango said sales rose 11% in 2010 and is looking to expand further overseas. -
Matalan to appoint former Asda director Blackhurst as chief executive
Matalan, the value chain, is to appoint former Asda executive Darren Blackhurst as chief executive. -
McDowell calls for more apprentices
Fashion commentator Colin McDowell has called for more apprenticeship schemes in the industry, echoing the sentiments of many UK fashion manufacturers. -
Menswear sales are shipshape for M&S
Marks & Spencer said menswear performed strongly over the 13 weeks to April 2, when underlying like-for-like sales of general merchandise, which includes clothing, nudged up 0.7%. -
Michael Kors, Regent Street
US designer womenswear brand Michael Kors’ second UK store is a different breed from the first, with a flashy shopfit but much more accessible prices. -
Mim sell-off on hold in New Look review
New Look founder Tom Singh is believed to have postponed a sale of its French basics chain Mim after he kicked off a review of the New Look business. -
Multichannel tipped to be a fashion success story
Fashion businesses with a multichannel retail offer will lead the industry to success, according to a panel of etail specialists. -
National Minimum Wage increase 'out of step with reality'
The National Minimum Wage increase of 2.5% to £6.08 is “out of step with reality”, according to retailers. -
New Look courts Alistair McGeorge for chairman role
New Look is understood to be in talks with former Matalan chief executive Alistair McGeorge about taking on the role of executive chairman at the beleaguered business. -
New talents must think of themselves ‘as a brand’
Pentland Brands’ Andy Rubin tells next generation of fashion talent they must be proactive to succeed. -
Next Generation Street Style: Cool and the gang
Next Generation attendees struck a pose to show that, when it comes to style, they’re experts in the field. -
Prada extends Made to Order service
Luxury fashion house Prada is to launch an online ‘Made to Order’ service where customers can tailor footwear, leather accessories and sunglasses to their liking. -
Primark to open in retail park
Primark, the value chain, has set its sights on opening its first store in a retail park. -
Ralph Lauren in further UK retail expansion
Premium US fashion house Ralph Lauren is understood to have signed up to open a store for its vintage-inspired menswear brand RRL on Mount Street in London’s Mayfair. -
Rampant Sporting opens first store
Sports heritage brand Rampant Sporting opened its first store this week and has plans for further retail expansion. -
Shop Direct brings manufacturing home
Home shopping giant Shop Direct has added further weight to Drapers’ Save Our Skills (SOS) campaign with the revelation that it is now producing some garments in the UK. -
Stokes to leave Vente-privee as it retrenches to France
Vente-privee country sales manager Bunty Stokes is to leave the business, following a decision by the off-price etailer to scale back its UK office to just two staff. -
Stores face discount dilemma to resurrect Easter trading
Exclusive poll: majority of shoppers do not plan to spend on spring 11 fashion over bank holiday breaks. -
The University of the Arts London to increase fees to £9,000
The University of the Arts London, which comprises both Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and the London College of Fashion, has confirmed that its tuition fees will rise to £9,000 from 2012 as it is set to lose nearly all the teaching funding it normally receives. -
Think you’re a top buyer?
Next product director Christos Angelides challenged Next Generation delegates to prove their buying stripes -
Three wise men
Although still in their 20s, three stars of Drapers’ 30 under 30 feature which ran in January had plenty of wise words to pass on to delegates. -
Through the tweeting glass
New mirror technology lets shoppers view themselves in outfits that they can share with friends via social networks. -
TJ Hughes appoints executive chairman
TJ Hughes’ new owners have hired investor Anthony Solomon as executive chairman. -
Tom Singh lures Barbara Horspool back to New Look
Barbara Horspool, New Look’s group design director who quit last month ahead of a spectacular shake-up of personnel at the value chain, has been persuaded to stay at the business in an elevated role by chairman and founder Tom Singh. -
Turnover
Under new owners, the contemporary womenswear brand is bringing designer looks to 35-plus women. -
Uniqlo reports lacklustre UK sales
Uniqlo, the Japanese fast fashion chain, has said that its UK stores performed just below target in the six months to February. -
Urban Outfitters plots UK expansion
US lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters is set to grow its UK store numbers and increase the wholesale of its premium womenswear brand Free People. -
Venue Partner
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Vogue's Fashion's Night Out dates announced
Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out, the global shopping event, will be held in the UK on September 8. -
White-box thinking stacks up for indies
Just as fashion embraces colour in a major way, retail space does the opposite. From Shanghai to SoHo, from the high end to the high street, white boxes are the shopfit of choice once again. -
Womenswear joins Canterbury line-up
Canterbury of New Zealand is to launch womenswear for the first time in spring 12 in a bid to offer the wholesale equivalent of lifestyle chains Jack Wills, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister. -
Wrangler appoints new president
Denim band Wrangler has appointed Frans van Zeeland as president, replacing Dieter Jacobfeuerborn who has been promoted to president, emerging markets for brand owner VF Europe. -
www.coggles.com
As soon as you arrive on the home page at Coggles.com, the online store of York premium indie Sarah Coggles, the experience is a special one. -
Your complete guide to Looking ahead on WGSN Boutique
Which trends are one-season wonders and which are keepers? And if they are keepers, how will they evolve? These are key questions for buyers and WGSN Boutique can help you answer them and take the risk out of the buying process. Our team of nearly 200 global trend forecasters create colour, shape and materials forecasts up to two years ahead - here we show you how to interpret their findings
