By continuing to use the site you agree to our Privacy & Cookies policy

Drapers
Ana Santi

Ana has worked at Drapers for six years, rising from news reporter to deputy editor (and features editor along the way) in June 2011. Her experience spans the entire fashion sector, from breaking news stories to deputising for the editor. Ana is responsible for Drapers’ entire editorial content and manages special projects including Drapers’ nurturing initiative Next Generation Academy. She is regularly seen chairing industry events and, when she’s not obsessing about fashion, Ana writes about her beloved Brazil on www.borninbrazil.co.uk. https://twitter.com/Ana_C_Santi

  • Staff shake-up puts Reiss ‘back on track’

    23 May 2013

    Reiss founder David Reiss insisted the premium retailer is “back on track” under a new structure and creative director, following the departure of its brand and ecommerce directors.

  • Deputy Diary: M&S - the saga continues

    20 May 2013

    This time last week, we were waiting for Marks & Spencer to unveil its autumn 13 womenswear collection (see Drapers’ thoughts on this Reuters video) to see if it could rescue falling clothing sales; today we await its less favourable full-year results due out tomorrow.

  • Deputy Diary: It’s blip or trend time for M&S’s womenswear

    18 May 2013

    After seven consecutive quarters of falling general merchandise (GM) sales, Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland is pinning his hopes on the retailer’s autumn 13 collection, which was unveiled this week after months of anticipation and speculation.

  • Deputy Diary: M&S' big reveal - did it work?

    15 May 2013

    When an invitation to a fashion event indicates that doors will open at 6pm for a 6.30pm presentation, no-one expects guests to be on time; the punctual ones will start to file in at around twenty past with more than a handful arriving after the presentation starts.

  • Close up: Berndt Hauptkorn, chief executive for Europe, Uniqlo

    11 May 2013

    It may only have 10 UK stores - all in London - but Uniqlo’s chief executive for Europe is eyeing up global domination.

  • Deputy Diary: Lack of support for Coggles is appalling

    8 May 2013

    I don’t know which is more disappointing: Coggles falling into administration or the complete lack of support and cruel comments left by “anonymous” supposed peers on the Drapers website.

  • Deputy Diary: Two high-profile exits, two very different sized holes to fill

    27 April 2013

    In the past fortnight, we’ve seen several high-profile departures from big fashion businesses.

  • Global Report: Why global expansion is top of the agenda

    20 April 2013

    At a Drapers roundtable breakfast discussion on the branded fashion market this month, there was one topic every guest unanimously wanted to discuss.

  • Global Report: Brazil

    20 April 2013

    Brazilians love to shop. I should know, I am one.

  • Deputy Diary: High street’s menswear is the talk of the town

    13 April 2013

    I wouldn’t want to be a menswear indie operating in the young fashion market right now.

  • Deputy Diary: Customers’ tough love should be embraced by M&S

    6 April 2013

    It doesn’t look good: another predicted decline in general merchandise sales, the rumoured launch of yet another sub-brand and a consumer forum full of criticism.

  • Deputy Diary: Focusing on hot product can help retailers beat the chill

    28 March 2013

    I’m bored of my coat. I’m bored of my boots, bored of my jumpers. And I’m fed up with wearing tights.

  • Drapers Next Generation: ‘Online is fundamental’

    26 March 2013

    Simon Burstein, boss of luxury indie Browns on how it has remained relevant over 40 years.

  • Deputy Diary: Binnie’s early exit from Jaeger means full price never had a chance

    23 March 2013

    How long should it take to turn around an ailing business? One year? Two years? Five?

  • Deputy Diary: Mary Portas gets all feisty on stage

    15 March 2013

    Mary Portas versus Bill Grimsey: what a delicious spat that was.

  • Burberry’s capital investment raises the fashion week stakes

    16 March 2013

    September 2009 was a turning point for British fashion, at designer level at least.

  • Deputy Diary: Aurora Fashions to become Fresh Channel… sounds like a food business to me

    6 March 2013

    When I saw this morning’s headline about Aurora Fashions’ decision to spin off Coast and rebrand the remaining business as Fresh Channel, I almost choked.

  • Deputy Diary: High street innovators blaze a trail for the luxury sector to follow

    2 March 2013

    Who would have thought the luxury industry would look to the mere mainstream mortals for direction on growth?

  • Why the fashion industry should be united in praise of independence

    16 February 2013

    Someone once said to me that editing a collection of the world’s most coveted fashion brands under one roof can only truly be done by an independent retailer.

  • Deputy Diary: Why indies are the best, better than all the rest

    12 February 2013

    Someone once said to me that editing a collection of the world’s most coveted fashion brands under one roof can only truly be done by an independent retailer.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Armoire d'Homme

    9 February 2013

    Kjetil Aas, ex-head of design for menswear at Norse Projects, has launched his own brand Armoire D’Homme for autumn 13.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Cashmere in Love

    9 February 2013

    Founded in 2007, Cashmere in Love is, unsurprisingly, a women’s knitwear brand, but what’s interesting is the way Turkish owner Esra Bezek has applied beading and gem-work to her autumn 13 collection, seen at Gallery.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Crystal Hall

    9 February 2013

    New to CIFF this season was Crystal Hall, a carefully edited selection of emerging labels and directional designers under the themes of menswear and lifestyle.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: L'Homme Rouge

    9 February 2013

    After starting out as a small woollen hat brand three years ago, L’Homme Rouge expanded into menswear three seasons ago, and this is its most accomplished collection to date.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: On the radar - Esprit Denim

    9 February 2013

    For autumn 13, Esprit has refined its offer by bringing the previously intermingled denim out of the mainline to create its own identity.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Paula

    9 February 2013

    In among all the big coats and knits at Vision, the Swedish swimwear label stood out for its designs and the way founder and designer Paula Malm has set up her label.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Q&A

    9 February 2013

    Pamela Shiffer, Owner of London womenswear indie Pamela Shiffer

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Ready to Fish

    9 February 2013

    Brought to you by the IIja Visser fashion house in Amsterdam, Ready to Fish sits comfortably at the crossroads between great womenswear classics and interesting contemporary design.

  • Deputy Diary: A new era for Copenhagen Fashion Week?

    1 February 2013

    At the press conference to mark the opening of Copenhagen Fashion Week, Anja Bisgaard Gaede, the editor in chief of Danish fashion business magazine Toj, told me that visitor numbers to the event have been down in the last few years.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week - A.O.CMS

    1 February 2013

    Launched in Stockholm in 2006, A.O.CMS adopts to gentle approach to the development of its wardrobe staples collection.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week - RH

    1 February 2013

    Made in Estonia, this womenswear brand offers a great collection of separates, including super chunky knits, a bomber jacket with leather panelling (all leather is reindeer leather) and a gold and black weave on a skater skirt and top.

  • Copenhagen Fashion Week: Cruise by Ilse Jacobsen

    31 January 2013

    After admiring Ilse Jacobsen’s mainline yesterday at department store Illums Bolighus, we were drawn to the designer’s more premium sub-brand at CIFF.

  • Brandwatch: Samsøe & Samsøe

    19 January 2013

    This contemporary label offers a Danish treat with a Japanese twist, writes Ana Santi.

  • Deputy Diary: Is Farfetch the knight in shining armour for indies?

    17 January 2013

    As I nibbled on some mini eggs Florentine and listed to a presentation by Farfetch founder José Neves at the Soho Hotel this week, back in the Drapers office, I was unaware that a colleague was writing an analysis piece on the e-commerce portal market for independent retailers.

  • Exclusive: Christmas sales surge at Whistles

    14 January 2013

    Whistles enjoyed a stellar Christmas trading period, with like-for-like sales for the six weeks to January 5 surging 26%.

  • Drapers Next Generation: Technology drives the next generation of rising stars

    12 January 2013

    Such was the calibre of this year’s 30 under 30 shortlist that we could have called it the 50 under 30, but that didn’t quite have the right ring to it.

  • Drapers Next Generation: Close-up with John Lewis' Peter Ruis

    12 January 2013

    John Lewis’ buying and brand director believes working in different areas of the industry from small to big companies is a valuable learning curve.

  • Pitti Uomo Autumn 13 - Jack Spade

    10 January 2013

    To demonstrate the effectiveness of Jack Spade’s new Desert Suede Group for autumn 13, the team poured a bottle of water over one of its bags (pictured).

  • Pitti Uomo - day one highlights

    10 January 2013

    With London Collections: Men now clashing with Pitti, many buyers’ first day at the Florentine show was yesterday, rather than the opening Tuesday.

  • Pitti Uomo Autumn 13 - Samsoe & Samsoe

    9 January 2013

    Contemporary Scandinavian brand Samsoe & Samsoe is making its Pitti Uomo debut for autumn 13.

  • Deputy Diary - London Collections: Men versus London Fashion Week

    8 January 2013

    One of the major differences I find between London Fashion Week and London Collections: Men is the mental readjustment I have to make at the start of the latter.

  • Deputy Diary: My dinner date with Marc Bolland

    7 December 2012

    Last night, I donned a Christmas cracker hat and dined with Marc Bolland. The hat was his idea.

  • A rare insight into the world of Zara

    5 December 2012

    As a fashion journalist, it’s a rare treat to be introduced to members of Zara’s head office team. Who are these formidably clever people, driving one of the most revered fashion retailers in the world?

  • ‘We ask how the luxury market is faring and what the future holds’

    17 November 2012

    The fashion industry has had its fair share of ups and downs since the global recession of 2008, but for the luxury fashion sector, the ‘downs’ have been few and far between.

  • Luxury report: Doing it for themselves

    17 November 2012

    With sales from wholesale divisions expected to continue to decline over the next five years, brands in the luxury sector are turning their attention to retail.

  • Luxury report: Great expectations

    17 November 2012

    While few expect the economic gloom to lift in the near future, many in the luxury sector are optimistic that their business will continue to grow.

  • Luxury report: International exchange

    17 November 2012

    Luxury businesses are looking overseas for growth.

  • Luxury report: Luxury lifestyle

    17 November 2012

    Drapers finds out how the luxury fashion sector is faring and its expectations for the future.

  • Luxury report: The move to multichannel

    17 November 2012

    Investing in online, particularly social media platforms, is key for retailers’ growth in the luxury sector.

  • Does Mulberry's profit warning spell gloom for the luxury sector?

    24 October 2012

    Another luxury brand, another profit warning. But Mulberry’s under performance is merely the move into a more sustainable pattern of growth, writes Ana Santi.

  • Exclusive: Sports Direct in running to win DKNY licence

    13 October 2012

    Sportswear giant tipped to take over DKNY menswear portfolio after Indian licensee is axed.

  • Customers come first when talking about a retail revolution

    6 October 2012

    This week, Drapers held a round-table discussion over breakfast with the title ‘Innovation in Fashion’.

  • Hit or miss - Watford

    6 October 2012

    During Drapers’ visit to Watford last month, to kick off the autumn 12 Hit or Miss series by analysing retailers’ womenswear collections, the World Retail Congress was taking place and I was following the event on Twitter.

  • Hit or miss: BHS - 22/30

    6 October 2012

    BHS delivers on its advertising campaign strapline by impressing with a design-led collection.

  • Hit or miss: Dorothy Perkins - 19/30

    6 October 2012

    Some good trend interpretations at good prices, but lacking the wow factor

  • Hit or miss: French Connection - 12/30

    6 October 2012

    Uninspiring product and a 75%-off Sale that wasn’t attracting shoppers.

  • Hit or miss: Gap - 16/30

    6 October 2012

    An attractive knitwear offer, but innovation and a better full-price strategy is needed.

  • Hit or miss: H&M - 21/30

    6 October 2012

    A strong, if slightly small, collection of great trend-led product at attractive prices.

  • Hit or miss: Marks & Spencer - 20/30

    6 October 2012

    Per Una hits the spot and Limited offers standout items, but rival Next wins on price.

  • Hit or miss: Monsoon - 19/30

    6 October 2012

    Monsoon’s premium positioning gives it a point of difference, although prices may be too high.

  • Hit or miss: New Look - 21/30

    6 October 2012

    A much-improved offer from previous seasons perfectly bought for its demographic.

  • Hit or miss: Next - 26/30

    6 October 2012

    One of the most competitive offers, with trends perfectly interpreted to its customer.

  • Hit or miss: Oasis - 20/30

    6 October 2012

    Oasis backs the Victoriana trend with key pieces and lures shoppers with a knitwear discount.

  • Hit or miss: Primark - 24/30

    6 October 2012

    Primark continues to offer trend-led and basic products at the lowest prices in town

  • Hit or miss: River Island - 23/30

    6 October 2012

    The best store in The Harlequin centre has key trends and River Island’s unique handwriting

  • Hit or miss: Topshop - 18/30

    6 October 2012

    As you’d expect, Topshop had most trends covered, but this is a small, uninspiring store.

  • Hit or miss: Warehouse - 22/30

    6 October 2012

    One of the season’s standout items is found in a tiny store that maximises space

  • Hit or miss: Zara - 24/30

    6 October 2012

    Zara continues to be the place to go to for trends at affordable prices.

  • Confident collections, not heavy discounting wins over shoppers

    29 September 2012

    Last week, I spent a couple of days ‘undercover’ in Watford, analysing the autumn 12 collections of 15 high street retailers.

  • What's in store for luxury fashion?

    18 September 2012

    Much in the same way that we see John Lewis as the fashion retail bellwether, Burberry arguably plays the same role in the luxury sector. So when I took my seat at the brand’s London Fashion Week show yesterday – one of the hottest tickets of the week – I couldn’t help thinking about its profit warning, less than a week earlier.

  • The Four guys

    1 September 2012

    Distributor Fourmarketing’s co-founders say their more diverse portfolio will open up greater opportunities.

  • Close-Up preview: Q&A with Fourmarketing directors Ben Banks and Gino Da Prata

    28 August 2012

    Ahead of this weekend’s Close-Up with Fourmarketing directors Ben Banks and Gino Da Prata, Drapers’ deputy editor Ana Santi gives a preview of the distributors’ thoughts on the industry.

  • Zone Two widens net with Ready to Fish

    25 August 2012

    London-based distributor Zone Two has bolstered its brand portfolio after bringing Dutch label Ready to Fish to the UK for spring 13.

  • Come rain or shine

    25 August 2012

    From flip-flops to wellies, country manager Richard Shetliffe explains the secret of the Havaianas brand’s international success.

  • Q&A: Matthew Murphy, co-founder of b store and Other

    8 August 2012

    With news this week of the closure of iconic indie and brand b store, Drapers’ Ana Santi caught up with co-founder Matthew Murphy to learn about his new retail venture called Other

  • B store closes London shop as founders launch new store

    8 August 2012

    Iconic indie and brand b store will close its London shop at the end of August and cease its wholesale clothing operation, but the footwear business will continue.

  • All hail JD and Sports Direct

    1 August 2012

    I’m anticipating a barrage of hate mail, but even so, I’m going to stick my neck out and say that JD and Sports Direct’s various brand and indie acquisitions could be a very good thing indeed for the fashion industry.

  • Could M&S disappear from our high street? Please, no.

    10 July 2012

    As my interview about Marks & Spencer’s first quarter results on Sky News came to end today, presenter Adam Boulton asked me and Verdict analyst Maureen Hinton if M&S could disappear from our high streets.

  • Avoiding the discounting “Gap syndrome”

    5 July 2012

    “Beware of the Gap syndrome”, Conlumino analyst Neil Saunders warned us, as retailers gathered for breakfast at Carluccio’s, courtesy of recruitment firm Bloom Retail.

  • Valentino and Jean Paul Gaultier close Couture Fashion Week

    5 July 2012

    Couture Fashion Week drew to a close last night, with Valentino displaying a beautifully crafted, understated collection, and Jean Paul Gaultier appeasing a crowd, which had to wait for 90 minutes, with a spectacular show.

  • Fashion’s finest reveal their sourcing secrets (over scrambled eggs at Claridge’s)

    29 June 2012

    This week, I attended a breakfast hosted by Drapers and Tradecard at Claridge’s. As I tucked into my delicious scrambled eggs, I listened to the likes of House of Fraser’s Allan Winstanley, Ted Baker’s Donald Browne, Burberry’s Lise Edwards-Warrener, amongst other insightful participants, discuss the challenges they’re facing in terms of sourcing for their different businesses.

  • Pitti Uomo - Spring 13

    30 June 2012

    Brand DNAs formed the identity of spring 13 menswear rather than trends

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - Baracuta

    30 June 2012

    Spring 13 heralded a more upmarket direction for 75-year-old brand Baracuta under new owners WP Lavori.

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - Ben Sherman

    30 June 2012

    For its 50th anniversary, next year Ben Sherman will unveil a collection called Duke Street Foundry (Duke Street is the site of its first store, in Brighton), which is inspired by its iconic pieces.

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - Eden Park

    30 June 2012

    “People want more detail, more colour, more chic – and less logos,” said Eden Park international director Thomas Cerbeland.

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - FB Collection

    30 June 2012

    Capturing the Brazilian lifestyle, FB Collection’s range of shorts is a rainbow of bright colours and prints.

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - Hancock

    30 June 2012

    Former Mackintosh colleagues Gary Bott and Daniel Dunko have launched Hancock for spring 13, an outerwear brand inspired by Thomas Hancock, the English pioneer of the rubber industry.

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - Henri Lloyd

    30 June 2012

    Henri Lloyd marked its 50-year milestone with the reissue of its Olmes Carretti jacket.

  • Pitti Uomo Spring 13 - Nigel Cabourn

    30 June 2012

    Nigel Cabourn has bought its own sewing machine to create its line of Ventile-seam, shower-proof cotton jackets.

  • Shopping trip

    30 June 2012

    Drapers followed buyers Rob Adams and Richard Humby as they visited the Engineered Garments stand at Pitti.

  • 'The days of doing big budget, big-scale shows are over...

    16 June 2012

    …I’d rather spend the money creating a beautiful collection’. Clever and business-minded, all eyes will be on Richard Nicoll at London’s menswear week.

  • Editorial content boosts web sales at Reiss

    2 June 2012

    Reiss’s like-for-like online sales have soared 84% from last year as the premium retailer ups its editorially-driven online content.

  • Individuality stands out among the pomp and circumstance

    2 June 2012

    It’s finally here, the much-anticipated Jubilee weekend.

  • Exclusive: M&S to boost design team as it gears up for international growth

    22 May 2012

    Marks & Spencer is on the hunt for a new head of international design as it gears up for growth overseas.

  • New Look’s tech-infused press day looks to gauge customer insight

    18 May 2012

    When I walked into New Look’s autumn 12 press day today, I was handed a scanner. Not to shop, but to pick my favourite pieces.

  • Luxury sales show no sign of slowing in China

    19 May 2012

    The Chinese luxury market is set to grow exponentially, but experts have warned brands and retailers against over-reliance on the country.

  • Eyen Allen

    12 May 2012

    Hugo Boss’s creative and brand director for womenswear tells Ana Santi why he isn’t afraid to experiment with its designs.

  • Helen Franks

    12 May 2012

    Property firm Grosvenor London’s head of commercial leasing tells Ana Santi how she manages her portfolio of streets.

  • Lands of Opportunity

    28 April 2012

    The saturation of the UK market means looking overseas is often the only growth option for retailers today

  • Topman to launch premium suiting range

    25 April 2012

    Topman will launch a premium suiting line for autumn 12 to capitalise on growing consumer demand for tailoring.

  • Exclusive: Topman’s David Shepherd promoted to Arcadia board

    18 April 2012

    Topman managing director David Shepherd has been promoted to chief operating officer for trading at Arcadia, in a bid to grow the group’s e-commerce and international businesses.

  • Cable: It’s Government’s duty to back UK fashion

    14 April 2012

    Business secretary accepts industry isn’t taken seriously enough but says Coalition is committed to its growth.

  • Back to college with Vince Cable

    30 March 2012

    I had a great afternoon yesterday; I went back to university.

  • Drapers Next Generation

    30 March 2012

    This year’s edition of the Drapers Next Generation Academy has been my proudest yet.

  • Exclusive: Sports Direct buys WDT

    16 March 2012

    Sports Direct has snapped up the wholesale division of World Design and Trade (WDT), owners of young fashion brands Firetrap and Full Circle, while the retail arm has been placed into administration.

  • Hugo Boss merchandising chief joins All Saints

    15 March 2012

    All Saints has hired former Hugo Boss merchandising chief Matthew Corin as buying and merchandising director, in a newly created role.

  • M&S to grow Savile Row Inspired men's tailoring range

    14 March 2012

    Marks & Spencer will grow its Savile Row-inspired men’s capsule range into a full collection for autumn 12 in a bid to capitalise on a Made in Britain appetite among consumers.

  • Acne

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Burberry Prorsum

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Christopher Kane

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Erdem

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Henry Holland

    2 March 2012

    The young Mancunian can’t help coming across as more of a businessman than a designer, a collaboration king who wants his brand to encompass everything.

  • Jonathan Saunders

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Mary Katrantzou

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • McQ

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Mulberry

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Peter Pilotto

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Pringle of Scotland

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Topshop Unique

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Vivienne Westwood Red Label

    2 March 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Exclusive: Horspool leads further departures in buying and merchandising at New Look

    29 February 2012

    New Look’s creative director Barbara Horspool is the latest director to leave the value business, followed by the retailer’s heads of buying and merchandising.

  • Double the reason to celebrate UK indies

    17 February 2012

    Without independent retailers, fashion would be a dull industry.

  • Jonathan Saunders

    17 February 2012

    After picking up the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund award, the designer believes that showing in London gives him the commercial edge he needs to keep on growing.

  • Coggles represents all that’s great about indies

    14 February 2012

    It seems fitting to publish our last Drapers Daily issue at Pure London with news that Sarah Coggles has topped Drapers’ Inspiring Independents list for 2012.

  • Store design gets shabby for 2012, says VM expert

    14 February 2012

    Shabby chic, repetition and humour are among the key visual merchandising trends for 2012, according to Drapers stores editor John Ryan.

  • Positive mood makes headline news at Pure

    13 February 2012

    If today is anything like yesterday, then the Drapers Daily news team is in for another hugely busy day at Pure London.

  • Optimism reigns at busy Pure

    13 February 2012

    Colour and print grab buyers’ attention as brands report strong start to order writing on opening day.

  • Your daily dose of the best from Pure London

    12 February 2012

    Welcome to Drapers’ first daily edition. For the next three days, the Drapers team will be scouring the halls of Pure London to find the latest stories and product information, which we’ll present in three must-have Drapers Daily issues.

  • Optimism in the air for the British textiles industry   

    10 February 2012

    Welcome to Drapers’ first, new-format Textiles supplement, signalling our greater commitment to one of fashion’s most important sectors.

  • Sienna and Savannah Miller step down from Twenty8Twelve

    25 January 2012

    Sienna and Savannah Miller have stepped down as co-creative directors of womenswear brand Twenty8Twelve, which they launched with Pepe Group in 2007.

  • Christopher Raeburn

    20 January 2012

    Fresh from winning a British Fashion Award, Raeburn is proving that sustainable clothing can turn heads in retail’s temples of style such as Barneys and Liberty.

  • Contrast Textures

    20 January 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Flecked Effect

    20 January 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Forest Hues

    20 January 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pier Paolo Piccioli

    20 January 2012

    Valentino’s creative directors spoke to Ana Santi after the designer label showed its menswear range at Pitti for the first time.

  • Pitti Uomo Autumn 12

    20 January 2012

    If the mood and collections at menswear trade show Pitti Uomo – the first major event on the buying calendar – are anything to go by, then autumn 12 should be a good season all round.

  • Quilting

    20 January 2012

    Autumn 12

  • Cocosa to launch full price site

    19 January 2012

    Online retailer Cocosa is set to launch a full price site in 2013, a second major steer from its original private sales business model in six months.

  • Boxfresh MD Daniel Morris steps down

    19 January 2012

    Boxfresh managing director Daniel Morris has left the Pentland Group-owned brand.

  • Back to the shopfloor

    13 January 2012

    She may helm Oasis, but Liz Evans insists that a day in store is still the best source of knowledge.

  • Meet the rising stars of fashion retailing

    13 January 2012

    There’s nothing quite like editing Drapers Next Generation supplement to remind me of how much talent we have in our industry.

  • Heather Thomson

    6 January 2012

    The founder of Yummie Tummie tells Ana Santi how she was encouraged by Beyoncé Knowles to set up the US shapewear brand.

  • Review of the Year

    16 December 2011

    Price hikes, acquisitions, a British manufacturing revival and a royal wedding, and all amid an economic downturn. We round up the best and worst of 2011.

  • Boxfresh

    9 December 2011

    New footwear lines, including a women’s collection and a strong men’s outerwear offer, impress at Boxfresh.

  • Together we can uncrunch the credit

    9 December 2011

    What a difference a fortnight makes.

  • Fashion royalty’s power struggle

    2 December 2011

    When we blocked out an afternoon to discuss this year’s Power List, new members of the Drapers team asked how we would be able to come up with 100 influential people.

  • All a-Twitter over inspiring indies

    25 November 2011

    Do you follow Paul Turner-Mitchell on Twitter @Paul25Ten?

  • Pitti to expand autumn 12 edition

    23 November 2011

    Menswear trade show Pitti Uomo will ramp up its autumn 12 edition in January with new spaces, exclusive designer launches and developments in its online platform in a bid to retain top brands and buyers amid a tough economic climate.

  • Rob Templeman

    18 November 2011

    He’s been described as a ‘deal-making junkie’, but it’s his turnaround of Debenhams that earned Rob Templeman the respect of his fashion peers and this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

  • ALL SAINTS

    7 October 2011

    A truly differentiated and impressive offer let down by old-season stock and blaring music.

  • COS

    7 October 2011

    Well-interpreted trends to suit its pared-down aesthetic. Great store with matching service.

  • DOROTHY PERKINS

    7 October 2011

    If colour is what you’re after, Dorothy Perkins is the store to head to, with well-priced product.

  • FOREVER 21

    7 October 2011

    A bright, airy store, with great design detail, but it is trumped by rivals on product and prices.

  • GAP

    7 October 2011

    Despite the narrow store, offers a good mix of denim and trend-led product.

  • Hit or Miss

    7 October 2011

    Womenswear chains’ autumn 11 ranges are impressive, but the major challenge is to deliver on price as well as trends.

  • HOBBS

    7 October 2011

    Good spread of trends across all three brands, but suspicious staff over-service.

  • MARKS & SPENCER

    7 October 2011

    A standout autumn collection covering all key trends in one of Stratford’s anchor stores.

  • MISS SELFRIDGE

    7 October 2011

    Expertly interprets trends, but loses out to the fanfare of bigger rivals and their lower prices.

  • NEW LOOK

    7 October 2011

    Despite quality product, it misses out on top spot due to Primark’s more tempting prices.

  • NEXT

    7 October 2011

    Next interprets the key trends for its customers, but comes up short against M&S’s breadth.

  • PRIMARK

    7 October 2011

    Excellent products at the cheapest prices on the high street, but quality is not always up to scratch.

  • REISS

    7 October 2011

    Standout product covering key trends and more in a model store.

  • RIVER ISLAND

    7 October 2011

    Bang on trend, in tune with its cool customers’ tastes. But it struggles with the cash-strapped.

  • TOPSHOP

    7 October 2011

    Perfectly executed on-trend product, excellent staff and wide pricing makes this top of the shops.

  • ZARA

    7 October 2011

    The go-to retailer for grown-ups looking to buy into key trends at affordable prices.

  • London Fashion Week

    30 September 2011

    With highlights galore, LFW bolstered its place within fashion’s top four cities.

  • The Kooples

    30 September 2011

    In less than three years, premium French retailer The Kooples has notched up 180 stores, €100m worth of sales and is now poised to enter the US market. Just what is its secret?

  • The Kooples adds casualwear to UK

    23 September 2011

    Contemporary French retailer The Kooples will open a new store fascia in the UK next year in a bid to add casualwear to its more tailored portfolio.

  • Prêt à Porter

    16 September 2011

    Young labels to established names delivered a mix of colour, separates and luxe fabrics at the mainstream show

  • Who’s Next

    16 September 2011

    Colour blocking and prints were key among the Paris contemporary show’s strong separates-led offer.

  • Long queues form as Westfield Stratford City swings open its doors

    13 September 2011

    Marks and Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland opened proceedings at the new Westfield Stratford City shopping centre this morning declaring that the new M&S store will “carry the torch for the best of UK retailing”.

  • Retail theatre

    9 September 2011

    Reiss is set to grab the limelight with its new look at Westfield Stratford, but other stores will also impress 

  • Tina Knowles

    9 September 2011

    The involvement of daughter Beyoncé may imply that Tina Knowles’ House of Deréon is just another celebrity brand, but Knowles has the skills to silence the sceptics.

  • Beyonce mulls maternitywear line

    2 September 2011

    Pop star Beyonce Knowles and her mother Tina are considering the launch of a maternitywear line as part of their House of Dereon brand, after the singer announced her pregnancy earlier this week.

  • Reiss bolsters team ahead of international advance

    2 September 2011

    Retailer ramps up worldwide ambitions after unveiling new store concept and higher pricing strategy.

  • Jonny & Mark Wilkinson

    2 September 2011

    The launch came as a surprise, but rugby stars Jonny and Mark Wilkinson’s Fineside clothing brand has the potential to break out from the scrum of menswear competitors.

  • Portas unveils retail and clothing tie-up with HoF

    19 August 2011

    Retail guru Mary Portas has launched her much-anticipated collaboration with House of Fraser, including a service-driven retail environment and eponymous clothing range.

  • Boxfresh hunts for marketing boss with global background  

    19 August 2011

    Streetwear brand Boxfresh is on the hunt for a new head of marketing after the departure of marketing manager Matt Winton.

  • Colour sets the tone for spring 12

    19 August 2011

    Unless we get another knock-out catwalk show like that of Burberry Prorsum in autumn 10, then spring 12’s trends appear to be firmly set.

  • Liliane Harris

    19 August 2011

    With a foot in both the retail and wholesale camps, the owner of indie Larizia and agency M&L Harris has a broader perspective than most on the womenswear market.

  • Pure London

    12 August 2011

    Product categories have led the way over the past few seasons at Pure London, with first dresses holding sway before being toppled by trousers last spring.

  • Andrew Rosen

    12 August 2011

    His race horse might not be a winner, but the founder of Theory is betting on the premium brand’s change of direction to gee up its international growth plans.

  • Rebecca Van Dyck

    29 July 2011

    As Levi’s prepares to launch its first global advertising campaign, its global chief marketing officer explains how branding means nothing without product innovation.

  • Matthew Williamson

    22 July 2011

    After some fine tuning for its second season, the designer says his MW diffusion line has found its own identity

  • Bread & Butter

    15 July 2011

    Chinos ruled the roost at Bread & Butter Berlin in sorbet shades and pop brights, while pathwork effects moved the check on

  • Toby Bateman

    15 July 2011

    Mr Porter has a lot to live up to – the hype, the success of sister Net-a-Porter – but its buying director is up for the challenge.

  • Levi's to adopt global strategy

    8 July 2011

    Levi’s will adopt a single global strategy for its marketing and product assortment, moving away from the brand’s traditional split across Europe, the US and Asia.

  • Pitti Uomo

    24 June 2011

    Silhouettes may have stayed the same, but a host of jackets, plenty of stripes and no shortage of colour cheered menswear buyers in Florence.

  • What’s in store?

    24 June 2011

    Our panel reveals the key styles that will get the festive tills ringing, and why a white Christmas is the stuff of nightmares

  • Will Forrester

    24 June 2011

    As an American at a quintessentially British business, Gieves & Hawkes’ dynamic brand director is well qualified to explain its heritage appeal.

  • Splashes of colour catch buyers’ eyes at Pitti Uomo

    17 June 2011

    Colour, shorts and classic silhouettes impressed UK menswear buyers at Florentine trade show Pitti Uomo this week, with brands reporting steady trading.

  • Amanda Wakeley

    17 June 2011

    As one of this year’s Graduate Fashion Week judges, the womenswear designer was impressed by students’ commercial nous and dedication, both of which she knows all about.

  • Counting the cost of learning

    17 June 2011

    With some degree tuition fees rising to £9,000 in 2012, fashion’s next generation will need to carefully consider their career plans.

  • The class of 2011

    17 June 2011

    All those showing at Graduate Fashion Week deserve top marks for their efforts.

  • Finding the right balance

    3 June 2011

    In beautiful west Cumbria, footwear brand New Balance ensures an attractive working environment and variety for its employees.

  • Graduate Fashion Week: 20 years of student talent

    3 June 2011

    With less than a week to go before the start of Graduate Fashion Week, Drapers catches up with some of the students to give you a sneak preview of their designs.

  • M&S unveils branding and store revamp

    27 May 2011

    Marks & Spencer has unveiled revamped branding for its Per Una and North Coast sub-brands, as well as a complete overhaul of its core collection, which will include its name being abbreviated to M&Son labelling.

  • Waxing lyrical about Barbour

    27 May 2011

    At its factory in South Shields, where it produces its iconic waxed jackets, the lifestyle brand is dedicated to traditional craftsmanship.

  • A rich seam of expertise

    20 May 2011

    In the second part of our Save Our Skills series of factory visits, Drapers drops in on hosiery brand Pantherella in Leicester to hear about its hunt for skilled hand linkers.

  • Fashion in the Regions

    6 May 2011

    When we think about a career in fashion in the UK, we invariably think about London.

  • Hilary Haresign

    6 May 2011

    Having dressed Kate Middleton’s great aunt, the owner of occasionwear indie Snooty Frox is bearing witness to how her innovative approach can boost sales to royal proportions.

  • British hopefuls

    15 April 2011

    Next aims to please both athletes and the public in its role as official clothing supplier to the 2012 Olympics. Meanwhile, some brands could cash in on their heritage.

  • Competitive instinct

    15 April 2011

    As the official sportswear partner to the 2012 Olympics, the eyes of the world will be on Adidas. Nick Craggs is the man charged with making sure it achieves a winning result.

  • Be commercial and creative, ambitious designers told

    8 April 2011

    High street and premium designers urged the next generation of design talent to marry commerciality with creativity to succeed in today’s competitive market.

  • Making a mark at M&S

    8 April 2011

    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.

  • New talents must think of themselves ‘as a brand’

    8 April 2011

    Pentland Brands’ Andy Rubin tells next generation of fashion talent they must be proactive to succeed.

  • Three wise men

    8 April 2011

    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.

  • Lisa Montague

    25 March 2011

    After making Mulberry the accessories label of choice for fashionable celebrities, the chief executive of Loewe is hoping to repeat that success with the Spanish brand

  • UK manufacturers craft their future

    18 March 2011

    Drapers and the UKFT invited UK manufacturers to debate the challenges they face and potential solutions that could be offered.

  • Womenswear boss departs Paul Smith

    11 March 2011

    Sandra Hill, creative director of womenswear at Paul Smith and one of the premium lifestyle brand’s driving forces, has left after 16 years at the helm, it has emerged.

  • Outerwear

    25 February 2011

    After two harsh winters, brands were placing their bets on heavy-duty outerwear for autumn 11.

  • Pure London

    18 February 2011

    Womenswear brands used a variety of contrasting fabrics to update the trend for texture while the cape gave knitwear a new direction

  • Nicholas Kirkwood

    11 February, 2011

    He’s the best of British shoemakers, obsessed with quality and womanly styles. So can his first standalone store in London propel him towards global designer status?

  • Chasing Kate

    4 February, 2011

    Retailers should cash in on the new interest in Kate Middleton’s wardrobe. But how can the vital speed to market be achieved?

  • Paris: The buyer’s guide

    4 February, 2011

    Paris shows Who’s Next and Prêt à Porter kicked off the new womenswear season last week. Drapers joined The Dressing Room’s Deryane Tadd for a buying lesson

  • Chunky knitwear

    21 January 2011

    Autumn 11

  • Shawl collars

    21 January 2011

    Autumn 11

  • Ties

    21 January 2011

    Autumn 11

  • Tweed

    21 January 2011

    Autumn 11

  • Utility jackets

    21 January 2011

    Autumn 11

  • Workwear

    21 January 2011

    Autumn 11

  • Autumn 11 Menswear

    14 January 2011

    Brands continue to focus on outerwear for autumn 11, with emphasis on quality and design details.

  • Attention to detail justifies price hikes at Pitti Uomo

    13 January 2011

    Buyers and brands were upbeat at menswear trade show Pitti Uomo in Florence, and said that attention to detail and quality fabrications justifies price increases.

  • Vanessa Bruno

    7 January 2011

    With her elegant handwriting in sync with current trends, the French womenswear designer is enjoying international success and has opened her first UK store in London’s Mayfair.

  • 2010: review of the year

    17 December 2010

    Flotations (or lack of them), shearling boots, a supply chain crisis - 2010 was a year of highs and lows. We look back at some of the best, and worst, moments for the industry.

  • David Lauren

    17 December 2010

    Polo Ralph Lauren’s technological advances are being led by the legendary designer’s son, who says the brand’s new UK transactional website will do no harm to its stockists

  • Pernilla Wohlfahrt & Rebekka Bay

    3 December 2010

    Autumn 10’s minimalism trend is in perfect sync with premium retailer Cos. Is it simply down to luck? Not according to the two women overseeing its collection.

  • Crowd pleasers

    26 November 2010

    Nominations for Drapers and Pure’s list of the UK’s top 50 inspiring indies are flooding in, ahead of its publication in our Inspiring Independents supplement. Here are a few of those already voted for.

  • Cos gears up for launch of transactional site next year

    19 November 2010

    Premium retailer Cos will launch a transactional website in 2011, following in the footsteps of sister chain H&M, which launched its UK site earlier this year.

  • DRAPERS FASHION SUMMIT: Fit more important than price, says denim specialists

    17 November 2010

    Consumers are more concerned about fit than pricing when it comes to buying denim, according to specialist independent retailers.

  • DRAPERS FASHION SUMMIT: Manufacturing to move back to UK

    17 November 2010

    Rising cotton prices could open up new sources of supply and help boost UK manufacturing, according to supply chain directors.

  • DRAPERS FASHION SUMMIT: Aurora to take Twitter to the boardroom

    16 November 2010

    Aurora Fashions, whose fascias include Karen Millen, Oasis and Warehouse, will ramp up its social networking strategy to allow customers to communicate directly with boardroom level directors.

  • DRAPERS FASHION SUMMIT: “Disposable fashion is dead”, says Carl McPhail

    16 November 2010

    New Look chief executive Carl McPhail said that “disposable fashion is absolutely dead”, as value retailers continue to come under increasing pressure over throwaway fashion.

  • DRAPERS FASHION SUMMIT: Quality most important purchasing factor for UK consumers

    16 November 2010

    Almost three quarters of UK consumers think durability of clothing is more important than fashionability, highlighting the importance of quality over pricing post the recession.

  • Brands urged to look beyond clothing for design inspiration

    12 November 2010

    Designer Sir Paul Smith has called on fashion brands to “stop looking at clothes” and turn to other industries and products for design ideas.

  • New store on the block

    12 November 2010

    John Reid has not only taken on the challenge of starting up a new indie in Bristol, he has also agreed to chart the ups and downs of his retail adventure in a regular column for Drapers.

  • Ralph Lauren to transform New Bond Street store

    10 November 2010

    Premium lifestyle brand and retailer Ralph Lauren will transform its New Bond Street store in London tonight by virtually altering the image of the building using architectural mapping technology.

  • Burberry to launch Burberry Bespoke

    9 November 2010

    British luxury brand Burberry is to launch an online bespoke trench coat service called Burberry Bespoke in early 2011.

  • Forever 21 primed for 100-store UK blitz

    29 October 2010

    US fast-fashion retailer to go up against New Look and H&M on high street.

  • Larry Meyer

    29 October 2010

    As US fast-fashion giant Forever 21 prepares for its UK debut, its executive vice-president explains how it can rival New Look and H&M.

  • Rules of attraction

    29 October 2010

    The most popular in the series of Mary Portas (right) and Skillsmart Retail masterclasses, “Creating Desire” gives indies the lowdown on visual merchandising.

  • All Saints, 4 Philadelphia Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    The product is All Saints all over but with wider appeal and good pricing architecture.

  • BHS, 38-46 Broadmead

    15 October 2010

    Outerwear and basics are strong but there is a lot of discounting, which cheapens the offer.

  • Debenhams, 1-5 St James Barton

    15 October 2010

    Good pricing architecture and product across the mainline and sub-brands.

  • Dorothy Perkins, Unit SU39, George White Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Good on-trend pieces and basics but struggles to carry off high-end interpretations.

  • French Connection, 21 Philadelphia Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Better pricing continues for autumn 10 but product is predominantly stripy.

  • H&M, Unit SU24, Brigstowe Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    A messy, incoherent store lets down a decent offer of some key trends and basics.

  • Hobbs, 17 Philadelphia Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Product is perfectly pitched to the Hobbs customer, while service is second to none.

  • Marks & Spencer, 78 Broadmead

    15 October 2010

    M&S covers most trends and adapts them to its customers, but the store looks tired.

  • Monsoon, Unit SU13B, Concorde Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Too much Sale stock so early in the season takes the focus away from a few key pieces.

  • New Look, Unit SU54, The Circus, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Clever merchandising enables New Look to show off its comprehensive trend-led offer.

  • Next, Unit SU22, Brigstowe Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    A complete offer of on-trend and workwear pieces in a great store environment.

  • Oasis, Unit SU60, George White Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Oasis ticks off all of this season’s trends but a mid-season Sale detracts from the offer.

  • Peacocks, 50-60 The Horsefair

    15 October 2010

    A heavy focus on leopard print and lace supported by strong knitwear.

  • Primark, 1-27 The Horsefair

    15 October 2010

    Another complete product offering targeting young and older shoppers alike.

  • Reiss, 13 Philadelphia Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Reiss ticks all the trend boxes except the aviator jacket on the day of Drapers’ visit.

  • River Island, Unit SU06, Concorde Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    A great mix of trend-led styles and River Island’s sexy signature at great prices.

  • Ted Baker, 1 Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Quirky product stands out but the windows are disappointing by Ted’s high standards.

  • Topshop, Unit SU25, Brigstowe Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    An enviable product offering at good prices, only let down by a haphazard basement floor.

  • Wallis, Unit SU35, Concorde Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Brightly coloured dresses stand out but Dorothy Perkins offers better value.

  • Warehouse, Unit SU40A, Penn Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    If it’s dresses you want this is the shop for you, but customer service could be better.

  • Zara, Unit SU40, George White Street, Cabot Circus

    15 October 2010

    Autumn’s minimalist trend is right up Zara’s street, and is delivered at excellent value.

  • Lucio Castro

    8 October 2010

    The Armani Exchange menswear design director talks to Ana Santi about the spring 11 collection and gives some clues as to what’s in store for autumn 11.

  • A web of ideas

    1 October 2010

    To launch its research on customer insight, Drapers invited key figures from across the fashion industry to a dinner at Liberty in London to discuss the findings.

  • Richard Nicoll

    1 October 2010

    The womenswear designer’s spring 11 collection targets a more mature customer with grown-up glamour and sophisticated styling.

  • The habits of a nation

    1 October 2010

    To help retailers and brands better understand their customers, Drapers commissioned an exclusive report to examine their shopping habits and preferences.

  • You’ve got email

    1 October 2010

    As retro as it may sound in the days of Twitter and Facebook, it’s by plain old email that consumers want to learn about their favourite brands and retailers.

  • Industry asks: what next for London Fashion Week?

    17 September 2010

    As London Fashion Week kicks off its spring 11 edition today, the publication of a report into the value of the fashion industry by parent company the British Fashion Council (BFC) has led industry insiders to believe the organisation should seize the moment to assess the event’s future format and objectives.

  • Ozwald Boateng

    17 September 2010

    There have been plenty of plaudits for this fiercely independent tailor, yet some criticise his sales strategy as misguided. He’s determined to prove them wrong, starting with his LFW catwalk debut.

  • Taking stock in Paris

    17 September 2010

    Paris’s stock houses in the city’s Sentier garment district have felt the strain from the economic downturn, but some are finding new ways to attract buyers looking for in-season collections.

  • Made in Brazil

    3 September 2010

    With a growing economy and textile industry, as well as a rapidly expanding middle class, Brazil offers myriad opportunities for international brands that make the effort to understand the country

  • Shopping heaven

    3 September 2010

    Oxford Street fans, from international buyers and fashion editors to designers, share what makes the area so special, while retailers explain its importance to business.

  • Matt Rubel

    28 August 2010

    The chief executive of Collective Brands expects a new showroom and head office will instigate rapid UK growth for its brands, including Keds and Sperry Top-Sider

  • Classic Black

    14 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Cornflower Blue

    14 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Cutaway Shapes

    14 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Large Florals

    14 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Maria Luisa Poumaillou

    14 August 2010

    The shutters may have come down on iconic designer indie Maria Luisa in Paris, but its founder has no time for sentiment as she gets stuck into her new role at department store group Printemps

  • Pretty in Pink

    14 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Abstract Prints

    7 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Folk

    7 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Lace

    7 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Ladylike

    7 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Lightweight Knits

    7 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Stephan van Kruisselberge

    7 August 2010

    Just three years after its UK launch, US denim brand Not Your Daughter’s Jeans is achieving phenomenal growth by wooing older women with its patented shapewear styles. Yet its European boss says there’s more to come

  • Trousers

    7 August 2010

    Spring 11

  • Betty Jackson Two

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Blood & Glitter

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Fever

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Freddy

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Iconoclast

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Iron Fist

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Joules

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • London Rebel

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Love From Australia

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Makki

    31 July 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Minnetonka

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Nümph

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Pink Soda

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Rare

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Ringspun

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Stefanel

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Sticky Fingers

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Suzy Smith

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Terani Couture

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Turnover

    31 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Indie buyers dare to be different

    24 July 2010

    Womenswear indies are determined to maintain a point of difference from the high street by making bold spring 11 buying decisions and shaking up their offers

  • Comme des Garçons

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Dior Homme

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Dunhill

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • In the Tropics

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Malibu Surf

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Mary Portas offers indie masterclass

    10 July 2010

    Retail guru Mary Portas has called on independents to restore service and business knowledge to retailing, after launching a training programme with Skillsmart Retail last week.

  • Riviera

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Sunday Best

    10 July 2010

    Spring 11

  • Jonny Hewlett

    3 July 2010

    Italian denim giant Diesel is the talk of young fashion indies thanks to its revitalised, ‘sexy’ collections. Its UK managing director explains how he’s reignited the brand’s popularity

  • Turn that data into sales

    26 June 2010

    So successful was Drapers’ supplement on Customer Insight in June that we decided to carry out research delving deeper into the subject of how to capture information about your customers’ buying habits and, crucially, how to turn that data into sales.

  • Call for luxury brands to rethink US distribution

    5 June 2010

    Luxury brands must alter their distribution strategies in the US to sell more full-price merchandise, a panel of industry experts has warned.

  • Amanda Burrows

    22 May 2010

    The former Whistles brand director tells Ana Santi about launching a retail brand consultancy and the challenges the market faces

  • Browns

    22 May 2010

    The iconic London indie is celebrating its 40th birthday with a raft of initiatives as its co-founder ‘Mrs B’ ensures her legacy of discovering talent is passed down the generations

  • Céline

    22 May 2010

    Chosen by Mrs B of Browns

  • Erdem

    22 May 2010

    Whether fresh out of college or an experienced designer, Mrs B reveals the names she expects great things from

  • Haider Ackermann

    22 May 2010

    Chosen by Mrs B of Browns

  • Mark Fast

    22 May 2010

    Chosen by Mrs B of Browns

  • Mrs B’s rising stars

    22 May 2010

    Carven: accessible luxury; Gianvito Rossi: innovation is in his blood; Tabitha Simmons: shoe queen and Alexandre Birman: Brazilian perfectionist…

  • Simon Quayle

    15 May 2010

    The director of Shaftesbury tells Ana Santi how the property firm plans to celebrate 50 years of retail on Carnaby Street

  • Nadia Jones

    8 May 2010

    The Oasis creative director has proved she has an innate ability to select a winning style for the feminine yet fashionable high street womenswear chain

  • Introduction to Supply Chain Focus

    17 April 2010

    During the not-so-distant economic boom period, few people would have pictured today’s half-empty freight carriers ferrying merchandise from China to UK stores, not to mention the recent steep rise in freight costs.

  • This Fashion Life: Laura Tenison

    20 March 2010

    The founder of kidswear retailer JoJo Maman Bébé tells Drapers about growing her business in the tough kidswear market

  • Lingerie focus

    13 March 2010

    Brands turn up the glamour in their autumn 10 collections with animal prints, pretty details and luxe fabrics. Plunge and balconette are the key bra styles

  • This Fashion Life: Carolina Herrera

    13 March 2010

    The New York-based designer tells Ana Santi why she has brought her diffusion line CH Carolina Herrera to the UK

  • Erdem Moralioglu

    6 March 2010

    He may be inspired by disaster movies, but the Canadian-born designer has become one of London Fashion Week’s biggest recent success stories thanks to his fresh ideas and commercial sensibility

  • London Fashion Week: Burberry Prorsum, Jonathan Saunders, Nathan Jenden

    24 February 2010

    London Fashion Week’s womenswear shows came to end yesterday, as the biggest draw – Burberry Prorsum – delivered a pitch perfect collection by chief creative officer Christopher Bailey.

  • London Fashion Week: Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood, Julien Macdonald

    22 February 2010

    Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood and Julien Macdonald were the headline designers at London Fashion Week yesterday, with the trio delivering impressive collections in keeping with their signature looks.

  • Chanel-Inspired

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 2010

  • Chunky Intarsia Knits

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Leather

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Shoulders

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Soft Tailoring

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Sports Luxe

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Texture

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Velvet

    20 February 2010

    Autumn 10

  • Jena Theo

    13 February 2010

    This year’s winners of talent prize Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden tell Ana Santi about the support available to emerging UK designers

  • Pomodoro

    13 February 2010

    The mainstream womenswear brand has listened to its 700 UK stockists’ requests to expand its offer

  • IPO maps out the world for New Look

    6 February 2010

    Isn’t it time the UK had its own truly global fashion retailer?

  • Gavin Colwill

    30 January 2010

    In less than two years, Drapers Award-winning menswear indie Kiosk 78 has caught the industry’s attention with its cool brand mix and the razor-sharp business acumen of its co-owner

  • Cyril Williams and Reece Hutton

    23 January 2010

    Northeast premium indie Van Mildert stole the show at last year’s Drapers Awards by scooping three prizes, including Independent of the Year. But its managing director and menswear buyer refuse to rest on their laurels

  • Pitti sets the tone for the season to come

    16 January 2010

    The menswear collections have moved on enough from last season to offer something new

  • Calculated risks added up to a success in 2009

    12 December 2009

    The recession shaped this year’s list of the fashion industry’s most powerful people, taking a toll on some of last year’s entries but providing a chance for others to shine.

  • Marigay McKee

    5 December 2009

    Money may be no object for Harrods, but its group fashion and beauty director believes that charm and humility are still the key ingredients for being a good buyer.

  • Drapers Fashion Summit

    27 November 2009

    The Drapers WGSN Fashion Summit last week brought together individuals from all industry sectors to share ideas on surviving the recession and growing their businesses. Here are the highlights of the two-day event.

  • Late arrival of a designer recession

    21 November 2009

    Flannels has issued a CVA proposal, Cruise directors have left the indie business and the Luella label has ceased trading. What’s gone wrong in the designer sector?

  • Sir Stuart Rose: Marc Bolland picked to accelerate M&S growth

    18 November 2009

    Marc Bolland, the newly-announced chief executive of Marks & Spencer, was selected for his ability to accelerate growth at the retailer, executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose said tonight.

  • Fashion Summit: designers encourage business collaborations

    18 November 2009

    Established British designers are urging emerging labels to seek different routes to market and exploit the recession by bringing new ideas and concepts to the UK fashion industry.

  • Truffleshuffle

    14 November 2009

    Pat Wood and Claire Lewis, owners of TruffleShuffle, tell Ana Santi why US film The Goonies has a starring role in their T-shirt etail business.

  • Brands must back their indie stockists

    7 November 2009

    Brands are not thinking about the long-term damage to relationships

  • Daniel Grieder

    17 October 2009

    The Tommy Hilfiger chief executive tells Ana Santi how the brand has cashed in during the downturn by staying true to its roots.

  • Peter Lucas

    10 October 2009

    With economic uncertainty and credit insurance a continuing worry for fashion businesses, the chairman of fashion and textiles’ first umbrella trade body, UKFT, is fighting the industry’s corner.

  • Tommy Hilfiger, Fifth Avenue, New York

    2 October 2009

    The lifestyle brand has pulled out all the stops with its impressive and quirky all-American flagship to go head to head with tough competition on Fifth Avenue.

  • Matthew Williamson

    18 September 2009

    In a coup for the British fashion industry, the high-profile designer is returning to London Fashion Week, unveiling a more tailored collection and even contemplating a permanent move back to the capital.

  • Designers Remix Collection

    12 September 2009

    For any directional indies looking for something different, this Danish womenswear label could be the answer.

  • Aigle

    15 August 2009

    The French brand is proudly pushing its heritage in a new lifestyle strategy fusing function and design.

  • Beverly Hill

    15 August 2009

    Lingerie manufacturer Bendon changed the shape of the UK lingerie market with Elle Macpherson Intimates. Now its European boss is ready to make her mark on the sector.

  • Robert Stock

    8 August 2009

    The Robert Graham owner talks to Ana Santi about naming shirts after the brand’s fans and his early days with Ralph Lauren

  • Tom Duncan

    1 August 2009

    G-Star’s UK sales manager tells Ana Santi how he left life on a building site to help cement the denim brand’s success

  • Christopher Scotney, Leicester

    18 July 2009

    A strong heritage and focus on customer service is helping this menswear indie through its third recession

  • Bjorn Borg

    11 July 2009

    The tennis legend holds court with Ana Santi on how he got into the men’s underwear game some 20 years ago

  • Masters of invention

    4 July 2009

    Three garment technology firms explain how their innovations are helping brands and retailers to revolutionise their ranges and keep shoppers spending

  • Melissa

    27 June 2009

    Footwear aficionados are falling head over heels for the Brazilian brand’s quirky offer with designer tie-ups

  • Gymboree returns to UK via Adams Kids

    26 June 2009

    US kidswear firm Gymboree will return to the UK with its Crazy 8 brand this autumn via a partnership with retail chain Adams Kids.

  • Last call to enter RSPCA awards

    18 June 2009

    Ethical businesses have only two weeks left to enter this year’s RSPCA Good Business Awards.

  • Tamsin Lejeune

    13 June 2009

    Progress has been made but there’s still work to do, Ethical Fashion Forum founder Tamsin Lejeune tells Ana Santi

  • Babar Ahmed

    12 June 2009

    Hailed as a denim legend by his peers, Babar Ahmed’s unrivalled product knowledge has kept profits rolling in at supplier Duty Free Clothing, despite the collapse of some of its high street customers

  • UK Fashion Export Awards 2009

    4 June 2009

    Drapers’ Ana Santi talks to winners and guests at the UK Fashion Export Awards 2009.

  • Aigle shifts to lifestyle and targets expansion

    23 May 2009

    French brand Aigle is switching its strategy from an outdoor to a lifestyle brand by upping the design and quality credentials of its clothing and footwear lines and refocusing its distribution channels.

  • DKNY Kids

    23 May 2009

    The New York label returns to its roots with a limited edition collection

  • Marc by Marc Jacobs, London

    9 May 2009

    The diffusion line’s UK retail debut turns a former bank building into what feels like a designer pick ‘n’ mix

  • Fiona Lambert

    2 May 2009

    George at Asda’s brand director was set the target of making the supermarket brand the UK’s number one in clothing volume market share by 2011 - and she is confident of hitting the bullseye

  • Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti

    2 May 2009

    Celebrity endorsement backed by aggressive marketing has helped to fuel the UK success of Alberta Ferretti’s second line

  • RSPCA calls fashion retailers to breakfast briefing

    1 May 2009

    The RSPCA will hold a breakfast briefing for fashion retailers to discuss its Good Business Awards, which will take place in October.

  • Tu reaps new format reward

    4 April 2009

    Supermarket clothing brand Sainsbury’s Tu is seeing an uplift in sales and footfall in its new format stores

  • Calvin Klein Underwear

    28 March 2009

    Without compromising on comfort, the underwear label is introducing luxury lines for men and women

  • Paper Scissor Stone, Leeds

    28 March 2009

    A previously disused building’s industrial feel has been retained in its transformation into a streetwear shop

  • Fullcircle product and pricing set for revamp

    21 March 2009

    Lifestyle brand Fullcircle will overhaul its product and pricing strategies for spring 10 and grow its retail presence in a bid to stand out from competitors.

  • Missoni, London

    21 March 2009

    Since opening just before Christmas, the luxury brand’s first UK standalone has exceeded expectations

  • The Exhibition at LFW

    7 March 2009

    From debutantes to stalwart brands, the exhibition at this season’s LFW served up a raft of commercial boutique-friendly collections

  • Sales suffer under weight of discounts

    21 February 2009

    Despite retailers’ best efforts to bolster their share of a shrinking market with heavy Christmas discounting, figures seen by Drapers suggest the price cuts didn’t pay off

  • Valentine’s Day is bliss for lingerie

    19 February 2009

    Lingerie indies said they were pleasantly surprised after recording a significant uplift in sales during the Valentine’s Day period.

  • Graduates face fierce competition for jobs

    14 February 2009

    The pool of graduate jobs is shrinking, but opportunities still exist in the fashion industry for those students with strong portfolios, skills, experience and enthusiasm

  • Rose Foster leaves La Senza

    13 February 2009

    Rose Foster, the chief executive of lingerie chain La Senza, has left the business.

  • Philip Mountford to go Dutch with Hunkemöller

    13 February 2009

    Philip Mountford, the former chief executive of Moss Bros, has been appointed to run a €200 million (£175m) lingerie business in the Netherlands, after resigning from the menswear chain last month, as exclusively revealed by Drapersonline.com (January 16).

  • Vente-privee see 46% sales rise

    12 February 2009

    Vente-privee, the French-owned private sales website, saw sales rise 46% to £545 million in 2008 compared to the previous year.

  • Relocation rumours for LFW

    12 February 2009

    London Fashion Week (LFW) is understood to be moving from its location at the Natural History Museum in South West London to Somerset House in September.

  • QS sees strong growth in January

    11 February 2009

    QS, the value chain, saw like-for-like sales rise 17% to £8.3 million for the five weeks ended January 31.

  • Ittierre files for bankruptcy protection

    9 February 2009

    Ittierre, the production and licensing unit for diffusion luxury labels including Just Cavalli, Galliano and Versace Sport, has filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to find sufficient funding to enable it to continue trading.

  • LVMH sees steady growth in 2008

    5 February 2009

    LVMH, the luxury goods group that owns Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, saw total sales rise by 4% to €17.2 billion (£15bn) in 2008, with an “outstanding performance” by Louis Vuitton.

  • Stella McCartney opens first Dubai store

    5 February 2009

    Stella McCartney, the premium womenswear label, has opened its first store in Dubai, ahead of further openings in the Middle East, in Qatar, Jeddah and Riyadh.

  • Whistles secures new funding

    3 February 2009

    Whistles, the womenswear chain run by Jane Sheperdson and part-owned by Baugur, has secured new financing.

  • Mail order sales slow in December

    3 February 2009

    Sales of clothing through mail order retailers with catalogues fell in December to £56.5 million from £59.9m in November, according to market research business GfK.

  • Alizari, Chester

    31 January 2009

    The award-winning womenswear retailer’s country house shopfit takes full advantage of its Grade 1-listed site

  • Tesco plots attack on branded market

    30 January 2009

    Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, is plotting an assault on the branded fashion market as part of a relaunch of its clothing website next year.

  • Visitor numbers fall at Pitti Bimbo

    29 January 2009

    The number of international buyers that attended kidswear trade show Pitti Bimbo in Florence last week fell to 8,600 from 10,084 in January 2008.

  • Losses widen at Adili

    29 January 2009

    Sales at ethical etailer Adili rose by 78% for the six months to October 31, pre-tax losses widened to £901,000.

  • 1,150 jobs at risk at Shop Direct Group

    28 January 2009

    Shop Direct Group could axe up to 1,150 jobs after the business was forced to close its call centre in Crosby, Liverpool.

  • Burberry to axe Thomas Burberry

    27 January 2009

    Burberry will close its under performing Thomas Burberry business and axe up to 290 UK jobs at its Yorkshire factory, after the luxury brand reported a 3% fall in like-for-like sales at its stores.

  • London Fashion Week extends menswear show

    27 January 2009

    London Fashion Week will extend its menswear schedule this season, after the success of menswear show MAN, which showcases new British talent.

  • Visitor numbers almost double at Bubble

    27 January 2009

    The number of buyers visiting kidswear trade show Bubble rose by 83%, compared to last season.

  • More store closures and job losses at Adams

    26 January 2009

    Adams’ administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers will cut 329 jobs and shut a further 36 shops, as it continues to hunt for a buyer for the kidswear chain.

  • Burberry sheds jobs and axes its bridge band

    24 January 2009

    Burberry will close its under-performing Thomas Burberry brand and axe up to 290 jobs at its South Yorkshire factory, after the luxury brand reported a 3% fall in like-for-like sales at its stores.

  • Ex-Gieves & Hawkes trio open London Shop

    24 January 2009

    Former Gieves & Hawkes tailors Ray Stowers, Brian Jeffrey and Brian Pusey have opened a store on Savile Row and launched their first ready-to-wear collection for spring 09.

  • Hold on tight for a bumpy ride to 2011

    24 January 2009

    The latest figures say retail sales will contract this year, so it will be vital for retailers to hang on to every customer and every pound they spend.

  • Pitti Bimbo Autumn 09

    24 January 2009

    Kidswear brands worked hard to inject newness into tried and tested themes for autumn 09 at trade show Pitti Bimbo

  • Pitti Bimbo brands optimistic despite fewer UK buyers

    23 January 2009

    Exhibitors at kidswear trade show Pitti Bimbo in Florence, which opened yesterday, expect to see fewer UK buyers this season, but are optimistic about business at the event.

  • Be flexible, jobless told

    17 January 2009

    Recruitment firms are urging those affected by widespread redundancies in the retail sector to be “flexible” in order to ride out the downturn, but have insisted that demand for international, online and temporary roles is still buoyant.

  • Furla, London

    17 January 2009

    Luxury accessories brand Furla hopes to create ripples of excitement with a wave-inspired store concept.

  • Pilot fights recession by switching location

    17 January 2009

    Men’s young fashion independent Pilot has relocated to  a prime high street site in Leicester in a bid to better compete with multiple retailers and ride out the recession.

  • New Look HQ to relocate to London

    15 January 2009

    New Look has confirmed it has relocated its buying, merchandising and design teams to a new head office in London to better support its global growth plans.

  • Recruitment firms tell job hunters 'be flexible'

    15 January 2009

    Recruitment firms are urging those affected by widespread redundancies in the retail sector to be ‘flexible’ in order to ride out the downturn, but have insisted that demand for international, online and temporary roles is still buoyant.

  • Sales and profits up at QS

    14 January 2009

    QS saw like-for-like sales in the first two weeks of the year rise by 24%, while pre-tax profits in December rose by £3.6 million compared to the previous year.

  • TJ Hughes reports strong Xmas trading

    14 January 2009

    TJ Hughes, the discount department store, saw like-for-like sales rise 8.9% for the five weeks to January 3.

  • Intimas appoints finance director

    14 January 2009

    Intimas, the lingerie business, has appointed Keith Smith as group finance director, replacing Tim Laughton.

  • Sales and profits fall at Jacques Vert

    13 January 2009

    Jacques Vert saw its like-for-like sales performance improve slightly to -5.4% in the run up to Christmas, but half-year sales and profits fell against the previous year.

  • Tesco delivers steady growth

    13 January 2009

    Tesco saw like-for-like sales in the UK rise 2.5% for the seven weeks to January 10. Non-food sales strengthened ‘a little’ against third quarter performance.

  • WGSN launches Fashion Reports

    12 January 2009

    WGSN has launched its first in depth Fashion Reports, starting with a focus on the UK and US fashion industries.

  • Richard Kirk on Peacocks' strong Xmas performance

    8 January 2009

    Peacocks chief executive Richard Kirk talks to Drapers about how Peacocks has outperformed the market this Christmas.

  • Non-food deflation hits two-year high

    7 January 2009

    Non-food prices have fallen by their fastest rate for two years according to the British Retail Consortium, with clothing and footwear seeing a deflation of 4.2% in December 2008 because of pre-Christmas discounting.

  • Monsoon in second supplier terms review

    7 January 2009

    Monsoon is reviewing its supplier terms for the second time in four months, despite ‘reasonable’ Christmas trading.

  • John Shannon considers Adams rescue deal

    6 January 2009

    John Shannon, the former owner of and chairman of Adams Childrenswear, which collapsed just after Christmas, is considering buying back a slimmed down version of the kidswear chain.

  • Adams to close 111 stores

    5 January 2009

    Adams Childrenswear will close 111 stores from today, leading to 850 redundancies across the kidswear business, after the chain collapsed on New Year’s Eve.

  • Blooming Marvellous future uncertain

    5 January 2009

    Blooming Marvellous, the 14-store maternitywear chain owned by Icelandic investment group Arev, is understood to be on the brink of administration.

  • George at Asda launches £20 suit

    5 January 2009

    George at Asda has launched a £20 women’s suit today to help customers beat the credit crunch.

  • Atlantic unable to access staff records

    19 December 2008

    Staff at Atlantic Fashions, the chain that collapsed in November, have not yet received redundancy letters or P45s because parent company Acton Farm cannot access staff records.

  • Exhibition prices are cut at new-look LFW

    19 December 2008

    Exhibitors at London Fashion Week will benefit from a reduction in price for exhibition space, as the event unveils a new look for its next edition in February.

  • David Jones

    19 December 2008

    Luxury fashion consultant David Jones tells Ana Santi his vision for the future and how the industry has changed over the past 30 years.

  • Garry Hogarth

    19 December 2008

    Agent Provocateur’s chief executive is raising sales by convincing women that they need not be intimidated by the lingerie retailer’s sassy and sexy attitude.

  • Anglomania, Manchester

    19 December 2008

    Franchisee Hervia has opened the first UK store for Vivienne Westwood’s younger and cheaper sub-brand.

  • Original Factory Shop appoints Angela Spindler as chief executive

    19 December 2008

    The Original Factory Shop has appointed former Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler as chief executive, replacing George Foster who will retire.

  • Igedo appoints chief executive

    18 December 2008

    Igedo Company, the organiser of Dusseldorf trade fair CPD, has appointed Philipp Kronen as president and chief executive of the business.

  • Woolworths stores to close by January 5

    17 December 2008

    Woolworths will close all 807 stores by January 5, according to administrator Deloitte.

  • No redundancy letter for Atlantic staff

    17 December 2008

    Staff at Atlantic Fashions have contacted Drapers to say they still have not received redundancy letters or their P45's after they were promised they had been sent out last week.

  • Online sales surge 16% in November

    16 December 2008

    Online sales in November surged by 16% on last year, as shoppers favoured the internet over the high street.

  • Asda warns of frugal shoppers

    12 December 2008

    Asda chief executive Andy Bond has warned that consumers' shopping habits will change as a result of the current downturn, with frugality set to replace frivolity over the years to come.

  • Atlantic to go into liquidation

    12 December 2008

    Value chain Atlantic Fashions posted a letter to its staff as Drapers went to press, confirming that the business would be liquidated following a court hearing later this month. Parent company Acton Farm is unable to offer its workers any redundancy pay.

  • Primark records biggest one-day sales

    10 December 2008

    Primark is understood to have bust its record for one-day one-store sales last Saturday at its London Oxford Street branch.

  • Peacocks suppliers hit by cut in credit insurance

    9 December 2008

    Peacocks suppliers have had their credit insurance cover slashed according to The Independent newspaper.

  • Shoppers spend £1m in a minute online

    9 December 2008

    Shoppers spent more than £1 million in one minute during yesterday's record online shopping day, according to Retail Decisions, the payment processing firm.

  • No retail growth until 2014

    9 December 2008

    Next year will prove to be one of the worst years on record for high street retailers, according to Verdict Research, with positive growth not set to return until 2014.

  • Customers are served up a VAT saving by Pudding

    8 December 2008

    Luxury lingerie retailer Pudding has bucked the trend among independents by implementing the Chancellor’s reduced VAT rate and passing the benefits on to customers.

  • Amanda Wakeley bought by former Agilo investor

    8 December 2008

    Amanda Wakeley, the premium womenswear label, has been bought by Jason Granite, a former investor in distressed assets fund Agilo, which holds stakes in Envy and Faith.

  • No wages for Atlantic staff

    5 December 2008

    Up to 200 staff at value chain Atlantic Fashions are facing Christmas without their wages after a merger between the chain and MK One failed to complete before administrators were appointed.

  • Claudia Schiffer to be face of YSL

    3 December 2008

    Yves Saint Laurent has signed supermodel Claudia Schiffer as the new face of its spring 09 advertising campaign.

  • VAT fails to drive bigger sales and traffic online

    3 December 2008

    VAT cuts failed to drive bigger sales values and traffic volumes for online retailers on Monday, according to industry body IMRG.

  • Non-food sales slow at Tesco

    2 December 2008

    Tesco saw non-food like-for-like sales fall during the third quarter, but total sales at the supermarket grew 11.7%.

  • Stella McCartney appoints new chief executive

    1 December 2008

    Stella McCartney has appointed former Lanvin retail director of business development Frederick Lukoff as chief executive and president of the luxury brand.

  • No Sweat fails to stop Primark AGM

    28 November 2008

    No Sweat, the campaign group for workers’ rights, has failed to stop Primark’s Annual General Meeting from taking place at the Trades Union Congress office in London.

  • Tesco slashes its prices

    28 November 2008

    Tesco will make massive price reductions across its most fashionable lines next season and unveil a new high street-style shopfit to help it fight back against value retailers such as Primark.

  • Woolworths shares suspended

    26 November 2008

    Woolworths has has trading of its shares suspended this morning as talks to rescue the beleaguered high street retailer continued.

  • Non-food shopping trips to fall in December

    25 November 2008

    Non-food shopping trips are expected to be down by 7.3% in December compared with last year, according to market research firm Synovate Retail Performance (formerly SPSL).

  • Marks & Spencer linked to second one-day Sale

    25 November 2008

    Marks & Spencer is understood to be planning a second one-day Sale in an attempt to grab limited consumer spend in the run up Christmas.

  • Throwaway fashion grows to 30% of landfill waste

    25 November 2008

    Fast throwaway fashion retailers have been blamed for a massive rise in textile waste dumped in landfill sites.

  • Billabong buys Two Seasons

    24 November 2008

    Surfwear business Billabong International has bought Midlands-based boardsports retailer Two Seasons for an undisclosed sum.

  • QS chief executive steps down as 20 jobs are cut

    24 November 2008

    QS chief executive Findlay Caldwell will step down at the end of the month amid a raft of redundancies at the value chain.

  • Matalan will trial web sales

    24 November 2008

    Matalan will trial its clothing offer online next month in a bid to expand its customer base, ahead of its launch of women’s young fashion sub-brand Be Beau for spring 09.

  • Christopher Bailey

    24 November 2008

    His collections for Burberry have won plaudits and revitalised the brand, but with a brief extending far beyond clothing a new store concept is the creative director’s most recent undertaking.

  • Matalan to trial web sales

    21 November 2008

    Matalan will trial its clothing offer online next month in a bid to expand its customer base, ahead of its launch of women’s young fashion sub-brand Be Beau for spring 09.

  • George Davies to retire from Per Una as M&S restructures management

    18 November 2008

    George Davies, Marks & Spencer's part-time chairman of Per Una, will retire next month amid a senior management restructure at the company.

  • Vivienne Westwood scoops top prize at Walpole Awards

    18 November 2008

    Vivienne Westwood scooped Walpole's Medal of Excellence award for 2008 at a ceremony last night in London's Banqueting House in Whitehall.

  • Profits flat at Burberry

    18 November 2008

    Burberry saw sales rise 20% in the first half of the year with pre-tax profit flat during the period, but warned of tougher trading since the start of the second half.

  • Designer treat for women as My Sugarland opens

    14 November 2008

    A new designer womenswear indie called My Sugarland has opened in north London, stocking a mix of vintage, designer and graduate collections and offering exhibition space for artists.

  • La Senza defies the downturn

    14 November 2008

    Lingerie retailer La Senza has defied the consumer downturn with soaring sales and profits for the year to March 29.

  • Supermarkets win shoppers

    14 November 2008

    The UK’s leading supermarkets made significant gains in clothing market share at the expense of middle-market retailers this summer, as cash-strapped shoppers continue to trade down to value ranges.

  • M&S launches international delivery service

    12 November 2008

    Marks & Spencer has launched an international delivery service to Europe, north America and Australasia from its website www.marksandspencer.com.

  • Solid first half performance for Sainsbury's

    12 November 2008

    Sainsbury's saw like-for-like sales grow 3.9%, excluding fuel, and total sales rise 7.6% to £10.8 billion for the 28 weeks to October 4.

  • Christmas will come says Deloitte

    12 November 2008

    More than half of UK consumers will spend as much this Christmas as they did last year, defying the economic downturn, according to a survey by Deloitte.

  • Moss Bros to open second UK Canali store

    11 November 2008

    Moss Bros is to open the second Canali UK store next month in the City of London.

  • October sales worst for three years

    11 November 2008

    Like-for-like retail sales fell by 2.2% in October, and total sales fell against the previous year for the first time in three years according to the British Retail Consortium.

  • Woolworths director Roger Jones dies

    10 November 2008

    Roger Jones, non-executive director and former managing director of Woolworths, has died.

  • Asda says UK will spend less on Christmas

    10 November 2008

    Asda has predicted that Britons will spend almost £300 million less in the run up to Christmas as a result of low consumer confidence.

  • Carlisle indies team up for catwalk show

    7 November 2008

    Independents in Carlisle joined forces to host a collaborative fashion event last week, which was intended to promote their businesses, encourage customers to shop locally and raise money for charity.

  • Anya Hindmarch appoints head of global sales

    6 November 2008

    Anya Hindmarch, the luxury handbag brand, has appointed former Mulberry head of global sales Caroline Atwood to the same role.

  • Bluewater launches TV campaign

    5 November 2008

    Bluewater shopping centre has launched its first television advertising campaign for four years today.

  • Indies back proposal to pay monthly rents

    4 November 2008

    Independent retailers have welcomed proposals by major landlords to allow them to pay rent on a monthly basis, insisting the move would ease cash flow difficulties.

  • Jaeger appoints Stuart Stockdale as design director

    4 November 2008

    Jaeger has appointed Stuart Stockdale as design director to build on Jaeger’s repositioning as a luxury brand.

  • Bali Singh secures funding for MK One

    3 November 2008

    Bali Singh, the owner of MK One, has secured new financial backing for the value chain and is on the hunt for a new management team following the departure of Mark Brafman last week.

  • Intimas pulls out of Harrogate Lingerie show

    3 November 2008

    Intimas, which owns lingerie brands Lepel, Charnos and Discover Mademoiselle, will not show at the Harrogate Lingerie & Swimwear exhibition next year.

  • Agent Provocateur signs Helena Christensen

    3 November 2008

    Agent Provocateur has signed supermodel Helena Christensen as the face of its new creative campaign.

  • Matthew Williamson womenswear returns to Debenhams

    3 November 2008

    Designer Matthew Williamson will relaunch womenswear at Debenhams next year under his Butterfly by Matthew Williamson.

  • Shock exits add to turmoil at MK One

    31 October 2008

    MK One founder Mark Brafman and director Michele Brafman are understood to have left the business this week, just six months after they helped to rescue it.

  • Westfield London debuts at White City

    29 October 2008

    Westfield London, the White City shopping centre, opened its doors this morning, drawing lively crowds hungry to visit its new shops.

  • Tom Ford to direct new film

    29 October 2008

    Tom Ford is understood to be gearing up to direct his first film three years after he launched a film production company called Fade to Black.

  • Shoppers vote Primark least ethical retailer

    29 October 2008

    Primark has been voted Britain’s least ethical clothing retail, according to a survey by The Times newspaper.

  • Carl Stuart puts its shirt on Owen Scott own label

    28 October 2008

    Men’s tailoring independent Carl Stuart has launched a bespoke shirting own label for autumn 08, ahead of a revamp of its website.

  • London Olympics seeking clothing licensee

    28 October 2008

    The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is looking for a licensee for the design, manufacture and UK retail distribution of its London 2012 branded clothing products.

  • Littlewoods Direct unveils Christmas ad campaign

    28 October 2008

    Littlewoods Direct will splash out £5.5 million on its Christmas advertising campaign - its largest ever media spend on a campaign.

  • London Fashion Week announces 2009 dates

    28 October 2008

    The British Fashion Council has unveiled the dates for next year's London Fashion Weeks.

  • Ann Summers appoints MD

    24 October 2008

    Ann Summers has appointed Paula Minowa as managing director.

  • Caroline Greenslade

    24 October 2008

    Debenhams’ head of design for lingerie tells Ana Santi how a passion for shoes at art college led to her following a career in lingerie.

  • Tough week for John Lewis

    24 October 2008

    John Lewis blamed a shift in dates for school half term holidays and the current economic downturn for a 7.6% fall in sales last week.

  • Ad spend slashed at M&S

    24 October 2008

    Marks & Spencer is understood to be slashing its television advertising, as part of a review of its media spend next year.

  • John Lovering keen on TPG Baugur bid

    24 October 2008

    Debenhams chairman John Lovering has said that a Texas Pacific Group (TPG) bid to rescue Baugur's retail interests in the UK could offer 'interesting angles' for the department store group.

  • Marchpole reviewing options in difficult trading climate

    23 October 2008

    Marchpole is 'reviewing all options' for the business in the wake of the global financial crisis.

  • ONS says retail sales growth slows

    23 October 2008

    Retail sales volumes fell by 0.4% in September against August.

  • George at Asda leapfrogs Primark on volume

    21 October 2008

    George at Asda, the supermarket clothing brand, has overtaken value rival Primark to become Britain’s second-largest clothing retailer by volume according to reports.

  • Equa revamps store and relaunches its website

    20 October 2008

    Ethical independent retailer Equa has refurbished its London store and relaunched its website in a bid to cement its style credentials.

  • Quest plans premium menswear concept

    20 October 2008

    Young fashion independent Quest is to open a premium menswear store following the successful launch of its womenswear shop in Falkirk in Scotland.

  • Mulberry plans new store fit

    20 October 2008

    Accessories and clothing business Mulberry is to unveil a new store concept to better reflect the luxury brand’s move into other product categories.

  • Sainsbury’s Tu, London

    20 October 2008

    The supermarket has given its clothing brand Tu more space than ever at its Sydenham store in south London.

  • EBTM sells Lowlife to Plus Brands

    14 October 2008

    EBTM, the online retailer and wholesaler of music-inspired fashion, has sold its Lowlife accessories brand to Plus Brands.

  • Sales rise at Burberry

    14 October 2008

    Sales at Burberry rose by 13% on an underlying basis to £539 million during the first half of the year.

  • Retail sales boost Levi Strauss

    10 October 2008

    Levi Strauss & Co’s retail expansion boosted sales performance for the US denim brand during the third quarter, despite some wholesale customers filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

  • Mikey falls victim to credit crunch

    10 October 2008

    Accessories and jewellery business Mikey has shut its stores and concessions after going into administration, blaming a tough economic climate for its demise.

  • Fashion sales up at LVMH

    10 October 2008

    Fashion and leather goods sales at luxury goods group LVMH rose by 5% to €4.2 billion (£3.4bn) for the first nine months of the year, while like-for-like sales soared by 12%.

  • Bailiffs called to JJB Sports over unpaid rent

    10 October 2008

    Bailiffs have visited some 12 JJB stores after landlords failed to pay rents at the sportswear retailer.

  • Fashion boosts John Lewis sales

    10 October 2008

    Sales at John Lewis picked up compared to last week, with fashion sales up 7.3% for the week to October 4.

  • George recruits pair of directors

    10 October 2008

    George at Asda has bolstered its senior management team and taken the Asda Living concept under its wing, after launching the supermarket clothing brand online this week.

  • Crew Clothing opens first House of Fraser concessions

    9 October 2008

    Crew Clothing has opened its first womenswear concessions in House of Fraser.

  • Mango opens first men's store

    9 October 2008

    Mango has opened its first men's standalone store in Barcelona called He by Mango.

  • Credit insurer withdraws cover for Woolworths suppliers

    8 October 2008

    Credit insurer Coface has withdrawn credit insurance cover for the high street chain Woolworths' suppliers.

  • Sainsbury's defies economic gloom

    8 October 2008

    Sales at Sainsbury's grew by 5.3% excluding fuel for the 16 weeks to October 4, while like-for-likes rose 4.3% during the quarter.

  • Asda launches clothing online

    7 October 2008

    Asda has launched its clothing brand George online as part of its non-food website Asda Direct.

  • Mikey in administration

    7 October 2008

    Accessories business Mikey has gone into administration.

  • British Style Genius TV series kicks off tonight

    7 October 2008

    BBC 2's new five-part series, British Style Genius, kicks off tonight at 9pm with an episode dedicated to the high street.

  • Valentino creative director exits

    6 October 2008

    Valentino creative director Alessandra Facchinetti has left the company.

  • Asda's £15 wool coat boosts sales

    6 October 2008

    George at Asda has sold 77,000 'little black credit crunch coats' this weekend, after launching the product to offer cash-strapped shoppers investment pieces.

  • Retail insolvencies set to increase in New Year

    6 October 2008

    Hundreds of retailers are in danger of going bust in the new year, according to the UK's largest insolvency specialist.

  • High-end is set to suffer

    3 October 2008

    Growth in the UK designer clothing market is expected to slow in 2008, despite the sector outperforming the total clothing market this year.

  • Monsoon to trial new terms for suppliers

    3 October 2008

    Monsoon is trialling a pilot scheme to pay suppliers earlier than its agreed 60-day payment terms in return for discounts.

  • Safia Minney

    2 October 2008

    The People Tree founder recognises that ethical fashion must have trend credentials as well as principles to truly win over UK shoppers, and with its design-led collections she is determined that her brand will lead the way.

  • Sales drop at Austin Reed

    1 October 2008

    Sales at Austin Reed fell by 3.8% to £59.6 million for the year to January 31, while pre-tax profit rose by 92% to £10.4m.

  • Nike wins top fashion prize at Retail Interiors Awards

    1 October 2008

    Nike scooped the award for best fashion retail interior of the year last night at the Retail Interiors Awards.

  • Sales soar at Asos

    1 October 2008

    Sales at etailer Asos soared by 104% for the six months to September 30, as it bids to become the UK’s biggest online fashion retailer.

  • Store 21 to launch concessions in Woolworths

    30 September 2008

    Store 21, the chain owned by QS Group, will launch concessions in Woolworths this autumn.

  • Joy in administration

    30 September 2008

    Joy, the fashion and homewares retailer, has fallen into administration.

  • Profits up at Tesco but clothing growth slows

    30 September 2008

    Tesco saw group sales and profits rise in the first half of the year, but non-food growth slowed during the period.

  • Mexx bolsters European management team to accelerate turnaround

    29 September 2008

    Mexx has appointed Tom Fitzgerald as interim chief executive and John Moore as consulting vice president creative, to accelerate the turnaround of the business in Europe.

  • Asos aims to overtake Next

    29 September 2008

    Etailer Asos has vowed to overtake Next as the UK’s biggest online fashion retailer over the next two to three years.

  • Harold Tillman

    26 September 2008

    After completing the first London Fashion Week of his three-year stint as chairman of the British Fashion Council, the Jaeger and Allders boss is determined to give more young designers the chance to shine on the capital’s catwalks of London Fashion Week and looks forward to what his new role has to offer.

  • Precursor hits Paris with British invasion

    26 September 2008

    Premium indie Precursor, which only stocks UK labels, opened its doors in the Marais district of Paris this month.

  • Losses shrink at Intimas

    26 September 2008

    Lingerie group Intimas saw its losses fall to £1.65 million from £2.21m for the six months to June 30.

  • The Drapers Awards shortlist announced

    22 September 2008

    As Drapers unveils the shortlist for its annual awards this week, retailers explain the benefits of holding up a trophy and how it has boosted their business.

  • Sales fall at Claire’s

    22 September 2008

    Sales at accessories chain Claire’s fell 1.5% to US$360 million (£202.4m) for the second quarter of 2008, while sales at its European stores outperformed its US division.

  • Retailers urge suppliers to join ETI

    22 September 2008

    The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) expects its membership to grow by 20% next year, as an increasing number of suppliers join the trade body in response to pressure from retailers tightening up their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies.

  • George at Asda launches recruitment site

    19 September 2008

    Asda has investment £100k in the launch of two recruitment websites for its supermarket brand and clothing label George.

  • Terry Green talks up Tesco volumes

    19 September 2008

    Terry Green, Tesco’s chief executive of UK clothing and hardlines, has hit back at claims that rival George at Asda has overtaken the supermarket as the UK’s third largest clothing retailer by volume.

  • Losses widen at Woolworths

    17 September 2008

    Woolworths saw its losses widen to £99.7 million for the 26 weeks to August 2, up from a loss of £63.8m the previous year.

  • Gucci chief executive steps down

    17 September 2008

    Mark Lee, chief executive and president of Gucci, has stepped down after more than 12 years at the luxury brand.

  • Jimmy Choo appoints Pentland finance director

    16 September 2008

    Luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo has appointed former Pentland financial director Jonathan Sinclair as chief operating officer.

  • International buyers land for London Fashion Week

    15 September 2008

    Buyers from more than 40 countries have arrived in the capital for London Fashion Week, which kicked off yesterday.

  • Lingerie & Swimwear Spring 09

    13 September 2008

    For the first time in some seasons, the lingerie and swimwear market has jumped heavily on the womenswear bandwagon of florals, ruching and colour trends for spring 09.

  • British Property Forum supports monthly leases

    11 September 2008

    The British Property Forum said monthly payment terms should be considered on new leases and renewals, at the Owners' and Occupiers' Property Forum meeting on Wednesday.

  • Autumn sales off to an early start

    11 September 2008

    The wet, miserable weather has delivered a much-needed boost to fashion retailers with autumn sales of coats and knitwear kicking off earlier than usual.

  • Buyers look for inspiration in London

    11 September 2008

    As the economic downturn worsens, London Fashion Week’s reputation for originality and creative energy could provide buyers with the means to get shoppers spending again.

  • Retailers split on overseas worker pay

    11 September 2008

    High street retailers are divided over increasing the pay of overseas workers, according to a survey by campain group Labour Behind the Label.

  • Faith sold for undisclosed sum

    11 September 2008

    Faith has been sold to retail entrepreneur John Kinnard and investment fund Agilo for an undisclosed sum.

  • Analysts downgrade Sports Direct

    11 September 2008

    City analysts downgraded full-year profit forecasts for Sports Direct after the retailer warned that trading had been the toughest in its history yesterday.

  • Firms decry staff shortage

    11 September 2008

    Retail bosses have cited a lack of suitable candidates as their greatest recruitment challenge, while almost half of retail employees are not offered the opportunity to progress within their organisations, according to a survey released this week.

  • Sales and profits flat at Sports Direct

    10 September 2008

    Sports Direct said sales and profits were flat for the 13 weeks to July 27.

  • London Fashion Week announces 200 exhibitors

    9 September 2008

    The Exhibition at London Fashion Week will play host to over 200 exhibitors this season, including the launch of new international designers.

  • Marc Jacobs steals New York limelight

    9 September 2008

    Marc Jacobs stole the show at New York Fashion week yesterday with a collection that paid tribute to old America.

  • The weekend newspaper round up (September 6-7)

    8 September 2008

    The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend newspapers...

  • KidSpace, London

    6 September 2008

    Yummy-mummies now have another port of call thanks to the Italian kidswear retailer’s Sloane Street opening.

  • Allegra Hicks pulls out of London Fashion Week

    3 September 2008

    London Fashion Week designer Allegra Hicks has pulled out of this month's event after its sponsors withdrew support for its catwalk show.

  • Secret Drawer opens in Metquarter

    2 September 2008

    Lingerie independent Secret Drawer will open its second store in Liverpool’s Metquarter next month.

  • Charity shops defy credit crunch

    2 September 2008

    Top charity shops have posted a 7.4% hike in profits to £106.7 million as more people tighten their belts and embrace the 'make do and mend' culture during the economic downturn.

  • OnOff adds Duro Olowu to line-up

    2 September 2008

    OnOff, the off-schedule London Fashion Week event, has added designer Duro Olowu to its catwalk line-up this season.

  • Ultimo to roll out Debenhams partnership

    2 September 2008

    Lingerie label Ultimo will open seven shop-in-shops in Debenhams throughout September and October.

  • Bank holiday disappoints high street

    28 August 2008

    Bank holiday sales in the UK were hit by a combination of poor weather, the credit crunch and the Olympics last weekend.

  • Bank holiday disappoints high street

    28 August 2008

    Bank holiday sales in the UK were hit by a combination of poor weather, the credit crunch and the Olympics last weekend.

  • Westfield London signs more luxury brands

    27 August 2008

    Westfield London has added a raft of new luxury brands to its White City development, due to open in west London on October 30.

  • Westfield London signs more luxury brands

    27 August 2008

    Westfield London has added a raft of new luxury brands to its White City development, due to open in west London on October 30.

  • Lucy Drage

    27 August 2008

    The sustainability manager at Sainsbury’s Tu tells Ana Santi about her complex role and why everyone should make an ethical commitment.

  • Westfield declares stake in property firm

    27 August 2008

    Westfield, the Australian developer behind London's White City development, has bought a 2.96% stake in Liberty International, which runs a raft of UK shopping centres.

  • Westfield declares stake in property firm

    27 August 2008

    Westfield, the Australian developer behind London's White City development, has bought a 2.96% stake in Liberty International, which runs a raft of UK shopping centres.

  • Blossom opens second London store

    26 August 2008

    Luxury maternity and babywear retailer Blossom Mother and Child has opened its second store in London and will unveil its second retail presence in Dubai in the autumn.

  • Blossom opens second London store

    26 August 2008

    Luxury maternity and babywear retailer Blossom Mother and Child has opened its second store in London and will unveil its second retail presence in Dubai in the autumn.

  • Vauxhall Fashion Scout launches mentoring scheme

    26 August 2008

    Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the largest catwalk event for emerging designers at London Fashion Week, is launching a mentoring scheme today to help designers build their businesses.

  • Vauxhall Fashion Scout launches mentoring scheme

    26 August 2008

    Vauxhall Fashion Scout, the largest catwalk event for emerging designers at London Fashion Week, is launching a mentoring scheme today to help designers build their businesses.

  • Primark unveils autumn trends

    21 August 2008

    Primark has backed tartan and two-in-one dresses to be bestsellers for autumn as it issued the first pictures of the collection due to hit stores in October.

  • OnOff to switch venue next year

    20 August 2008

    OnOff, the off-schedule London Fashion Week event, will relocate to a new venue next year as its organiser, fashion events agency, Doll, looks to cut the number of catwalk shows in order to focus on installations.

  • Shoppers told to stop buying fast fashion

    20 August 2008

    The House of Lords has attacked the fast fashion industry and is urging shoppers to 'make do and mend'.

  • Melinda Messenger made the face of Ultimo

    19 August 2008

    Ultimo, the lingerie brand, has signed celebrity Melinda Messenger as the new face of its D-G cup range.

  • Woolworths shares soar on hopes of renewed offer

    19 August 2008

    Woolworths' shares soared by 11% to 7.39p yesterday amid hopes that Iceland chief executive Malcolm Walker and a Baugur consortium would return with an improved offer to buy the value chain's high street stores.

  • Matalan squeezes suppliers

    19 August 2008

    Matalan has cut payment to suppliers by 2% for the second time since the value chain was taken private two years ago.

  • AlexandAlexa ups its offer after successful first year

    14 August 2008

    AlexandAlexa.com, the kidswear etailer, will increase its brand mix fivefold for autumn as sales rise 20% month-on-month.

  • Tesco grows F&F to fuel global sales

    14 August 2008

    Tesco will introduce a raft of new sub-brands for spring 09 to help it maximise clothing sales across its international markets.

  • Retailers target gold in China

    14 August 2008

    With Sir Philip Green rumoured to be taking Topshop to China, what are the prospects for UK chains in Asia?

  • Marchpole finance director resigns

    13 August 2008

    John Macaulay, group finance director of Marchpole, has resigned.

  • LFW unable to ban size zero models

    13 August 2008

    The British Fashion Council has today abandoned its plans to ban 'size zero' models from the catwalks of London Fashion Week.

  • Woolworths appoints new chief executive

    12 August 2008

    Woolworths has appointed former Focus DIY chief executive Steve Johnson as its new chief executive.

  • Price points to expand at La Senza

    11 August 2008

    Lingerie retailer La Senza will expand its entry and exit price points as it gears up to open its largest store to date at the Westfield London shopping centre in London’s White City.

  • Topshop and M&S to battle for ethical award

    11 August 2008

    Topshop and Marks & Spencer will battle it out to win the top prize in the fashion category of the RSPCA Good Business Award in October.

  • School’s out for summer

    9 August 2008

    The back-to-school market is becoming increasingly ruthless as retailers slash prices in a bid to protect overall kidswear sales.

  • The Drapers Interview: Joseph Ettedgui

    9 August 2008

    Joseph Ettedgui was the founder of the eponymous womenswear label. He passed away in London yesterday. In Drapers’ last in depth interview with him in August 2008, the humble Ettedgui described his passion for the industry he helped to shape.

  • Projects seeks backing to drive expansion plans

    6 August 2008

    Nottingham indie Projects is searching for investment to speed up its expansion plans, which will see it open a second store in London and develop a stronger online presence.

  • Clothes sales fall at Woolworths

    6 August 2008

    Clothing sales at Woolworths were down for the 25 weeks to July 26 compared with the same period last year, which contributed to a 6.7% fall in retail like-for-like sales over the period.

  • Mitzy bag boosts Mulberry

    6 August 2008

    Mulberry is backing its new, younger-looking handbag range to be its bestseller for spring 09 after positive early feedback from buyers.

  • Myla unveils autumn campaign

    6 August 2008

    Luxury lingerie brand Myla has unveiled its new autumn 08 campaign featuring US model Lydia Hearst.

  • Base London appoints new distributor

    6 August 2008

    Men's footwear brand Base London has appointed Street Style B.V as its European distributor.

  • Retail health slides

    5 August 2008

    The 'health' of the retail sector is at its poorest since April 2006, with conditions set to worsen for the rest of the year.

  • Peacocks to open Woolworths concessions

    5 August 2008

    Peacocks will unveil three concessions in Woolworths later this year, with the first set to open on August 20 in Camberley.

  • Buyers upbeat at opening of Pure

    4 August 2008

    Buyers at Pure shrugged off talks of an economic downturn, increasing their budgets for spring 09 and embracing next season's bright colour palette.

  • Peacocks denies refinancing deal

    4 August 2008

    Peacocks chief executive Richard Kirk has denied reports that the value chain is in talks with banks over refinancing its debt.

  • George hits back at M&S with £4 school uniform

    1 August 2008

    George at Asda has hit back at Marks & Spencer by slashing the price of its school uniforms by more than 50%.

  • White Stuff ditches investment search

    30 July 2008

    White Stuff has ditched plans for private equity investment in the business as sales rise.

  • Retailers to tax plastic bag use

    29 July 2008

    Retailers could be forced to charge customers a tax on plastic bags within months under new government plans.

  • Mango signs actress Lauren Hutton

    29 July 2008

    Mango has signed the actress and model Lauren Hutton as the face of its autumn 08 campaign.

  • Woolworths sales worsen

    29 July 2008

    Woolworths' retail division saw like-for-like sales fall back 6.7% for the six weeks to July 26. Total retail sales dipped 3.2% for the 25 weeks to July 26.

  • Roulette Clothing respins website to win UK spend

    28 July 2008

    Jersey-based indie Roulette Clothing has revamped its website in a bid to extend its distribution in the UK.

  • Solo revamps its store in bid to fend off downturn

    24 July 2008

    Women’s footwear independent Solo has invested in a £150,000 makeover of its store in a bid to stave off the trading slump.

  • St James revamps its store format

    24 July 2008

    Russian upmarket menswear retailer St James will open two new format stores in the country to better position the business as a one-stop shop for men.

  • Walpole warns luxury sector of sales slump

    24 July 2008

    Walpole, the trade body that represents more than 100 British luxury companies, has warned that the premium market will soon be hit by the full force of the credit crunch and slowdown in consumer spending.

  • Rescue deal saves FrostFrench

    24 July 2008

    Womenswear retailer FrostFrench has been resurrected by its celebrity founders after falling into administration earlier this week.

  • M&S triggers schoolwear price battle

    24 July 2008

    Marks & Spencer has thrown down the gauntlet to George at Asda and forced its rivals into heavy promotions after unveiling the cheapest school uniform on the market.

  • PPR boosted by strong growth at Gucci

    23 July 2008

    PPR, the luxury goods group which owns the Gucci brand, reported a 5.1% rise in like-for-like sales to €4.7 million (£3.7m) during the second quarter of 2008, thanks to a stellar performance from its Gucci brand.

  • Frustration for UK brands as eBay is fined for fakes

    22 July 2008

    LVMH’s landmark case against auction website eBay for failing to block sales of counterfeit goods will fuel similar cases in the French courts, but UK law could prevent brands here from following suit.

  • Ethical indie Moo Boutique feels bullish as sales rise

    22 July 2008

    Sales at independent ethical retailer Moo Boutique rose by 10% in June compared with the previous month, after only three months of trading.

  • Alexon recruits brand boss

    22 July 2008

    Jane McNally, the incoming chief executive of Alexon Group, has made her first major hire since she took up the position last month.

  • Diesel founder buys majority stake in Viktor & Rolf

    22 July 2008

    Renzo Rosso, the founder of denim brand Diesel, has bought a majority stake in designer label Viktor & Rolf for an undisclosed sum.

  • MK One owes creditors more than £50m

    21 July 2008

    MK One, the value chain that went into administration in May, owes creditors and suppliers more than £50 million.

  • John David Group in name change

    15 July 2008

    The John David Group has changed its name to JD Sports Fashion with immediate effect.

  • Burberry posts strong Q1 performance

    15 July 2008

    Burberry saw first quarter sales rise by 22% on an underlying basis to £211 million, with retail, wholesale and licensing revenues all showing increases.

  • DKNY Jeans

    12 July 2008

    The US designer denim brand brings a New York art gallery vibe to New Bond Street.

  • Primark fans to desert after exposé

    4 July 2008

    Primark faces losing up to 42% of its customers in the aftermath of child labour allegations, an exclusive ICM Research poll commissioned by Drapers shows.

  • Asprey lures back former CEO

    4 July 2008

    Asprey, the British luxury brand, is understood to be shedding its ready-to-wear and footwear categories to focus on fine jewellery and leather goods, as it appoints a new chief executive.

  • Triumph opens seventh UK store

    4 July 2008

    Lingerie giant Triumph will open its seventh store in the UK in Leicester in September.

  • Pringle in Scottish factory review

    2 July 2008

    Pringle is understood to be in talks with British workers' union GMB over the possible closure of its factory in Hawick, Scotland.

  • Cruise to rebrand Limeys stores

    2 July 2008

    Cruise will rebrand its Limeys stores to Cruise after rescuing the Midlands-based mini chain last year.

  • Supply of fair trade cotton to increase

    28 June 2008

    Retailers in search of fair trade cotton could see a significant increase in its availability, after the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation [FLO] revealed a sevenfold increase in the number of countries with access to accreditation.

  • Figleaves toughens its supplier terms

    28 June 2008

    Lingerie etailer Figleaves has tightened up its supplier terms to help drive the business into profit for the first time.

  • Claire's wins recruitment marketing awards

    25 June 2008

    Accessories retailer Claire's picked up two awards for its Boa Selector recruitment advertising campaign at the CIPD recruitment marketing awards.

  • Swimwear designers missing a trick

    24 June 2008

    Some 39% of women can find swimsuits in their size but not in the style that they want according to a survey by 100% people.

  • Debenhams update reassures City

    24 June 2008

    Debenhams saw like-for-like sales rise 1% for the 10 weeks since its interim results in April.

  • Ann Summers, London

    14 June 2008

    Feminine and flirty, or sexy and saucy? Customers at Ann Summers’ revamped store on London’s Oxford Street get to experience both.

  • Mulberry web sales soar as luxury rivals lag online

    14 June 2008

    Mulberry’s internet sales have soared 26% compared with last year to reach in excess of £3 million, but most of the global luxury sector is missing out on web sales, with just a third running own-brand websites.

  • Seasalt opens 10th store as wholesale trade booms

    7 June 2008

    Organic-led clothing independent Seasalt has opened its 10th store, in Guernsey, and first Sale shop in Salcombe, Devon.

  • Industry out in force for Saint Laurent funeral

    6 June 2008

    Designers, celebrities and politicians bid farewell to one of fashion's greats yesterday at the funeral of legendary French designer Yves Saint Laurent.

  • Clements Ribiero kidswear to debut at Bubble show

    4 June 2008

    Kidswear brand Clements Ribiero for Blossom will make its debut at Bubble London, the kidswear tradeshow, next month.

  • YSL stores to close as mark of respect

    4 June 2008

    Yves Saint Laurent stores will be closed between 2.30pm and 4.30pm tomorrow as a mark of respect to the designer who died on Sunday.

  • Primark to expand in Europe

    3 June 2008

    Primark is gearing up for an assault in Europe, as it sets its sights on stores in Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands next year.

  • Next sues Asda in copycat row

    2 June 2008

    Next is suing Asda over claims that the supermarket’s fashion brand George has copied its clothing designs.

  • Croc & Co axes kidswear in favour of accessories

    1 June 2008

    Designer independent Croc & Co will replace its kidswear department with an accessories offer after difficult trading in the category.

  • Tu lures Asda buying boss

    1 June 2008

    Sainsbury’s has poached George at Asda’s buying director Sara Bradley to spearhead product development at its Tu clothing brand.

  • Coats agrees refinancing deal with RBS

    29 May 2008

    Coats, the US manufacturer of sewing thread and needlecraft brands, has agreed an US$85 million (£43.1m) refinancing deal with The Royal Bank of Scotland to help grow its business.

  • RBS to refinance Coats

    29 May 2008

    Coats, the US manufacturer of sewing thread and needlecraft brands, has agreed to an $85 million (£43.1m) refinancing deal with The Royal Bank of Scotland to help grow its business.

  • Sales and profits flat at Blacks as deputy CEO exits

    29 May 2008

    Sales at Blacks Leisure fell by 0.4% to £294.4 million, while pre-tax profits rose marginally from £0.1m to £0.3m for the year to March 1.

  • Stellar sales and profits at Burberry

    28 May 2008

    Burberry's global sales soared by 18% to £995 million, while operating profit jumped 32% to £157m for the year to March 31.

  • Brafman buys MK One

    27 May 2008

    Mark Brafman, a former director of value chain MK One, has bought the business out of administration for an undisclosed sum.

  • Debenhams to double international sales

    27 May 2008

    Debenhams is on track to double its international sales in the next four years, and has major expansion plans in the Indian and Russian markets, according to The Independent.

  • Men’s sales soar at Tesco

    24 May 2008

    Strong menswear sales at Tesco have helped it storm to number five in the volume share rankings in the UK suit market, prompting the grocer to launch a raft of new sub-brands.

  • McPherson plots value empire

    24 May 2008

    Elaine McPherson, the saviour of Ethel Austin and former chief executive of MK One, has emerged as the mystery buyer of homewares chain Au Naturale and has reunited her former MK One management team to help build a value supergroup.

  • Cheap and cheerful

    24 May 2008

    The economic slump is proving to be a blessing for branded discount chains, as shoppers seek quality product at low prices.

  • Escada, London

    24 May 2008

    The German luxury womenswear brand has given its London flagship a plush and contemporary revamp.

  • Online clothing and footwear sales soar 20%

    23 May 2008

    Online sales of clothing and footwear soared by 20% in April, while internet lingerie sales have risen 72% year-on-year, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.

  • MK One in administration

    21 May 2008

    MK One, the value chain, which was bought by restructuring specialist Hilco from Baugur for £1 earlier this month, has appointed Deloitte as administrators today.

  • Regatta sales grow 32%

    21 May 2008

    Regatta, the outdoor clothing and footwear group, saw sales rise by 32% for the first quarter against the same period the previous year.

  • Wonderbra and Jeff Banks join Galleria

    20 May 2008

    Wonderbra and Jeff Banks have taken units at the Galleria shopping centre in Hatfield.

  • BBC launches fashion project

    20 May 2008

    The BBC has launched a project called Your Label to teach aspiring fashion designers about the industry.

  • George at Asda revamp could affect jobs

    19 May 2008

    George at Asda could axe up to 450 jobs following a reorganisation of its clothing brand.

  • Fornarina plots retail assault across the UK

    17 May 2008

    Italian young fashion brand Fornarina plans to double its turnover in the next three years with an aggressive retail expansion plan and a new store concept which will debut in the UK this year.

  • Trade boom at discounters

    17 May 2008

    Discount retailers appear to be bucking the economic downturn, after TK Maxx posted strong like-for-like sales figures in the first quarter.

  • St Tropez to target Irish indie franchises

    16 May 2008

    Danish womenswear brand Saint Tropez has set its sights on 15 Republic of Ireland franchise stores in the next five years and is seeking independent retailers to spearhead the roll-out.

  • Fornarina plots retail assault across the UK

    15 May 2008

    Italian young fashion brand Fornarina plans to double its turnover in the next three years with an aggressive retail expansion plan and a new store concept which will debut in the UK this year.

  • Diane Von Furstenberg to show at Pitti W-Woman

    15 May 2008

    Diane Von Furstenberg will show her spring 09 collection in Europe for the first time at the Pitti W-Woman pre-collection trade fair in Florence next month.

  • Like-for-like sales up at Asda

    14 May 2008

    Asda reported a 6.4% rise in like-for-like sales excluding petrol during the first quarter to March 31 thanks to strong seasonal events and increased footfall.

  • Sainsbury's slashes target as profits and sales rise

    14 May 2008

    Sainsbury's has grown sales by £2.7 billion, exceeding the £2.5bn target it set itself in 2004, after sales and profits rose for the 52 weeks to March 22.

  • Sales rise fails to lift profits at Hugo Boss

    10 May 2008

    German fashion house Hugo Boss blamed the departure of senior executives and tough economic conditions for a fall in profits and a decline in domestic sales, despite posting a 2% increase in total sales for the first quarter of 2008.

  • Triumph to miss Harrogate

    9 May 2008

    Lingerie giant Triumph will not be showing at the Harrogate Lingerie & Swimwear exhibition this August.

  • Little London refits stores ahead of wholesale debut

    9 May 2008

    Womenswear boutique Little London has revamped its stores and logo to create a unified look as it prepares to wholesale its own label.

  • Net-a-Porter appoints Colin McDowell as creative director-at-large

    8 May 2008

    Designer etailer Net-a-Porter has appointed Colin McDowell to the newly created role of creative director-at-large.

  • Temperley to return to LFW

    7 May 2008

    Alice Temperley will return to London Fashion Week after an absence of six seasons to show her Temperley London spring 09 collection.

  • Asda to showcase infomercials on ethics

    6 May 2008

    Asda has produced a behind-the-scenes TV documentary looking at its operations, including its efforts to reduce waste, cut packaging and source more sustainably, which will be aired tonight on Sky’s Information TV channel.

  • BFC calls for Fashion Forward applications

    6 May 2008

    The British Fashion Council is accepting applications for its Fashion Forward sponsorship, which offers catwalk funding during London Fashion Week.

  • Baroue ready for wholesale debut

    3 May 2008

    Kuwait-based kids’ department store Baroue will open three stores this year in the Middle East and launch its own brand at wholesale after strong trading in the first six months since its debut.

  • Matalan’s face values

    3 May 2008

    As some value retailers struggle to survive, Matalan is hoping to win a bigger slice of the market with a £20m store makeover will help it win a bigger share of the market.

  • Matalan to update early on trading

    3 May 2008

    Matalan will release its trading update to the market early this year following a good performance which bucked the turbulent trend in the value sector.

  • Bagga seeks 750k to fuel online expansion

    1 May 2008

    Menswear retailer Bagga is hunting for an investor in an attempt to triple its online business after its relaunched website boosted sales by 25%.

  • MK One faces possible administration

    1 May 2008

    MK One could be put into administration if the Baugur-owned value chain fails to find a buyer, according to The Daily Telegraph.

  • Retail sales fall sharply in April

    29 April 2008

    Retail sales fell sharply in April, as the cold weather and change in the Easter calendar compounded the economic slowdown, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

  • Independents suffer weak trading says BSSA

    29 April 2008

    Independent retailers suffered weak trading in March and during Easter, according to the British Shops and Stores Association's (BSSA) quarterly Sales Monitor published today.

  • Shopping centres hit by consumer downturn

    29 April 2008

    Shopping centre developments are being put on hold after schemes were hit by funding crisis, according to the Financial Times.

  • Fashion's richest fall down rankings in Sunday Times Rich List

    28 April 2008

    Fashion’s high-net worth individuals have been feeling the pinch from the credit crunch according to The Sunday Times’ Rich List published yesterday.

  • £20m refit at Matalan fends off value woe

    26 April 2008

    Matalan has set aside £20 million to overhaul its entire store network in the next year in a bid to claw back market share and capitalise on the demise of some of its value rivals.

  • £20m refit at Matalan fends off value woe

    25 April 2008

    Matalan has set aside £20 million to overhaul its entire store network in the next year in a bid to claw back market share and capitalise on the demise of some of its value rivals.

  • Sales targets smashed at Bohemia’s internet store

    19 April 2008

    Edinburgh womenswear, kids-wear and gifts retailer Bohemia hit its first quarter online sales target of £6,000 within two months after launching a transactional website in December.

  • Alexon recruits McNally to overhaul its brands

    19 April 2008

    Jane McNally will embark on a product review of Alexon Group’s brand portfolio after her appointment as chief executive of the womenswear business this week.

  • Value sector is hit by casualties

    19 April 2008

    The value sector was rocked this week by the collapse of Ethel Austin and Internaçionale on top of Baugur’s decision to put MK One up for sale.

  • Tim Bettley

    18 April 2008

    Peacocks’ managing director Tim Bettley has led a transformation of the value chain from a ‘big knickers shop’ to a genuine trend-led competitor.

  • Ethel Austin to close stores and slash jobs

    16 April 2008

    Ethel Austin administrator Menzies Corporate Restructuring will close 33 of its 300 stores and slash 181 head office jobs after the value chain went into administration yesterday.

  • LMVH records double-digit growth

    16 April 2008

    LVMH's sales totaled €4 billion (£3.2bn) in the first quarter of 2008, with like-for-like sales up 12% compared to last year.

  • Ethel Austin goes into administration

    15 April 2008

    Value retailer Ethel Austin has gone into administration.

  • Ethel Austin in administration

    15 April 2008

    Value retailer Ethel Austin has gone into administration.

  • Gant and Boudiche join Ingram Street line up

    14 April 2008

    Lifestyle brand Gant and independent lingerie boutique Boudiche will open new stores on Ingram Street, Glasgow, next month.

  • Next to revive bonus plan

    11 April 2008

    Next plans to reinstate an unorthodox bonus plan for directors and leading executives in an attempt to drive its share price up, according to reports in the Financial Times.

  • Marks and Spencer recovers £3.5m VAT

    11 April 2008

    The European Court of Justice has ruled in favour of Marks & Spencer in a long running battle concerning the overpayment of VAT on chocolate teacakes.

  • Gap sales fall 12%

    11 April 2008

    Gap Inc said net sales fell 12% to $1.37 billion (£694.7 million) for the five weeks to April 5, with comparable store sales for March down 18% compared to the previous year.

  • Chessmen falls into administration

    11 April 2008

    South Wales young fashion independent Chessmen is hoping to rescue one of its stores after tough trading forced the three-store chain into administration.

  • Browns MD joins Nicole Farhi

    11 April 2008

    Designer label Nicole Farhi has appointed Browns boss Niki Scordi to the new role of managing director.

  • Down with the kids

    10 April 2008

    Low prices are helping kidswear chains escape the effects of the credit crunch, but a growing appetite for trend-led styles is increasing competition between retailers.

  • Giorgio Armani has stellar 2007

    10 April 2008

    Giorgio Armani's wholesale revenues jumped 15% to €2.4 billion (£1.92bn) in 2007, while consolidated sales rose 8% to €1.6bn (£1.3bn) compared to the previous year.

  • Agilo acquires debt in Ossian Retail Group

    9 April 2008

    Investment fund Agilo has acquired the debt in Ossian Retail Group, owner of young fashion chain Internacionale .

  • Rock Couture to open at The Mailbox

    9 April 2008

    Fashion agent Robert de Keyser is to open his first full price Rock Couture store at The Mailbox in Birmingham next month.

  • BRC pleads for rate cut amid job loss fears

    8 April 2008

    The British Retail Consortium has urged the Bank of England to cut interest rates by up to half a percentage point amid fears of a wave of job cuts across the high street.

  • Struggling stores pin hopes on hot summer

    5 April 2008

    High street retailers are hoping that a hot summer will revive flagging sales, but have given up all hope of matching last year’s figures.

  • Browns MD joins Nicole Farhi

    5 April 2008

    Designer label Nicole Farhi has appointed Browns boss Niki Scordi to the new role of managing director.

  • Chessmen in administration

    5 April 2008

    South Wales young fashion independent Chessmen is hoping to rescue one of its stores after tough trading forced the three-store chain into administration.

  • Pockets’ bulging business expands into sixth store

    5 April 2008

    Designer menswear independent Pockets will open its sixth store at the end of this month in Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

  • Intimas rejigs strategy to lift plunging profits

    5 April 2008

    Intimas Group will reassess its stockist base as part of a company-wide strategic review after the lingerie group fell into the red.

  • Tesco to sell fashion and food from single website

    5 April 2008

    Tesco has pledged to provide a full online clothing offer and launch a combined food and fashion website, after temporarily closing its fashion site.

  • Indies snap up 20 Select shops

    4 April 2008

    Fashion independents have bought 20 Select stores, after the value chain went into administration earlier this year.

  • Woolies to launch Worthit! kidswear tomorrow

    3 April 2008

    Woolworths is to go head to head with Primark when its launches its first kidswear range under its entry level Worthit! brand tomorrow.

  • Woolworths returns to profitability

    2 April 2008

    Woolworths's retail business is back in the black, after posting an adjusted profit of £3.4 million compared to a loss of £12.9m the previous year.

  • Hudson confirmed as new MD of Monsoon

    1 April 2008

    Matt Hudson, former Marks & Spencer director, has been appointed managing director of Monsoon, as predicted by Drapers (March 1).

  • Ex-Selfridges buyer joins BrandAlley

    1 April 2008

    Ex-Selfridges buyer Ian Foley has joined BrandAlley.co.uk as accessories buyer to expand the etailer's range of luxury products.

  • Prada profits soar 66%

    1 April 2008

    Italian luxury group Prada, which owns Prada, Miu Miu and Church's luxury goods brands, posted a 66% surge in net profit last year, thanks to bumper sales in Asia.

  • Marks & Spencer plans letter to appease shareholders

    1 April 2008

    Marks & Spencer is preparing to write a formal letter to its shareholders this week to explain its decision to promote Sir Stuart Rose to the controversial role of joint chairman and chief executive.

  • George sets its sights on number one

    29 March 2008

    Anthony Thompson, the new managing director of George at Asda, has ambitious growth targets for the next three years.

  • Intimas kicks off strategic review following heavy losses

    28 March 2008

    Intimas' new chairman John Gibson has launched a strategic review after sale and profits collapsed at the lingerie business.

  • Primark closes on M&S market share

    28 March 2008

    Primark has moved a step closer to toppling Marks & Spencer from the top spot in clothing market share, after its volume share leapt to 10.1%.

  • Non-food sales lift Sainsbury's

    26 March 2008

    Sainsbury's reported like-for-like sales of 4.1% (excluding petrol) for the 12 weeks to March 22, boosted by 'strong growth' in its non-food business.

  • CBI predicts slower growth in 2009

    25 March 2008

    The Confederation of British Industry has downgraded its outlook for UK growth this year and forecasts even slower growth in 2009, as the credit crunch and rising commodity prices continue to bite.

  • Triumph opens first store in Wales

    20 March 2008

    Lingerie giant Triumph opened its fifth store in the UK in Cardiff yesterday.

  • George unveils massive growth targets

    19 March 2008

    George, Asda's fashion brand, has thrown down the gauntlet to Tesco and Marks & Spencer claiming it will be the number one supermarket clothing retailer by the end of this year and that it aims to take the top spot in volume market share by 2011.

  • Footfall expected to fall at Easter

    18 March 2008

    Figures from the Retail Traffic Index by analysts SPSL predict that shopper numbers will fall by 5.2% this Easter compared with Easter 2007.

  • Suzanne Shaw to front Michelle for George lingerie

    17 March 2008

    Michelle for George, Asda's lingerie brand, has signed Dancing on Ice winner Suzanne Shaw as the face and body of the supermarket's lingerie offer.

  • Indies untroubled by minimum wage hike

    13 March 2008

    Independent retailers are unconcerned about the rise in the national minimum wage, saying a 4% increase is “fair”.

  • Jocasi reaps global reward

    8 March 2008

    Accessories brand Jocasi expects to double its turnover this year on the back of international expansion.

  • Asda to cut back plastic bags

    7 March 2008

    Asda will remove all single-use plastic carrier bags from its checkouts in a bid to cut customer usage by 20%.

  • All change as George axes sub-brands

    7 March 2008

    George at Asda will drop its Fast Fashion and Must Have sub-brands as part of a major overhaul of its clothing offer.

  • Hayden Taylor eyes growth after debut in Gloucester

    7 March 2008

    Hayden Taylor, a new designer menswear independent, opened in Gloucester this week and plans to expand within the next five years.

  • Fashion sales boost John Lewis performance

    6 March 2008

    Fashion sales at department store group John Lewis rose 4.6% in 2007, with strong performances from both branded and own-label products.

  • Lingerie etailer Dolce V to launch this week

    6 March 2008

    Luxury lingerie etailer Dolce V will make its debut this week.

  • Asda to close George standalones

    5 March 2008

    Asda is to close its George standalones to focus on its out-of-town Living format.

  • Ethical 'stamp of approval' labels to launch this week

    4 March 2008

    Ethical Consumer magazine will launch a Best Buy labelling system to help consumers identify genuinely ethical products and services.

  • Jacqueline Gold to star in Sport Relief's The Apprentice show

    4 March 2008

    Ann Summers chief executive Jacqueline Gold will push her retail skills and business brain to the limit as she joins a raft of celebrity contestants taking part in a version of BBC 2's The Apprentice to raise money for Sport Relief.

  • Asda says disposable income has fallen

    4 March 2008

    The average UK household had 3.2% less disposable income in January this year compared with in January 2007, according to Asda.

  • Celine at Harrods, London

    1 March 2008

    Celine returns to Harrods with a ready-to-wear shop-in-shop that aims to stand out from the crowd.

  • Supply and demand for UK retail

    1 March 2008

    Suppliers are springing up as the new saviours of struggling retailers. But can they translate their manufacturing skills and take their product direct to the UK high street?

  • George at Asda suppliers face tough new penalties

    1 March 2008

    George at Asda has hit suppliers with tougher terms, quadrupling its penalty charges to a blanket 20%.

  • Shake-up on the cards as Select is rescued

    1 March 2008

    Select owner Cafer Mahiroglu will embark on a strategic review of the young fashion business, after rescuing half of its stores from administration this week in a deal worth £2.5 million.

  • Matalan ups sports offer

    1 March 2008

    Value retailer Matalan has launched branded sportswear shop-in-shops in a bid to capitalise on growing sales of its own-label sports ranges.

  • La Senza to unveil leisurewear

    28 February 2008

    La Senza will launch a leisurewear collection called Lola & Coco by La Senza next month, fronted by pop group Booty Luv.

  • PPR gives stellar performance in 2007

    27 February 2008

    Sales at luxury goods group PPR rose 7% on a comparable basis to €19.8 billion (£14.9bn) in 2007, with stellar performances from its Gucci Group clothing brands.

  • High street sales growth stalls and prices rise

    26 February 2008

    Sales growth on the high street has come to a halt, but prices have risen sharply, according to the CBI's latest Distributive Trades Survey.

  • FrostFrench to open Kings Road shop

    26 February 2008

    FrostFrench will open its second permanent store on London's Kings Road in April.

  • Gant launches collection for Harrods

    26 February 2008

    Gant has launched a capsule collection exclusively at Harrods for spring 08.

  • Valentine’s Day stirs mixed emotions for lingerie indies

    23 February 2008

    Trading in the run-up to Valentine’s Day was mixed at lingerie independents, with some reporting a 100% increase in sales while others traded flat.

  • Ethical lines to mark Fairtrade Fortnight

    23 February 2008

    High street retailers are emphasising their commitment to ethical fashion by launching a raft of fair trade clothing ranges next week to mark Fairtrade Fortnight.

  • Co-founder quits Select

    22 February 2008

    Select co-founder and managing director Nigel Fisher has resigned, a month after the business was bailed out by Turkish investors and 25 years after he set up the chain.

  • Mikey on the market for £7.5m

    22 February 2008

    Accessories business Mikey has been put up for sale just 18 months after it was rescued from administration by former New Look director Alan Wood.

  • Ultimo unveils first 'real' model

    22 February 2008

    Ultimo has unveiled the face of its new campaign - the first 'real' woman for the celebrity-led lingerie brand.

  • Sales of flat caps at Asda soar 75%

    22 February 2008

    George at Asda said sales of flat caps have soared 75% since Wednesday night's music industry Brit Awards.

  • Kelly Brook unveils latest swimwear collection for New Look

    21 February 2008

    New Look has unveiled its latest swimwear collaboration with actress and TV presenter Kelly Brook.

  • Defra calls for retailers to submit their sustainable clothing

    21 February 2008

    The government Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra) is calling retailers and manufacturers to provide samples of sustainable clothing for its study on consumer behaviour.

  • Lejaby to be sold

    20 February 2008

    The Warnaco Group has entered into an agreement to sell its lingerie business Lejaby to Palmers Textil AG for €45 million (£34m).

  • People Tree gets £1m funding

    20 February 2008

    People Tree, the ethical fashion label, has secured a £1 million financing package from financier Oikocredit.

  • Retail sales rise but fashion underperforms

    12 February 2008

    Like-for-like retail sales rose 2.6% last month compared to January 2007 but sales of fashion slowed for the fourth consecutive month according to the British Retail Consortium.

  • CPD hit by Pure date clash

    11 February 2008

    UK buyers stayed away from CPD in Dusseldorf this season, opting instead to visit Pure in London to kick start their autumn 08 buying.

  • CWF expands concessions

    8 February 2008

    Kidswear licensing group Children Worldwide Fashion will roll out its concessions to a further four House of Fraser stores this year.

  • East website to go transactional

    8 February 2008

    Womenswear retailer East will launch a transactional website this month and will roll out its concessions to a further six John Lewis stores.

  • Women’s indies stay positive for autumn

    8 February 2008

    Independent womenswear retailers have flat-lined their autumn budgets ahead of this month’s main trade shows.

  • A vision for UK fashion

    8 February 2008

    In his new role as chairman of the British Fashion Council, Harold Tillman aims to unite the UK fashion industry.

  • Shopping trips rise at start of year after December dip

    7 February 2008

    The number of shopping trips in the UK rose 0.8% year-on-year in January, but fell 26% in December, according to the latest figures from the Retail Traffic Index from analysts SPSL.

  • Jaeger signs franchise agreement for Middle East

    6 February 2008

    Jaeger has signed a franchise agreement to open stores in the Middle East.

  • Profits soar at LVMH

    6 February 2008

    Luxury goods group LVMH reported a 12% increase in profits for its fashion and leather goods businesses in 2007.

  • Indie sales rise in January despite lacklustre Xmas

    5 February 2008

    Independent retailers experienced strong trading at the start of the year, despite reports from the British Shops and Stores Association of a poor Christmas.

  • Shepherdson to tour Whistles

    5 February 2008

    Jane Shepherdson will take a whirlwind tour of all the shops in the Whistles chain to help her decide how best to return the niche business to its roots.

  • Mothercare teams up with Myleene Klass

    4 February 2008

    Mothercare has signed an exclusive deal with Myleene Klass to launch a babywear collection this summer.

  • First concessions signal Joules’ expansion

    1 February 2008

    Casualwear brand Joules is to open its first concessions ahead of further standalone store openings, and has forecast that sales will grow by 57% this year.

  • Tillman to chair alumni board of University of the Arts

    31 January 2008

    Jaeger owner Harold Tillman has been appointed chairman of the alumni board of the University of the Arts in London.

  • Woolworths agrees £385 million refinancing

    30 January 2008

    Woolworths has agreed a refinancing package totalling £385 million to fuel its growth.

  • Asda to launch two men's shirts for £5

    30 January 2008

    George at Asda is offering two men's shirts for £5, a week after it launched promotion on a women's work outfit for the same price.

  • Tesco bans cheques

    30 January 2008

    Tesco will stop accepting cheques from February 25.

  • Mamas and Papas appoints MD

    30 January 2008

    Marek Laskowski has been promoted to managing director of Mamas and Papas Retail Limited.

  • Woolies rejigs senior management

    29 January 2008

    Woolworths has appointed a retail and distribution operations director and group HR director.

  • Premier Kids kicks off in optimistic mood

    28 January 2008

    Kidswear trade show Premier Kids opened its doors yesterday and visitors and exhibitors were optimistic about autumn 08.

  • Intimas appoints new chairman

    28 January 2008

    Lingerie business Intimas Group has appointed John Gibson as chairman, with immediate effect.

  • Apax pulls Hilfiger IPO

    25 January 2008

    Private equity firm Apax scrapped the US$4 billion (£2bn) float of Tommy Hilfiger yesterday, blaming volatile market conditions.

  • Lingerie preview Autumn 08

    23 January 2008

    The buzzword fluttering around the lingerie industry is fit. A combination of women getting bigger and the popularity of TV shows fronted by stylists Trinny and Susannah and Gok Wan have helped to educate consumers on the importance of a well-fitting bra.

  • Littlewoods reshuffles board

    23 January 2008

    Littlewoods has restructured its board to align its marketing and product functions.

  • George at Asda launches £5 office outfit

    22 January 2008

    George at Asda has launched a £5 women's office outfit, just weeks after it introduced a £15 price promotion on men's suits.

  • Tesco to hit the high street with non-food chain

    22 January 2008

    Tesco is planning to open high street stores for its non-food ranges.

  • Superdry to headline TBC

    22 January 2008

    Superdry will show at streetwear show TBC for the first time next month, leading a line up which includes 28 new brands.

  • Bright young things

    21 January 2008

    If ever I needed proof that the fashion industry is awash with young talent and creativity, then last Thursday I found it.

  • 100 openings planned as La Senza expands

    18 January 2008

    Lingerie retailer La Senza will ramp up its expansion plans as it unveils a raft of new product categories for spring 08.

  • Liverpool indies welcomeCapital of Culture boost

    18 January 2008

    Independent retailers in Liverpool are hoping for a lift in trading after the city officially donned its crown as Europe’s Capital of Culture last weekend.

  • Mulberry to launch sunglasses

    18 January 2008

    Luxury label Mulberry will launch sunglasses in spring 08 in collaboration with Cutler & Gross.

  • H&M appoints new design boss

    17 January 2008

    H&M has promoted Ann-Sofie Johansson to head of design, replacing Margareta van den Bosch, who will move into semi-retirement this spring.

  • Laura Ashley ups stake in Moss Bros

    17 January 2008

    Laura Ashley has once again increased its stake in struggling menswear group Moss Group, to 5.05%.

  • Primark Christmas sales soar

    17 January 2008

    Sales at Primark during the Christmas period soared by 26%, ahead of company expectations.

  • Total sales up at Woolworths, but l-f-ls suffer

    16 January 2008

    Woolworths reported an increase of 11.2% in total group sales, with its kidswear business Ladybird the strongest performer.

  • Colors draws up growth plan as third store opens

    15 January 2008

    Designer mini-chain Colors has opened its third store in south London ahead of further expansion plans for 2008.

  • Darrell Webster Iain McAllister

    15 January 2008

    The management of The Dalya Group have completed the first stage of a management buyout and plan to grow domestic and export sales at the kidswear supplier.

  • Michelle Mone

    15 January 2008

    The founder of lingerie business Ultimo has just finished rolling out shop-in-shops in Debenhams. So how has the brand fared during its first foray into retail?

  • M&S teams up with Oxfam

    15 January 2008

    Marks & Spencer has teamed up with Oxfam to encourage consumers to recycle their clothes, as the retailer celebrates the first anniversary of its eco Plan A initiative.

  • Sales up at Burberry

    15 January 2008

    Burberry reported a 26% jump in sales, with strong double-digit growth across all channels.

  • George at Asda delivers men's suit for £15

    14 January 2008

    George at Asda will slash the price of its men's suit to £15.

  • Findel reports record sales

    11 January 2008

    Home shopping business Findel reported a record sales increase for the 39 weeks to December 28.

  • John Lewis gets uplift for new year

    11 January 2008

    Sales at department store group John Lewis rose 10.9% for the week to January 5, in a week where most branches traded over six days against seven last year.

  • La Senza sales up 10%

    10 January 2008

    La Senza reported a 10% increase in like-for-like sales over the Christmas trading period.

  • Mulberry to launch footwear

    10 January 2008

    Luxury accessories brand Mulberry will launch a footwear line for autumn 08 in collaboration with footweardesigner Jonathan Kelsey.

  • Blog: Bra-vo for lingerie indies

    10 January 2008

    As lingerie correspondent at Drapers, the lingerie trade shows are some of my favourite fairs to visit. With the autumn 08 buying season now upon us, it gave me the urge to hit some lingerie independents to do some serious shopping.

  • John Lewis is nation's favourite retailer

    10 January 2008

    John Lewis has been voted the UK's favourite retailer in a consumer survey conducted by retail analyst Verdict Research.

  • JJB reaches agreement with Which? over shirt refunds

    9 January 2008

    JJB Sports could pay out more than £10,000 in refunds to fans who bought replica shirts during 2000 and 2001.

  • Adili sales soar by 388%

    8 January 2008

    Ethical etailer Adili saw sales soar by 388% during the Christmas trading period, in its first update to the City since it floated in December.

  • Good Christmas for Gucci

    4 January 2008

    Luxury brand Gucci expects to achieve higher earnings for the full year after a good Christmas period.

  • Blog: Bargain bonanza

    4 January 2008

    I always used to hate Sale shopping. The idea of elbowing past hundreds of people to get hold of the only piece of clothing left in my size didn't appeal to me, but I've changed my mind this year.

  • Mone to open UItimo standalones

    3 January 2008

    Lingerie entrepreneur Michelle Mone is in talks with Debenhams to open standalone Ultimo stores within the next two years.

  • Mothercare to bring forward Christmas update?

    3 January 2008

    Mothercare is considering bringing forward its Christmas trading update after strong sales during the festive period according to reports.

  • Buying boss for Primark

    18 December 2007

    Primark is on the hunt for its first buying and merchandising director, who could step up to become chief executive.

  • King’s Road poised to host second FrostFrench store

    18 December 2007

    Contemporary womenswear independent FrostFrench will open its second shop next year, ahead of plans for further expansion.

  • Oasis to ramp up its offer with four new sub-brands

    18 December 2007

    Womenswear chain Oasis will unveil four new sub-brands for spring 08 as it looks to capitalise on the success of its Little Black Dress range.

  • Product tops Spindler’s list at Debs

    18 December 2007

    Angela Spindler has put product at the top of her priority listafter being appointed managing director of department store chain Debenhams this week.

  • Bring on the sub-brands

    18 December 2007

    Sub-brands can better segment an offer and provide greater choice, but multiples must take care not to confuse shoppers and weaken the impact of their core ranges

  • Retailers facing tough new year

    18 December 2007

    UK fashion retailers can expect a tough start to 2008 as worsening economic conditions drive down consumer spending, delegates were told at this year’s Drapers Fashion summit.

  • Kids’ overhaul at Selfridges

    18 December 2007

    Selfridges is to overhaul its kidswear department in spring 09, following double-digit growth in the category.

  • Tesco boss heads to M&S

    18 December 2007

    Marks & Spencer has poached Tesco’s head of merchandising Cathy Haydon, ahead of a rejig of its management team.

  • Tillman tipped to take reins at BFC

    14 December 2007

    Jaeger owner Harold Tillman is the front-runner to replace Stuart Rose as chairman of the British Fashion Council, in the same week that the London Fashion Week organiser was awarded a record £4.2 million in funding.

  • La Senza unveils new store fit

    14 December 2007

    Lingerie retailer La Senza has unveiled a new store concept in north London, with plans to roll it out to the rest of its portfolio.

  • Sales and profits soar at Wolford

    14 December 2007

    Sales at luxury hosiery brand Wolford jumped by 18% during the six months to October 31 to EUR 76.5 million (£53.8m).

  • Original Factory Shop sold for £68.5m

    14 December 2007

    Value retailer Original Factory Shop has completed a £68.5 million management buy-out deal backed by private equity firm Duke Street Capital.

  • Merrill Lynch tells Sports Direct investors to sell

    13 December 2007

    Investment bank Merrill Lynch has urged Sports Direct investors to sell their shares in the troubled business.

  • Blog: Dressed for success?

    12 December 2007

    Between the office Christmas party, the Drapers Awards and a winter wedding, I've actually had several good, valid reasons to invest in dresses this year. The high street has certainly lived up to my expectations, but it seems that the retailers themselves haven't had as much festive fun.

  • BFC announces New Generation sponsorship

    12 December 2007

    The British Fashion Council will award New Generation sponsorship to 20 young designers to show at its exhibition and on the catwalks at London Fashion Week next season.

  • Online shoppers spend record £767,500 in one minute

    11 December 2007

    Shoppers spent a record £767,500 on the internet in a single minute yesterday, according to payment processing company Retail Decisions.

  • Intimas chairman resigns

    7 December 2007

    Michael Hobbs, chairman of lingerie business Intimas, has resigned.

  • Whistles to break away from Mosaic

    6 December 2007

    Baugur is planning to spin off Whistles from Mosaic Fashions and install Jane Shepherdson as the brand’s new chief executive.

  • Kid's Fashion Mode Enfantine axes autumn show

    5 December 2007

    Kidswear trade fair Kid's Fashion Mode Enfantine has cancelled its Paris edition due to take place in January after low exhibitor numbers.

  • Tesco delivers strong Q3 trading

    4 December 2007

    Group sales at Tesco rose by 11.8% for the 13 weeks to November 24, but non-food categories continued to experience price deflation.

  • High street in decline says BSSA

    1 December 2007

    High streets are facing a 'slow death' as they try to compete with cheaper out-of-town supermarkets and shopping centres, according to The British Shops and Stores Association.

  • Jones Bootmaker and Punkyfish join Festival Place

    1 December 2007

    Punkyfish and Jones Bootmaker have opened new stores at Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke.

  • Katie Grand will not join Mulberry

    1 December 2007

    Katie Grand has resigned from luxury brand Mulberry - she was due to take up the post of creative director in January 2008.

  • Luxury brands criticised by WWF

    1 December 2007

    Luxury brands have been named and shamed by green charity the World Wildlife Fund for their low-grade environmental and social policies.

  • Premium overtakes value as fastest growing clothing category

    1 December 2007

    The premium sector of the UK fashion market is set to outstrip the value sector in terms of growth this year, according to retail analyst Verdict Research.

  • Sports Direct to buy back shares

    1 December 2007

    Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley plans to buy back a further 5% of shares in the troubled sports business, renewing speculation that he could take it private next year.

  • Rise in ethical clothing sales

    30 November 2007

    Sales of ethical clothing have risen by 79% in 2007 compared with last year, but sales from charity shops have declined.

  • Ben Sherman appoints new head of marketing

    24 November 2007

    Ben Sherman has appointed Carlos Singh as head of global marketing.

  • Bonmarché to roll out David Emanuel collection

    24 November 2007

    Bonmarché will roll out its David Emanuel range to an additional 50 stores next year, after it scored strong sales from the designer tie-up.

  • Gas signs rugby star Carter

    24 November 2007

    Denim brand Gas has teamed up with international rugby star Dan Carter to roll out Gas stores in New Zealand.

  • Jellyrolls takes on womenswear

    24 November 2007

    Kidswear mini-chain Jellyrolls has opened its first womenswear shop in Leicester. The four-store retailer has converted its kidswear Sale shop into a womenswear store under the same name, after the Sale shop began to affect trading in the full-price kidswear shop located a few doors down the road.

  • Regent Street switches on Christmas lights

    24 November 2007

    The Christmas lights on London's Regent Street were switched on last night to kick-start this year's festive shopping season.

  • Cash injection for Graham & Green

    17 November 2007

    Independent accessories retailer Graham & Green has received a cash injection from the Royal Bank of Scotland to fund its store roll-out programme.

  • CPD announces fair dates to 2009

    17 November 2007

    The Igedo Company, which organises Dusseldorf trade fair CPD, has fixed the dates of its shows to 2009.

  • Kids’ Baroue debuts in Kuwait

    17 November 2007

    Kids’ department store Baroue is to roll out its concept in the Middle East after opening its first store in Kuwait.

  • Marks and Spencer unveils 2008 graduate scheme

    17 November 2007

    Marks & Spencer will offer more than 200 graduate placement schemes for students next year.

  • Matalan founder quits

    17 November 2007

    Matalan founder John Hargreaves has stepped down as chairman of the value retailer, less than 12 months after he took the business private.

  • Sainsbury’s Tu to reach £300m

    17 November 2007

    Sainsbury’s clothing brand Tu is set to become a £300 million brand in terms of sales this year, and was the grocer’s “star performer” for the 28 weeks to October 6.

  • Sainsbury's Tu to become £300m brand

    17 November 2007

    Sainsbury's clothing brand Tu is on track to become a £300 million brand this year, after the supermarket posted like-for-like sales growth of 4% for the 28 weeks to October 6.

  • Tesco loses its head of design Lee Rees-Oliviere

    17 November 2007

    Tesco design boss Lee Rees-Oliviere has resigned from the supermarket to launch his own label for spring 08.

  • Will the tills ring out for Christmas?

    13 November 2007

    A new report predicts a bumper Christmas on the high street. But what are retailers doing to grab a share of festive spend.

  • Claire’s bolsters team with UK boss

    10 November 2007

    Accessories chain Claire’s has appointed Paul Mildenstein as UK managing director to help build on its European business.

  • Footfall figures fall in October

    10 November 2007

    Fewer UK shoppers hit the high street last month compared to October 2006, according to monitoring company FootFall.

  • KJ’s Laundry hangs out online to boost its sales

    10 November 2007

    London independent womens-wear boutique KJ’s Laundry has launched a transactional website in a bid to expand its reach and boost sales.

  • Next posts flat sales

    10 November 2007

    Sales at Next Retail and Next Directory for the 14 weeks to November 7 were marginally up at 0.4% compared with the same period last year.

  • Rejig at Sainsbury’s to drive growth at Tu

    10 November 2007

    Sainsbury’s has strengthened the management team at its Tu clothing brand to help capitalise on growing sales of accessories, footwear and ethical products.

  • Sales rocket at Primark

    10 November 2007

    Sales at Primark exploded by 37% to £1.6 billion and profits jumped 20% £200 million for the year to September 15.

  • Selling online: the rules

    10 November 2007

    As online fashion sales continue to rocket, many brands are restricting their web distribution to avoid overexposure

  • Upmarket shopfit for JJB

    10 November 2007

    JJB Sports has unveiled a new store concept in Manchester, one of the first major initiatives under new chief executive Chris Ronnie.

  • Clothing sales up at Woolies

    3 November 2007

    Clothing sales at Woolworths rose by almost 5% for the 38 weeks to 27 October against last year.

  • FrostFrench to open more stores

    3 November 2007

    Womenswear label FrostFrench will open two more London stores on the same day next month, to add to their debut Islington shop.

  • High street growth at its lowest for almost a year

    3 November 2007

    Clothing retailers reported a drop in sales for the fifth consecutive month this October, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey 2007.

  • Larger-sized bra labels lift their lingerie market share

    3 November 2007

    Lingerie brands specialising in bigger cup sizes are taking a larger slice of the UK market, although growth in the sector is slowing.

  • New York kid's trade fair comes to London

    3 November 2007

    New York kidswear trade show Bubble will launch a London edition in January for autumn 08.

  • Streets ahead

    2 November 2007

    Drapers and property developer Grosvenor invited retailers and planners for a round table dinner to discuss the UK shopping experience.

  • Hosiery pulls its socks up

    29 October 2007

    The recent popularity of footless tights and opaques, as well as the emerging trend for over-the-knee socks, is finally helping to lift the hosiery market out of its 10-year slump

  • Galeries Lafayette guarantees snow this Christmas

    27 October 2007

    French department store Galeries Lafayette will guarantee its customers a white Christmas, after investing in eight snow makers for the first time this year.

  • Monsoon property boss to lead La Senza's expansion

    27 October 2007

    La Senza has poached Monsoon property director Tim Morris to drive an “aggressive” store expansion strategy.

  • Nike agrees to buy Umbro for £285m

    27 October 2007

    Sportswear giant Nike has agreed to buy UK football brand Umbro in a deal worth £285 million.

  • Ryan quashes retirement talk with vision for Primark growth

    27 October 2007

    Primark chairman and chief executive Arthur Ryan, has brushed aside rumours of retirement and pledged to stay with the business for another four years.

  • Tesco launches its first organic and fair trade clothing ranges

    27 October 2007

    Tesco will unveil its first fair trade clothing offer next year and will introduce an organic range under own label Cherokee.The supermarket told Drapers that it would convert two million units from its core T-shirt and denim ranges into fair trade cotton for spring 08, including men’s, women’s and kids’ T-shirts, jeans and socks.

  • Trading boss steps up to lead QS’s retail rebrand

    27 October 2007

    QS trading director David Pidgeon has been promoted to chief executive of the value chain, which is being rebranded as Store 21.Pidgeon, who joined the business in April, replaces current boss Findlay Caldwell, who has been promoted to vice chairman and chief executive of the company’s European operation.

  • Value market growth set to be lowest in 10 years

    27 October 2007

    Growth in the value clothing market is set to slow down for the first time in 10 years as the sector reaches consolidation, according to retail analyst Verdict Research.

  • Christie Hefner

    23 October 2007

    As Playboy opens its first European store on London’s Oxford Street, chairman and chief executive Christie Hefner tells Ana Santi why she’s one happy bunny

  • Tesco fashion site takes its cues from Facebook

    20 October 2007

    Tesco has launched a Facebook-inspired initiativeon its clothing website to encourage customers to swap fashion ideas and personalise their online shopping experience.

  • Peacocks ups fashionability with in-house design team

    20 October 2007

    Peacocks has appointed its first in-house design team in its quest to boost its fashion credentials.

  • Peacocks hires top D&G model for Christmas campaign

    20 October 2007

    Value retailer Peacocks has signed leading model Rachel Alexander to star in its Christmas campaign.

  • Retail sales rise in September

    20 October 2007

    Like-for-like retail sales growth across clothing and footwear grew by 4% in the three months to September compared with the same period last year, according to the Office of National Statistics.

  • River Island voted best shop at Company Awards

    20 October 2007

    River Island has been voted best shop on the high street at Company Magazine’s High Street Fashion Awards, beating last year’s winner Topshop.

  • Sales up at LVMH

    20 October 2007

    Luxury group LVMH said comparable sales of its fashion lines grew 14% for the first nine months of the year taking total fashion sales to EUR 4 billion (£2.79 bn) for the period.

  • Strong first half at Burberry

    20 October 2007

    Luxury brand Burberry reported strong like-for-like growth across retail, wholesale and licensing for the six months to September 30.

  • Figleaves poaches Tesco buyer for top role

    19 October 2007

    Online lingerie retailer Figleaves.com has recruited Tesco clothing director Julia Reynolds as its new chief executive.

  • Clothing growth is on track to outstrip the rest of retail

    13 October 2007

    The UK clothing market is expected to outperform the entire retail sector in the next five years, with online sales the fastest-growing category.

  • Credit crunch hits summer sales

    13 October 2007

    Clothing and footwear sales growth during the summer slowed to 3%, with most sectors losing market share.

  • Peacock Group to spread its wings

    13 October 2007

    The Peacock Group will open 65 stores next year, after scoring strong sales at its new fashion-led shops.

  • Sainsbury’s to take £1m hit on fair trade T-shirts

    13 October 2007

    Sainsbury’s will increase its order of fair trade cotton tenfold for its Tu brand and will take a £1 million hit on margin to retain its low prices.

  • Chief financial officer joins Umbro

    13 October 2007

    Gary Brown has taken up his position as chief financial officer at Umbro, a month earlier than expected.

  • Climate change to rock fashion industry

    13 October 2007

    The fashion industry may need to call on climatologists for advice on weather appropriate designs and when to sell their products.

  • Sainsbury's delivers strong Q2 performance

    13 October 2007

    Sainsbury's reported strong like-for-like growth in the second quarter and is on track to surpass its planned growth by March 2008.

  • September sales boosted by cold weather

    13 October 2007

    UK retail like-for-like sales rose 3% in September and clothing sales led the way thanks to the cold snap according to the British Retail Consortium.

  • JoJo Maman Bébé on global expansion trail

    6 October 2007

    Maternity retailer JoJo Maman Bébé will open its first international franchise in 2008 and four UK stores this year, as the company forecasts record annual growth.

  • Myla on the hunt for chief executive to drive growth

    6 October 2007

    Lingerie brand Myla is searching for a chief executive to steer the business through the next phase of its expansion.

  • Playboy Adds New Ranges at London Store Opening

    6 October 2007

    Playboy unveiled its first eveningwear and sportswear ranges at the opening of its debut European store in London's Oxford Street.

  • Luxury market to double

    6 October 2007

    The rate of growth for global spend on luxury products will more than double over the next five years but clothing will lose out to the latest must-have watches and jewellery according to Verdict Research.

  • Non-food sales up at Tesco but clothing takes a hit

    6 October 2007

    Non-food sales at Tesco rose 9.9% in the first half of the year, but the supermarket said clothing sales had suffered during the unseasonably cold summer.

  • Richard Ratner stable after heart attack

    6 October 2007

    Veteran retail analyst Richard Ratner is in a stable condition after suffering a heart attack at his office in the City yesterday afternoon.

  • Stores wise up to value fatigue

    6 October 2007

    Value and middle-market fashion retailers are trying to cash in on shoppers’ desire for quality by launching premium ranges. But will this strategy survive the current trading climate?

  • UK consumer confidence bounces back

    6 October 2007

    Consumer confidence in the UK bounced back in September despite credit crunch fears, according to a survey by Nationwide.

  • Lambert Howarth in administration

    4 October 2007

    Footwear supply giant Lambert Howarth has gone into administration.

  • Katharine Hamnett to sever Tesco tie-up

    29 September 2007

    Katharine Hamnett has said that she is to pull her organic and fair-trade clothing range out of Tesco.

  • Matalan tackles its debt payment

    29 September 2007

    Matalan said it is ahead of schedule on its debt repayments, amid rumours of tough trading.

  • Intimas sees red as profits slide

    29 September 2007

    Lingerie group Intimas will strengthen its distribution channels to bring it back into the black, after sales tumbled and it posted a loss for the first half of the year.

  • Sales up at Escada

    29 September 2007

    Luxury group Escada reported a rise in sales and profits for the first nine months of the fiscal year, with European markets offsetting declines in the US.

  • Monsoon ups trend levels with Storm

    8 September 2007

    Monsoon is aiming to boost its fashion credentials after launching a second trend-led sub-brand called Storm.

  • Crew Clothing eyes bigger stores in upmarket towns

    1 September 2007

    Lifestyle retailer Crew Clothing is seeking larger- format stores to help bolster its womenswear sales.

  • Cup winner

    1 September 2007

    Lingerie brand Panache has thrived under sales director Peter Cronin. Ana Santi meets the man who brought Jordan and the K cup to the underwear market

  • Ex-Baugur director seeking to invest in brands at LFW

    1 September 2007

    Former Baugur director Aslaug Magnusdottir will scour London Fashion Week for possible investments for her new private equity fund, TSM Capital.

  • Adams Kids goes upmarket with more fashionable offer

    1 September 2007

    Adams Kids will embark on a product overhaul for spring 08, as its new owners look to reposition the chain upmarket.

  • International lingerie chains ready to bust into UK underwear market

    18 August 2007

    Two international retailers are poised to shake up the UK lingerie sector, as Russian and Italian chains open in prime London locations by the end of the year.

  • Fenn and Spindler on the market for top retail roles

    11 August 2007

    Two of fashion's top female executives, Karyn Fenn and Angela Spindler, are now on the market and are likely to draw interest from a host of major retailers, according to headhunters.

  • Mulberry plans lower-priced bags range to fuel market share growth

    11 August 2007

    Mulberry is gearing up to launch two lower-priced bag collections for spring 08, as the brand's share of the accessories market continues to grow. The two ranges will be manufactured in China, a first for Mulberry, which makes as much as 60% of its collection in the UK.

  • Phase Eight on expansion trail

    11 August 2007

    Womenswear retailer Phase Eight plans to open larger stores in prime locations as it embarks on a brand overhaul.

  • Tu boss takes control of clothing as fashion sales rocket at Sainsbury's

    4 August 2007

    Tu buying and design director Adrian Mountford has been appointed as business unit director of Sainsbury's soaring clothing division, with fashion set to be given more space in stores next year.

  • Asda hopes to bridge north/south divide with George's online launch

    28 July 2007

    Asda will use the internet to capture fashion spend in the south of England as it vies with rival Tesco to become the first supermarket to launch an online clothing offer next year.

  • Asda vows to put ethics at top of list

    21 July 2007

    Asda has said it will put supply chain ethics ahead of meeting consumer demand, after investigating claims that workers at its Bangladeshi factories faced unfair working conditions.

  • Fashion Forward funding to help trio of fledgling brand

    21 July 2007

    Designers Sinha-Stanic, Jens Laugesen and Richard Nicoll will receive Fashion Forward sponsorship from the British Fashion Council to show their spring 08 collections at London Fashion Week in September.

  • Under offer

    21 July 2007

    Ana Santi lays bare the leading looks for spring 08's swimwear and lingerie

  • Sainsbury's adds petite and plus sizes to Tu range

    14 July 2007

    Sainsbury's will launch plus- and petite-size ranges for the first time next year, ahead of further expansion plans as it dedicates more space to its Tu clothing line.

  • Product talent tipped for Primark's top job

    14 July 2007

    Primark must appoint someone with ‘tremendous buying and sourcing capabilities’ to maintain its momentum when it replaces boss Arthur Ryan, City sources and recruiters said this week.

  • Born in the USA

    7 July 2007

    American influences dominated both designer and streetwear labels at kidswear show Pitti Bimbo in Florence. Ana Santi rounds up the biggest trends

  • Wholesale axed ahead of FrostFrench's store debut

    7 July 2007

    Contemporary womenswear brand FrostFrench is to open its first standalone store after scrapping its wholesale operation.

  • Basics are going cheap at Peacocks

    30 June 2007

    Value chain Peacocks is slashing the price of its basics range as part of a raft of strategies announced last week, which include rolling out its organic cotton line into menswear and kidswear.

  • Mulberry to focus on overseas expansion

    30 June 2007

    Mulberry is to halt its UK expansion after 2008 to target international markets and new product categories.

  • Sinking feeling for retailers as flooding wipes out sales

    30 June 2007

    Retailers in flood-hit parts of the UK are expecting a severe downturn in sales, with heavy rain set to continue into next week and losses predicted to run into millions of pounds.

  • Mulberry's expansion plans start to bear fruit

    16 June 2007

    Luxury goods group Mulberry is on the expansion trail, with two more stores set to open in the next few weeks.

  • Gap to unveil first UK concession in House of Fraser's kidswear revamp

    16 June 2007

    US casualwear giant Gap is planning to launch its first UK concession in House of Fraser, as part of a revamp of the department store chain’s kidswear business.

  • Turning over a new leaf

    9 June 2007

    As Figleaves.com founder and chairman Daniel Nabarro steps down from the chief executive role, he reveals his ideal candidate for the job and his expansion plans for the online lingerie retailer

  • Peacocks' new roost

    2 June 2007

    A new fashion concept store signals a change of tack for Peacocks as it strives to move beyond its value image

  • BFC calls on retailers to help with skinny models inquiry

    26 May 2007

    The British Fashion Council is urging retailers and brands to submit evidence to its independent inquiry into the use of unnaturally thin models at London Fashion Week.

  • Figleaves founder wants 'real retailer' for top job

    26 May 2007

    Figleaves.com is searching for a new chief executive as it gears up to make a profit for the first time next year.

  • Primark outstrips Tesco and Asda in market share battle

    26 May 2007

    Primark and Tesco are overshadowing their rivals in the battle for volume share of the clothing market, as the two value retailers climb to second and third places behind Marks & Spencer.

  • Tesco plans online fashion assault as it squares up to the high street

    19 May 2007

    Tesco is preparing to take on the high street by expanding and rebranding its clothing offer ahead of an online launch in 2009.

  • Bratz blames high street pressure for its collapse

    5 May 2007

    Six-store kidswear independent Bratz has gone into administration, blaming high rents and pressure from the high street.

  • Fashion Enter adds two more shops to help new designers

    5 May 2007

    Not-for-profit organisation Fashion Enter will open two more stores within the next year to support more designers and grow turnover five-fold to £1 million in three years.

  • German designer produces Tchibo's first fashion tie-up

    5 May 2007

    Coffee-to-clothing retailer Tchibo is launching its first designer clothing collaboration, called Mitch & Co, as it looks to take on the high street and attract a younger market.

  • Intimas makes its retail debut

    5 May 2007

    Lingerie supplier Intimas Group has launched in the UK retail market with an 800 sq ft space on London's Oxford Street, ahead of its official retail push planned for the end of the year.

  • Original Factory Shop aims for 100 stores as growth strategy hots up

    28 April 2007

    Value chain The Original Factory Shop is to open 15 stores in the next twelve months, as part of plans to grow its portfolio to 100 stores by the end of 2008.

  • Sainsbury's vows to take on high street with trendier Tu

    28 April 2007

    Sainsbury's clothing market share for its Tu range is on target to reach 1% before the end of the year, as it prepares to square up to the high street with a directional autumn 07 collection and new store concept.

  • City says Primark's profits will surge

    21 April 2007

    Primark is expected to report strong growth in profits but flat like-for-like sales next week, according to the City, as it continues to expand its store portfolio.

  • Ethel Austin ups its fashion appeal with new sub-label

    21 April 2007

    Ethel Austin will launch a trend-led sub-brand called Katherine Hamilton next month in a bid to bump up its fashionability.

  • Primark's showdown on Oxford St

    14 April 2007

    Can the value giant's new London flagship help it square up to the UK's biggest fashion players?

  • Sainsbury's eco-cotton babywear will not feature organic labelling

    14 April 2007

    Sainsbury's is to launch a babywear collection this month made from organic cotton, but the supermarket will be unable to market the range as organic.

  • Tesco clothing to top £1bn

    14 April 2007

    Tesco's clothing sales are on track to break the £1 billion barrier next year, after analysts predicted it would report double-digit growth in clothing in its full-year results next week.

  • Wolford sets ambitious target for UK expansion

    31 March 2007

    Luxury legwear brand Wolford is on the expansion trail in the UK, with plans to double its standalone store count, increase its shop-in-shop presence and open concessions.

  • Jacques Vert seeks to grow labels

    24 March 2007

    Jacques Vert-owned labels Planet and Precis Petite will open new concessions in two House of Fraser stores as part of a company-wide expansion and refit project.

  • City dampens Monsoon's faith in Fusion

    17 March 2007

    Struggling high street chain Monsoon is pinning its hopes on trend-led collection Fusion to help lift falling sales, after posting a profit warning this week.

  • QS Discount prepares to challenge Primark with fresh brand identity

    17 March 2007

    North-west retailer QS Discount will unveil its new branding next month, as it plans to build its national presence.

  • Myla to wholesale in the UK following product overhaul

    10 March 2007

    Lingerie brand Myla is gearing up for a wholesale launch in the UK this year, and is adding new product categories to its portfolio as part of a global overhaul.

  • George throws down the gauntlet

    3 March 2007

    As Asda unveils an aggressive George ad campaign, what do industry insiders think of the tactic?

  • Asda riles M&S with George price comparison campaign

    24 February 2007

    A war of words has broken out between Asda and Marks & Spencer after the supermarket launched a new advertising strategy, pitching its clothing line George against higher-priced collections from its high street rivals.

  • Buyers focus on short order as coats prove a hit at Pure

    17 February 2007

    Independent retailers at Pure London were holding back budgets for more short-order buying after a tough season, but remained optimistic for autumn 07.

  • Bjorn Borg serves up UK shops

    10 February 2007

    Underwear label Bjorn Borg is due to open its first standalone and outlet stores in the UK by the end of the year.

  • Who's Next takes shine off Pret

    10 February 2007

    Who's Next is taking ground from Paris rival Pret a Porter, as the contemporary women's fashion event increased its pulling power for autumn 07.

  • Shannon's strategy aims to put Adams back in the black

    10 February 2007

    Kidswear chain Adams Kids is undergoing a two-month shake-up to revamp its product offer and formulate an international growth plan, after its acquisition by ex-Stead & Simpson chairman John Shannon.

  • Monsoon ramps up Fusion as new boss takes control

    3 February 2007

    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.

  • Bidders circle Myriad as sale looms

    13 January 2007

    As many as 12 bidders are understood to have put in offers for Adams Kids owner Myriad Childrenswear Group, with a decision due to be made within days.

  • Mulberry rejigs clothing to raise its global reputation

    13 January 2007

    Mulberry is revamping its clothing offer for autumn 07 with a new designer collaboration and a younger look for menswear, as it aims to move from being an accessories company to a global luxury brand.

  • Retail therapy

    13 January 2007

    Retail Trust, the charity for retailers, is looking to increase fundraising and raise its profile this year as it celebrates its 175th anniversary

  • Adams seeks parental guidance

    13 January 2007

    Potential buyers of the Adams chain must decide if the high street needs a kidswear specialist

  • QS set to grow after Indian investment

    6 January 2007

    Value retailer QS is on the expansion trail with plans to double its chain to 400 stores, after Indian textile manufacturing firm Alok Group bought a majority stake in the British business.

newsletter_drapers

Job of the week

Jivaro

Buying, Merchandising & Design Careers in Australia

£Competitive | Asia & Oceania; Australia

Jobs

Senior Sales Assistant - Brighton - Iconic Fashion Brand!!

VERY COMPETITIVE (On Request!!) | South East; East Sussex

Assistant Account Manager

£22000 - £28000 per annum | London

Regional Visual Coordinator

£27000 - £32000 per annum + Bonus + Benefits | London; South East; South West

Start your new career today

Search

2012 POWERLIST

Powerlist_2012

2012 Powerlist

More

CATWALK COVERAGE

Pitti_Uomo_AW12_Small

Catwalk coverage

More

IN BUSINESS FEATURES

tEXTILES_REPORT_SMALL

In Business Features

More