Drapers
Eve Oxberry

Eve is senior news reporter on Drapers.

John Stockton

24 September 2010
Building closer relationships with independent stockists flies in the face of many rival brand strategies but for Weird Fish’s managing director, wholesale comes first
Web investment to lead Alexon charge

3 September 2010
Womenswear conglomerate Alexon Group is seeking a head of ecommerce to drive online growth following the appointment of commercial director Kevin Keaney and ex-Moss Bros chairman David Adams as non-executive director.
British Fashion Council announces Talent Launch Pad winners

1 September 2010
Eudon Choi, Holly Fulton and Irwin & Jordan are among the emerging designers to be honoured with the first British Fashion Council and Elle magazine Talent Launch Pad awards.
Hermès positive about full-year outlook

1 September 2010
French luxury goods group Hermès said it was positive about the second half of the year, following a strong first half performance.
New brands join Esthetica line up

1 September 2010
Esthetica, the ethical exhibition space of London Fashion Week, has signed a raft of new fashion and accessories exhibitors ahead of this month’s event.
Fashion's Night Out London plans revealed

31 August 2010
Retailers across the capital have planned a host of special events to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out on September 8.
Gucci relaunches website with a raft of digital initiatives

31 August 2010
Gucci relaunched its website yesterday, touting the revamped site as its “digital flagship”. The luxury brand has organised a series of promotional activities around the launch.
Harrods and BFC award graduate internships

31 August 2010
Luxury department store Harrods has awarded two paid internships to graduates through a partnership with the British Fashion Council.
Chloé confirms La Bourdonnaye as chief executive

31 August 2010
Luxury womenswear brand Chloé has confirmed that former Liberty chief executive Geoffroy de La Bourdonnaye will join the company as chief executive.
Alexon appoints David Adams non-executive director

27 August 2010
Womenswear retailer Alexon Group has appointed former House of Fraser deputy chief executive and group finance director David Adams as non-executive director to advise on its turnaround strategy.
London store kicks off Desa’s UK push

28 August 2010
Turkish premium womenswear and accessories retailer Desa has fired the starting gun on an aggressive international roll-out of its wholesale and retail business, to include 18 UK stores.
Spice still hot after 25 years in business

28 August 2010
London footwear indie Spice will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first store this weekend.
Retailers optimistic as high street sales lift in August

26 August 2010
High street retail sales increased in August, and most retailers expect that to continue through September, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey.
Kuyichi opens first UK store

26 August 2010
Dutch ethical young fashion brand Kuyichi, has opened its first UK store on Manchester’s King Street.
Seasalt hires from Saltwater ahead of sub-brand launch

25 August 2010
Lifestyle brand and retailer Seasalt has appointed Saltwater’s Laura Watson to the new role of senior designer and tasked her with spearheading the development of a contemporary womenswear sub-brand for spring 12.
John Skelton to set up fashion and music indie

24 August 2010
Ex Oki-ni creative director and Harrods buyer John Skelton will launch a new fashion, music and book retail venture named LN-CC later this month.
Bally launches made-to-order service

24 August 2010
Luxury brand and retailer Bally is to launch a bespoke footwear service in its stores.
H&M launches iPhone app

20 August 2010
Swedish young fashion chain H&M has launched its first iPhone application today ahead of the planned launch of its transactional website next month.
On|Off schedule announced

20 August 2010
The schedule for London Fashion Week’s emerging designer showcase On|Off has been announced.
Asos ditches kidswear to focus on core customer

21 August 2010
Multi-brand etailer Asos is axing its kidswear offer to concentrate on its core young fashion market.
Indies consolidate brands to boost spring 11 profits

21 August 2010
Independent retailers are aggressively consolidating their brand mixes for spring 11, axing labels that have underperformed, brands that are perceived to be over-distributed or those that have put up prices.
Wolf & Badger tests concept in Selfridges

21 August 2010
Designer indie Wolf & Badger is eyeing a permanent concession in Selfridges in London following the opening of a 500 sq ft pop-up shop in the department store last week.
TJX Europe profits tumble

18 August 2010
TJX Europe, the European parent company of UK off-price retailer TK Maxx, saw profits tumble 76% in the first half of the year.
Urban Outfitters drives store roll-out

17 August 2010
Urban Outfitters is planning retail expansion, focused on its Anthropologie chain, across Europe and the US as it reported strong like-for-like growth.
O'Neill UK profits slump

16 August 2010
The UK arm of boardsports company O’Neill saw turnover rise but profits fall in 2009.
Reasons for optimism at Moda despite caution among buyers

14 August 2010
Visitors and exhibitors were upbeat at mainstream fashion and footwear trade show Moda, which recorded a 22% rise in attendance on last year.
Lifestyle retailers battle to stand out from the crowd

14 August 2010
The lifestyle sector is heading for a spring 11 shake-up as retailers and brands diversify to stand out in an increasingly saturated market.
Animal boss joins Alexon to speed turnaround

12 August 2010
Womenswear group Alexon has appointed former Animal chief executive Kevin Keaney to the newly created role of commercial director.
Selfridges appoints menswear buying manager

12 August 2010
Department store group Selfridges has appointed Adam Kelly as buying manager menswear to replace Toby Bateman, who left the business last month.
La Perla to launch shapewear

11 August 2010
Italian lingerie brand and retailer La Perla will launch its first collection of shapewear pieces, called ShapeCouture, to buyers next month.
Vero Moda launches lingerie

11 August 2010
Young fashion brand and retailer Vero Moda is to trial a lingerie collection in its own stores from October with a view to wholesaling it next year.
Topshop to expand in Japan with flagship store

10 August 2010
Fashion powerhouse Arcadia is to expand its Topshop chain in Japan with the opening of a flagship store in Tokyo next month.
Sykes closes eponymous brand to focus on Aquascutum

10 August 2010
Aquascutum design director Joanna Sykes is to axe her eponymous luxury womenswear label to focus on her designs for the British heritage retailer and brand.
Skillsmart Retail awards Oxford Summer School scholarships

9 August 2010
Individuals from businesses including lifestyle brand Henri-Lloyd and luxury etailer Net-a-Porter have been awarded scholarships worth nearly £2,000 each to attend the Oxford Summer School retail training programme.
Marc Jacobs to produce plus sizes

9 August 2010
Designer label Marc Jacobs is set to be the first luxury catwalk label to produce pieces for women in sizes upwards of a 14.
Fat Face makes redundancies as it focuses on product and stores

6 August 2010
Fat Face, the lifestyle retailer and brand, has made 18 head office redundancies and created 45 store jobs as it cuts administrative costs and opens more stores.
John Lewis: Strong first half sales growth unlikely to be sustained

6 August 2010
Fashion sales led a strong first-half performance at department store group John Lewis, with a 19% rise in the six months to August 6..
Davies backs Ghost as GIVe adds brands

7 August 2010
Retail entrepreneur George Davies is to turn his high street womenswear chain GIVe into a multi-brand retailer, marking a major strategic shift for the business.
Pure to launch new show

7 August 2010
Womenswear trade show Pure London is to invest £1m in a separate spin-off event dedicated to young fashion that will run alongside next February’s show.
Joules shifts focus away from ‘overcrowded’ lifestyle sector

7 August 2010
Lifestyle brand Joules is ramping up its premium and contemporary womenswear business in a bid to diversify away from the “overcrowded” lifestyle market.
Adel Andic

7 August 2010
Spring 11
Anonymous By Ross + Bute

7 August 2010
Spring 11
Bullfrogs to spawn new label and store

7 August 2010
Footwear and young fashion indie Bullfrogs is to open its sixth store in September and will launch its third own brand for spring 11 in a bid to reduce its dependence on suppliers and give itself extra buying power.
Jucca

7 August 2010
Spring 11
New Ballet brand to offer higher margins

7 August 2010
Lingerie brand and supplier Ballet has launched a new brand for spring 11 in response to demand from indies for lingerie that offers higher mark-ups and more design detail.
Patrizia Pepe

7 August 2010
Spring 11
Stefanel

7 August 2010
Spring 11
Valerie

7 August 2010
Spring 11
Prada sales jump 29% in first half

5 August 2010
Italian luxury fashion house Prada Group saw its total revenue rise 29% to €930m (£773m) in the six months to July 31 fuelled by growth across all distribution channels.
British Fashion Council awards first menswear MA scholarship

5 August 2010
The British Fashion Council has awarded the first menswear-focused BFC MA Scholarship to Thomas Crisp, a new graduate from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication.
David Beckham to design menswear for DVB

3 August 2010
Victoria Beckham has recruited husband David to design a menswear line for her DVB label, according to reports.
Quiksilver launches younger fashion line

3 August 2010
Surfwear brand Quiksilver has ramped up its young fashion offer with the launch of a younger collection for spring 11 aimed at women aged 19 and above.
Gareth Pugh opens first store

2 August 2010
British designer Gareth Pugh opened his first retail store this weekend in Hong Kong.
Baird Group in line for £17m financing

2 August 2010
Baird Group, the menswear wholesaler and retailer, has been granted a £17m financing from financial services company GE Capital, according to reports.
Sir David Jones retires from JJB Sports

30 July 2010
JJB Sports has announced that Sir David Jones has retired from the board of the sports retailer with immediate effect due to ill health.
Hugo Boss profits up 30% in first half

30 July 2010
Hugo Boss reported a pre-tax profit hike of 30% to €82.4m (£68.8m) in the six months to June 30. EBITDA was up 16% to €118m (£98m).
Pure London expects record turn-out

30 July 2010
Trade show Pure London is anticipating a record number of visitors this season, with pre-registrations currently up 6% on last season to just over 16,000.
PPR's profits soar 162% in first half

30 July 2010
French luxury goods group PPR saw its pre-tax profits rocket 162% to €593.8m (£495.1m) for the six months to June 30, fuelled by a strong international and online sales.
Exclusive Footwear in Breeze takeover

31 July 2010
York premium indie Exclusive Footwear has acquired one of Newcastle upon Tyne’s oldest independents, Breeze Footwear.
Puma sees modest second quarter growth

29 July 2010
Puma, the sportswear brand owned by French luxury fashion house PPR, reported a 2.5% rise in turnover for the second quarter 2010, driven by the strength of the euro and solid accessories sales.
Pretty Green opens pop-up shop

29 July 2010
Young fashion brand Pretty Green will open the doors to its first standalone store tonight - a pop-up shop on Carnaby Street, London.
Brands out of pocket after Bagga Menswear closes

24 July 2010
Premium young fashion indie Bagga Menswear has been put into liquidation owing nearly £150,000 following technical problems with its website and falling sales and rising overheads at the store in Chislehurst, Kent.
Monsoon hires Kirby to lead web growth

24 July 2010
Womenswear and accessories group Monsoon Accessorize is to step up its online operations and launch its first overseas website following the appointment of former Fat Face director Kristine Kirby.
Bandolera

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Basler

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Betty Barclay

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Bianca

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Frank Walder

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Gelco

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Gerry Weber

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Godske classic

24 July 2010
Spring 11
InWear

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Jackpot

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Luxury retailers in pursuit of international shoppers

24 July 2010
Luxury retailers and trade bodies are working together to woo affluent overseas shoppers by introducing a raft of initiatives to encourage tourism in the UK and get tills ringing.
Olsen

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Oui

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Passport

24 July 2010
Spring 11
Rising debt puts the lid on Marmalade, Devon

24 July 2010
The owner of contemporary womenswear indie Marmalade has filed for bankruptcy after the business was hit by rising debts and a drop in sales.
Louise Amstrup awarded On|Off funding

20 July 2010
Womenswear designer Louise Amstrup has been awarded The On|Off Visionary Award 2010, meaning the Danish-born designer will receive funding to show on the On|Off catwalk during London Fashion Week (LFW).
Hermès second quarter sales rise 27%

20 July 2010
French luxury goods group Hermès saw sales rise 27% to €567m (£482m) in its second quarter, with Europe performing 19.7% ahead of the same period last year with sales of €211.3m (£179.6m) for the three months to June 30.
Hillbrow Fashions in administration

16 July 2010
Supplier Hammer and Theelen, which trades as Hillbrow Fashions and suppliers retailers including Debenhams and the Arcadia group, has been put into administration following 106 years of trading.
Acne London store opens its doors

16 July 2010
Premium brand Acne opened its first UK store yesterday at 13 Dover Street in London’s Mayfair.
Burberry buys 50 Chinese stores from franchisee

16 July 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry has signed an agreement to buy 50 stores across China from its franchisee in a deal worth £70m.
Fashion outperforms at John Lewis

16 July 2010
Fashion was once again the strongest performing category at department store chain John Lewis last week with a 13.6% year-on-year rise in sales
Nicole Farhi targets growth after buyout

17 July 2010
Nicole Farhi chief executive Niki Scordi has outlined plans to bring the loss-making luxury womenswear retailer and brand back to profit within a year following the completion of its sale to US private equity firm OpenGate Capital this month.
Burberry AGM sees all resolutions passed

15 July 2010
Burberry shareholders voted in favour of all resolutions proposed at the luxury retailer and brand’s annual general meeting today, including generous remuneration packages for its directors.
Levi's losses widen in second quarter

14 July 2010
Levi Strauss & Co saw its losses grow in the second quarter of 2010 to $14.4m (£9.4m) from $4.1m (£2.7m) in the same quarter last year.
Sass & Bide to open UK store

13 July 2010
Luxury womenswear label Sass & Bide is scouting for a site for its first UK store.
Giorgio Armani positive despite dip in profits

13 July 2010
Italian luxury fashion house Giorgio Armani posted a decline in both sales and profits for 2009.
Burberry sales up 24% in first quarter

13 July 2010
Burberry reported a 24% hike in revenue to £291m for the three months to June 30 with a strong performance across both retail and wholesale.
Prada denies investment from Chinese tycoon

12 July 2010
Luxury fashion house Prada has denied that Chinese businessman Lu Qiang has invested in the company, following reports in the Chinese press.
Selfridges opens 'timeless' pop-up shop

12 July 2010
Department store Selfridges launched a pop-up shop to celebrate timeless style in its London flagship today.
Acne to open first UK store this week

12 July 2010
Premium brand Acne will open the doors to its first UK store on London’s Dover Street on Thursday.
Next slammed for online charges

9 July 2010
High street retailer Next has been accused of breaking consumer law by failing to refund delivery charges for goods bought online then returned.
Cacharel sells menswear division to secure jobs

9 July 2010
Luxury brand and retailer Cacharel has sold off its menswear division and its outlet stores for €9.2m (£7.7m) to secure the future of the company.
Manchester Fashion Network to hold brand development workshop

9 July 2010
Manchester Fashion Network will run a workshop for fashion retailers and brands later this month to help them to develop brand awareness.
Britt Lintner secures cash for wholesale debut and website

10 July 2010
Womenswear label Britt Lintner is to launch a wholesale arm and a transactional website following investment from new directors.
Chatterton’s sets its sights on expansion

10 July 2010
Premium womenswear indie Chatterton’s is opening its fifth store next month and is close to signing a site for a sixth following a 14% uplift in sales for the year to date.
Brioni chief executive steps down

7 July 2010
Andrea Perrone has resigned as chief executive of Italian luxury menswear brand Brioni.
Paris Couture: Chanel, Giorgio Armani Privé, Givenchy

7 July 2010
The second day of Paris Couture saw the opulent looks tempered with strong commercial suiting on the catwalks and in the showrooms.
Paris Couture Week: Christian Dior, Bouchra Jarrar

6 July 2010
Paris Couture Week kicked off yesterday with a cornucopia of texture and colour from Christian Dior, contrasted by the most deliberate minimalism at Bouchra Jarrar.
The weekend newspaper round up: July 3 to 4, 2010

5 July 2010
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers.
Luxury retailers join forces to promote London overseas

5 July 2010
Luxury retailers including Burberry and Louis Vuitton will join forces tonight to launch a campaign to attract wealthy overseas shoppers to London.
John Lewis records 15.4% rise in fashion sales

2 July 2010
Fashion sales at department store chain John Lewis were up 15.4% last week boosted by summer products and clearance lines.
Tributes flood in for former Hobbs chief Nick Samuel

3 July 2010
Industry mourns death of ‘true gentleman’ who helped to steer Hobbs and Karen Millen to success
Jacques Vert to invest in online after return to profit

3 July 2010
Jacques Vert, the womenswear retailer which owns the Jacques Vert, Precis Petite, Planet and Windsmoor chains, will relaunch its websites and roll out a series of concession refits this autumn following a surge in profits.
More price rises ahead as Bangladesh riots continue

3 July 2010
High street retailers including H&M and Marks & Spencer could face longer lead times and further price hikes as riots over pay threaten to cause more factory closures in Bangladesh.
Hakaan wins ANDAM Fashion Award

1 July 2010
UK fashion label Hakaan has been awarded €220,000 (£181,000) to show at Paris Fashion Week in October as part of the ANDAM International Grand Prize.
Margin signs new names for August show

30 June 2010
London streetwear show Margin will showcase new international brands including Garcia Madrid, Ideologie, RVCA and Obey this August.
Jean Paul Gaultier designs for La Perla

29 June 2010
Designer Jean Paul Gaultier has designed a collection for premium Italian lingerie retailer La Perla.
Paris Men's Fashion Week: John Galliano, Givenchy, Paul Smith

28 June 2010
Paris Men’s Fashion Week came to a close this weekend with some theatrical creations from Galliano on Friday followed up with animalistic and rock-inspired collections from Givenchy and Paul Smith
Paris Men's Fashion Week: Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten

25 June 2010
Paris Men’s Fashion Week kicked off yesterday with a parade of Eastern influences and grafitti prints infiltrating the relaxed suiting.
Burberry launches interactive ad campaign

25 June 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry has developed an interactive digital advertising campaign for autumn 10 that allows users to control the cast and products in each shot.
Burgs Boy

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Chatterpants

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Creating 25 Ten label is students’ next assignment

26 June 2010
Young fashion indie 25 Ten has called on local students to design a wholesale collection for spring 11, which will help to protect the exclusivity of its offer and offset price hikes by suppliers.
Hatley

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Little Duckling

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Munster

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Pint Size

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Rock Your Baby

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Sunuva

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Three Little Trees

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Trelise Cooper Kids

26 June 2010
Spring 11
Milan Men's Fashion Week: Giorgio Armani, DSquared2, Ermanno Scervino

23 June 2010
On the final day of Milan Men’s Fashion Week, Giorgio Armani smartened up the pack with sharp suiting while DSquared2 and Ermanno Scervino continued the dockside vibe.
McQ appoints Pina Ferlisi creative director

23 June 2010
Alexander McQueen has appointed Pina Ferlisi as creative director of its diffusion line McQ.
Milan Men's Fashion Week: Gucci, D&G, Ermenegildo Zegna

22 June 2010
Milan Men’s Fashion Week continued yesterday with an array of relaxed tailoring from the Italian masters.
Burberry launches online showcase for British musicians

18 June 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry will launch a new section to its website tomorrow to showcase emerging British musicians with whom Burberry has collaborated.
Prêt à Porter launches commercial catwalk event

18 June 2010
Paris womenswear trade show Prêt à Porter is to launch a commercial catwalk event next month to allow luxury brands to show their pre-collections and diffusion lines.
Drapers crowned in Online Fashion 100

18 June 2010
Drapers editor Jessica Brown and online editor Keely Stocker have joined the likes of Asos e-commerce director James Hart in this year’s hotlist of the top 100 people influencing fashion online.
John Lewis fashion sales boosted by online

18 June 2010
Department store group John Lewis saw its online fashion sales for last week grow 88% on last year, driven by an increased womenswear and accessories offer on the website.
Selfridges and Nike host World Cup "pop-up stadium"

18 June 2010
Sportswear brand Nike will open a “pop-up stadium” in department store Selfridges in London next week, showing World Cup games.
Department stores force angry indies into early Sales

19 June 2010
Premium independents have been forced to fire the starting gun on their summer Sales up to four weeks early to compete with high-end department stores.
John Smedley looks overseas for growth

19 June 2010
British knitwear brand John Smedley is eyeing major overseas expansion to help grow turnover to £20m in 2012.
The Convenience Store unveils brands revamp

19 June 2010
Designer indie The Convenience Store is to axe all its current portfolio of brands to focus exclusively on lower-priced emerging labels for autumn 10.
Boudiche administrator confident of finding buyer

17 June 2010
The administrators of lingerie indie Boudiche have set a deadline of next Thursday for offers to buy the business, following strong interest this week.
Fashion sales rise 6.6% by value in May

17 June 2010
Clothing and footwear sales rose 6.6% year on year by value and 7.1% by volume in May.
Textile business Coats set to float

17 June 2010
Historic textile business Coats is set to be floated on the London Stock Exchange by owners Guinness Peat Group.
Westfield Stratford City announces Studio East winners

16 June 2010
Westfield Stratford City has awarded designer Julian J Smith a £10,000 commission under its Studio East scheme to design concierge uniforms ahead of the shopping centre’s opening next year.
Quiksilver signs debt-to-equity deal

16 June 2010
Boardsports brand Quiksilver has agreed to sign a debt-to-equity exchange with private equity firm Rhone to swap $75m (£50.8m) of its outstanding debts for about 16.7 million shares at $4.50 (£3.04) per share.
De Keyser reassures deliveries will be met following liquidation

15 June 2010
Womenswear distributor De Keyser has assured stockists that autumn 10 deliveries will not be affected by the liquidation of part of the business.
Aquascutum signs deal to develop golf collection

15 June 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Aquascutum has signed a deal with manufacturer TPD Luxury Solutions to develop the first Aquascutum Golf collection.
Ralph Lauren to sell over £600m of shares

15 June 2010
Ralph Lauren, the founder, chairman and chief executive of Polo Ralph Lauren, is poised to sell off a quarter of his shares in the company, which could net him $900m (£612m), according to reports.
Burberry boss receives £3.16m pay-out

15 June 2010
Burberry paid its chief executive Angela Ahrendts £3.16m during the last financial year, which included her maximum bonus allowance. Finance director Stacey Cartwright received £1.47m.
Lingerie show Mode City moves to July

14 June 2010
Lingerie show Mode City has moved its dates forward by two months for next year in response to demand from brands and buyers to better match international buying calendars.
Tesco leads school uniform price war

14 June 2010
Tesco has once again undercut retailers including Asda and Marks & Spencer by selling a full school uniform outfit for £3.75.
Harold Tillman and Tamara Mellon awarded CBE

14 June 2010
Harold Tillman, owner of Jaeger and Aquascutum and chairman of the British Fashion Council, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Lingerie indie Boudiche in administration

11 June 2010
Scottish lingerie independent Boudiche has been placed into administration after sales slumped during the recession and footfall fell at its Edinburgh store due to nearby construction work.
John Lewis fashion sales rose 19% last week

11 June 2010
John Lewis reported fashion sales up 19% last week boosted by World Cup related clothing and hot weather items such as sunglasses.
Peacocks confirms strategic review ahead of possible sale

11 June 2010
Peacocks chief executive Richard Kirk has confirmed that a strategic review of the business has begun and is likely to result in the sale of the value chain.
Indies feel the weight of branded market decline

12 June 2010
Independents have borne the brunt of the decline in the branded fashion sector, notching up the biggest market share declines in the clothing and footwear market so far this year.
Ariella seeks cash to revive retail arm

12 June 2010
Eveningwear brand and supplier Ariella is seeking investment to help it revive its retail arm and expand into new territories.
By Caprice on hunt for backers to fuel growth

12 June 2010
Lingerie label By Caprice is seeking investment of up to £4m to fund entry into the US market and the launch of a retail arm.
Margin boss calls for indies to star on website

12 June 2010
The founder of young fashion trade show Margin is finalising plans to launch a consumer website that will host video tours of indie stores from around the world.
Nick Brown

12 June 2010
With market towns as his battleground, the managing director of department store business Browns of York is at the forefront of an indie resurgence
Premium zone added to Pure London

12 June 2010
Trade show Pure London will launch a dedicated zone for premium brands at its next edition on August 1-3 at London Olympia.
London Fashion Week Newgen winners announced

10 June 2010
Designers David Koma, Holly Fulton, Mary Katrantzou, Michael Van Der Ham and Peter Pilotto have been awarded Newgen catwalk sponsorship to show at London Fashion Week.
Price cutting helps drive Charnos and Lepel sales

10 June 2010
Lingerie brand house LF Intimates is targeting a 20% increase in sales within the next year, driven by overseas expansion and a revamp of product and pricing of its Charnos and Lepel brands.
Mulberry to launch diffusion line via Target

10 June 2010
Luxury British brand and retailer Mulberry will launch a limited edition handbag collection via a collaboration with US discount retailer Target later this year.
Adidas challenges Nike for football market share

9 June 2010
Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer has challenged Nike in the run up to the World Cup, claiming his German company can increase its lead over the US sportswear giant as the number one football sportswear brand.
Deflation returns to clothing and footwear in May

9 June 2010
Clothing and footwear saw deflation of 0.7% in May, only a month after the sector recorded inflation of the same amount.
Selfridges' Oxfam pop-up shop raises £48,000

8 June 2010
Selfridges’ Oxfam pop-up shop made over £48,000 in its one week of trading - more than the average Oxfam store makes in a year.
Gucci to close London office

8 June 2010
Luxury fashion house Gucci Group is gearing up to leave its London headquarters on Grafton Street.
Karstadt rescued by Nicholas Berggruen and BCBG Max Azria

8 June 2010
Insolvent German department store group Karstadt is set to be rescued by a consortium involving German billionaire investor Nicholas Berggruen and luxury fashion house BCBG Max Azria.
Buyers circle IT Holding's Malo brand

7 June 2010
Beleaguered luxury Italian fashion house IT Holding has received four expressions of interest for its knitwear brand Malo.
East returns to profit and plans further store openings

7 June 2010
Womenswear retailer East returned to profit in the year to January 31and is planning to open further stores and concessions.
John Lewis fashion sales up 30% this week

4 June 2010
Department store group John Lewis reported fashion sales up 30% year on year for this week, driven by sales of footwear and accessories.
Prada mulls IPO

4 June 2010
Prada is considering listing its shares on the Milan and Hong Kong stock exchanges, according to reports.
Day Birger et Mikkelsen makes premium move

5 June 2010
Danish contemporary brand Day Birger et Mikkelsen will take product more premium and open its first London store this year, following a deal last week in which founder Keld Mikkelsen bought back a 50% share from Icelandic bank Straumur.
Indie zone at Bath’s SouthGate takes shape

5 June 2010
Bath’s SouthGate shopping centre has invited indies to apply for units in an effort to add diversity to the retail mix.
Aquascutum plans accessories push

2 June 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Aquascutum will take its accessories licences in house next year before building the category to account for 10% of sales.
George Davies to launch kidswear chain in Middle East

1 June 2010
Fashion entrepreneur George Davies is to open a 60-store kidswear chain in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Paul Smith launches kidswear

28 May 2010
Premium brand Paul Smith has launched a kidswear line for autumn 10, its first foray into children’s clothing for ten years.
Toast grabs a slice of the menswear market

29 May 2010
Contemporary womenswear retailer Toast will launch its first menswear collection for autumn 10.
Weird Fish angles for more shop-in-shops

29 May 2010
Lifestyle brand Weird Fish has appointed Scott Eden as creative and brand director to develop its brand image and expand its product categories.
Zabre eyes the mainland after bagging third store

29 May 2010
Isle of Wight-based handbags and accessories independent Zabre is opening its third store on the island and is seeking to expand into further sites on the UK mainland.
Retail sales fall in May but wholesale remains strong

27 May 2010
Retail sales saw a surprise drop in the first half of May following three consecutive months of growth, according to the CBI Distributive Trades Survey.
Richemont hit by poor wholesale performance

27 May 2010
Swiss luxury goods group Richemont saw its group sales fall 4% to €5.2bn (£4.4bn) in the year to March 31, dragged down by a poor wholesale performance.
Burberry ramps up investment after profits soar

26 May 2010
Burberry said it will almost double capital spending to £130m next year with a focus on expanding key product areas including kidswear and moving into emerging markets.
India lifts cotton ban

25 May 2010
India has lifted a month-long ban on cotton exports in a move that is expected to ease the effects of a worldwide cotton shortage.
Prada Group reports strong first quarter

25 May 2010
Italian luxury fashion house Prada Group saw its sales jump 26% to €366m (£313m) in its first quarter to April 30.
PVH profits hit by Hilfiger acquisition

25 May 2010
Phillips-Van Heusen saw first quarter profits dive following its acquisition of luxury label Tommy Hilfiger earlier this year.
LVMH denies seeking buyer for Kenzo

24 May 2010
Luxury brand house LVMH has denied rumours that it is looking to offload its loss-making Kenzo brand.
Mulberry signs new London flagship and office sites

24 May 2010
Luxury British brand and retailer Mulberry has signed leases for a flagship store at 50 New Bond Street and for a new London head office space.
Premium sector will reap the benefits of inflation

22 May 2010
Price increases and a shift in consumer buying habits will lead to the premium sector overtaking the value sector as the key battleground for market share, according to a new report by retail research firm Verdict Research.
Veldhoven seeking more deals to follow Turnover

22 May 2010
Veldhoven Group, owner of mainstream womenswear brand Sandwich, is gearing up to buy additional brands in the sector following its acquisition of contemporary womenswear brand Turnover.
Leeds Corn Exchange to lure fresh crop of indies

22 May 2010
Leeds city centre will soon have a new independent hub as the developers of the city’s Corn Exchange entice fashion indies back into the Grade I listed building with favourable rental deals.
Fashion sales up 3.5% by value in April

20 May 2010
Clothing and footwear sales rose 3.5% in terms of value in April, the highest month-on-month increase since May 2008.
M&S recruits football legends to front menswear campaign

19 May 2010
Marks & Spencer will launch a new menswear advertising campaign on Friday, featuring players from the 1966 World Cup-winning England team as well as members of the current England squad.
Jaeger plots sub-brand standalones as full-year sales remain flat

19 May 2010
British heritage retailer Jaeger is set to trial standalone stores for its Boutique by Jaeger and Jaeger London stores as it reports flat sales of £85.5m for the year to February 28.
Trade credit insurer outlines new contract terms

18 May 2010
Businesses could face hikes in their trade credit insurance premiums, as well as reductions in cover if their customers perform badly, according to trade credit insurer Coface.
Retailers to battle for premium market share

18 May 2010
The premium end of the market is set to overtake the value sector as the biggest battle ground for market share, according to market analyst Verdict.
Aquascutum appoints Joanna Sykes as design director

17 May 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Aquascutum has appointed Joanna Sykes as design director for women’s, men’s and accessories.
H&M like-for-likes fall 6% in April

17 May 2010
Swedish fast fashion chain H&M saw like-for-like sales fall back 6% in April compared with the same month last year.
John Lewis's weekly fashion sales climb 20%

14 May 2010
Department store chain John Lewis generated a 17.7% sales rise to £55m in the week to May 8, boosted by a 20% rise in fashion sales.
Skillset announces Fashion and Textiles Skills Council

14 May 2010
Industry names including Simon Ward of the British Fashion Council and Mulberry’s Ian Scott have joined chairman John Wilson on the board of the new Skillset Fashion and Textiles Skills Council.
Future of Vergo Retail hangs in balance

15 May 2010
The indie department store sector was rocked this week as the future of Vergo Retail, owner of iconic department stores including Joplings in Sunderland, Robbs of Hexham and Derrys in Plymouth, remained on a knife edge.
Van Mildert on hunt for backers to drive growth

15 May 2010
Premium and young fashion indie mini-chain Van Mildert is seeking investment to fund expansion.
Middlesbrough Fashion Week gives Psyche a lift

15 May 2010
Indie department store Psyche saw sales shoot up after taking part in a Middlesbrough Fashion Week initiative which was heavily funded by Middlesbrough council.
M&S launches new push-up bra technology

12 May 2010
Marks & Spencer, the UK’s largest lingerie retailer, will launch a cleavage-enhancing bra called “Add 2 Cup Sizes” in July.
M&S unveils autumn 10 womenswear - IMAGE GALLERY

12 May 2010
Marks & Spencer has backed six key catwalk trends for its autumn 10 womenswear - minimal, Nomad, Nifty Thrifty, military, preppy and baroque.
Marks & Spencer launches mobile version of website

12 May 2010
Marks & Spencer has launched a new version of its website optimised for use on mobile phones.
International spend hit by flight ban in April

11 May 2010
International shopper spend in the UK fell 16% year-on-year in April as the volcanic ash cloud impacted tourism.
Selfridges Oxfam pop-up shop opens this week

11 May 2010
Selfridges London will launch an Oxfam pop-up shop this Friday selling clothing donated by celebrities, as well as vintage and high-end pieces.
Liberty signs menswear licence deal

11 May 2010
Liberty of London has signed a deal for Italian manufacturer Slowear to produce a Liberty menswear collection under licence.
The weekend newspaper round up: May 8 to 9 2010

10 May 2010
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers.
Hub trade show announces brand line up

10 May 2010
Streetwear and boardsports trade show Hub has signed brands including Etnies, Billabong and Plain Lazy to its first edition in August.
Diesel names Daniela Riccardi chief executive

7 May 2010
Italian denim brand Diesel has appointed Daniela Riccardi as chief executive. Riccardi, who was previously president of pharmaceutical company Procter & Gamble in China, will join Diesel on July 1.
Gordon Brothers invests in Hein Gericke

7 May 2010
Motorcycle clothing and accessories retailer Hein Gericke has received investment from restructuring firm Gordon Brothers to give the company financial stability and support its planned expansion.
Asos relaunches Crooked Tongues with Facebook Social Plugin

7 May 2010
Etailer Asos has relaunched its specialist trainer etail and information site Crooked Tongues with new product categories and added functionality.
Canali opens London flagship and headquarters

7 May 2010
Italian luxury menswear brand Canali will open its largest company-owned store today in London. The site at 126-127 New Bond Street, London, will also be its UK head office and showroom.
PVH completes Tommy Hilfiger deal

6 May 2010
Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation has completed its deal to acquire Tommy Hilfiger from UK private equity group Apax Partners.
Eric Musgrave takes over as UKFT director general

6 May 2010
The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) has formally appointed Eric Musgrave as director general at its annual general meeting today.
Fashion UK signs Playboy licence

6 May 2010
Playboy Enterprises has signed a deal with licenced clothing specialist Fashion UK to create a new collection of Playboy-branded men’s and women’s clothing, which will be available in the UK and Ireland from August 2010.
Hermès posts strong first quarter

6 May 2010
French luxury goods group Hermès saw its European sales rise 15.2% to €186m (£158.3m) in the three months to March 31 following a strong performance in its retail stores.
Bread & Butter extends Sport & Street zone

4 May 2010
Young fashion trade show Bread & Butter has extended its Sport & Street zone with new areas to allow brands to present their collections in a more innovative and interactive way.
Kidswear show Bubble signs new labels

4 May 2010
Kidswear show Bubble London has signed up new labels including Steiff and Troizenfants to its spring 11 edition in June.
DKNY menswear licensed to S Kumars

4 May 2010
Donna Karan International has signed a licensing deal for Indian textile manufacturer S Kumars Nationwide to produce the luxury fashion label’s menswear line under licence.
Burberry promotes William Kim to senior vice president of digital commerce

30 April 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry has promoted William Kim to the newly-created position of senior vice president of digital commerce, to drive online growth.
Ramadan date to trigger early Summer Sales

1 May 2010
Department stores are set to heap pressure on the high street and premium indies by bringing their summer Sales forward to clear stock and shift to full-price merchandise ahead of the lucrative pre-Ramadan shopping period.
Adams set for relaunch under new ownership

1 May 2010
The owner of supplier XTC Clothing, Sharad Madan, is set to relaunch kidswear chain Adams after buying the company name out of administration.
Bath indies join up at local event to lift trade

1 May 2010
Indies across Bath came together last month to back a council initiative to drive footfall to the city’s fashion stores.
Eveden vows to turn Huit into UK success

1 May 2010
Lingerie brand house Eveden has outlined plans to build French brand Huit by driving it into its existing account base in the UK after acquiring the business last month.
Xile’s expansion plan kicks off in Glasgow

1 May 2010
Young fashion indie Xile will begin expanding across Scotland after the launch of its fifth store later this month in Glasgow.
PPR first quarter sales boosted by Gucci Group

28 April 2010
French luxury goods group PPR reported sales up 1.2%, or 1.3% on a comparable basis, to €4.1bn (£3.5bn) for the first quarter 2010, following a strong performance by Gucci Group.
"Work pressures" contributed to Lee Alexander McQueen suicide

28 April 2010
The inquest into the death of Lee Alexander McQueen recorded an official verdict of suicide this morning, citing “immense work pressures” as having contributed to the designer’s decision to take his own life.
Google to host close-up store interior views

28 April 2010
Google is testing plans to extend its Street View concept to store interiors, a move that would allow consumers to see detailed views of stores from their home computers.
Joseph Wan to speak at Oxford Summer School

28 April 2010
Harvey Nichols chief executive Joseph Wan has been confirmed as a guest speaker at this year’s Oxford Summer School, the UK retail management course.
Puma first quarter profits soar

28 April 2010
Puma, the footwear, clothing and accessories brand owned by French luxury fashion house PPR, saw its first quarter profits soar and said it remains confident for the full year and particularly the World Cup period this summer.
Copenhagen womenswear shows shortened to three days

27 April 2010
Copenhagen’s womenswear shows will be run over three days rather than four this August; a move the organisers said would “intensify attendance”.
Stitch menswear show gears up for spring 11

27 April 2010
Menswear trade show Stitch has announced revised dates and new features for its second season.
Emanuel Ungaro loses another designer

26 April 2010
French fashion house Emanuel Ungaro has lost its menswear designer, Franck Boclet, just days after the departure of chief womenswear designer Estrella Archs.
Jack Wills opens in the US

26 April 2010
Young fashion chain Jack Wills made its debut in the US this weekend with the opening of its first American store in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Influx of funds and staff fuels White Stuff ambition

24 April 2010
Lifestyle retailer and brand White Stuff has secured a new working capital facility and made a raft of high-level appointments to prepare it for UK and international growth.
Kids Cavern branches out with footwear shop

24 April 2010
Iconic kidswear indie Kids Cavern has opened a second store dedicated to footwear after sales of kids’ shoes outperformed clothing for several seasons.
Leicester’s Pilot flying high after store merger

24 April 2010
Leicester premium indie Pilot has seen a growth in sales, footfall and profit across all categories since it completed a move from three separate stores to a single 5,000 sq ft site at the end of February.
Retail expansion high on Forever Unique’s agenda

24 April 2010
Premium short-order womenswear brand Forever Unique has outlined plans for retail expansion and will launch a higher-priced premium range and its first forward-order offer.
Mariella Burani Fashion Group faces special administration

22 April 2010
Troubled Italian fashion house Mariella Burani Fashion Group is due to be placed under special administration at the request of a court-appointed commissioner.
Gucci opens pop-up trainer store

22 April 2010
Gucci’s trainer pop-up shop launched in Covent Garden today. The store will be open for three weeks, selling 17 limited-edition styles of Gucci sneaker.
CWF to show at Bubble

22 April 2010
French luxury kidswear group Children’s Worldwide Fashion (CWF), which produces brands such as Timberland, ELLE and DKNY under licence, will make its first appearance at a UK trade show when it shows at Bubble London in June.
Luxury industry backs ruling on online sales

21 April 2010
Luxury giants LVMH and PPR have spoken out in support of a European Commission ruling that allows brand owners to continue to control how online retailers distribute their brands.
Emanuel Ungaro chief designer quits label

21 April 2010
Emanuel Ungaro’s chief designer Estrella Archs has left the French luxury fashion house.
Coach to enter UK via joint venture with Hackett

20 April 2010
Classic menswear brand Hackett has signed a joint venture with Coach to distribute the luxury US accessories brand in the UK, Spain, Portugal and Ireland.
John Lewis launches £6m ad campaign

20 April 2010
John Lewis will launch its biggest ever TV advertising campaign on Friday to push its “never knowingly undersold” policy.
Burberry expects record profits after strong second half

20 April 2010
Burberry said its full-year profits will be “at record levels” following a stronger than anticipated end to the year.
London Fashion Week invites applications from designers

19 April 2010
The British Fashion Council has invited applications for designers to participate in London Fashion Week September 2010.
The Outnet's £1 Sale causes site to crash

19 April 2010
Discount designer website theOutnet.com, the spin-off of luxury etailer Net-a-Porter, crashed in some markets on Friday when it hosted a “pop-up Sale” to celebrate its first birthday, selling designer items for just £1.
The Heritage Tea Party postponed

19 April 2010
The first edition of menswear trade show The Heritage Tea Party, which was scheduled to take place in July, has been postponed until February 2011.
Vente-privee.com appoints COO to lead international expansion

16 April 2010
Private sales website Vente-privee.com has appointed Hervé Parizot to the new role of chief operating officer to head up its international growth plans.
BFC announces Colleges Council Graduate Preview Day

16 April 2010
The British Fashion Council has invited industry professionals to attend its Colleges Council Graduate Preview Day on April 28.
Jaeger muscles in on younger fashion spend

17 April 2010
Premium retailer Jaeger is set to go head to head with Reiss, All Saints and Whistles with the launch of a younger, lower-priced womenswear collection for autumn 10.
Browns of York kicks off expansion strategy

17 April 2010
Yorkshire indie department store group Browns plans to expand after the successful opening of its third store, in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
Lynx shoppers stamp into Penny Black shop-in-shop

17 April 2010
Premium indie Lynx Womenswear in Harrogate experienced its best trading month in 25 years following the launch of a shop-in-shop for Italian brand Penny Black in March.
More commercial labels to drive margins at Oki-ni

17 April 2010
Premium menswear etailer Oki-ni has pushed the button on plans to attract a raft of more commercial brands to the site to drive margins and sell-throughs.
Tributes paid to Browns legend Sidney Burstein

17 April 2010
Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green led tributes to Browns co-founder Sidney Burstein, who died last week aged 93.
Eveden Group rescues Huit from administration

15 April 2010
Lingerie brand house Eveden Group has bought French lingerie label Huit out of administration.
Permira chairman to join Hugo Boss board

15 April 2010
Permira chairman Damon Buffini is to join the board of Hugo Boss before he steps down from the Permira chairmanship in June.
Jaeger targets younger market with new sub-brand

15 April 2010
British heritage retailer Jaeger will make a play for a slice of the premium young fashion market in autumn 10 with the launch of a younger, lower-priced sub-brand called Boutique by Jaeger.
Levi's reports strong Q1

14 April 2010
Levi Strauss & Co saw first quarter net revenues in Europe rise 15% to $306m (£199m) following retail expansion in the region, but wholesale remained weak.
Fashion sales growth slows in March

13 April 2010
Clothing and footwear sales growth slowed in March after a strong February as economic uncertainty caused shoppers to hold back on non-essential purchases.
LVMH reports strong Q1 performance from Louis Vuitton

13 April 2010
French luxury goods group LVMH reported first quarter sales rose 8% in its fashion and leather goods division, which includes designer label Louis Vuitton.
Jil Sander to launch lower priced collection

12 April 2010
Designer label Jil Sander will launch a lower priced collection called Jil Sander Navy for spring 11.
Bestseller Ireland enters court over rents

12 April 2010
Bestseller Retail Ireland, which operates young fashion chains Jack & Jones and Vero Moda in the Republic of Ireland, is due to enter a High Court battle with landlords this week over its attempts to exit its leases, according to reports.
Browns founder Sidney Burstein dies

9 April 2010
Sidney Burstein, co-founder of the iconic London indie Browns, died on Monday aged 93.
Industry pays tribute to Malcolm McLaren

9 April 2010
Designer Vivienne Westwood has led the tributes to her former partner Malcolm McLaren, the designer turned music manager who died of cancer yesterday aged 64.
Skillset appoints UKFT director as chairman of Fashion and Textiles Skills Council

10 April 2010
John Wilson, the outgoing director general of the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), has been appointed chairman of the Skillset Fashion and Textiles Skills Council.
Faith attracts investors

8 April 2010
Footwear retailer Faith has received offers of investment and said it expects to complete a deal within “the next few days”.
Gant appoints Bob Andrews as creative director

8 April 2010
Swedish lifestyle brand Gant has appointed Bob Andrews as creative director.
Clothing and footwear deflation slows to 0.9%

7 April 2010
The rate of deflation on clothing and footwear slowed to 0.9% in March 2010, down from 4.9% in March 2009, according to the British Retail Consortium-Nielsen Shop Price Index.
20% of top rent paying retailers in financial trouble

6 April 2010
A fifth of the retailers that pay top rents of £100 per sq ft or more in UK retail parks are either in administration or subject to company voluntary arrangements.
Jane Norman taps up Stewart Binnie for chairman

1 April 2010
Jane Norman has approached Aurora non-executive president Stewart Binnie to become its new chairman, according to reports.
Levi's shifts focus to retail

1 April 2010
Levi’s will focus on retail and ramp up its European store opening programme this year.
Erdem wins BFC and Vogue Designer Fashion Fund

31 March 2010
Designer label Erdem has been awarded the first British Fashion Council and Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
Retailers support Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign

29 March 2010
Retailers including Marks & Spencer, River Island, Warehouse and Topshop are supporting this year’s Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign which launches today featuring singer Kylie Minogue and model Claudia Schiffer.
Agent Provocateur plots rapid expansion under Kim Winser

29 March 2010
Agent Provocateur, the luxury lingerie chain, plans to grow its ecommerce and licensing divisions and double its store numbers in the next three years under chairman Kim Winser.
Take Nicole Farhi back to basics, stockists urge

20 March 2010
Stockists of Nicole Farhi and diff usion brand Farhi have called for the designer label to return to its roots after the business was sold this week to US private equity group OpenGate Capital.
Sales up as Caprice takes design control

20 March 2010
Orders for lingerie label By Caprice’s spring 10 collection, the first since its partnership with lingerie supplier Intimas ended, have rocketed.
White stuff launches high-end diffusion line

20 March 2010
Lifestyle retailer and brand White Stuff will launch a higher-priced diffusion line next month in response to customer demand for occasionwear.
BCBG Max Azria eyes 60 stores in UK retail push

20 March 2010
BCBG Max Azria, the contemporary womenswear label owned by the US fashion group of the same name, is to open its first UK store in south-west London, kicking off a wider UK retail push.
Indies slump in face of festive discounting

20 March 2010
Independent retailers lost market share over the vital Christmas period as a result of aggressive discounting at department stores.
London indies back bid to tackle empty units

20 March 2010
London’s independent retailers have spoken out in support of a scheme to offer preferential rental agreements to small businesses and start-ups to reduce the number of empty stores in the capital.
Revamped Signature sets its sights on web sales

20 March 2010
Aberdeen premium menswear indie Signature is set to launch a transactional website to counteract a drop in sales because of poor weather last season.
Nike third quarter sales up 4% in Western Europe

18 March 2010
Sales of Nike footwear in Western Europe, which includes the UK, soared by 8% over the third quarter while clothing sales dropped back by 1%.
CFDA Fashion Awards nominees announced

18 March 2010
British designers Christopher Bailey and the late Alexander McQueen will be among those recognised at the 2010 Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards.
Mariella Burani declared insolvent

18 March 2010
Mariella Burani Fashion Group (MBFG) has been declared insolvent by an Italian court, leaving 30 days for a buyer to be found.
London Fashion Week takes designers to New York

17 March 2010
Designers including Peter Pilotto, Meadham Kirchhoff and Mark Fast will sell in New York next week as the British Fashion Council extends its London Show Rooms scheme.
John Galliano to chair Fashion Fringe

15 March 2010
John Galliano will replace Donatella Versace as the chairman of designer competition Fashion Fringe this September.
Tommy Hilfiger sold to Phillips-Van Heusen

15 March 2010
Tommy Hilfiger, the luxury label, has been sold to Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation for €2.2bn (£2bn).
Jigsaw sales rise 5.5% in February

15 March 2010
Jigsaw said like-for-like sales rose 5.5% in February, due in part to increased concession space at John Lewis, according to reports.
House of Fraser outlines growth plans to suppliers

15 March 2010
House of Fraser chairman Don McCarthy has written to suppliers to update them on the department store’s growth plans and revealed that like-for-like sales rose 10% in the first five weeks of its financial year to March 7.
Northern Threads beefs up offer via second shop

13 March 2010
Premium menswear indie Northern Threads will open a second store this summer to broaden its brand portfolio and reach a younger market.
Fred Perry collaborates with Amy Winehouse

11 March 2010
Fred Perry has collaborated with pop star Amy Winehouse on a 17-piece clothing and accessories collection.
No successor lined up for Alexander McQueen as final collection unveiled

10 March 2010
Alexander McQueen chief executive Jonathan Akeroyd has said that the label has not begun looking for a successor to the late designer as McQueen’s final collection was shown yesterday at a private showroom in Paris.
Dawson International targets UK growth as 2009 sales fall

10 March 2010
Cashmere manufacturer Dawson International has outlined plans to sign up UK agents in a bid to grow the UK wholesale business for its Kinross and John Laing brands.
Tommy Hilfiger could open European market to Phillips-Van Heusen

10 March 2010
The potential acquisition of luxury label Tommy Hilfiger by fashion group Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) could open up European markets for PVH, according to JP Morgan Equity Research.
Emanuel Ungaro drops Lindsay Lohan

9 March 2010
Luxury fashion house Emanuel Ungaro is understood to have dropped actress Lindsay Lohan as artistic adviser after just one collection.
The weekend newspaper round up: March 6 to 7, 2010

8 March 2010
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers.
N Brown launches two plus-size brands

8 March 2010
N Brown, the internet and homeshopping group has launched two plus-size brands: a menswear line called Williams & Brown and a womenswear collection called That’s My Style.
Alexon to raise capital to speed recovery

5 March 2010
Alexon Group has announced plans to raise £20.3m to accelerate its turnaround plan.
River Island makes a grab for kidswear

6 March 2010
River Island is to take on rival Next and capitalise on the demise of Adams with the launch of a mini-me kidswear range across selected stores next month.
Marmalade toasts rise in footfall after relocation

6 March 2010
Footfall at contemporary womenswear indie Marmalade has increased more than threefold since it moved to a new, more central location in Axminster, Devon, and rethought its brand mix to target a younger customer.
Olsen

6 March 2010
The contemporary womenswear brand is rejuvenating its range to enhance its appeal in the UK and RoI.
Halston to relaunch menswear

4 March 2010
Luxury womenswear label Halston is to launch its first menswear collection for two years for autumn 10.
Tommy Hilfiger owners moot sale or flotation

2 March 2010
Tommy Hilfiger’s majority investor Apax Partners is considering a sale of its stake in the menswear label while at the same time revisiting the idea of an IPO, according to reports.
Permira in no rush to sell Valentino

2 March 2010
UPDATED: Permira president Paolo Colonna has denied that the private equity house is seeking a sale of fashion house Valentino and declined to comment on a possible sale of Permira’s stake in designer label Proenza Schouler.
The weekend newspaper round up: February 27 to 28, 2010

1 March 2010
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers.
Li & Fung poised to buy Visage Group

26 February 2010
Global supply group Li & Fung has entered into an agreement to buy UK private label supplier Visage Group to expand its reach in Europe.
Gap reveals online plans and plots entry into Italy

26 February 2010
Gap has confirmed it plans to bring a direct ecommerce offer for both its eponymous fascia and Banana Republic to the UK later this year.
New boss to shake up Cruise brand mix

27 February 2010
Cruise has outlined plans to shake up the designer mini-chain’s brand mix and support emerging designers following the resignation last week of buying director Martin Lacey.
Footwear indies bet on boots for autumn 10

27 February 2010
Footwear independents are confident about the autumn 10 season, and have upped their buying budgets following strong sales of boots over the cold winter.
Mariella Burani Group to be liquidated

27 February 2010
Troubled Italian fashion house Mariella Burani said that it will be “dissolved” and that its board has resigned.
Snowy Moda’s warm welcome for lingerie

27 February 2010
Exhibitors at mainstream trade show Moda were in an upbeat mood, with many reporting orders up on last year.
Fashion elite join Alexander McQueen's family for funeral

25 February 2010
Fashion industry figures including designer Stella McCartney and models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell have joined Lee Alexander McQueen’s family at his funeral today.
Menswear Day closes LFW

25 February 2010
London Fashion Week came to a close yesterday with Menswear Day designers showcasing varied looks from classic Savile Row tailoring to acid green PVC and gimp masks.
Gucci to launch heritage ad campaign and live stream catwalk

24 February 2010
Gucci will unveil a new ad campaign on Saturday to coincide with its Milan Fashion Week show, which will be live streamed via its Facebook page.
Alexander McQueen remembered at Central Saint Martins graduate show

23 February 2010
Central Saint Martins College paid tribute to former student Alexander McQueen at its masters degree graduate show at London Fashion Week on Sunday.
Upbeat mood at Moda despite the snow

22 February 2010
Mainstream trade show Moda started yesterday with exhibitors in an upbeat mood despite snow impacting footfall.
Debenhams to trial size 16 mannequins

19 February 2010
Debenhams is trialling size 16 mannequins in its Oxford Street store window to showcase the new Principles by Ben de Lisi range.
London Fashion Week opens with tribute to McQueen

19 February 2010
London Fashion Week opened this morning with a tribute to British designer Alexander McQueen, who died last week.
Autumn 10 mainstream womenswear

20 February 2010
Drapers visited the London showrooms of 10 key mainstream womenswear brands to see what they have in store for autumn 10
LFW to maintain momentum as top buyers and brands return

20 February 2010
The British Fashion Council (BFC) expects the strong momentum of September’s London Fashion Week to continue when it opens today, as a host of top-name buyers confirmed their attendance.
McQueen foundation to fund student designers

20 February 2010
Lee Alexander McQueen is understood to have suggested to people in the industry that he would wish to set up a foundation to support struggling design students in the event of his death.
Spirit

20 February 2010
Spring 10
My-Wardrobe.com reports strong sales from menswear

18 February 2010
Premium etailer My-Wardrobe.com has recorded sales of £1.4m from its menswear business in the first year of trading.
Vente-privee plans UK growth after strong 2009

18 February 2010
Private sales website Vente-privee.com saw a 33% hike in sales to £610m in 2009 across its European sites, ahead of internal expectations.
Retailers hit by suspension of Sri Lankan trade benefits

16 February 2010
Retailers which source product in Sri Lanka could face a 10% hike in the cost of clothing produced in the country following the European Union’s decision to suspend its preferential trade benefits.
New York Fashion Week: Adam, Diane von Furstenberg

15 February 2010
New York Fashion Week continued this weekend with aviator and highland looks at Adam and a swathe of soft metallics and heavy texture from Diane von Furstenberg.
Mariella Burani to file for bankruptcy protection

15 February 2010
Mariella Burani Fashion Group has announced its intention to file for bankruptcy protection after failing to secure financing.
H&M like-for-like sales up 1% in January

15 February 2010
H&M’s like-for-like sales rose 1% in January compared with the same month last year.
Stirling Group factory closed

12 February 2010
Stirling Group, the lingerie and swimwear manufacturer and key supplier to Marks & Spencer that went into administration last month, has had its Nottingham factory closed by its administrator, resulting in 48 further job losses.
Future of Alexander McQueen label remains unclear

12 February 2010
PPR, the French luxury goods group that owns the Alexander McQueen and its diffusion McQ brands, said this morning that it would make no comment on the future of the fashion house at this time.
Not Your Daughter’s Jeans in UK push

12 February 2010
US contemporary denim brand Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (NYDJ) has launched a shop-in-shop concept and a European website to boost sales and stockist numbers.
Boudoir Boutique grows with Liverpool relocation

13 February 2010
Liverpool womenswear indie Boudoir Boutique has grown its retail space more than tenfold by relocating to the city’s indie hub, Cavern Walks.
Labels to create one-offs for Browns’ 40th birthday

13 February 2010
Iconic London designer indie Browns has signed a raft of top-name designers and labels including Christopher Kane, Balenciaga and Roland Mouret to support its 40th birthday celebrations this year.
Margin to show raft of new exhibitors this weekend

10 February 2010
London streetwear show Margin will showcase several new brands this weekend, with more than 50% of exhibitors showing for the first time.
CPD organiser denies show's future at risk

10 February 2010
Mainstream womenswear show CPD reported a 2% rise in visitor numbers for this February’s show compared with the February 2009 event as its organiser Igedo denied the show is at risk of being cancelled next season.
Ballet Lingerie set for rescue

9 February 2010
Ballet Lingerie, the brand which went into administration last week, is understood to be on the brink of being acquired by its major shareholder EBI Apparel.
Vivienne Westwood tells shoppers 'stop buying clothes'

9 February 2010
Leading British designer Vivienne Westwood appeared on BBC London news this morning and told shoppers to stop buying clothes for at least six months.
Fashion outperforms in worst January for 15 years

9 February 2010
Clothing and footwear sales in January came in ahead of all other retail sectors compared with a year ago, but slowed since December.
Burberry to live stream catwalk in 3D

8 February 2010
Burberry will live stream its upcoming autumn 10 London Fashion Week show in 3D to screenings around the world.
Pringle receives investment, reports £9.3m loss

8 February 2010
Pringle of Scotland received payments from its owners totalling £18m last year and has reported a loss of £9.3m in the year to March 2009.
Figleaves attracts investors

8 February 2010
Lingerie etailer Figleaves has received bid approaches from several different sources, according to reports.
Louis Vuitton records double-digit growth in 2009

5 February 2010
Luxury brand Louis Vuitton has recorded “double-digit revenue growth” in 2009, providing a lift for parent group LVMH.
Budgets on a tight leash at womenswear indies

6 February 2010
Womenswear indies will remain cautious for autumn 10, keeping budgets flat despite rising sales. Indies across the mainstream, contemporary and premium sectors told Drapers they would be buying into strong colour and luxe fabrics for autumn 10.
By Malene Birger gears up for UK retail launch

6 February 2010
Danish premium womenswear brand By Malene Birger is preparing to make its first foray into the UK retail market.
Toast to rack up more stores after sales soar 30%

6 February 2010
Contemporary womenswear retailer Toast is poised to double its retail presence in 2010 following strong sales in its existing stores and investment from owner French Connection.
Label signs seven more young fashion brands

3 February 2010
Pure London has signed seven more brands to the launch edition of Label, its young fashion show.
London Fashion Week to live stream catwalks

3 February 2010
London Fashion Week is to stream catwalk shows live online for the first time this season.
Esprit plans international expansion as UK sales suffer

3 February 2010
Young fashion chain Esprit saw UK like-for-like sales across its retail and wholesale divisions fall during the six months to December 31
Versace confirms job cuts in bid to return to profit in 2011

2 February 2010
Versace has confirmed it will make 350 job cuts in a bid to return to profitability by 2011.
Londoncentral signs emerging labels

1 February 2010
Londoncentral has signed up a raft of new exhibitors to its next show, which will take place this weekend.
Matalan deal could fall through as deadline approaches

1 February 2010
Matalan, the value chain, may fail to secure a sale this week as bidders balk at the £1.5bn price tag.
John Lewis signs deal with London Olympics

1 February 2010
John Lewis has been appointed the official retailer to the London Olympics.
Lion Capital secures future of La Senza

29 January 2010
Lion Capital has acquired 100% of the long-term debt of La Senza, bringing to an end uncertainty over the lingerie retailer’s future.
Rock tops young fashion trend list for autumn 10

30 January 2010
Young fashion indies are looking to take on new brands for autumn 10 and will buy into those that offer directional looks and those with the option of short order, to complement their existing big-hitting brands.
Sales success prompts Aphrodite’s expansion

30 January 2010
Men’s young fashion indie Aphrodite is to dramatically increase the size of its Sunderland store following continued growth of both its in-store and online sales.
Benetton launches model search for autumn 10 campaign

28 January 2010
Benetton will launch its autumn 10 international marketing campaign next month, beginning with online castings for models of all races.
Label signs up Fornarina

28 January 2010
Trade show Pure London has signed young fashion brand Fornarina to its inaugural Label show which takes place next month.
Stirling Group in administration

27 January 2010
Stirling Group, the Cheshire-based lingerie and swimwear supplier, which has contracts with retailers including Marks & Spencer, has hit the buffers.
Lulu Guinness to open pop-up shop during London Fashion Week

27 January 2010
Lulu Guinness will open her first pop-up shop off London’s Carnaby Street from February 8 to 22.
Escada explores kidswear and menswear to speed recovery

26 January 2010
Escada, the luxury German womenswear brand, has plans to expand internationally and is likely to introduce menswear and kidswear collections under new owner Megha Mittal.
Adams falls into administration

22 January 2010
Kidswear business Adams has fallen into administration for the third time in three years.
Paris Fashion Week: Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dries Van Noten

22 January 2010
The men’s autumn 10 catwalks got underway in Paris yesterday with eagerly-awaited collections from big names such as Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dries Van Noten surprising the crowd with some diverse European influences.
Donna Ida to auction celeb customised jeans today

22 January 2010
Denim-specialist indie Donna Ida will today launch a one-day auction of jeans customised by celebrities and sold in aid of charity Jeans for Genes.
Mood lifts in menswear but budgets remain flat

23 January 2010
Menswear indies are entering the autumn 10 buying season in an upbeat mood after strong Christmas sales boosted confidence for the coming year.
Rochdale traders call on council to fund new indies

23 January 2010
An association of indies in Rochdale is lobbying the council for funding to attract more indies to the area and boost footfall.
Samuel joins N Peal for wholesale push

23 January 2010
Luxury cashmere retailer N Peal has drafted in former Hobbs managing director Nick Samuel as non-executive director to advise on its aggressive expansion plans, which will kick off with the launch of a debut wholesale range for autumn 10.
Louise Goldin wins BFC's Fashion Forward

21 January 2010
Designer Louise Goldin was awarded the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Forward funding last night.
Primark pledges further ethical initiatives

21 January 2010
Primark has committed to ramp up its ethical trade activities following an in-depth investigation by the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Gerry Weber reports record year but UK still challenging

21 January 2010
Gerry Weber said it expects to announce a record year in both revenue and profit when it releases its full-year report for the 2008/9 financial year on February 25.
Agents Mary Skinner and Janet Thurston join forces

21 January 2010
Womenswear agencies Mary Skinner and Janet Thurston have merged and will show all their labels from a new London showroom for autumn 10.
Milan Fashion Week: Giorgio Armani, Z Zegna, D&G

20 January 2010
Tuesday’s Milan shows had less of a casualwear focus than the previous days, with tailoring revived through injections of velvet and leather.
M&Co like-for-like Christmas sales climb 11.1%

20 January 2010
M&Co, the value retailer, reported like-for-like sales rose 11.1% for the nine weeks to January 2, driven by a strong consumer reaction to its revamped womenswear range.
Edun names Sharon Wauchob creative director

20 January 2010
Edun, the ethical fashion brand founded by Bono and his wife Ali Hewson and backed by LVMH, has appointed Sharon Wauchob to the role of creative director.
Pure London adds to Label line-up

20 January 2010
Tradeshow Pure London will host the launch of Paul Frank footwear at its debut menswear event, Label.
Oxford Retail Masters Forum extends deadline

20 January 2010
The deadline for applications to win scholarships to the Oxford Retail Masters Forum has been extended to Thursday January 28.
Burberry sees wholesale recovery

19 January 2010
Burberry saw total sales rise 12% on an underlying basis to £380m for the three months to December 31, and wholesale sales began to recover.
Borletti Group to bid for Ittierre

18 January 2010
Borletti Group is reportedly eyeing beleaguered Italian manufacturing and licensing company Ittierre.
Richemont sales pick up but fashion remains flat

18 January 2010
Richemont, the luxury goods group, said sales rose 2%, or 7% at constant exchange rates, for the three months to December 3, but sales of its fashion brands remained flat for the period.
The weekend newspaper round up January 16 to 17, 2010

18 January 2010
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers
BHF-BSSA plans cross-sector indie buying group

16 January 2010
Independent retail trade body the BHF-BSSA Group is poised to launch a cross-sector buying group for fashion indies that will aim to negotiate heavy discounts from brands for its members.
Bag designer gives new talent a chance to shine

16 January 2010
Handbag designer Zoe Knight is to open a store in London’s Notting Hill in which she will sub-let space to 70 emerging and established designers.
Fashion Enter fights with council over rates relief

16 January 2010
Not-for-profit organisation Fashion Enter is again battling with a local council over business rates relief.
The Laden Showroom kicks off retail push

16 January 2010
Brand agency The Laden Showroom is to expand its retail operation with the launch of a transactional website and the opening of a raft of department store concessions and retail stores in a bid to grow sales fivefold over the next five years.
Liberty sales up 20% in 2009

15 January 2010
Sales at department store Liberty climbed 20% in 2009 after a revamp of the iconic department store boosted footfall.
Store sales down as online sales soar

15 January 2010
High street fashion sales took a hit last week but online sales soared as heavy and unpredictable snowfall kept shoppers at home.
Alexon warns on full-year trading

14 January 2010
Alexon Group said that full-year profits would come in below market expectations after like-for-like sales worsened to fall 14.3% over the 23 weeks to January 9.
Happit and Ellie Louise bought out of administration

12 January 2010
Value fashion chain Happit has been bought out of administration by newly formed company Ellie Louise Trading Limited.
December clothing sales reach five-year high

12 January 2010
December clothing sales showed their strongest year-on-year growth in more than five years, according to the British Retail Consortium.
Jacques Vert posts strong second half and Christmas performance

11 January 2010
Jacques Vert said pre-tax profit more than doubled in its second half to October 24 and like-for-likes in the 10 weeks to January 2 rose 2.1%.
Mariella Burani Fashion Group faces bankruptcy

8 January 2010
Mariella Burani Fashion Group is understood to be at risk of bankruptcy after the Italian luxury fashion group’s financial adviser quit at the beginning of this year, having failed to renegotiate its debts.
Matthew Williamson launches menswear capsule collection

8 January 2010
Matthew Williamson has launched his first capsule menswear collection for spring 10 and intends to expand the line each season.
Fake London returns with autumn 10 range

9 January 2010
Premium label Fake London - famous for its iconic Union Jack and British bulldog branding - is to relaunch for autumn 10, three years after the brand was closed.
Elle 17 and 25 Ten go online to extend reach

9 January 2010
Liverpool womenswear indie Elle 17 is to launch a transactional website later this month to satisfy demand for its collections from customers in the south of England and overseas.
Fly London to launch clothing at Pure show

9 January 2010
Young fashion footwear brand Fly London will unveil its first full clothing collection for autumn 10 at trade show Pure London in February to meet growing demand from its stockists.
Sarah Coggles increases spend on emerging labels

9 January 2010
Premium indie Sarah Coggles will increase its buying budget for emerging labels by 45% for autumn 10 after sales of emerging designer labels outperformed established brands in the retailer’s York store and online.
Burberry checks in with spring 10 ad campaign

5 January 2010
Burberry has launched its spring 10 advertising campaign, which once again features actress Emma Watson and was shot by Mario Testino.
La Senza owners moot rescue deal

4 January 2010
La Senza owner Lion Capital is understood to be seeking funding to save the struggling lingerie chain.
Retailing trade bodies applaud tax rise delay

19 December 2009
Retail trade bodies welcomed the delay to the expected corporation tax rise announced in the pre-Budget report last week, but expressed concern that the Government was still not doing enough to combat the problems associated with the hike in VAT and national insurance rates.
Rochdale indies taught art of window dressing

19 December 2009
Two visual merchandising experts who learnt their trade at department store giant House of Fraser have helped 26 indies in the Rochdale area to overhaul their shop window displays in time for the Christmas trading period.
Monsoon returns to the US with Accessorize

18 December 2009
Monsoon is poised to open five Accessorize stores in the US next year as the retailer tries once more to crack the North American market.
Rinku to revamp brands under new design chief

12 December 2009
Womenswear brand house Rinku Group is to overhaul its product offer and expansion strategy after hiring former Alexon Group brand controller Janet Drath.
Xmas Sales come early for mainstream indies

12 December 2009
Mainstream indies are going on Sale earlier this year in a bid to trigger customer spending during the all-important Christmas trading period.
BFC announces Newgen winners

11 December 2009
Mark Fast, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff and Peter Pilotto have been awarded catwalk sponsorship by the British Fashion Council (BFC)’s Newgen scheme.
Retailers expect steady Christmas trading

11 December 2009
Retailers are convinced that this Christmas will be no worse than last year, according to BRC figures.
Esprit slows expansion plans as wholesale remains weak

11 December 2009
Esprit has pulled back on its expansion plans as slow consumer spend continues to trouble the Hong Kong-based clothing retailer.
Stitch menswear show announces brand line-up

11 December 2009
Menswear trade exhibition Stitch has signed brands including Fenchurch, Penguin and Bolongaro Trevor to its February launch show.
British Fashion Awards winners announced

10 December 2009
Burberry cleaned up at last night’s British Fashion Awards as creative director Christopher Bailey scooped the prize for Designer of the Year and Burberry won Designer Brand of the Year on the back of a triumphant return to London Fashion Week and the impressive sales hike that ensued.
Mulberry profits boosted by UK retail sales

10 December 2009
Mulberry posted a 16% hike in sales in the first half of the year, boosted by a strong UK retail performance.
Martin Margiela exits Margiela

9 December 2009
Belgian designer Martin Margiela, head of the eponymous French fashion house, has left the business. No replacement creative director will be appointed.
Cyber Monday was busiest online shopping day ever

8 December 2009
Retailers have recorded their busiest online shopping day ever yesterday, with shoppers thought to have spent up to £534m, a 16% increase on last year.
Traffic-free shopping day boosts West End sales

7 December 2009
London’s West End retailers have said that Saturday’s traffic-free shopping day was a success.
The weekend newspaper round up: December 5 to 6, 2009

7 December 2009
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers.
Roland Mouret to launch menswear

7 December 2009
Roland Mouret is to design a menswear collection that will launch in January.
Valentino investors to buy back debt

7 December 2009
Valentino Fashion Group’s private equity investor Permira is in talks to buy back some of the debt accrued when it purchased the Italian fashion house two years ago.
Kim Winser to reposition Agent Provocateur

5 December 2009
Agent Provocateur is to broaden its target customer group and develop more commercial collections under the guidance of former Aquascutum chief executive Kim Winser, who is acting as an adviser to the luxury lingerie chain.
Irish indies cheer ban on upward-only rent reviews

5 December 2009
Republic of Ireland indies have welcomed the news that upward-only rent reviews are to be abolished from March 2010.
New ranges fuel optimism at Alexon

5 December 2009
Like-for-like sales at Alexon fell 14% over the 16 weeks to November 21 but the womenswear brand house said it had experienced a better start to autumn on the back of its modernised product.
Quirky refund offer lifts Bagga Menswear sales

5 December 2009
Kent indie Bagga Menswear has launched an innovative promotion to fight back against department store pre-Christmas discounting.
Louis Vuitton expands in Asia Pacific

4 December 2009
Louis Vuitton has opened in Macau’s One Central retail and residential development as part of its planned expansion across the Asia Pacific region.
Websites selling counterfeit Ugg boots forced to close

4 December 2009
Police have shut down hundreds of websites selling counterfeit Ugg boots as shoppers race to buy discounted product in the run up to Christmas.
Gap US sales rise despite poor international performance

3 December 2009
Gap sales in November were up 2% on last year to $1.42bn (£856m).
PPR floats automobile division to fund fashion expansion

3 December 2009
French luxury group PPR has raised €806m (£731.6m) from the IPO of its automobile and pharmaceuticals division to raise cash to fund expansion.
Guess confident despite challenging European markets

1 December 2009
The European performance of US denim brand Guess has dragged down its third quarter earnings, although the company said its European results were still ahead of expectations.
Flannels CVA approved

1 December 2009
The proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) of Flannels has been approved by creditors, securing the future of the designer mini-chain.
Christian Lacroix fails to find buyer

1 December 2009
UPDATED: French luxury brand Christian Lacroix will be reduced to a licensing operation having failed to secure a buyer for the business, which went into administration in June.
Mamas & Papas signs deal with Shop Direct

30 November 2009
Maternity and babywear chain Mamas & Papas has signed a deal with Shop Direct Group to sell its maternitywear through the Very.co.uk and Woolworths.co.uk channels.
Kim Winser to act as advisor to Agent Provocateur

30 November 2009
Kim Winser, the former chief executive of Aquascutum and Pringle, has been hired as a senior adviser to private equity firm 3i.
Etail investment rises up the agenda

28 November 2009
Fashion retailers and brands are to ramp up investment in ecommerce over the next three years as the market begins to pick up, according to research.
Poshu makes Manchester debut after revenue uplift

28 November 2009
Premium footwear and accessories indie Poshu has opened a store on central Manchester’s Police Street following 20% year-on-year revenue growth at its Lancashire store in the village of Whalley.
Shoppers seek quality as average spend lifts

28 November 2009
Contemporary womenswear indies say average shopper spend has risen as customers place a stronger emphasis on quality over price.
John Lewis weekly sales up 20% so far

26 November 2009
Sales at John Lewis department stores are up over 20% for the period of Sunday to Wednesday this week compared with the same time last year, boosted by strong performance in Christmas gifts lines.
Late payment slows in textiles and clothing industry

26 November 2009
The late payment culture among textiles and clothing companies is showing signs of improvement, according to Experian’s Late Payment Index.
Roberto Cavalli launches transactional website

25 November 2009
Roberto Cavalli today launched its first online store, which is transactional in 46 countries across Europe, the US and Asia.
PPR chief expands on plans for sales and acquisitions

25 November 2009
PPR chief executive François Pinault has revealed that he plans to sell the retail arms of the French group “the sooner, the better” but said he hadn’t created a deadline for the planned divestments.
Prime minister proposes funding for small businesses

24 November 2009
A growth capital fund to boost investment in small businesses was proposed by Gordon Brown yesterday.
The weekend newspaper round up: November 21 to 22, 2009

23 November 2009
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers.
PPR to shed retail businesses to focus on branded portfolio

23 November 2009
French retail group PPR is to sell off part of its retail portfolio to raise cash ahead of plans to acquire new brands, according to reports.
Keely Deininger

21 November 2009
The designer and director of kidswear brand Little Linens tells Eve Oxberry how a background in supply helps her stay competitive.
Burberry signs new Indian partner

20 November 2009
Burberry is poised to enter a joint venture with Indian fashion retailer Genesis Colors, pending government approval in India.
Lanvin finds investor to fund global expansion

20 November 2009
Lanvin has found a minority investor to take a 12.5% stake, which it hopes will accelerate its expansion.
Jacques Vert names Gillian Berkmen and Jessica Burley as non-executive directors

18 November 2009
Jacques Vert has appointed Gillian Berkmen and Jessica Burley to its board as non-executive directors.
Burberry remains confident as retail sales rise

17 November 2009
Burberry said it is confident ahead of the crucial Christmas period, despite a first half decline in wholesale sales, as retail sales continue to rise.
The weekend newspaper round up: November 14 to 15, 2009

16 November 2009
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers…
Third Sassy & Boo store makes a splash in Bath

14 November 2009
Gloucestershire womenswear indie Sassy & Boo has expanded into a third store after its owner adapted buying patterns to boost sales.
Ghost

7 November 2009
The womenswear label’s first wholesale offer in three years recaptures the spirit of its past.
Indie owners team up with Colonel Mustard

7 November 2009
Two Bristol indie store owners have joined forces to open a large designer menswear store following the closure of each of their individual businesses.
Indies lose out after kidswear shoppers turn to value retailers

7 November 2009
Indie kidswear retailers say they have lost customers to supermarkets and value stores in spite of research that says the total kidswear market has been the most resilient sector during the recession.
Ipswich’s Urban Vintage to add womenswear shop

7 November 2009
Ipswich menswear indie Urban Vintage is expanding into the store next door to add womenswear to its offer.
Lingerie labels look to gain an edge via design

7 November 2009
Lingerie brands are ramping up the fashion element of their collections in reaction to competition from supermarket and high street own-label ranges.
Escada sold to Megha Mittal

6 November 2009
Escada, the German womenswear brand, has been sold to Megha Mittal, daughter-in-law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, for an undisclosed sum.
Retail Trust's Search For A Star hits the road

5 November 2009
Retail Trust’s Search For A Star initiative has kicked off with two live auditions at Xscape Milton Keynes and Brighton Marina.
Escada sells Primera brands

5 November 2009
Escada, the German womenswear brand, has sold its Primera division to German private equity firm Endurance Capital.
Karen Millen appoints joint managing directors

5 November 2009
Karen Millen has appointed Gemma Metheringham and Steve Price joint managing directors.
Sven Ley confirms Escada bid

4 November 2009
Sven Ley, the son of Escada founder Wolfgang Ley, has confirmed that he has bid for the German luxury fashion house with backing from Borletti, following speculation last week.
BFC funds international expansion for British designers

3 November 2009
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has launched a fund to aid British design companies to become global brands.
Lulu Guinness signs investor to fund Asian expansion

3 November 2009
Lulu Guinness has sold a 15% stake in the luxury handbags and accessories label to Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group to further expansion in Asia.
The weekend newspaper round up: October 31 to November 1 2009

2 November 2009
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend’s newspapers…
Kidswear most resilient sector in recession

2 November 2009
Kidswear has been the most resilient clothing sector during the recession, according to a report from market analyst Verdict.
Better rents prompt store move for Ferguson Nash

31 October 2009
Menswear indie Ferguson Nash has taken advantage of favourable rents to move into a store three times the size of its previous site.
Indies upbeat on sales but wary of expansion

31 October 2009
Independent retailers are growing in confidence as sales pick up and they negotiate better deals with suppliers, yet expansion and recruitment plans are still being put on hold, according to new figures from the Forum of Private Business (FPB).
Vogue to host second Fashion's Night Out

29 October 2009
Vogue plans to repeat its international Fashion’s Night Out event after the event boosted footfall and sales at London retailers this year.
Versace cuts 350 jobs and forecasts losses

29 October 2009
Versace is to cut approximately a quarter of its global workforce and has forecast that it will post a loss this year.
Christian Lacroix rescue faces delay

28 October 2009
The latest Christian Lacroix rescue bid has been put on hold as a French tribunal yesterday adjourned hearings on a bid by sheikh Hassan Bin Ali al-Nuaimi.
Store closures hit fashion and footwear

27 October 2009
One in 10 retailers closed their doors between January and September this year according to research released today by the Local Data Company.
Maurizio Borletti backs Escada bidder

26 October 2009
Maurizio Borletti has confirmed he is “in contact” with one of the parties currently bidding for German womenswear business Escada.
High street won over by spring 10 catwalk looks

24 October 2009
High street retailers were impressed by the breadth of commercial trends shown at the international fashion weeks this season and will be backing the feminine looks as well as the more androgynous military shapes sent down the catwalks.
Indies urged to arrange back-up carriers to cover postal strikes

24 October 2009
Independent retailers face uncertainty over the crucial festive period as strikes by Royal Mail threaten Christmas deliveries.
New owners commit to Adams store expansion

23 October 2009
Adams’ new owners have vowed to return it to its former position as a leading high street kidswear retailer with an aggressive store expansion plan and more directional product offer.
Pringle and BFC launch design competition

22 October 2009
Pringle of Scotland has collaborated with The British Fashion Council (BFC) to launch the Pringle of Scotland Design Competition.
St David’s 2 opens its doors

22 October 2009
Cardiff’s St David’s 2 shopping centre opened its doors this morning.
Gucci Group and Puma see sales slide in third quarter

21 October 2009
PPR, owner of the Gucci Group and the Puma brand, saw sales fall to €13.8bn (£12.5bn) in the nine months to September 30, down 6.6% on a like-for-like basis.
Strong sales at Louis Vuitton help LVMH beat expectations

20 October 2009
Louis Vuitton, the luxury label, reported a “double-digit” rise in sales over the nine months to September 30, according to parent group LVMH.
John Lovering to quit Debenhams

19 October 2009
Debenhams chairman John Lovering is to announce that he will step down when the company releases its full year results on Thursday. He is reportedly leaving to pursue other interests, including charity work.
Church’s launches e-commerce site

15 October 2009
Church & Co, the classic English footwear brand owned by the Prada Group, has launched a transactional website.
H&M's like-for-like sales continue to slide

15 October 2009
H&M’s sales fell 8% on a like-for-like basis in September. The fast fashion chain blamed the decline on unusually warm weather in most of the markets in which it operates.
Burberry boosted by strong retail sales

14 October 2009
Burberry’s revenue rose 6% year-on-year for the six months to September 30 to £572m, boosted by solid retail sales and a particularly strong performance from the UK and Korea.
Joe Corré quits Agent Provocateur

13 October 2009
Joe Corré, the co-founder of Agent Provocateur, has quit the upmarket lingerie firm.
John Lewis reassures customers after dropping Royal Mail

13 October 2009
John Lewis has reassured its customers that deliveries will not be affected by upcoming postal strikes.
M&S website goes live today

13 October 2009
Marks & Spencer’s new website went live today with a new look that has put clothing more firmly at the forefront of the site.
Louis Vuitton plans international expansion

12 October 2009
Louis Vuitton will open a store in Lebanon and one in Mongolia this year.
Retailers back campaign for fair overseas wage standard

9 October 2009
A string of high-profile retailers including Primark are backing a new initiative to standardise a fair living wage for Asian clothing factory workers.
Levi’s posts third quarter profit slide

9 October 2009
Levi Strauss & Co reported a 41.2% drop in net profit to $40.7m (£25.5m) for the three months to August 30.
US retail sales see first rise in a year

9 October 2009
US retail sales have seen the first rise since the financial crisis of September 2008.
Christian Lacroix rescued by sheik of Ajman

8 October 2009
Christian Lacroix is understood to have been rescued from administration by Al Hassan Bin Al Nuaimi.
Fashion retailers applauded in RSPCA awards

8 October 2009
George at Asda, New Look and Marks & Spencer are among the fashion retailers celebrating wins following last night’s RSPCA Good Business Awards.
Versace exits Japan

8 October 2009
Versace has closed its Japanese stores and is to reassess its global strategy under new chief executive Giangiacomo Ferraris, who was appointed in June.
Baumler ceases trading

7 October 2009
German menswear brand Bäumler has ceased trading today after it failed to achieve sufficient financing to produce and deliver its spring 10 collection.
Primark improves commitment to living wage for overseas workers

7 October 2009
Primark has made improvements to its commitment to paying overseas workers a living minimum wage, according to the third Let’s Clean Up Fashion report published by pressure group Labour Behind the Label.
Mary-Adair Macaire

03 October 2009
One year into her tenure and the Pringle chief executive has relaunched the label with a strong sense of its heritage, and is shaking up its distribution strategy to bring it back to profit
King’s Road Sporting Club kicks off online sales push

26 September 2009
London sports and swimwear independent King’s Road Sporting Club has revamped its website and hired a marketing agency in a bid to drive national exposure.
Moda to launch lingerie and swimwear show

26 September 2009
Moda, the UK fashion trade show, will launch a dedicated lingerie and swimwear exhibition in Feb-ruary 2010.
The Exhibition at LFW

26 September 2009
Spring/Summer 10
Burberry shares rise following LFW comeback

24 September 2009
Burberry’s shares were up 5.5% to 502.5p yesterday, following a much acclaimed catwalk show, which closed London Fashion Week on Tuesday.
John Lewis opens Cardiff store

24 September 2009
John Lewis opened Wales’ largest department store this morning in Cardiff’s St David’s development.
Tom Ford to launch womenswear

23 September 2009
Tom Ford International is seeking funding to expand into womenswear.
Henry Conway to collaborate with Jimmy Choo

22 September 2009
Henry Conway, son of MP Derek, is to collaborate with Jimmy Choo to design a range of knitted boots.
Jena.Theo wins Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden

22 September 2009
Design duo Jena.Theo has won Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden.
Grapevine snaps up prime rival indie Raggs

19 September 2009
The owner of mainstream womenswear indie Grapevine has bought premium independent Raggs to give her business a foothold in a high street location.
Rotherham indies vie for Dragons’ Den-style grants

19 September 2009
Independent retailers in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, are competing to win council grants from a pool of £350,000 to fund expansion in a Dragons’ Den-style initiative.
London Fashion Week opens today

18 September 2009
London Fashion Week opens its doors today, with the 25th anniversary show promising to bring a raft of big-name designers and buyers back to the capital.
Puma and Adidas end feud for Peace One Day

18 September 2009
Puma and Adidas are set to end their 60-year feud with a football match.
Retail sales remain flat in August

17 September 2009
Retail sales remained flat between July and August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Cotton USA sponsors Meadham Kirchhoff at LFW

17 September 2009
Cotton USA is to sponsor London Fashion Week label Meadham Kirchhoff this season.
French Connection posts £12.8m first-half loss and closes Northern European retail division

17 September 2009
French Connection has announced six-month losses which forced it to close its Northern European retail division and make staff cuts in the second half of the year to bolster profitability.
BRC urges caution on sanctions in Sri Lanka

16 September 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that the withdrawal of tax-free arrangements for low-cost clothing imported from Sri Lanka could hit flourishing businesses and jobs in the country and put up customer prices.
Retailers hit by EU sanctions on Sri Lankan factories

15 September 2009
Retailers including Next, Marks & Spencer and Tesco could soon lose access to affordable clothing manufacturing in Sri Lanka as the EU looks set to withdraw funding from the country, The Times has reported.
London mayor celebrates LFW’s effect on UK economy

15 September 2009
London mayor Boris Johnson has pledged his support for London Fashion Week (LFW) and highlighted the money it brings to the UK economy through sponsorship and media coverage.
London retail sales at four-year low

14 September 2009
Retail sales in London in August were at their lowest level for four years, according to the London Retail Sales Monitor.
Ex-OSC boss to revive Slazenger Heritage

12 September 2009
Sportswear veteran Chris Lee is to relaunch Slazenger Heritage under licence for spring 10.
Ghost resurrects wholesale range

12 September 2009
Ghost will relaunch its wholesale collection at next week’s London Fashion Week, three years after the range was axed.
New Sandwich chief plans brand push

12 September 2009
Incoming Sandwich managing direc-tor Charlotte McHardy plans to build brand awareness and support stockists of the womenswear brand with the introduction of a transactional website and more marketing, when she takes up her position on December 1.
Vivienne Westwood franchisee creates indie

12 September 2009
Vivienne Westwood franchise partners Richard Duncalf and Oscar Pinto-Hervia are opening their own multi-branded luxury fashion independent in Manchester.
De Keyser rescued from administration

11 September 2009
Premium womenswear distributor De Keyser Fashions has been rescued from administration by its founder Robert de Keyser in conjunction with Robert Bensoussan, who is best known for building Jimmy Choo into a luxury empire.
Tesco supports On|Off designers

11 September 2009
Tesco will support emerging labels by selling limited edition pieces from designers showing at On|Off on its new clothing website.
Interest rates held at 0.5%

10 September 2009
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5%. This marks the sixth consecutive month the record low rate has been maintained.
Emanuel Ungaro names Estrella Archs chief designer and Lindsay Lohan artistic advisor

9 September 2009
Emanuel Ungaro has appointed Estrella Archs as chief designer and has created the new position of artistic adviser for actress Lindsay Lohan.
Cheaney Shoes bought by Church & Co directors

9 September 2009
Cheaney Shoes has been bought from owners Church & Co, a subsidiary of Prada Group in a management buy out.
Harold Tillman reveals his plans for Aquascutum

8 September 2009
Harold Tillman is poised to grow Aquascutum via the international wholesale route, new product categories and a transactional website.
Clothing and footwear sales hit by poor August

8 September 2009
Clothing and footwear sales were hit hard in August, when UK retail like-for-like sales fell 0.1% as shoppers stayed away from the high street due to wet weather.
Recession boosts lingerie sales

7 September 2009
Lingerie sales are defying the downturn as couples spend more time at home, according to figures from TNS Worldpanel Fashion.
La Senza signs soldier to front promotion

7 September 2009
Corporal Katrina Hodge is the new face of La Senza’s Armed Forces campaign as part of a promotion that will offer a 15% discount to all British servicemen and women.
Harold Tillman eyes Aquascutum bid

7 September 2009
Aquascutum, the British luxury label, is being eyed by Jaeger owner Harold Tillman.
Store is turned upside down in JZD overhaul

05 September 2009
Young fashion indie JZD has undergone a radical revamp in a bid to improve its commercial appeal.
New men’s and kids’ shows target London

4 September 2009
Expose, a new menswear trade show, will debut in London in February and a new kidswear exhibition called Vogue Kids will launch in the capital in January.
Olsen UK appoints Freeport business director

3 September 2009
Olsen UK has appointed Louise Sutton as managing director to replace Charlotte McHardy.
Temperley and Ciel design for ethical charity

3 September 2009
British designers Alice Temperley, Jenny Packham, Richard Nicoll and Ciel have designed t-shirts for the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
Sandwich hires Olsen UK boss

1 September 2009
United Clothing, the UK distributor of womenswear brands Sandwich and Stills and kidswear brand No-Nonsense, has appointed Olsen UK boss Charlotte McHardy as managing director.
Future of Mariella Burani group uncertain

1 September 2009
Shares in Italian fashion house Mariella Burani, which owns the René Lezard brand, were suspended yesterday following deepening losses at the group.
M&S Indigo hits stores

1 September 2009
Marks & Spencer has launched its Indigo casual womenswear sub-brand in store today.
Marks & Spencer employees on track for fundraising target

29 August 2009
Marks & Spencer employees are expected to raise £2m for the M&S 125 Fundraising Challenge by their September 2 deadline.
Hype raises the bar for LFW

29 August 2009
London Fashion Week has lured back top British designers and taken a more commercial slant, but will the buzz last beyond this season?
Younger revamp for Jacques Vert labels

29 August 2009
Jacques Vert is to reposition its brands to target a younger market.
FrostFrench to increase distribution

27 August 2009
FrostFrench, the luxury womenswear label designed by Sadie Frost and Jemima French, has signed sales agent Self Service to reposition the brand with a more commercial slant and grow distribution.
London Fashion Week unveils provisional menswear schedule

26 August 2009
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the provisional schedule for London Fashion Week’s (LFW) menswear day, which will take place on September 23, the day after the main event ends.
On|Off to run pop up in Newburgh Quarter

26 August 2009
On|Off, the independent fashion showcase, which runs during London Fashion Week, will also run a pop-up space in the Newburgh Quarter near Carnaby Street this season.
JB Ward & Co in administration

25 August 2009
JB Ward & Co, the Sussex-based school uniform specialist has gone into administration.
BAPE Store, London

22 August 2009
A Bathing Ape’s revamped shop has a clean, simple look, but it hasn’t lost any of its cult following.
Over-40s seek new lease of life

22 August 2009
The recent collapses of some key German womenswear brands point to a shake-up in the sector as UK retailers demand a more contemporary look for older women
Gymboree notches up solid Q2 results

20 August 2009
Gymboree reported better-than-expected second quarter results for both sales and profit.
Hallhuber bought by private equity house Change Capital

20 August 2009
Hallhuber, the German womenswear retailer, has been acquired by Change Capital Partners in a €29m (£25m) deal.
Jacques Vert names new brand director for Windsmoor

19 August 2009
Jacques Vert has named Jane Stott as brand director of its classic womenswear brand Windsmoor.
Antonio Berardi returns to London Fashion Week

19 August 2009
Antonio Berardi is the latest British designer to return to London Fashion Week (LFW).
TK Maxx reports Q2 like-for-like growth

19 August 2009
TK Maxx has seen a growth in like for-like-sales, which the company says is down to consumer demand for value during the recession.
Escada USA files for insolvency

19 August 2009
Escada’s US arm has followed its German parent company in filing for insolvency.
Escada attracts potential buyer

18 August 2009
German luxury womenswear brand Escada has attracted interest from potential buyer, Munich lawyer Nickolaus Becker.
Sass & Bide latest brand to return to London Fashion Week

18 August 2009
Sass & Bide is the latest in a raft of brands returning to the London Fashion Week (LFW) line up.
Germano Ferraro

15 August 2009
The managing director of Diesel’s kidswear business tells Eve Oxberry about its direction for spring 10 and its John Galliano licence
Liz Claiborne posts Q2 losses and announces radical cost cuts

13 August 2009
Fashion group Liz Claiborne has reported a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss.
B2B textile supply site launches

13 August 2009
A website that will provide a business-to-business European marketplace for textiles manufacturers and suppliers has been launched by a Netherlands-based company.
Warnaco reports Q2 losses but says outlook positive

12 August 2009
Warnaco Group has reported an 8% fall in net revenues in the three months to July 4 but said that full-year sales will come in ahead of expectations.
Texprint strips graduate of prize

12 August 2009
Texprint has stripped the winner of one its annual graduate awards of her prize on the basis that her designs were not entirely original.
The weekend newspaper round-up: August 8-9, 2009

10 August 2009
The best of the fashion business headlines from the weekend’s papers…
Council hatches plan to support Essex indies

8 August 2009
Indie retailers in Essex are being offered £20,000 worth of support to help bring shoppers back onto its high streets, after Braintree council secured a government grant to launch a Shop Local marketing campaign.
Paul Smith

8 August 2009
Paul Smith owner of menswear indie Bakers Tailoring in Darlington, County Durham
Alexon Group denies its concessions are at risk

7 August 2009
Alexon Group chief executive Jane McNally has hit back at suggestions that the beleaguered womenswear group is facing further troubles.
Jaeger enters Hong Kong market

29 July 2009
Jaeger is expanding into the Hong Kong market via luxury department store Harvey Nichols.
National marketing push for Nine’s online launch

25 July 2009
Womenswear independent Nine in Swindon, Wiltshire, is targeting a national audience with an ambitious marketing drive to promote its transactional website.
The Shop at Bluebird, London

25 July 2009
This effervescent Chelsea store showcases high-end and contemporary brands as part of a lifestyle offer
Premium indies to avoid price rises for spring 10

18 July 2009
Most premium indies will avoid hiking up prices for spring 10, despite increased prices from some bands.
Pop-up showroom to run during London Fashion Week

17 July 2009
East London boutique hotel 40 Winks will open a pop-up showroom for designers during London Fashion Week.
BBC funds young designers for London Fashion Week catwalk

17 July 2009
The BBC has recruited a team of 10 young people to create a collection that will be shown at London Fashion Week (LFW).
London Fashion Week announces provisional schedule

15 July 2009
London Fashion Week has announced is provisional catwalk schedule for September 18-23.
Burberry knocked by weak wholesale market

15 July 2009
Burberry’s revenue fell 4% year-on-year for the three months to June 30, largely due to a dip in wholesale sales.
The Brandery pulls in almost 10,000 visitors for debut

13 July 2009
The Brandery trade show pulled in 9,715 visitors and 113 exhibitors for its first event last week, mainly from Southern Europe.
Londonedge and Londoncentral pull in new brands

13 July 2009
Londonedge and Londoncentral have signed up almost twice as many new exhibitors for September compared with the previous season.
Exclusive Footwear goes up in size with kids’ offer

11 July 2009
Premium retailer Exclusive Footwear has branched out into kids’ styles and expanded its store.
Halston targets growth with heritage collection

11 July 2009
Luxury brand Halston is launching a lower-priced collection and is targeting European expansion.
Men’s and kids’ sales surge after Psyche rejig

11 July 2009
Indie department store Psyche in Middlesbrough has seen its men’s tailoring sales increase 14% and kidswear sales rise by 43.8% since a major revamp at the retailer in May.
All Saints secures £30m financing deal

10 July 2009
All Saints has secured £30 million of funding from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets to grow its business in the UK and internationally.
Debenhams appoints non-exec directors

7 July 2009
Debenhams has added Martina King and Sophie Turner Laing to its board as non-executive directors. Both join on August 1 when Peter Long, who has been a non-executive director since 2006, will stand down.
SockShop returns to the high street

6 July 2009
SockShop is to open its first store since its acquisition by Ruia Group in 2006. The shop will launch at Manchester Airport this week.
Sourcing at risk in Bangladesh

4 July 2009
Ongoing protests by clothing factory workers in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka are likely to become a long-term threat to retailers who source from the country, according to leading industry experts.
BRC says consumer advocate must educate shoppers on rights

2 July 2009
The British Retail Consoritum (BRC) has warned that the creation of a “consumer advocate”, which could have power to take legal action against retailers, must be focused on improving consumers’ understanding of their rights.
People Tree branches out into music merchandise

30 June 2009
Ethical fashion brand People Tree is to begin producing band merchandise. The brand’s first venture is a tour t-shirt for British group Keane, with more band collaborations likely to follow.
Fashion Enter wins as Harold Tillman wades in

27 June 2009
Fashion Enter has won a three-year battle with Croydon council to get business rate relief for its Enter boutique, which showcases up-and-coming designers, thanks to the support of Drapers and British Fashion Council chairman Harold Tillman.
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.
Jonathan Saunders returns to London Fashion Week

24 June 2009
Jonathan Saunders is the latest British designer to announce a return to London Fashion Week this September.
Whistles to team up with Roksanda Ilincic for dress collection

19 June 2009
Whistles will collaborate with designer Roksanda Ilincic to launch a range of dresses for Autumn 09.
Primark teams up with charity to check factory conditions

19 June 2009
Primark has struck a deal with India-based charity SAVE (Social Awareness and Voluntary Education) as part of a promise to better police its factories and end child labour in India’s Tirupur region.
Loewe appoints Lisa Montague as CEO

18 June 2009
Lisa Montague will be reunited with designer Stuart Vevers when she joins luxury brand Loewe as chief executive later this year.
Ronnie Wood to design range for Liberty

17 June 2009
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood is to launch a clothing and accessories range for Liberty of London
Sainsbury's funds growth after strong sales

17 June 2009
Sainsbury’s is to complete a share placing to help fund an accelerated growth strategy, following another strong trading quarter for its non-food offer.
British Fashion Council announces Newgen winners

16 June 2009
Sykes and LP.BG are among the new names to be awarded Newgen sponsorship by the British Fashion Council (BFC) this season.
Ibson hopes to blossom with Stamford debut

13 June 2009
Former florist Chris Huggett has turned his back on bouquets in favour of boutiques to start up a directional menswear independent.
Government's credit insurance top-up scheme extended

10 June 2009
The Government has backdated eligibility for its credit insurance scheme to October.
Emma Watson stars in Burberry ad campaign

10 June 2009
Burberry has signed actress Emma Watson as the face of its autumn winter 09 advertising campaign.
Stella McCartney to design kidswear for Gap

10 June 2009
British designer Stella McCartney is to design a kidswear range for Gap. The collection is expected to hit select Gap Kids and Baby Gap stores in late 2009.
Retail Trust searches for shopfloor "stars"

9 June 2009
The Retail Trust is inviting budding shopfloor singers and department store dance troops to enter its Search for a Star competition.
Entrepreneurs to compete for free retail space

9 June 2009
Three retailers will be offered business support worth £250,000, including free space in a Scottish shopping centre as part of a “Dragon’s Den” style scheme.
Onetwentyeight founder adds Number Seven store

6 June 2009
Mark Batista, founder of streetwear show To Be Confirmed (TBC), is to open his second streetwear store in London.
Tillman vows to bring the buzz back to LFW

6 June 2009
The return of two high-profile designer labels to the UK’s fashion capital in September was applauded by the industry this week.
Walpole names tomorrow’s "super brands"

3 June 2009
Walpole, the luxury brands trade body, has honoured five British fashion labels among its eight “Brands of Tomorrow”.
Richemont appoints Marty Wikstrom head of fashion

1 June 2009
Richemont has appointed Marty Wikstrom as chief executive of its fashion and accessories businesses, which include Alfred Dunhill, Lancel, Chloé, Azzedine Aläia and Shanghai Tang.
Ex-Principles suppliers set up etail venture

30 May 2009
Suppliers hit by the collapse of womenswear chain Principles have joined forces in an unprecedented move to create a transactional website to directly serve female shoppers aged 30 and above.
Turbulence hits luxury sector

30 May 2009
The downturn in the luxury sector is prompting unprecedented movement at executive level, with more predicted
Red or Dead founders offer free retail space to start-ups

28 May 2009
Red or Dead founders Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway will offer free retail space to new businesses for two months via a pop-up shop outside London’s City Hall.
Principles creditors bombard administrator

28 May 2009
More than 5,000 customers of and suppliers to Principles have emailed the retailer’s administrator to try to reclaim money since the womenswear chain collapsed in March.
Internet success leads to birth of second Babye shop

23 May 2009
Designer kidswear indie Babye is taking advantage of low rents to expand into a second store.
Design boss plots product overhaul at Jigsaw and Kew

22 May 2009
Sister womenswear chains Jigsaw and Kew are to ramp up their accessories offers and create more “complete outfits” under new design director Tess Richards.
Jaeger regains control of Japan licence

22 May 2009
Premium chain Jaeger is to end its agreement with Japanese licensee Sanki Shoji and take back control of its business in Japan.
British Fashion Council ups commitment to new talent

20 May 2009
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has appointed Sarah Mower as its first ambassador for emerging talent.
Mothercare posts profit rise

20 May 2009
Mothercare has reported strong sales and a 12.4% hike in profits to £24.8 million for the year ended March 28.
Warehouse launches Free Style marketing initiative

19 May 2009
Warehouse has kicked off a two-week promotional event in which each day it will give 100 shoppers their purchases for free.
Warehouse and BFC to offer graduate placements

18 May 2009
Warehouse has joined with The British Fashion Council (BFC) to offer one design graduate the chance to have their designs produced and sold in the young fashion chain’s stores.
H&M turns around like-for-like sales with 8% rise

15 May 2009
H&M’s like-for-like sales rose 8% in April, the first monthly like-for-like rise that the young fashion chain has reported in eight months.
Mulberry will take control of US business

14 May 2009
Mulberry will acquire the rights to its US business and end a joint venture with its US partner.

DrapersEve Oxberry

Drapers
Eve Oxberry