Drapers
Victoria Gallagher

Victoria is a reporter at Drapers magazine and Drapersonline.com. She covers young fashion, menswear, luxury brands, kidswear and lifestyle as well as overseeing the Off the Record section. Before joining Drapers Victoria worked at The Bookseller, a trade magazine for the publishing industry.

Versace may consider IPO as it looks for investment

28 May 2012
Italian fashion house Versace may consider an initial public offering and help from outside investors as it looks for investment to fund growth.
Michael Kors launches first Spanish store

28 May 2012
US designer womenswear brand Michael Kors has opened its first store in Madrid.
Portas Pilots announced

28 May 2012
Towns including Bedford, Croydon and Margate have been selected to be the first Portas Pilots, with the government also announcing a second round for unsuccessful applicants.
Menswear shines as boys hit the shops

25 May 2012
The spotlight has been well and truly thrown on menswear this year, particularly in London with London Collections: Men giving menswear designers the recognition they deserve.
IMAGE GALLERY: Adidas and Stella McCartney launch Villagewear collection

25 May 2012
Adidas and Stella McCartney have launched the ‘Villagewear’ collection for Olympic athletes to relax in.
Jigsaw to open doors on second men's standalone

25 May 2012
Womenswear retailer Jigsaw is set to open its second standalone menswear store after a successful launch of its debut store earlier this year.
Bellfield unveils first womenswear collection

26 May 2012
Men’s young fashion brand Bellfield has launched a womenswear collection for autumn 12 to build on the success of its menswear line.
Bench will boost ad spend after B&B exit

26 May 2012
Bench intends to plough marketing spend into advertising campaigns to support its stockists after pulling out of streetwear trade show Bread & Butter Berlin.
Meadham Kirchhoff to re-launch menswear

24 May 2012
Meadham Kirchhoff is to re-launch menswear after a six year absence, with the range set to show at London Collections: Men next month.
Cotton traders face investigation

24 May 2012
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has launched a probe into the volume of cotton bales ordered and delivered after concerns were raised over millions of dollars lost at trading houses last year due to a squeeze.
Giorgio Armani's Chinese growth fuels profit rise

24 May 2012
Italian luxury fashion house Giorgio Armani saw operating profit rise 23% last year driven by its continued growth in China.
Miinto extends its remit to kidswear

24 May 2012
Ecommerce portal Miinto.com has launched a kidswear section of its site just six weeks after its launch.
Moss Bros like-for-likes boosted by store refits

24 May 2012
Sales at menswear group Moss Bros benefited from an enhanced product offer and revamped stores with like-for-like sales growing 8.8%.
Burberry full year results: Top ten numbers to know

23 May 2012
Burberry’s full year results for the year to March 31 were published today, here are the top ten numbers to know:
EXCLUSIVE: JD group trading director set to leave

23 May 2012
Nick Preston, group trading director at JD Sports Fashion, is to leave the company later this month to take on a role at brand management company Glint.
Brooks Brothers appoints new vice president

23 May 2012
US retailer Brooks Brothers has appointed Matteo Del Vecchio to the newly-created position of vice-president, strategy and corporate development.
Ralph Lauren posts 20% profits rise

23 May 2012
Premium US fashion house Ralph Lauren has reported a year of “spectacular growth” as profits soared 20%.
Burberry to launch menswear only store as profits soar

23 May 2012
Burberry has announced it is to launch its first menswear only store as the British luxury brand reported a 26% rise in profit over the last year.
Browns buying director departs

23 May 2012
Browns buying director Ruth Runberg has left the business this week after just over a year in the role.
Hedi Slimane debuts YSL collection to buyers only

23 May 2012
Hedi Slimane’s first collection as creative director at Yves Saint Laurent will be shown only to buyers.
Topman and Fashion East announce MAN designers

23 May 2012
Menswear labels Agi & Sam, Astrid Andersen and Shaun Samson are set to show at London Collections: Men in June as part of MAN, the Topman and Fashion East menswear show.
Gucci wins trademark battle against Guess

22 May 2012
Luxury label Gucci has won $4.7m (£3.0m) of damages after a trademark infringement by US denim brand Guess.
Newgen Men winners announced

22 May 2012
Menswear designers Lou Dalton and Sibling have been awarded Newgen Men catwalk sponsorship to show at the inaugural London Collections: Men.
BFC menswear event spawns London College of Fashion men's showcase

21 May 2012
The London College of Fashion will present collections from up and coming menswear designers alongside the British Fashion Council’s inaugural menswear event London Collections: Men.
Fashion retailers to reduce store space by 6.6 million sq ft

21 May 2012
Fashion retail space is predicted to reduce by 4,000 stores in the UK by 2015, according to research by Conlumino.
Footfall falls as wet weather deters shoppers

21 May 2012
Wet weather deterred shoppers from venturing outdoors in April as high streets suffered the worst drop in footfall since November 2009.
Burberry races to open flagship before Olympics

21 May 2012
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry may look to phase the opening of its flagship store on Regent Street as it attempts to open the store in time for the Olympics.
BFC creates showcase for pre-collections

19 May 2012
Line-up of showrooms and events aims to capitalise on growing popularity of pre-collections for spring 13.
Stitch adds streetwear area for spring 13

19 May 2012
Menswear exhibition Stitch will launch a streetwear section at its spring 13 edition.
Cult of SuperGroup undermined by errors

19 May 2012
A series of mistakes and tension among stockists over its retail strategy have made it a tough year for SuperGroup. Despite remaining a best-seller, it must work to restore its credibility.
Bench pulls out of Bread & Butter

17 May 2012
Young fashion brand Bench will not show at streetwear trade show Bread & Butter in July after implementing a new global marketing strategy.
Schiaparelli label set to re-launch

17 May 2012
Diego Della Valle, the owner of luxury goods maker the Tod’s group, is to re-launch the French designer label Schiaparelli in 2013.
French Connection issues profit warning after sales slip

17 May 2012
French Connection has issued another profit warning after sales at the retailer dropped 9.5%.
Temperley London to open London flagship

16 May 2012
Designer label Temperley London is to open its first flagship store in London showcasing the trio of Temperley brands.
Richemont posts profits jump

16 May 2012
Profits at luxury goods company Richemont jumped 43% last year although the company said it still remains “mindful” of a difficult economic climate.
Moda to host urban and steetwear show

16 May 2012
Mainstream womenswear show Moda is to launch an integrated trade show for urban, streetwear and action sports brands after industry feedback called for a dedicated show for the market.
Salvatore Ferragamo posts profits rise

15 May 2012
Italian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo saw net profit rise 10.2% in its first quarter with footwear, handbags and leather accessories helping drive the growth.
IMAGE GALLERY: Royal Mail unveils fashion stamps

15 May 2012
Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood are among the designers to feature on a new set of stamps available from today.
Paul Smith set for Chinese expansion

15 May 2012
British designer label Paul Smith is set for a second assault on the Chinese market and will open 24 stores in the next five years after signing a partnership with Hong Kong brand and distribution firm ImagineX.
Net-a-Porter to launch McQ pre-order service

14 May 2012
Luxury etailer Net-a-porter is to offer customers the chance to buy next season’s McQ collection this Wednesday, two months before the range goes into stores.
Snow + Rock reports profits drop

14 May 2012
Specialist mountain sport retailer Snow + Rock reported a 13% drop in profits last year blaming poor snow in the Alps for the decline.
Could own label bring indies out of the margins?

12 May 2012
The proliferation of brands is making it tougher for indies to sell at full price and find a point of difference. So now some indies see own label as a way of controlling their destiny.
Kidswear is the future for Base

12 May 2012
Mini-chain Base is to expand its kidswear offer as it trials a move away from the “shrinking” branded menswear market.
Rain rain go away….

10 May 2012
I know I’m not the only one who is desperate for this rain to stop. It feels as though it has been raining since the beginning of time.
Averyl Oates joins new luxury website Luxup

10 May 2012
Averyl Oates, former buying director at Harvey Nichols, has joined new online luxury service Luxup as commercial director.
Retailers sign up for Westfield tourist reward card

10 May 2012
Retailers including Tommy Hilfiger and Jaeger are set to offer customers up to 30% off as part of Westfield’s Discover London VIP reward card.
SuperGroup reports "disappointing" end to the year

10 May 2012
SuperGroup has reported a “disappointing” end to the year as sales growth slowed with retail like-for-likes flat.
eBay launches colour matching app tool

9 May 2012
Online marketplace etailer eBay’s has introduced a function to its shopping app that lets consumers search for items that match colour and pattern in photographs.
April showers put dampener on fashion sales

9 May 2012
Footwear sales showed the largest decline since January 2008 and clothing sales dropped substantially as wet weather deterred shoppers from adding to their spring wardrobes.
Nicole Farhi appoints interim chief executive

8 May 2012
Designer label Nicole Farhi has appointed management consultant Francois Steiner as interim chief executive officer following the departure of Niki Scordi last week.
BFC Colleges Council winners named

8 May 2012
The Royal College of Art, University of Westminster and London College of Fashion were among the winners of the British Fashion Council Colleges Council Graduate Preview Day Awards, announced last Friday.
Wet weather halts fashion sales

8 May 2012
Wet April weather hit fashion retailers as few shoppers braved the rain to buy new spring garments with sales falling 4.6% year on year.
Mamas & Papas expands across Russia and Lebanon

8 May 2012
Maternity and nursery retailer Mamas & Papas is set for international expansion with a cluster of stores across Russia and Lebanon.
Third-party brands to spice up River Island womenswear

5 May 2012
River Island is to follow in the footsteps of its high street rivals by introducing third-party womenswear brands.
Formal line signals White Stuff ‘evolution’

5 May 2012
Lifestyle retailer White Stuff will replace its long-term buying and merchandising director later this month ahead of the introduction of more formal pieces into its autumn 12 collection.
UKFT launches manifesto

3 May 2012
Industry body the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has launched its manifesto calling the Government to action in supporting the fashion and textile industry.
Peter Pilotto to be guest designer at Pitti W

3 May 2012
Designer label Peter Pilotto is set to be the guest womenswear designer at the next edition of womenswear tradeshow Pitti W.
Number Eight in upmarket revamp

3 May 2012
Scottish lifestyle indie Number Eight is increasing the number of premium womenswear brands it stocks and undergoing a major refurbishment in a bid to reposition as a more upmarket destination.
Indies follow own-label route with One Brand

3 May 2012
A new design and sourcing company, One Brand, is helping indies create their own ranges from autumn 12, as an increasing number look to own-label as a way of securing exclusive product.
IMAGE GALLERY: Selfridges Britannica 1951-1953 exhibition

2 May 2012
Selfridges will launch its Britannica 1951-1953 exhibition on Friday as part of its schedule of events surrounding the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.
Joseph and Orlebar Brown to expand into London's Duke of York Square

2 May 2012
Luxury brand Joseph and designer swimwear Orlebar Brown have bolstered the brand mix at Duke of York Square in Chelsea as owner Cadogan Estates plans to develop the area as a “leading fashion destination” in London.
IMAGE GALLERY: Christian Louboutin exhibition

2 May 2012
The Design Museum’s long-awaited exhibition of iconic French footwear designer Christian Louboutin opens this week in London.
French Connection puts stores up for sale

1 May 2012
French Connection has put 14 of its 71 stores up for sale including shops in Bluewater, Brent Cross and Lakeside after launching a review of its retail division in March.
Is Escada mooting menswear?

1 May 2012
Luxury womenswear label Escada is considering launching a menswear collection, according to reports.
Adidas raises profit forecast despite Indian subidiary 'irregularities'

1 May 2012
Adidas posted strong first quarter turnover and raised its profit forecasts for 2012 despite issues with costs at an Indian subsidiary.
Superdry: Has it reached its peak?

30 April 2012
You can hardly walk along any high street without spotting Superdry product, from T-shirts emblazoned with Japanese logos to colourful hoodies and checked lumberjack shirts.
Selfridges owner tops Sunday Times fashion rich list

30 April 2012
Selfridges and Primark owner the Weston family claimed the top fashion spot in The Sunday Times Rich List for 2012.
White Stuff makes raft of new appointments

30 April 2012
White Stuff has made a raft of managerial appointments with Moss Bros chairman Debbie Hewitt and House of Fraser director of merchandising Jo Penny joining the team.
All Saints sued by former supplier

30 April 2012
Former All Saints supplier RTS Contracts is suing the young fashion retailer over money owed and a discount disagreement in 2010.
PPR ups the ante on environmental matters

27 April 2012
French luxury group PPR has introduced environmental and social five year targets across its brands as the company looks to reduce and manage its social and environmental footprint.
Republic adds American Apparel to the mix

26 April 2012
Young fashion chain Republic has added US lifestyle brand American Apparel to its brand mix.
Gelert places distribution centre staff into consultation

26 April 2012
Outdoor brand Gelert has put 18 staff at one of its two distribution centres into consultation, as it considers its future.
Pringle design director set to leave

26 April 2012
Pringle of Scotland’s design director Alistair Carr is leaving the luxury knitwear brand after just over a year at the company.
PPR luxury brands fuel revenue rise though Puma disappoints

26 April 2012
French luxury group PPR, the company behind Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, saw revenues rise in its first quarter driven by strong sales from its luxury division.
Asos sales continue to soar

26 April 2012
Etailer Asos saw sales rise 34% in its fourth quarter with international sales driving much of the growth.
Opening Ceremony to launch in London

24 April 2012
New York cult indie Opening Ceremony is to open a pop-up shop in London this summer with plans for a more permanent site later this year.
Ede & Ravenscroft awarded fourth royal warrant

24 April 2012
Tailor Ede & Ravenscroft has been granted a fourth royal warrant, with the latest warrant awarded for its services to tailoring.
Indies offered academy scholarships

24 April 2012
Indies are being given the chance to win eight scholarships worth more than £2,000 each that are up for grabs at the Oxford Summer School Academy.
Burberry plots retail expansion after sales growth slows

21 April 2012
British heritage brand Burberry will continue to strengthen its retail arm this year despite experiencing a slowdown in revenue growth.
Oasis concession for Frock and Frill

21 April 2012
Womenswear etailer Frock and Frill will open its first concessions this month with a collection for Oasis.
Ice cream shades heat up a cooling denim market

21 April 2012
Impressive online and offline sales of women’s denim over the past year are helping the market return to a position of strength after a few years of plateauing sales.
Nelly.com is in party mood for UK debut

21 April 2012
Swedish etailer Nelly.com is plotting a marketing campaign to support its arrival in the UK last week.
London and New York Fashion Week dates confirmed

19 April 2012
The British Fashion Council (BFC) and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have confirmed the dates for both London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week for the next two years.
Celine to open Mount Street store

19 April 2012
French luxury fashion house Celine is to open a store on London’s Mount Street bolstering the roster of designer names to take up residence on the road.
M&Co launches style advice service

19 April 2012
Value retailer M&Co has launched a style advice service across its stores following research that revealed women don’t have enough time to find styles to complement their shape.
Anya Hindmarch named businesswoman of the year

19 April 2012
Handbag designer Anya Hindmarch has been named the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year.
Marchesa in talks to launch diffusion line

18 April 2012
Luxury womenswear brand Marchesa could be set to launch a contemporary line as it moves close to signing a deal with an investment company.
LVMH sales soar in first quarter

18 April 2012
Luxury goods group LVMH reported a 25% sales jump for the first quarter of the year as its fashion brands continued to see solid growth.
Carven to be special guest at Pitti Uomo

17 April 2012
Luxury French label Carven is set to be the guest menswear designer at menswear trade show Pitti Uomo in June.
Brunello Cucinelli aims to raise £132m from IPO

17 April 2012
Luxury cashmere and tailoring company Brunello Cucinelli debuted in Milan yesterday with its initial public offering (IPO).
Burberry half year sales boosted by retail

17 April 2012
British luxury brand Burberry saw revenue surge 18% over the last six months as like-for-like retail sales jumped 12% with the UK market helping drive growth.
H&M like-for-like sales in March soar

16 April 2012
Like-for-like sales at H&M rose 16% in March as mild weather and the timing of Easter drove shoppers into store.
Jimmy Choo partners with Rob Pruitt

13 April 2012
Luxury footwear label Jimmy Choo has teamed up with contemporary artist Rob Pruitt to create a capsule collection.
John Lewis reports "superb" week

13 April 2012
Fashion sales surged at John Lewis last week as poor weather drove shoppers into stores.
One True Saxon on brink after Pentland pulls plug

14 April 2012
One True Saxon’s future is in doubt following a decision by owner Pentland Brands to cease trading the young fashion brand from autumn 12.
JD's profits dip despite revenue rise

12 April 2012
JD Sports Fashion’s profit before tax fell by more than 14% last year as the business was hit by its acquisition of outdoor clothing retailer Blacks despite revenues for the year rising by 20%.
Former Jimmy Choo chief exec moves to Bergdorf Goodman

11 April 2012
Former Jimmy Choo chief executive Joshua Schulman has been appointed as president of luxury US department store Bergdorf Goodman.
Levi's boosts profits after spending cuts

11 April 2012
Denim giant Levi’s profits jumped in its first quarter as the company made efforts to cut back on spending to help boost income.
March weather helps sales hot up

11 April 2012
Warm weather aided sales of clothing and footwear throughout March with footwear sales growth the strongest in five years.
Daks deal kickstarts workforce expansion for manufacturer Moorbrook

10 April 2012
Scottish textile manufacturer Moorbrook Textiles has signed a £600,000 deal with luxury heritage retailer Daks as it launches an apprentice employment programme.
French brand Tara Jarmon plans European growth

10 April 2012
French fashion chain Tara Jarmon is to open a store on London’s Bond Street as the brand plots its European expansion.
Beatrix Ong founder steps down from her footwear business

10 April 2012
Footwear designer Beatrix Ong has stepped down as director from her eponymous business with her Pavilion Road store set to close.
Russian brand Bosco plots expansion

10 April 2012
Russian brand Bosco is plotting European expansion after launching in the UK market.
Raf Simons to head up Dior

10 April 2012
Former Jil Sander creative director Raf Simons has been named artistic director of Dior.
JD snaps up menswear indie Originals Clothing

5 April 2012
JD Sports Fashion has acquired Northwest indie mini-chain Originals Clothing out of administration for an undisclosed sum.
Can H&M do no wrong?

2 April 2012
A staple of the high street and an essential label in many people’s wardrobe, H&M has managed to carve itself a very comfortable place in the UK fashion industry’s heart but could its next move prove a step too far or can the retailer do no wrong?
Gieves & Hawkes chief exec to depart

30 March 2012
John Durnin, chief executive of Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes, is set to leave the business after almost two years in the role.
Reiss forecasts steep growth in online business

30 March 2012
Reiss expects online sales to make up 25% of its total sales within three years, according to the premium chain’s ecommerce director Dan Lumb.
Brand buyouts force indies to weigh up alternatives

31 March 2012
Young fashion indies reviewing offer after sportswear giants strike deals to snap up popular brands.
Massey vows to refocus Lyle & Scott

31 March 2012
Men’s young fashion brand Lyle & Scott will refine its collection with a renewed focus on knitwear, after appointing Carolyn Massey as head of design.
IMAGE GALLERY: New Balance launch first UK TV ad campaign

29 March 2012
Footwear brand New Balance is to launch its first ever UK television advertising campaign as the brand celebrates its 30th anniversary of manufacturing in the UK.
H&M to launch new chain as sales grow

29 March 2012
H&M has revealed it is to launch a new retail chain after posting a rise in sales for the first three months of the year today.
Moss Bros returns to full year profit

29 March 2012
Menswear group Moss Bros has returned to profit earlier than expected after like-for-like sales rose and the company reduced its costs.
UK designers rework the denim jacket for Topshop

28 March 2012
British menswear designers including Lou Dalton and Oliver Spencer have designed a denim jacket for menswear retailer Topman.
Next launches new menswear own label

28 March 2012
Next has launched its own rugby inspired menswear label for spring 12.
IMAGE GALLERY: Millie Mackintosh models Lipsy's latest collection

28 March 2012
Young fashion retailer Lipsy has launched its VIP collection with Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh featuring in its campaign.
Gianni Versace returns to profit

27 March 2012
Gianni Versace, the Italian fashion house, announced it returned to profit in 2011 after a 16.4% rise in revenues.
March sales stabilise yet clothing sales still suffer

27 March 2012
Sales across clothing stores still suffered in March yet wider retail sales stabilised despite retailers expressing their disappointment.
IMAGE GALLERY: H&M's Exclusive Glamour Conscious collection

27 March 2012
H&M is set to launch its Exclusive Glamour Conscious Collection on April 12 at around 100 stores worldwide.
Joseph to show at London Fashion Week

27 March 2012
Luxury brand Joseph is to show at London Fashion Week for the first time in September.
H&M to launch luxury brand?

27 March 2012
H&M is reported to be planning the launch of a premium brand, which will sit above its higher end offering Cos.
Karl Lagerfeld boosts management team

26 March 2012
Designer label Karl Lagerfeld has strengthened its senior management team with a duo of appointments.
Bread & Butter ups exhibitor prices for spring 13 edition

23 March 2012
Streetwear trade show Bread & Butter Berlin will increase exhibitor prices for its spring 13 edition, with the cost of floorspace rising 5.5%.
Stockists watch and wait after Ashley grabs Firetrap

23 March 2012
Young fashion indies said they would axe Firetrap if Sports Direct started selling the brand in its stores, after Firetrap owner World Design & Trade (WDT) was snapped up by Mike Ashley’s retail empire last week.
‘Quality’ fuels sales at Charles Tyrwhitt

23 March 2012
Sales at Charles Tyrwhitt have continued to climb since its year end last July, when the men’s and women’s tailoring retailer posted a 45.9% rise in profits.
IMAGE GALLERY: GB team Olympic kit unveiled

22 March 2012
Adidas and Stella McCartney today revealed the kit the Great British team will wear at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Next warns of "uncertain" year despite 5.6% profits rise

22 March 2012
Next has warned that the year ahead is “uncertain” despite both profits and sales at the high street retail group increasing last year.
Lyle & Scott appoints new head of design

21 March 2012
Young fashion menswear brand Lyle & Scott has appointed British menswear designer Carolyn Massey as head of design.
Inditex posts 12% profits growth

21 March 2012
Zara owner Inditex saw net income grow by 12% last year as sales in all geographic areas increased.
WDT staff made redundant following collapse of business

20 March 2012
More than 50 staff at World Design & Trade (WDT) have been made redundant following the business’ collapse into administration last week, it has emerged.
Barbour to add fresh prints with Walker Greenbank collaboration

20 March 2012
Heritage outerwear brand Barbour has partnered with fabrics printer Walker Greenbank, which will supply William Morris prints for trims and linings on Barbour products.
Simon Spurr exits label

19 March 2012
British designer Simon Spurr has left his eponymous label six years after launching it.
Harrods owner acquires LVMH stake

19 March 2012
Qatar Holdings, the owner of Harrods, has bought a stake in luxury goods group LVMH.
Dover Street Market plots international expansion

19 March 2012
Designer London indie Dover Street Market has unveiled plans to branch further overseas after opening its first store in Tokyo last week.
Charles Tyrwhitt profits climb as founder bags £6.6m

19 March 2012
Charles Tyrwhitt founder Nick Wheeler pocketed £6.6m in wages last year as profits at the formalwear specialist rose 45.9%.
IMAGE GALLERY: Uniqlo goes undercover

16 March 2012
Uniqlo has teamed up with Japanese label Undercover to launch a capsule collection, which launched today.
JD and Sports Direct have hots for Firetrap

16 March 2012
Sportswear giants thought to be leading race to buy young fashion brand.
Merc sues for infringement over Firetrap’s ‘Merc’ jeans

16 March 2012
Merc is asking for a six-figure sum from fellow young fashion brand Firetrap for passing off and infringement after Firetrap used the name Merc for one of its denim products.
Forrester launches sports brand UVU

16 March 2012
Former Gieves & Hawkes brand director Will Forrester is swapping tailoring for performance sportswear with the launch of a label for spring 12.
Juls Dawson

16 March 2012
A familiar face in the young fashion sector, most recently at Gio-Goi, Dawson is now busily defining his new role as brand owner and agent.
Miriam Lahage leaves Ebay

15 March 2012
Ebay general manager of fashion Miriam Lahage has left her role at the etailer after more than a year and a half at the business.
Snow+Rock appoints new chief financial officer

15 March 2012
Specialist mountain sport retailer Snow+Rock has appointed Hamish Mansbridge as group chief financial officer.
H&M reports like-for-like sales rise for February

15 March 2012
Like-for-like sales at Swedish young fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) rose 2% in February.
IMAGE GALLERY: Selfridges celebrates The Film Project premiere

15 March 2012
Selfridges celebrated the premiere of The Film Project in the Old Selfridges Hotel last night with a host of celebrity guests.
BHS launches supplier investigation after report showed knitwear factory workers abused

14 March 2012
BHS is investigating one of its suppliers after claims that workers in factories producing garments for the Arcadia-owned retailer are beaten and humiliated while on wages of 10p an hour.
French Connection to review retail after profits slide

14 March 2012
French Connection is reviewing its retail operations after posting a 32% drop in pre-tax profits for last year.
Derek Lam to leave Tod's

13 March 2012
Designer Derek Lam has reportedly left luxury goods maker Tod’s after more than five years as creative director.
Luxury brands up presence in West End

13 March 2012
Luxury retail floorspace in London’s West End is set to increase after three designer brands signed deals for further square footage in the area.
Urban Outfitters profits plunge

13 March 2012
US lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters posted a 47.8% drop in profits for its fourth quarter as discounting impacted margins.
Luxury Italian brand Brunello Cucinelli set to float

12 March 2012
Luxury cashmere and tailoring company Brunello Cucinelli is preparing to float on the Milan stock exchange.
Landsbanki poised to sell House of Fraser stake

12 March 2012
Icelandic bank Landsbanki is poised to sell its stake in department store House of Fraser.
Indies given new support to offer apprenticeships

9 March 2012
Indie retailers are set to be able to offer apprenticeships after Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail have been given support from the National Apprenticeship Service.
Guess bolsters European reach and adds to management

9 March 2012
US denim brand Guess has added to its senior management team as the brand announces the expansion of its European retail portfolio.
Mulberry boss receives chunk of shares

8 March 2012
Luxury British brand and retailer Mulberry yesterday spent £3.4m on shares for its new chief executive Bruno Guillon.
Christopher Bailey to chair Fashion Fringe

8 March 2012
Burberry’s chief creative officer Christopher Bailey has been named as the chair of the Fashion Fringe competition for the next two years.
IMAGE GALLERY: H&M unveils Marni collection

7 March 2012
H&M’s collaboration with Italian designer brand Marni is set to launch across 260 stores worldwide tomorrow.
John Lewis staff to receive 14% after 2011 sales rise

7 March 2012
Staff at John Lewis are set to receive a 14% bonus after the retailer reported a rise in like-for-like sales despite a drop in profits for the year.
IMAGE GALLERY: Burberry spring 12 ad campaign

7 March 2012
Burberry has released its latest tranche of spring 12 campaign images with the latest ads focussing on tailoring and its illustrious trenches.
YSL names Hedi Slimane as creative director

7 March 2012
French luxury fashion brand Yves Saint Laurent has named Hedi Slimane as its new creative director following the departure of Stefano Pilati earlier this month.
Mango drops prices by 20%

6 March 2012
Spanish womenswear chain Mango has reduced prices by an average 20% for spring 12 in order to attract shoppers in the tough economic times.
Cotton prices leap following Indian export ban

6 March 2012
Cotton prices have jumped after India, the world’s second largest producer of cotton, banned the fibre being exported from the country.
Clarks boosts board with new non-exec

6 March 2012
Footwear retailer Clarks has bolstered its board with the appointment of Stella David as non-executive director.
Trilogy to open doors on fifth store

6 March 2012
Premium denim indie Trilogy is to launch its fifth store this week when its doors open at a new shop in Wimbledon.
Clothing and footwear sales decline in February

6 March 2012
Clothing and footwear sales continued to decline in February, with womenswear the hardest hit category, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
Firetrap explores sale options

5 March 2012
Young fashion brand Firetrap is being primed for a sale after drafting in accountancy company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to explore options for the company.
Olympic factories come under further scrutiny

5 March 2012
Staff producing Olympics garments for Adidas, Nike and Puma are being overworked, underpaid and abused, according to an investigation by The Observer.
UKFT secures funding for UK firms at trade shows

5 March 2012
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has secured further funding for UK businesses looking to expand internationally.
Bolongaro Trevor set to expand after deal

2 March 2012
Young fashion brand Bolongaro Trevor is primed for expansion after signing a deal with supplier The Fielding Group.
Acne

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Burberry Prorsum

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Christopher Kane

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Erdem

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Jonathan Saunders

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Mary Katrantzou

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
McQ

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Mulberry

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Peter Pilotto

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Pringle of Scotland

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Ringspun eyeing rapid growth via new short-order strategy

2 March 2012
Young fashion brand Ringspun is looking to “significantly” up its stockist numbers after launching a short-order strategy.
Topshop Unique

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Vivienne Westwood Red Label

2 March 2012
Autumn 12
Belstaff axes stockists as it moves up market

1 March 2012
Outerwear brand Belstaff looks to be revaluating its distribution across independent retailers and has axed stockists in an attempt to move more up market.
Fashion indies increase in 2011

1 March 2012
Fashion indies grew in numbers last year as the independent sector boomed with indies now accounting for 66% of all retail and leisure units in Great Britain.
Exclusive: Horspool leads further departures in buying and merchandising at New Look

29 February 2012
New Look’s creative director Barbara Horspool is the latest director to leave the value business, followed by the retailer’s heads of buying and merchandising.
Selfridges appoints new marketing head

29 February 2012
Luxury department store Selfridges has appointed Richard Taylor as marketing director.
British Designers Collective pop-up menswear boutique to launch at Bicester Village

29 February 2012
A pop-up menswear boutique will launch for the first time this year as part of the British Designers Collective, showcasing rising British talent and established designers.
Clothing sales February volumes sink below general retail, according to the CBI

28 February 2012
Clothing retailers reported the lowest volume of sales in February since March 2009, according to CBI Distributive Trades Survey.
Olympic factories face review

28 February 2012
Factories making official merchandise for the Olympics are set to come under scrutiny after the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said it was to launch a review of manufacturing bases.
Billabong rejects takeover bid

28 February 2012
Australian surfwear brand Billabong has rejected a takeover bid from private equity backer TPG Capital after the company put in a formalised bid worth AUD $765m (£518m).
Crew Clothing reports 27% profit jump

28 February 2012
Lifestyle brand and retailer Crew Clothing saw profits climb by more than a quarter last year despite the challenging economic climate.
Harvey Nichols to post record profits

27 February 2012
Harvey Nichols has forecast record profits this year and expects to post more than £18m in profit as the department store plans to launch its own brand.
Hedi Slimane poised to take Stefano Pilati's role at YSL

27 February 2012
Yves Saint Laurent creative director Stefano Pilati is to leave his position at the luxury brand with Hedi Slimane, former head of design at Dior menswear poised to take on the role.
Buyers hail ‘best ever’ LFW

24 February 2012
Designers praised for producing mature, wearable collections with international commercial appeal.
Nickelson is latest brand to join JD’s bulging portfolio

24 February 2012
JD Sports Fashion is understood to have signed a licensing deal with men’s young fashion brand Nickelson, further adding to its growing brand portfolio.
Collarless outerwear

24 February 2012
Autumn 12
Knee-length dresses

24 February 2012
Autumn 12
Knitwear

24 February 2012
Autumn 12
Leopard-print tops

24 February 2012
Autumn 12
Moda Lingerie

24 February 2012
Autumn 12
Raf Simons to leave Jil Sander

23 February 2012
Jil Sander creative director Raf Simons is set to leave the label with his last show at the fashion house to be his autumn 12 collection shown at Milan Fashion Week on Saturday.
Esprit posts profit plunge yet beats expectations

23 February 2012
Young fashion chain Esprit posted a 74% plunge in profits in its first half, yet the retailer beat expectations and said it is well on its way to recovery.
Jil Sander could make return to her label

23 February 2012
Designer Jil Sander could be set for a return to her Jil Sander label after leaving the company to retire eight years ago.
Prince Charles to hold a reception to launch London Collections: Men

22 February 2012
The Prince of Wales is to host a reception this summer to celebrate the launch of London Collections: Men, a new showcase of British menswear, style and culture.
Tommy Hilfiger stockists get incentive to sell

22 February 2012
Luxury label Tommy Hilfiger is attempting to encourage staff selling its product to sell more with a competition to win a trip to New York.
Sonia Rykiel sold to Fung Brands

21 February 2012
French fashion label Sonia Rykiel has finalised a deal with Hong Kong based investment company Fung Brands, leaving the Rykiel family with just a 20% stake.
Texture, fur, prints and pleats dominate London Fashion Week weekend

20 February 2012
With London Fashion Week in full swing the weekend brought a plethora of autumn 12 treats with designers showcasing a selection of fur, prints and pleats.
Mango continues international expansion

20 February 2012
Mango, the Spanish womenswear chain, has now expanded into 106 countries after opening its first store in Sri Lanka.
Lavenham stock stolen from warehouse

20 February 2012
Outerwear brand Lavenham is struggling to meet stockists’ orders after its warehouse was broken into earlier this month with £60,000 worth of product stolen.
Alexa Chung named as BFC young style ambassador

17 February 2012
Model and presenter Alexa Chung has been unveiled as the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) young style ambassador.
LFW predicts boom in overseas buyers

17 February 2012
Mary Katrantzou, Stella McCartney and McQ among week’s big attractions.
Relaunched UKFT aims to win government cash for industry

17 February 2012
The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has relaunched, with the aim of getting closer to government.
J Crew to open UK stores

16 February 2012
US-based casualwear brand J Crew is set to roll out stores in the UK with plans to open shops in London in the next couple of years.
PPR posts Q4 sales rise

16 February 2012
French luxury fashion group PPR, the business behind brands including Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, saw revenues rise 11.2% in the fourth quarter as the company said it was confident about 2012 despite the economic climate.
LFW to stream 44 live shows

15 February 2012
During this season’s London Fashion Week 44 shows will be streamed live as part of the British Fashion Council’s expanding digital schedule.
H&M posts postitive growth for January

15 February 2012
Swedish young fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has reported a 3% rise in like-for-like sales for January.
Simply Be to expand store portfolio

15 February 2012
N Brown, the home shopping giant, is to continue its retail expansion for its plus size Simply Be brand with the opening of four new stores this spring.
LFW Exhibition to showcase 120 designers

14 February 2012
The Exhibition at London Fashion Week will play host to 120 exhibitors this season with 22 designers new to the event.
Fashion indie sales see full set of quarterly declines, says BIRA

14 February 2012
Independent clothing and footwear retailers saw sales dip in the last quarter of 2011 according to the British Independent Retailers Association’s (Bira) Quarterly Sales Monitor.
Autumn essentials

13 February 2012
Prints and texture will lead the way for next season, said experts at yesterday’s trend seminar.
New trade association is just FAB for fashion indies

13 February 2012
The Fashion Association of Britain (FAB) officially launched at Pure London this weekend to offer independent fashion retailers industry expertise and business advice.
Optimism reigns at busy Pure

13 February 2012
Colour and print grab buyers’ attention as brands report strong start to order writing on opening day.
Smartphone app provides tailor-made info for visitors

12 February 2012
Visitors to Pure London will be able to create their own personal agenda, keep track of events and ensure they don’t get lost in the bustling aisles thanks to the launch of a dedicated smartphone app for the show.
Fresh labels top buying list

12 February 2012
Indie buyers on the hunt for ‘new and exciting’ collections as Pure London kicks off with 700 brands.
Localities battle for ‘Portas pilot’ kudos

10 February 2012
‘Hundreds if not thousands’ of towns are expected to apply for share of £1m.
Admiral sees Gold in overseas markets

10 February 2012
Men’s lifestyle brand Admiral Gold has set its sights on international expansion, capitalising on the continuing appetite for brands with an English heritage.
Bubble London

10 February 2012
Quality fabrics and quirky prints led the way among the fresh labels at this Islington exhibition.
José Neves

10 February 2012
The far-sighted founder of indie etail portal Farfetch.com explains his plan to rapidly grow its client list from 110 boutiques to 1,000.
FrockandFrill head for international shores

9 February 2012
Womenswear etailer Frockandfrill.com has set its sights on international expansion and will plough half a million pounds into the business as it attempts to push into new markets.
Exclusive: JD Sports Fashion snaps up Fly 53

8 February 2012
Menswear young fashion brand Fly 53 has been snapped up by JD Sports Fashion, the latest label to be added to the retailer’s portfolio.
Fashion Fringe to suppport regional UK

7 February 2012
Designers including Matthew Williamson, Erdem and Christopher Kane will hit the road next week to scout out the next generation of British designers as part of Fashion Fringe, the competition set up to support up and coming regional British design talent.
Slow growth in clothing and footwear sales contribute to dismal January for retail

7 February 2012
Slow growth in clothing and footwear retail sales helped contribute to the second worst January sales performance since 1995, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
Skillset to give incentive payments for creative business apprentices

7 February 2012
Skillset is to give incentive payments of up to £1,500 to 500 small businesses taking on their first apprentice, business secretary Vince Cable announced yesterday.
Boohoo.com's parent sees profits soar in 2011

6 February 2012
Pinstripe Clothing, the parent company of young fashion website Boohoo.com, saw pre-tax profits jump 80% last year as its turnover also shot up by 85% to £24.5m in 2011.
Primark parent donates £240m to charity

6 February 2012
Wittington Investments, a major shareholder in Primark, has given £240m of its profits to charity after a delivering a profit of £585m for last year.
Barbour cracking down on counterfeits

3 February 2012
Barbour, the heritage outerwear brand, is attempting to crack down on rogue traders selling counterfeit Barbour products online.
Apprenticeships to double this year, predicts Skillset

3 February 2012
The number of fashion and textile apprentices in the UK is expected to double by the end of the year, after a deal between sector skills council Skillset and learning provider Pearson.
Gieves & Hawkes gets slicker as it builds bespoke services

3 February 2012
Gieves & Hawkes has overhauled its stock management and supply chain system as it focuses on bespoke services and quicker product turnaround.
University to train Thai design talent

3 February 2012
The Thai fashion industry is set to get a boost with the creation of a University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) campus to help nurture design talent in the country.
Danish designer crowned winner of inaugural H&M design prize

2 February 2012
Danish designer Stine Riis has scooped the first H&M Design Award, which was set up earlier this year to find the next generation of designers.
Stylistpick receives investment boost

2 February 2012
Online accessories specialist Stylistpick.com has received $11m (£6.9m) of investment with which it plans to grow its business in the UK and overseas.
International designers to exhibit in London while Jonathan Saunders wins Designer Fashion Fund

1 February 2012
The British Fashion Council (BFC) and the British Council are to launch the first International Fashion Showcase, which will see designs from more than 80 emerging international designers exhibited during London Fashion Week.
Benetton looks to delist after profits slip

1 February 2012
The owners of Italian fashion group Benetton will today decide whether the company should delist after the group issued a profit warning for 2011 forecasting that profit would slip 30%.
VIDEO: H&M unveils David Beckham

31 January 2012
H&M has unveiled its game day advert for David Beckham’s H&M bodywear range.
Creative university courses see 16% drop in applications

31 January 2012
Fashion courses could see a drop in students over the coming year, with applications for university creative arts and design courses suffering a 16% decline due to higher tuition fees.
Sonia Rykiel seeks funding from Fung Brands

27 January 2012
Sonia Rykiel, the French fashion label, could be set to sign a deal with Hong Kong based investment company Fung Brands, which would see the owners relinquish control of the brand to help finance international expansion.
Topman encouraged by overseas wholesale success

27 January 2012
Topman is forging ahead with international growth via wholesale after a dramatic increase in stockists in the past 12 months.
Footfall up at Bread & Butter but trends are stale for some

27 January 2012
Visitor numbers at Bread & Butter rose for its autumn 12 edition, as international and UK buyers sought out fresh brands despite some noting a lack of new trends.
Buyer’s notes

27 January 2012
There were plenty of other pieces and mini-trends that caught the eye in Berlin – here are some of the best
Camouflage

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Clean Denim

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Cord

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Navajo

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Parka life

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Rollnecks

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Sleek Bombers

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
Speckle

27 January 2012
Autumn 12
IMAGE GALLERY: Karl by Karl Lagerfeld

26 January 2012
Karl Lagerfeld’s diffusion line launched on Net-a-Porter yesterday with crowds queing in London’s Covent Garden to get a peek at the Karl pop-up window.
H&M profits dip in tough climate

26 January 2012
H&M, the Swedish fast fashion chain, said profits for its fourth quarter dropped 2.4% as the retailer experienced one of the “toughest years for a long time for the fashion retail industry”.
Bestseller appoints UK sales reps to drive wholesale

26 January 2012
Danish brand house Bestseller, which operates young fashion chains Jack & Jones and Vero Moda, has appointed three new sales reps for its brands.
Visitor numbers 'tremendous' at Premium

25 January 2012
Visitor numbers at Berlin tradeshow Premium surpassed expectations last week as the fashion industry descended on the German city for a plethora of tradeshows.
Karl Lagerfeld diffusion line launches today

25 January 2012
The long awaited diffusion line from designer Karl Lagerfeld will launch today with items from just £20.
IMAGE GALLERY: Kate Moss models for Mango's spring 12 campaign

24 January 2012
Mango unveiled Kate Moss as the face of its spring 12 campaign at its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street today.
Lotus Originals to expand retail portfolio

24 January 2012
Lifestyle brand Lotus Originals is to open a 4,800 sq ft flagship store on Regent Street this year ahead of expansion via internatioanl franchise stores.
Asda to boost George online customer experience

24 January 2012
Asda is on the lookout for an digital agency to help it deliver a “more exciting customer experience”, as it aims to increase customer engagement with its George clothing line.
Big brands absent as Bread & Butter opens on upbeat note

18 January 2012
Brands were upbeat as Bread and Butter threw open its doors today with many anticipating a good turnout from international buyers despite wider economic concerns.
Matalan delivers positive sales growth despite tough climate

17 January 2012
Matalan has warned trading will continue to be tough this year due to deflated consumer confidence, despite a like-for-like sales rise and its best week since 2005.
B&B to start tomorrow: Diesel and Replay absent

17 January 2012
Streetwear trade show Bread and Butter will kick off in Berlin tomorrow with notable absences from denim giants Diesel and Replay.
Simon Carter looks to Africa with store expansion

17 January 2012
Menswear tailoring and accessories brand Simon Carter is to expand its retail presence into Africa as the brand plots expansion through franchise partnerships.
Burberry sales rise aided by outerwear and leather goods

17 January 2012
Burberry continued its impressive growth over the festive period posting a 21% rise in revenues for its third quarter with core outerwear and large leather goods driving half the growth.
British Fashion Council forms menswear committee to help grow UK menswear

16 January 2012
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has formed its first Fashion 2012 Menswear committee as it looks to grow the profile of British menswear.
White Stuff posts profits rise though warns of slowing consumer spending

16 January 2012
White Stuff, the lifestyle retailer and brand, has reported a 2% rise in profits and a 20% jump in sales last year but has warned the economic environment continues to “take its toll” on consumer spending habits.
Howies bought back by management

16 January 2012
Ethical lifestyle retailer Howies’ management team has bought the company back from fashion group VF Corporation.
Ted Baker unveils collection from print genii

13 January 2012
Premium brand Ted Baker and shopping centre Bluewater have teamed up to create a new collection launching in March following a competition to find the next ‘Print Genius’.
Mike Ashley eyes surfwear brand Hot Tuna

13 January 2012
Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley is reportedly poised to buy surfwear brand Hot Tuna.
‘Strategic approach’ vital on discounting

13 January 2012
Analysts predict more permanent price cuts rather than regular promotions.
Fresh labels top the buying lists at B&B

13 January 2012
Buyers flying off to streetwear trade show Bread & Butter next week will be scouting out fresh brands offering strong margins, despite some buyers holding back more budget for in-season buying.
Americana’s head of ecommerce quits

13 January 2012
Nik Burton, the head of ecommerce at Americana International, owner of young fashion brand Bench, has left after almost a year-and-a-half in the job.
Chocolate to publish magazine and recruit more staff

13 January 2012
Northern Irish young fashion indie Chocolate is to create an in-store magazine, ahead of expanding its brand mix and staff numbers.
Wolf & Badger to double up in London with Mayfair store

13 January 2012
Designer indie Wolf & Badger is to open its second UK store after experiencing “tremendous demand” in its original London boutique.
Chester Barrie sets its sights on overseas expansion

12 January 2012
Savile Row tailor Chester Barrie is to focus on international expansion with its sights set on opening concessions in Europe and America.
House of Fraser posts "pleasing" 11.1% sales growth

12 January 2012
House of Fraser has warned this year will continue to be challenging despite its like-for-likes sales rising 11.1% over Christmas as the retailer reported a positive performance across all product categories.
JD festive like-for-likes rise

12 January 2012
JD Sports Fashion’s like-for-like festive sales lifted 1.6% despite its fashion fascias suffering a dip in sales.
Etail Awards deadline looming

11 January 2012
All entries for the PayPal Etail Awards, honouring the best in online retailing, must be submitted by the end of next week as the entry deadline is January 20.
Deep discounting in December helps sales edge up

10 January 2012
Promotions and discounts helped drive some festive sales growth for clothing and footwear in December as like-for-like retail sales grew 2.2% compared to December 2010.
JD Sports buys Blacks Leisure

9 January 2012
JD Sports Fashion has acquired the trading assets and trade of Blacks Leisure for £20m.
Harvey Nichols to open small format store in Liverpool ONE

9 January 2012
Harvey Nichols is to launch a small format store in regional shopping centre Liverpool ONE, what the luxury department store says is a new store concept.
Daily Round Up: JD in advanced talks over Blacks; Crombie sales half, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams sales drop expected; Kate Middleton opts for Alice Temperley

9 January 2012
From around the web and the nationals:
Last-minute shoppers bring festive cheer to high street

6 January 2012
Multiples and indies report strong sales in run-up to Christmas, but remain cautious about 2012.
Response to Portas will not be brought forward

5 January 2012
The Government will not bring forward its response to Mary Portas’s high street review despite calls from an MP to speed up the process after a run of retail administrations in the past month.
Daily Round Up: H&M rebrands plus size; Mila Kunis new face of Christian Dior; Isabella Oliver reports sales surge

5 January 2012
From around the web and the nationals
IMAGE GALLERY: H&M unveils Versace cruise collection

5 January 2012
H&M has unveiled its cruise collection from Italian designer Donatella Versace, with pieces in the range displaying a distinctively fruity feel.
Daily Round Up: JD in the running for Blacks; Christian Louboutin red sole dispute rumbles on; Theo Paphitis to expand Boux Avenue; Louis Vuitton sues Warner Bros

4 January 2012
From around the web and the nationals
Daily Round Up: Next to give trading update, fashion leaders make New Years Honours and retailers taking longer to repay creditors

3 January 2012
From around the web and the nationals
Tommy Hilfiger to wholesale catwalk collections with new licensing deal

20 December 2011
Tommy Hilfiger has signed a distribution deal for its catwalk collections and will now wholesale both the men’s and women’s ranges, starting with autumn 12.
Retailers await last minute christmas shoppers

19 December 2011
With just six shopping days left until Christmas, retailers are facing a festive rush with shoppers set to snap up bargains spending £2.5m a minute in the coming week.
Hunter eyes international growth after gaining investment

16 December 2011
Hunter Boot, owner of the iconic Wellington boot brand, has received backing from a new investor with plans to move into new territories around the world.
London Fashion Week reveals provisional schedule

16 December 2011
London Fashion Week has announced the provisional catwalk and presentation schedule for autumn 12.
Daily Round Up: Sports Direct abandons Blacks bid; Laura Ashley sales rise; Jaeger Stratford store opens

16 December 2011
From around the web and the nationals
‘Act now’ to save high street

16 December 2011
Retailers demand instant remedies for town centres’ ills following publication of Mary Portas review.
Barneys chases investment shoppers with upmarket label

16 December 2011
Leather outerwear brand Barneys is launching a more upmarket sub-brand for autumn 12 as its bids to move into the booming premium and luxury sectors.
Guess ramps up UK wholesale ambitions

16 December 2011
US denim brand Guess is to halt UK retail expansion to focus on wholesale growth for its autumn 12 collection, coinciding with the UK wholesale debut of its premium line Guess by Marciano.
BFC announces Designer Fashion Fund shortlist

15 December 2011
Jonathan Saunders, Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto are among the designers shortlisted for this year’s British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund.
Superdry like-for-likes edge up despite profit slip

14 December 2011
SuperGroup’s like-for-like retail sales grew 4% in the six months to October 30 despite pre-tax profits dipping, as outerwear and accessories flew off the shelves.
Image gallery: Testino and Bailey's Burberry Prorsum spring 12 campaign

14 December 2011
Burberry Prorsum’s forthcoming spring 12 campaign, shot by photographer Mario Testino, with creative direction by Burberry chief creative officer Christopher Bailey, will feature a couple for the first time in four years.
Government to allocate minister a high street remit

13 December 2011
Mary Portas has revealed that a minister will be allocated a ‘town centre’ remit before March, when a Government response to the review is expected.
Mary Portas sets out plans for retail rescue

12 December 2011
A national market day, tax on out of town car parks and a team of high street managers are suggestions expected to form part of Mary Portas’ Government report on the future of the high street when it is published tomorrow.
JD Sports inks deal with Four Marketing

9 December 2011
JD Sports Fashion and Four Marketing Group, which owns premium menswear etailer Oki-ni, have formed a joint venture under the name of Premium Fashion Ltd to retail fascia.
Tough trade triggers early Sales at indies

9 December 2011
Indies are being forced to introduce promotions earlier than last year due to tough trading conditions and the difficulty of selling winter stock in unseasonally mild weather.
Clarks aims to double mobile traffic with QR codes roll-out

9 December 2011
Clarks will put QR codes in all of its shop windows next year following the launch of its m-commerce site at the end of last month.
CWF in mini-me ploy for Little Marc Jacobs

9 December 2011
Children Worldwide Fashion (CWF) hopes to expand the number of UK stockists for its Little Marc Jacobs kidswear brand by introducing mini-me styles for autumn 12.
Mulberry profits soar 231%

8 December 2011
Profits at Mulberry, the luxury brand and retailer, more than trebled over the last six months boosted by strong growth overseas.
IMAGE GALLERY: Davina McCall to launch range for Next

6 December 2011
TV presenter Davina McCall has teamed up with Next to create a range of clothing to exercise in.
Clarks launches mobile site

5 December 2011
Clarks has launched a mobile site, making it the latest retailer to launch a mobile commerce site amid growing importance of the sales channel.
Christmas shoppers boost John Lewis sales

5 December 2011
Sales at John Lewis jumped 9.6% year-on-year last week as Christmas shoppers came out in force.
Mary Portas' government review due out this month

2 December 2011
Mary Portas’ high street review for the government is expected to be released in the next couple of weeks.
Daily Round Up: Sales Tracker, Clarks Originals, The Style Standard, Milan Fashion Week, The Original Car Shoe, US sales, Francois Lesage

2 December 2011
From around the web and the nationals
IMAGE GALLERY: Boxpark set to open

1 December 2011
Boxpark, the pop-up mall in Shoreditch is set to open this weekend.
Daily Round Up: Replay, Ted Baker, Four Seasons, John Lewis, Missguided

1 December 2011
From around the web and the nationals
Inspiring Indies deadline is extended

30 November 2011
The deadline for nominations for this year’s Inspiring Independents competition has been extended to December 9.
IMAGE GALLERY: Freya launches environmentally friendly swimwear

30 November 2011
Freya, the lingerie brand, has launched a range of swimwear which aims to help save the rainforest.
Debenhams plots Russian expansion

25 November 2011
Debenhams is set to branch into the Russian market with plans to open its first store in Moscow next year.
Francis McAuley

25 November 2011
With plans to double its overseas store portfolio and franchising and licensing deals mooted, Debenhams’ international director might just be about to take over the world.
Indies demand action as credit crisis looms

25 November 2011
25 Ten Boutique boss leads calls for Government to help small businesses.
Ralph Lauren goes vintage as RRL line makes UK retail debut

25 November 2011
Ralph Lauren has opened its first RRL store in the UK, taking the global number of RRL menswear outlets to seven.
Daily Round up: Karl Lagerfeld, Façonnable, Jack & Jones, D&G, Rachel Bilson, Alexander McQueen, Henry Holland

24 November 2011
From around the web and the nationals.
IMAGE GALLERY: M&S to open new Parisian flagship

24 November 2011
Marks & Spencer’s new flagship store in Paris is set to open on Thursday 24th November.
Asos to debut one-off Skype style sessions

23 November 2011
Asos will tonight debut online style sessions via Skype giving users the chance to get fashion help in the comfort of their own homes.
IMAGE GALLERY: Valentino to launch virtual museum

22 November 2011
Valentino will open up his archive of 5,000 images of dresses, illustrations and photographs plus 95 fashion show videos to the public, as a downloadable desktop application next month.
Guess primed for UK expansion with wholesale deal

22 November 2011
Guess Europe has appointed London agent Motiv as its wholesale representative to help it extend its UK presence.
IMAGE GALLERY: Menswear brand launches collection with Boyzone star

22 November 2011
Menswear brand 1952 has collaborated with Boyzone singer Shane Lynch for its spring 12 and autumn 12 collections.
IMAGE GALLERY: October House to launch tailoring studio

18 November 2011
Bespoke tailoring business October House is set to launch its first ever tailoring studio in the West End of London.
Daily Round Up: Lipsy, BDO sales, Manchester Fashion Network, Clements and Church, Fallen Hero, unpaid interns

18 November 2011
From around the web and the nationals
Versace launches H&M collection today

17 November 2011
Donatella Versace is set to celebrate the launch of her collaboration with H&M this morning as the chain opens its doors to eagerly awaiting customers.
Daily Round Up: Hot Tuna, White Stuff, Lyle & Scott, Walpole, Nick Robertson

16 November 2011
From around the web and the nationals:
Galliano launches first online store

16 November 2011
Luxury label Galliano has launched its first official online store, a newspaper themed website, providing customers with the opportunity to buy the brand online.
Aquascutum targets overseas expansion via licensing deal

11 November 2011
Luxury heritage brand Aquascutum is to ramp up its overseas presence after signing a licensing deal with manufacturing and licensing firm Ittierre.
Kate Walmsley

11 November 2011
Topshop’s mobile-optimised site is yet to launch, but sales from mobiles are already soaring. No wonder head of ecommerce Kate Walmsley relishes the digital opportunities.
Selfridges revamps men’s Spirit area in two stores

11 November 2011
Selfridges plans to shake up the Spirit menswear areas in its Birmingham and Trafford Centre stores as it continues to shift towards a more accessible offer.
Liberty hosts designer Pudseys

10 November 2011
Designers including Erdem, Mulberry and Giles Deacon have designed bears for Liberty which in conjunction with BBC Children in Need has launched a Designer Pudsey Collection.
Fashion ads under scrutiny

10 November 2011
Adverts from H&M, Drop Dead Clothing and Marc Jacobs have been investigated after complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority that the ads were irresponsible.
Jaeger designs new Kensington Palace uniform

9 November 2011
Premium retailer Jaeger has created a uniform for the staff at Kensington Palace as part of a £12m renovation of the royal residence.
Emma Bunton to spice up Argos kidswear

8 November 2011
Argos has teamed up with ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton to create a baby and kidswear range.
Puma launches African football kit exhibition

8 November 2011
German sportswear brand Puma has partnered with ten African national teams to produce technical football kits.
Daily Round up: BRC, PPR, Brora, Hugo Boss, Urban Outfitters

8 November 2011
Stories from around the web and the nationals:
Aquascutum to expand internationally with new licensing deal

7 November 2011
Luxury British heritage brand Aquascutum is to step up its international expansion with a licensing deal for continental Europe, Russia and the Middle East.
High street to deliver cut-price Christmas

4 November 2011
Big chains already offering reductions of up to 40% to kickstart spending
Indies bet on festive sales to rescue trade

4 November 2011
Fashion indies remain optimistic about Christmas trading despite figures confirming that sales continue to be down on last year.
Missguided to launch first TV campaign

3 November 2011
Fast fashion etailer Missguided is to launch its first television campaign to promote the retailers Christmas party collections.
IMAGE GALLERY: Christmas comes to Oxford Street

2 November 2011
With just 54 shopping days left until Christmas shoppers turned out in force last night to witness the Oxford Street Christmas lights being switched on.
Half term hinders high street sales

2 November 2011
Sales at clothing and footwear retailers suffered from the half term holiday last week with overall sales down 6.7%, as sales at independent retailers also continued to decline.
Topshop to launch mobile site as mobile sales climb

1 November 2011
Topshop is to launch an app and mobile optimised site in the coming months as mobile becomes an increasingly important channel for retailers.
Cheap Monday to launch first standalone UK store

1 November 2011
Swedish denim brand Cheap Monday is set to open its first UK store in February after making its UK retail debut via a concession in Selfridges in August.
Copenhagen trade shows to merge

1 November 2011
Copenhagen trade shows CPH Vision and Terminal-2 are to merge into one location from August next year in a move to drive footfall and make the event more accessible.
Mulberry to receive government support for new factory

31 October 2011
Luxury British brand Mulberry is to receive government support for training staff at a new factory.
Hackett posts 19% profit growth

31 October 2011
Classic men’s lifestyle brand Hackett posted a profit growth of 19% for its last financial year as its niche positioning helped sales propel despite the economic uncertainty.
Mary Portas to champion UK manufacturing

28 October 2011
Retail guru Mary Portas is to head up a new clothing factory in Middleton, Greater Manchester in a wider move to promote the UK manufacturing industry, the story of which is set to feature in a new Channel 4 series, yet another boost to Drapers Save Our Skills (SOS) campaign.
USC puts a third of stores on the market

28 October 2011
Branded young fashion chain USC is understood to be looking to offload about a third of its stores as part of a strategic review of its property portfolio.
Crombie gears up for global stockists hunt

28 October 2011
Menswear brand Crombie is on the lookout for international stockists as part of an effort to rapidly grow wholesale turnover both overseas and in the UK.
Refit spurs sales at Coes’ Ipswich store

28 October 2011
Indie department store group Coes has recorded a double-digit sales rise at its Ipswich store since completing a major refurbishment in July.
PPR posts Q3 sales growth

27 October 2011
French luxury fashion group PPR, the business behind brands including Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, saw revenues rise 7% in the third quarter with sales in luxury and sports driving the growth.
Wolford appoints new UK md

27 October 2011
Austrian hoisery brand Wolford has appointed Ermes Stefanutto as managing director for the UK and Ireland.
Gianfranco Ferre ceo resigns

26 October 2011
Michela Piva, chief executive officer of Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferre, has resigned from her position after four years in the role.
Coach profits rise as customers up spending on accessories

26 October 2011
Luxury US accessories brand Coach saw profits soar by 14% in the first quarter as consumers looked to update their wardrobes with accessories.
H&M to showcase Girl with the Dragon Tattoo look

26 October 2011
The designer behind the costumes for the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has created a womenswear collection for Swedish fashion chain H&M.
Luxury brands missing out on mobile sales

26 October 2011
Luxury fashion brands could be missing out on sales via m-commerce with new research suggesting that there is an appetite for buying luxury goods via mobile phones.
Puma posts Q3 sales growth

25 October 2011
German sportswear brand Puma posted positive sales growth for its third quarter aided by a rise in demand for accessories and strong sales in the Asia/Pacific region.
Tommy Hilfiger brings European tailoring in-house

25 October 2011
The Tommy Hilfiger Group set is to bring its European tailoring business in-house from spring 13.
Averyl Oates to leave Harvey Nichols

24 October 2011
Averyl Oates, buying director at Harvey Nichols, is to leave her role at the luxury department store at the end of the year.
British brand seeks UK manufacturers

24 October 2011
Menswear label Smart Turnout is on the hunt for British manufacturers in order to aid the brand’s overseas expansion.
Karl Lagerfeld to launch diffusion line

24 October 2011
Designer Karl Lagerfeld is set to launch a diffusion line next year with plans to also expand the brand image with a store roll-out.
Middle Eastern shoppers spending buoyed by LFW

21 October 2011
London Fashion Week helped drive international shoppers to London this year as Middle Eastern shoppers generated the most tax free shopping sales in September for the third consecutive month.
Fullcircle adds four short-order ranges

21 October 2011
Women’s young fashion brand Fullcircle is targeting a 25% boost in stockist numbers within two years as it launches short-order ranges for the first time in spring 12.
Henri Lloyd launches first pop-up shop

20 October 2011
Lifestyle brand Henri Lloyd has opened its first pop-up shop this month which will continue to be open for the festive peak.
Bench to expand international reach

20 October 2011
Streetwear brand Bench is plotting to open 10 to 15 stores outside of the UK within the next three years.
3D bodyscanner hits New Look

20 October 2011
Fast fashion chain New Look has this week introduced a body-scanner into its Westfield Stratford store to help customers find their perfect pair of jeans.
Crocs cuts third quarter forecasts

19 October 2011
Footwear brand Crocs has cut its forecasts for the third quarter after a slowdown in European and American sales.
Fashion sales stumble despite footwear rise

18 October 2011
The outlook for fashion retailers continued to look bleak last week as total fashion sales dipped despite footwear experiencing a slight rise.
La Senza to open four stores in October

18 October 2011
Lingerie chain La Senza is to open four new stores this month taking its store portfolio to 160 after reports earlier this year it was looking at restructuring its retail business.
Matalan cautious after profits slump 63%

18 October 2011
Matalan said it remained cautious about the outlook after the value fashion and homewares retailer reported a 63% fall in EBITDA for the second quarter due to the tough climate, promotional activity and higher input costs.
Harrods and BFC grant graduate internship

18 October 2011
Luxury department store Harrods has awarded a paid internship to graduate Kate Wallis through a partnership with the British Fashion Council (BFC).
Tesco launches bras for girls aged nine

17 October 2011
Tesco has launched a bra for nine-year-olds as the age girls reach puberty gets earlier.
Savile Row suiting sales surge

17 October 2011
Bespoke suiting has seen a revival this year with sales for custom-made suits rising by 10% year on year.
Rhona Blades

14 October 2011
The co-founder of womenswear indie Jules B on reacting to the recession, the protection offered by ecommerce and the importance of experimentation.
Mulberry seeks government help for second factory

13 October 2011
Luxury British brand Mulberry has issued a plea to the government for funding to help fund a second factory in the UK.
Liz Claiborne to sell eponymous brand

13 October 2011
Fashion group Liz Claiborne has agreed to sell of its eponymous brand to American department store group J.C. Penney in a move to focus on the business’ Kate Spade, Lucky Brand and Juicy Couture brands.
Isabella Oliver appoints new operations director

13 October 2011
Maternity and womenswear designer Isabella Oliver has appointed Vicky Lovell as its new operations director to help growth the brand both in the UK and internationally.
Republic expands multi-channel offer

13 October 2011
Young fashion chain Republic has boosted its multi-channel proposition with the launch of a Facebook store and extending its deals initiative on the social network to further stores.
IMAGE GALLERY: Johnstons of Elgin triumph at UKFT Export Awards

12 October 2011
Boxfresh, Johnstons of Elgin and Asos were among the winners of this year’s UK Fashion & Textile Export Awards, held in London yesterday.
Fashion sales stabilise as weather cools

12 October 2011
Fashion and footwear sales stabilised last week with sales dropping only marginally on last year as retailers breathed a sigh of relief that the unseasonal sun had passed.
Woolmark launches second stage of Merino campaign

11 October 2011
Woolmark has launched the second stage of its campaign to promote the benefits of Merino wool.
Republic launches own brand

10 October 2011
Young fashion chain Republic has launched an in-house brand which it plans to buy in bulk in order to achieve lower retail prices.
Karen Millen to open 65 stores in China

10 October 2011
Premium womenswear chain Karen Millen is plotting its expansion into China with plans to open 65 stores within the next five years.
UK sales recover at American Apparel

10 October 2011
US fashion chain American Apparel posted a 3% rise in like-for-like sales for the third quarter, driven by a strong performance sales in the UK and Europe.
Debenhams to create 6,500 festive jobs

10 October 2011
Department store group Debenhams is to create 6,500 additional roles over the festive period.
Minnies Boutique website launches - and crashes

7 October 2011
The much anticipated website for Essex womenswear indie Minnies Boutique went down within an hour after it launched today.
Indian summer causes sales slump at John Lewis

7 October 2011
John Lewis reported a tough week last week with fashion sales dropping 13% as the Indian summer kept customers out of the shops.
Gentlemen’s club is inspiration for HoF’s formalwear revamp

7 October 2011
House of Fraser has invested £1m in a revamp of its men’s formalwear department in its London Oxford Street store to create a destination for shoppers with new brands, a bar and its first-ever bespoke suiting service.
Cheryl Cole in talks to front Channel 4 fashion show

5 October 2011
Pop star and former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole is reportedly in talks with Channel 4 bosses about hosting a fashion show.
Fashion sales suffer worst drop since February 2009

4 October 2011
Fashion and footwear sales last week plummeted to their lowest lowel for over two and a half years as consumers shunned the shops in favour of enjoying the highest October temperature on record.
Mulberry expands worldwide reach with distribution deal

4 October 2011
Luxury brand and retailer Mulberry has inked distribution deals for South East Asia, China and Australia in a bid to continue its worldwide expansion plans.
Paris Fashion Week: Celine, Balenciaga and Balmain

3 October 2011
Shows from Celine, Balenciaga and Balmain at Paris Fashion Week showcased a varied mixture of clean white lines, futuristic shapes and a touch of the wild west, with the Balenciaga show quite literally keeping the audience on their toes.
Trio of buyers eye up Brioni

3 October 2011
Luxury Italian brand Brioni could be sold for up to £300m as a trio of potential buyers reportedly circle the brand.
M&S gives its Xmas ads the X Factor

3 October 2011
This year’s X Factor contestants are reportedly set to front the Marks and Spencer’s Christmas ad campaign.
Agent Provocateur moves back into the black

3 October 2011
Luxury lingerie chain Agent Provocateur has moved back into profit posting a £1.1m profit last year compared with a £1.8m loss the previous year.
Stella McCartney posts surge in UK profit

3 October 2011
Stella McCartney’s UK arm posted a 34.4% rise in profits last year with strong sales seen across all categories.
Minnies Boutique to launch website today

30 September 2011
Essex womenswear indie Minnies Boutique of The Only Way is Essex fame is set to launch its website today.
Quiet week at John Lewis sees fashion sales slip

30 September 2011
Fashion sales slipped slightly at John Lewis last week as milder weather discouraged shoppers from buying knitwear however overall sales at the department store group remained flat.
Back-in-profit Moss Bros to invest in multichannel

30 September 2011
Menswear group Moss Bros has announced it will bolster its multichannel offering next year after posting a return to profit.
London Fashion Week

30 September 2011
With highlights galore, LFW bolstered its place within fashion’s top four cities.
Silent party cash investment boosts Little Mistress growth

30 September 2011
Women’s young fashion brand Little Mistress has set out ambitious plans to open 20 stores in the next two years following a cash injection from a private investor.
Sunny forecast puts the gloom into the high street

30 September 2011
Retailers take a further hit as Indian summer adds to decline in sales of clothing and footwear
TOWIE star to launch clothing collection

29 September 2011
The Only Way Is Essex star Jessica Wright is the latest member of the TOWIE cast to launch her own clothing collection.
Balmain plots Asian expansion

29 September 2011
French luxury brand Balmain is to launch a string of stores across Asia in the latter part of the year including six in China.
Matches to host men's tailoring week

28 September 2011
Designer indie Matches is to hold a men’s tailoring week with designers including Lanvin and Patrick Grant offering workshops and bespoke appointments.
Retailers take part in Westfield car boot sale

28 September 2011
Retailers including Reiss, House of Fraser and River Island are trading out of car boots as part of an event at shopping centre Westfield London.
Fashion sales take a tumble

27 September 2011
Sales at fashion retailers last week fell at the second fastest rate this year with sales dropping by 7%.
Milan Fashion Week: Giorgio Armani and Roberto Cavalli

27 September 2011
Milan Fashion Week drew to a close yesterday with Roberto Cavalli offering a striking combination of contrasting looks and Giorgio Armani showcasing a serene collection inspired by the watery hues of the sea.
Moss Bros returns to profit

27 September 2011
Moss Bros, the menswear group, saw like-for-like sales surge 15.4% in the first half of its financial year helped by record sales for its hire business.
Ted Baker launches click-and-collect

26 September 2011
Premium brand and retailer Ted Baker has become the latest retailer to launch a click-and-collect service, following the likes of Oasis, House of Fraser and New Look.
Raf Simons set to stay at Jil Sander

26 September 2011
Jil Sander creative director Raf Simons will remain with the designer despite speculation that he was set to join Yves Saint Laurent.
Milan Fashion Week: Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace

26 September 2011
Prints from peppers to paisley took centre stage on the Milan catwalk over the weekend with Jil Sander and Dolce & Gabbana showcasing their spring 12 collections and Versace using inspiration from the maritime world for its latest range.
Raf Simons reportedly set to join YSL

26 September 2011
Raf Simons, creative director of Jil Sander, is set to take over at the helm at Yves Saint Laurent, according to reports.
John Lewis sales continue to rise despite quieter week

23 September 2011
John Lewis had a slightly quieter week last week as the back to school season slowed however fashion sales still reported a slight rise.
UKFT board restructures board

23 September 2011
The UK Fashion and Textile Assocation (UKFT) has reshuffled its board in the hope of creating a more dynamic and strategic decision making body.
Boux Avenue appoints new brand and marketing director

23 September 2011
Lingerie chain Boux Avenue has appointed Lorna Perrin, formerly of French Connection, as brand and marketing director.
Buyers praise collections

23 September 2011
Prints and colour stand out as catwalk standards rise and designers deliver commercially strong lines
Industry seeks help to expand globally

23 September 2011
The UK fashion industry has called for regular trade missions to help raise the profile of the British fashion business overseas as companies highlight the importance of international expansion.
Marc Lombardo to join Joules

21 September 2011
Lifestyle brand Joules has appointed Marc Lombardo, formerly of Blacks Leisure as finance director.
British designers to showcase in LA and Hong Kong

21 September 2011
The British Fashion Council has extended its London Show Rooms scheme and will be taking British design talent to Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
JD sees profits soar despite riots

21 September 2011
JD Sports Fashion has posted a 20.6% rise in pre-tax profits rise for the first half of its financial year despite having £700,000 stock looted when riots hit the UK high streets in August.
Prada posts 75% profits hike

20 September 2011
Italian luxury fashion house Prada saw its net profits jump 75% to €179.5m (£156.5m) in the first half of the year as it rolled out a network of stores across the Asia Pacific region.
Gucci disrupts London Fashion Week shows

20 September 2011
Italian fashion brand Gucci has reportedly angered London model agencies after models were pulled from London shows to attend Gucci castings, with the British Fashion Council also under fire for its packed schedule.
Burberry hires digital marketing head

20 September 2011
Luxury British brand Burberry has created a new role to focus on marketing across its digital platforms.
Burberry to debut spring 12 collection on Twitter

19 September 2011
Luxury British brand Burberry has teamed up with Twitter to create the first ever ‘Tweetwalk’ show, debuting spring 12 looks before models even step onto the catwalk.
Profit growth expected at Karen Millen

19 September 2011
Premium womenswear chain Karen Millen is expected to report profits of £21m for the year to February 2011 when it publishes its annual accounts next month.
Gieves & Hawkes sells flagship store

19 September 2011
Savile Row menswear retailer Gieves & Hawkes has sold its London flagship store for £8.5m.
French Connection back on the growth path

19 September 2011
French Connection, the men’s and womenswear chain, has said it is “firmly back on a growth path” after posting a profit for the first half, with a substantial increase in wholesale income and growth like for like retail sales.
New agent kicks off Saint Tropez push

9 September 2011
Danish womenswear brand Saint Tropez is set to grow its presence in the UK market as new agent Concept Fashion Agency looks to increase its stockist base by more than 25%.
Opening of shirting factory is boost for UK manufacturing

9 September 2011
The British manufacturing industry will receive another shot in the arm next year with the opening of a shirting factory in West Yorkshire.
Retail goes high-tech at Westfield Stratford

9 September 2011
New store concepts and technological advances showcase shopping’s future.
Third Attic store opens in Inverness

9 September 2011
Scottish young fashion independent Attic has opened a third store, in Inverness.
Galliano found guilty

8 September 2011
John Galliano has been found guilty of anti Semitic behaviour and handed a €4,000 (£3,507) suspended fine plus a further € 2,000 (£1,753) fine in a second complaint.
New York Fashion Week kickstarts spring 12 catwalks

8 September 2011
New York Fashion Week kicked off yesterday signalling the start to the spring 12 catwalk season and a month of fashion fever across the world.
TM Lewin urges customers to donate shirts for charity

8 September 2011
Shirt retailer TM Lewin has teamed up with housing and homelessness charity Shelter for the launch of National Shirt Exchange Week.
John Galliano awaits verdict

8 September 2011
A verdict is expected this afternoon on John Galliano’s trial into charges of racial abuse.
Vacancy rates stabilise in 2011

8 September 2011
Vacancy rates in town centres across Great Britain stabilised during the first half of 2011 with the vacancy rate remaining at 14.5% despite Northern towns having a greater number of vacant shops than the South.
Louise Gray wins LFW sponsorship for third season

7 September 2011
Scottish designer Louise Gray has won sponsorship from Cotton USA for a third season at London Fashion Week.
Club Monaco to open 100 stores in Europe

7 September 2011
Club Monaco, the premium lifestyle brand owned by Polo Ralph Lauren, is set for rapid expansion in Europe with plans to open around 100 stores in the region in the next three to five years.
Roberto Cavalli opens new London flagship

7 September 2011
Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli has opened a new flagship store in the heart of Mayfair.
SuperGroup's sales continue to soar

7 September 2011
SuperGroup, the young fashion business which owns the brand Superdry and chain Cult, continued its rapid growth for its first quarter with total group sales soaring by 66% to £54m as its wholesale division excelled.
Gio Goi creates limited edition footwear

6 September 2011
Streetwear brand Gio Goi has teamed up with car manufacturer Citroën to create a limited edition shoe.
Christopher Kane, Erdem and Sarah Burton on BFA shortlist

6 September 2011
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has revealed the shortlist of nominees for the British Fashion Awards 2011.
Len Rose dies at the age of 78

6 September 2011
Former chairman and life president of the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) Len Rose has died aged 78.
High Street Fashion Week promotes Oxford Street

5 September 2011
Debenhams, New Look, John Lewis and Wallis are among the retailers promoting London’s Oxford Street this week.
August like-for-likes worst for two years

5 September 2011
August was the worst month for like-for-like sales on the high street in two years as rioting and looting took its toll.
Matalan to create 2,300 Christmas jobs

5 September 2011
Value chain Matalan is to create 2,300 additional roles across its store network over this year’s Christmas period.
Liz Claiborne sells its Mexx business

5 September 2011
Fashion group Liz Claiborne, owner of Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand, has sold off a majority share in its Mexx brand in a move which will allow the company to focus on its core brands.
High Street Fund attracts just 25 applications

5 September 2011
The High Street Fund, set up to help small businesses affected by last month’s rioting, has had applications for funding from just 25 shop owners.
High Street Fund raises further half a million

2 September 2011
Energy giant Shell has donated £500,000 to the High Street Fund set up to support businesses affected by the riots in August.
JD Sports closes on deal to rebrand Cecil Gee as Oki-ni

2 September 2011
JD Sports Fashion is poised to rebrand its Cecil Gee chain as Oki-ni as the sportswear giant moves closer to a deal with the premium menswear etailer.
Belfast exclusives at Please Don’t Tell

2 September 2011
New premium womenswear indie Please Don’t Tell has brought a raft of fresh designer labels to Belfast shoppers.
Fast Fashion website to launch this month

1 September 2011
New online retailer FastFashion.co.uk is set to launch later this month offering and aims to offer consumers trend led pieces with speedy service.
American Apparel investors look to sell shares

1 September 2011
Investors at struggling US fashion chain American Apparel are reportedly looking to sell off shares in the retailer just four months after providing $15m (£9.2m) to help American Apparel avoid bankruptcy.
Fashion retailers report "flat" bank holiday trading

31 August 2011
Bank holiday trading was as patchy as the weather, according to high street retailers and indies with autumn stock and online sales offering bright spots in an otherwise flat weekend.
J Brand to branch into sportswear

31 August 2011
J Brand, the premium denim label, is set to branch out from its staple denim offering with a new sportswear collection for spring 12.
McQueen exhibition could come to UK

31 August 2011
Alexander McQueen has revealed it is in talks with London venues to bring the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition to London.
Sports Direct wins battle for No Fear

30 August 2011
Sportswear retailer Sports Direct has seized control streetwear brand No Fear after a battle with American bankruptcy courts.
Debenhams to launch multi-million pound ad campaign

30 August 2011
Debenhams will launch a “multi-million pound” autumn advertising campaign tomorrow (August 29) featuring designers Henry Holland, Julien Macdonald, Ben de Lisi and John Rocha.
New Look launches property review

30 August 2011
New Look, the value fashion chain, is assessing a variety options for its property portfolio as the company looks to kick off its search for a chief executive.
Life & Style born again as Ethel Austin

26 August 2011
The new owner of fashion and homewares chain Life & Style is scrapping the name in favour of a return to the Ethel Austin fascia, as part of an overhaul of the business.
Bernard of Esher gets trendy revamp

26 August 2011
Designer womenswear indie Bernard of Esher in Surrey has revamped its store and rebranded as Bernard Boutique.
London Fashion Network to host SEO event

25 August 2011
London Fashion Network is to next week host a networking and panel discussion looking at “The Truth behind SEO”.
IMAGE GALLERY: H.E by Mango scores footballer for second season

25 August 2011
Menswear chain H.E. by Mango has, for the second season, signed footballer Gerard Piqué as the face of its brand for autumn 11.
American Eagle's profits double

25 August 2011
US young fashion chain American Eagle recorded flat like-for-like sales for the second quarter with its net income doubling in a year.
BFC launches third Designer Fashion Fund

24 August 2011
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has opened applications for its 2012 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund which helps designers to become global brands.
Debenhams to preserve Clapham riot boards

24 August 2011
Debenhams is to preserve the boards displaying messages of support erected during the riots earlier this month to demonstrate how the British public rallied round during the looting.
Fiorelli to split into three labels

24 August 2011
Handbag brand Fiorelli is to split into three labels for spring 12 with one range to appeal to younger shoppers and another to reflect its heritage.
IMAGE GALLERY: Banana Republic to launch Mad Men collection

23 August 2011
Gap-owned fashion retailer Banana Republic is to launch a capsule collection based on the hit US drama Mad Men.
Landlords claim rents have fallen by a third

23 August 2011
Landlords have claimed shop rents have fallen by a third in 20 years in a study of retail tenancies as part of Mary Portas’ review of the high street.
Gio Goi to open first English store

22 August 2011
Streetwear brand Gio Goi is to open its first store in England after the success of its two openings in Scotland.
Tommy Hilfiger to open largest UK store

22 August 2011
Luxury label Tommy Hilfiger will open its largest UK flagship in Knightsbridge later this year.
Nike and Levi's latest to join Slovakain outlet

22 August 2011
Sportswear brand Nike and denim giant Levi are set to open in Slovakia’s first designer outlet shopping centre, ONE Fashion Outlet.
Marc Jacobs rumoured to replace John Galliano

22 August 2011
Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs could be set to step into the top design role at French fashion house Christian Dior.
Selfridges freshens up menswear offer

19 August 2011
Selfridges is revamping its menswear line-up for autumn 11 with concessions from luxury labels Tom Ford and Dior Homme which will also feature made-to-measure services, and a host of new brands.
Blouses

19 August 2011
Spring 12
Cropped Trousers

19 August 2011
Spring 12
Dresses

19 August 2011
Spring 12
Knits

19 August 2011
Spring 12
Margin

19 August 2011
Young fashion buyers looking for fresh labels to liven up their store were not disappointed at the London show
Moda Woman

19 August 2011
The Duchess of Cambridge’s influence was clear to see as an English Rose look blossomed at Birmingham NEC.
Shattered retailers pick up the pieces

19 August 2011
Last week the country was subject to some of the most destructive rioting for decades. Many stood shocked at the scenes unfolding on television screens of hundreds of youths trashing shops and stealing goods, some with outrageous boldness. Some looters were even filmed trying shoes on for size before stealing them.
Life & Style bought out of administration

18 August 2011
Fashion and homewares chain Life & Style has been bought out of administration by Sue Townsend, former director of academic bookseller Blackwell.
Abercrombie & Fitch sees income climb

18 August 2011
American casualwear giant Abercrombie & Fitch co has reported a 64% rise in net income to $32m (£19m) for the 13 weeks to July 30 with total sales also rising.
Tory Burch minority stake up for grabs

18 August 2011
US footwear and womenswear brand and retailer Tory Burch is reportedly selling a minority stake fuelling speculation about a potential initial public offering.
TJX Europe triples profits in second quarter

17 August 2011
TJX Europe, the parent company of off-price fashion chain TK Maxx, tripled its profits in the second quarter of 2011 as like-for-like sales in Europe remained flat.
Tailored short suits a summer hit for Debenhams

17 August 2011
Debenhams has seen sales of shorts and matching blazers rise by 500% this year as catwalk looks transfer to the high street.
Freddy to increase UK doors by 400%

17 August 2011
Italian sportswear brand Freddy is on track to grow its number of UK doors by 400% for spring 12.
London College of Fashion to open shop

16 August 2011
The London College of Fashion is set to open its first pop-up shop, with a store opening in London next month.
Hallett Retail raises money for Save the Children

16 August 2011
Kevin Hallett, financial director at multi-brand concession business Hallett Retail will compete in a gruelling challenge next month in aid of Save the Children.
H&M's like-for-likes drop in July

16 August 2011
Swedish fashion giant H&M’s like-for-like sales dropped by 6% in July despite overall sales rising.
Folk opens fourth UK store

16 August 2011
UK contemporary men’s casualwear label Folk has bolstered its store portfolio with the opening of a fourth UK store.
Asda launches male control pants

15 August 2011
Asda has launched a male version of control underwear, designed to hold in any unwanted stomach flab.
Dockers to launch UK transactional site

15 August 2011
Dockers, the US casualwear brand, which is part of the Levi Strauss stable, is set to launch its first UK transactional website next month.
Burberry director moves to Ben Sherman

15 August 2011
Former Burberry director of merchandising Adrian Ward-Rees has joined young fashion brand Ben Sherman as the company continues its drive to a more premium positioning.
Moda enjoys upbeat start

15 August 2011
Optimism reigned on the opening day of mainstream trade show Moda as buyers searched for freshness and brands were upbeat about their busy schedules.
Levi withdraws ad campaign after UK riots

12 August 2011
Denim giant Levi’s has been forced to withdraw a video as part of its new advertising campaign, after a public outcry said it glorified the recent riots across cities in England.
John Lewis sees sales dip

12 August 2011
John Lewis saw sales dip last week as the school holiday period and warmer weather distracted shoppers.
Kurt Geiger to launch accessories range on revamped site

12 August 2011
Premium footwear business Kurt Geiger has launched an accessories range in its Mayfair store in London, which opened today, Friday August 12.
Pure London

12 August 2011
Product categories have led the way over the past few seasons at Pure London, with first dresses holding sway before being toppled by trousers last spring.
Manchester Fashion Network to host funding event

11 August 2011
Manchester Fashion Network will next week host a panel discussion on how businesses can get the funding and investment they need.
Copenhagen trade shows see optimism

11 August 2011
Copenhagen trade shows CPH Vision, Terminal-2 and Gallery saw “great optimistism” at the shows which took place from August 4 to 6 despite some drop in visitor numbers.
Polo Ralph Lauren reports sales gain

11 August 2011
Premium US fashion house Polo Ralph Lauren reported a rise in revenues for its first quarter as both wholesale and retail sales soared.
Retail Trust launches campaign to help riot-affected shopkeepers

10 August 2011
The Retail Trust has launched a campaign to raise funds for staff and shopkeepers affected by the riots ravaging the UK.
One in ten UK businesses impacted by riots

10 August 2011
Over 10% of the UK’s retail and leisure businesses have been directly impacted by riots and looting with 48,404 businesses impacted.
JD estimates riot damage will be £10m

10 August 2011
JD Sports Fashion has estimated the financial impact of the riots spreading across the country is most likely to be more than £10m for the retailer.
French Connection's profits in line with expectations

10 August 2011
French Connection, the men’s and womenswear chain, has said its profits for the first half will be in line with management expectations.
Rachel Zoe launches exclusively in Selfridges

8 August 2011
Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s eponymous womenswear collection is set to launch exclusively at Selfridges this week.
Fred Perry to release posthumous Amy Winehouse collections

8 August 2011
Young fashion brand Fred Perry has decided to release its Amy Winehouse autumn 11 range as well as wholesaling the spring 12 collection following the singers death last month.
7 For All Mankind to license kidswear

5 August 2011
US premium denim brand 7 For All Mankind has inked a deal with Tawil Associates, for the company to be its exclusive global kidswear licensee.
Björn Borg to open series of UK stores

5 August 2011
Underwear label Björn Borg is to open the first of a planned series of standalone UK stores in the spring amid hopes of doubling brand sales in the coming year.
Womenswear chains put a premium on overhauls

5 August 2011
Getting shoppers to part with their hard-earned cash is no mean feat with inflation remaining an issue, credit conditions tougher than ever and the economy still on shaky ground, but a host of womenswear retailers are updating their product offer and refreshing their look in a bid to find new routes to growth.
Lipsy to open 40 overseas stores

3 August 2011
Next-owned young fashion brand and retailer Lipsy is set to expand into Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia after signing an agreement with Saudi property and retail company Alhokair Group.
Clothing deflation slows as Sales fall off

3 August 2011
Deflation for clothing and footwear slowed from 2.5% in June to 1.9% in July as the level of summer promotions eased and the sector witnessed deflationary pressure from kidswear, menswear and womenswear.
Emu strengthens sales team for European expansion

2 August 2011
Sheepskin footwear brand Emu Australia has shaken up its European sales team as the brand sees “significant growth” in UK and Germany and continues expansion into France, Spain, Czech Republic and Belgium markets.
Nicole Farhi relocates flagship store

2 August 2011
Luxury womenswear retailer Nicole Farhi is to open its new flagship store on Conduit Street this week, relocating from New Bond Street after 17 years.
Aquascutum secures £8m loan

1 August 2011
Luxury British heritage brand Aquascutum has secured an £8m bank loan to help finance the loss-making business.
PPR sales rise as it looks to sell Redcats

1 August 2011
French luxury group PPR, the business behind brands including Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, saw profits rise for the second quarter as it looks to sell its mail order division Redcats by the end of the year.
Liz Claiborne seeks Mexx investor as losses rise

29 July 2011
Fashion group Liz Claiborne, owner of Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand, saw its losses increase to $89.9m (£55.2m) in the second quarter, as it announced it is looking to sell off a majority stake in its Mexx brand.
Wet weather boosts John Lewis sales

29 July 2011
Fashion sales at department store John Lewis jumped 9.1% last week as new launches drove interest in stores and wet weather saw shoppers snap up Barbour jackets.
Signature sales soar towards £2m mark

29 July 2011
Aberdeen mainstream menswear indie Signature is set to hit £2m in turnover when its financial year ends later this month.
Next to launch new Geri Halliwell range

27 July 2011
Retail giant Next is set to launch an eveningwear collection with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell later on this year following on from its swimwear collection with the pop star.
BFC appoints Louise Carter to head up development

27 July 2011
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has appointed former head of events Louise Carter to the newly created role head of development.
JD looks to expand further in France

27 July 2011
Young fashion giant JD Sports Fashion is reportedly searching for space in France to build new stores.
Vogue to launch Online Fashion Week

26 July 2011
Vogue.com is to launch Online Fashion Week, a five day event that will see retailers offer exclusive deals to customers ahead of Christmas, later this year.
Indies fear rising costs will thwart survival

26 July 2011
Indies have warned they may be unable to survive if costs continue to soar, with rising prices impeding growth and damaging economic recovery.
Jaeger bolsters its store portfolio

26 July 2011
Premium retailer Jaeger is to launch seven concessions for its younger, lower-priced sub brand Boutique by Jaeger as the retailer expands its UK store portfolio with two further stores.
Own-label stimulates growth at House of Fraser

25 July 2011
House of Fraser has reported an 8% rise in sales for its second quarter with a surge in demand for its own-label collections, including Biba, Episode and Kenneth Cole, fuelling the growth.
Gestuz hires new designer

25 July 2011
Contemporary Danish womenswear brand Gestuz has appointed former Preen design assistant Arina Woron as designer for the brand.
June sales rise as clothing shows growth

21 July 2011
Retail sales values in June rose by 4% compared with the previous year while volume sales showed a marginal increase, as fashion sales grew and prices continued to rise.
Versace bans sandblasted jeans

21 July 2011
Italian fashion house Gianni Versace has banned the use of sandblasting techniques on its jeans following mounting pressure from activists.
Kelly Rowland to wear Victoria Beckham for X Factor

20 July 2011
Former Destiny’s Child singer and X Factor judge Kelly Rowland is set to fly the flag for British fashion on the next series of the talent show wearing dresses by designer Victoria Beckham.
Fila hires new commerical director

20 July 2011
Fila Korea, owner of sportswear brand Fila, has hired Marzio Coizzi as commercial director for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Herve Leger creative director leaves

19 July 2011
Marie Mazelis, creative director at luxury brand Herve Leger and contemporary womenswear label BCBG Max Azria, has left the company after more than ten years.
Change Capital snaps up 70% of Paule Ka

19 July 2011
French ready-to-wear brand Paule Ka is to accelerate its international expansion after private equity firm Change Capital Partners took a 70% stake in the business.
Hugo Boss increases forecast after sales soar

19 July 2011
Premium business Hugo Boss Group has increased its full-year sales forecast after reporting a 24.6% rise in revenues for its second quarter to the end of June.
Kanye West to launch new label at New York fashion week

18 July 2011
Designer Louise Goldin has teamed up with US music star Kanye West to create a ready-to-wear label.
Bread & Butter

15 July 2011
Chinos ruled the roost at Bread & Butter Berlin in sorbet shades and pop brights, while pathwork effects moved the check on
UK absentees fail to dampen B&B mood

15 July 2011
Streetwear show Bread & Butter delivered an upbeat spring 12 edition with a strong international presence despite many brands claiming there was a drop in UK buyers at the show.
Sarah Jessica Parker leaves Halston role

13 July 2011
Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker has left her role at luxury womenswear label Halston after just 18 months in the position.
Burberry motors on spring 11 sales

13 July 2011
Strong sales of menswear, accessories and kidswear aided double-digit sales growth at Burberry across both retail and wholesale for the three months to June 30.
Scotch & Soda acquired by Kellwood

12 July 2011
Streetwear brand Scotch & Soda has been acquired by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners and US brand house Kellwood.
Opening Ceremony founders to design for Kenzo

12 July 2011
Luxury brand Kenzo has appointed Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, co-owners of New York cult retailer Opening Ceremony, as creative directors, with Kenzo owner LVMH planning to reposition the brand.
Roland Mouret steps in as creative director at Robert Clergerie

11 July 2011
Roland Mouret has been appointed as creative director of footwear and accessories at French fashion house Robert Clergerie.
BFC secures funding for trade missions to China

8 July 2011
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has scored a sponsorship deal enabling it to take trade missions of designers to China and Hong Kong to help them do business in the emerging markets.
Globe-Trotter buys second UK factory

8 July 2011
Luxury leather goods company Globe-Trotter has increased its UK production capacity by 50% with the purchase of a second factory.
Bread & Butter "unaffected" by weather warning

7 July 2011
UPDATED: The airfield outside streetwear tradeshow Bread & Butter was evacuated after the show had closed last night as a safety precaution after a severe weather warning was issued. However business was not affected as the show itself had already closed its doors and the event reopened this morning as normal.
Paris Couture: Christian Dior

5 July 2011
As Christian Dior showcased its first couture collection in Paris yesterday without the disgraced John Galliano at the helm, many were curious to see how the French fashion house would cope without its greatest showman.
Kate Spade opens European flagship in London

5 July 2011
US womenswear label Kate Spade is to open its first European flagship store in Chelsea, London.
Aquascutum to open stores in Milan and Rome

4 July 2011
Luxury British fashion brand Aquascutum has pushed the button on rapid expansion plans and is set to open its first stand-alone stores overseas in the next year.
Select set to open 30 new stores

4 July 2011
Young fashion chain Select is set to bolster its store portfolio with 30 store openings this year.
‘Queen of Shops’ not fronting Independents’ Day initiative

1 July 2011
Indies across the country are gearing up for Independents’ Day on Monday, despite news that retail guru Mary Portas will not be involved in the initiative.
Centre for Diversity raises shape issues

1 July 2011
Fashion diversity initiative All Walks Beyond the Catwalk has launched a Centre for Diversity aimed at encouraging designers to produce clothing for a broader range of body shapes.
Victoria Beckham to launch lower priced line

30 June 2011
Victoria Beckham is to launch a second line for spring 12 featuring a range of lower priced “perfect little summer dresses”.
JD adds Fila license to portfolio of brands

30 June 2011
Young fashion giant JD Sports Fashion has signed an exclusive licensing deal with sports brand Fila to sell and manufacture the brand in the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands.
Pretty Green to pop up in Nottingham

29 June 2011
Young fashion brand Pretty Green is to open its first pop-up shop in Nottingham with the store set to open on Saturday.
Missoni to open second UK standalone store

29 June 2011
Italian fashion house Missoni is to open its second UK standalone store on New Bond Street in London.
Tommy Hilfiger founders eye investment in Michael Kors

28 June 2011
Co-founders of designer lifestyle label Tommy Hilfiger Joel Horowitz and Tommy Hilfiger could be set to invest in US luxury womenswear and accessories business Michael Kors as the company looks to sell off 25%.
AlexandAlexa.com sells controlling stake

27 June 2011
Independent luxury kidswear etailer Alexandalexa.com has sold a majority stake in the business to investment management firm Tiger Global, one of the original investors in social networking site Linkedin.
Prada's shares make stock exchange debut

27 June 2011
Italian luxury brand Prada’s debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday defied expectations with shares trading above its listing price.
Ben Sherman invites bids for Nickelson, men's suit licence deal ended

17 June 2011
The Ben Sherman Group is preparing to put its Nickelson young fashion brand on the market and has ended its Ben Sherman suiting licence with supplier Baird Group as part of ongoing plans to reposition the brand upwards in the UK.
Patrick Pergament

17 June 2011
Petit Bateau has just opened its 10th UK store in London. Its chief executive tells Victoria Gallagher why he left Prada to help the kidswear brand fulfil its potential.
Tommy Hilfiger and Harry Slatkin join Belstaff

14 June 2011
Labelux, the Swiss luxury goods group, which bought outerwear brand Belstaff last week, has drafted in US designer Tommy Hilfiger as a business consultant and appointed Harry Slatkin, founder of home fragrance business Slatkin & Co, as chief executive.
Prada IPO 'five times oversubscribed'

13 June 2011
Italian luxury brand Prada has received offers worth five times the £1.6bn it is looking for to sell off 17% of the company.
Celia Birtwell receives CBE, Nick Robertson awarded OBE

13 June 2011
Textile and fashion designer Celia Birtwell has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday honours list while Asos boss Nick Robertson has become an Officer of the British Empire.
Pretty Green to launch Paul Weller collection

10 June 2011
Mod-rocker Paul Weller has designed a range for young fashion brand Pretty Green with the capsule collection set to hit the shops in a fortnight.
Cad & the Dandy to dress men at second royal wedding this year

9 June 2011
London tailoring business Cad & the Dandy is to dress the groom and groomsmen at the second royal wedding of the year.
Graduate Fashion Week winners named

9 June 2011
Rory Longdon of Nottingham Trent University picked up the top award of the night at Graduate Fashion Week last night receiving the Gold Award.
VIDEO: Burberry unveils autumn ad campaign

9 June 2011
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry has unveiled its 1960s-inspired advertising campaign for autumn 11.
Diane von Furstenberg to design kidswear for Gap

9 June 2011
Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg is to design a kidswear range for Gap with the collection available online, in GapKids and babyGap stores from March 2012.
JD Sports like-for-likes drop in line with expectations

9 June 2011
Young fashion giant JD Sports Fashion has said a recent drop in like-for-like sales is in line with expectations with comparatives hard to interpret due to last year’s football World Cup.
British Fashion Council announces Newgen winners

8 June 2011
Designers David Koma, Holly Fulton, Louise Gray and Michael van der Ham have been awarded Newgen catwalk sponsorship to show at London Fashion Week.
Ferragamo prepares to float in Milan

7 June 2011
Italian luxury brand Salvatore Ferragamo has been valued at €2.25bn (£2.01bn) as it prepares to float on the Milan Stock Exchange by the end of the month.
IPO values Prada at up to £9bn

6 June 2011
UPDATED: Prada’s planned Hong Kong stock exchange listing could see the company valued at up to £9.3bn, making it one of the most valuable luxury goods groups in the world.
Retailers sign up to BRC responsible retailing guide for kidswear

6 June 2011
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has launched a good practice guide for retailers selling kidswear ahead of a government review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children which will be published today.
Wolverine appoints UK key account manager

3 June 2011
Footwear group Wolverine has appointed Sarah Northage as UK key accounts manager for its women’s business across the CAT Footwear and Sebago brands.
Austique targeting four more stores

3 June 2011
Premium London womenswear indie Austique is to open four stores after securing new investment and has appointed industry veteran Maurice Bennett as chairman.
JD boss promises ‘business as usual’ for Peter Werth

3 June 2011
Stockists of menswear brand Peter Werth have welcomed news that deliveries will not be affected after the brand’s rescue from administration by JD Sports Fashion.
PVH profits rise as sales more than double

1 June 2011
Calvin Klein owner Phillips-Van Heusen saw first quarter sales and profits double, helped by strong growth in the Calvin Klein brand and the company’s acquisition of designer lifestyle label Tommy Hilfiger.
JD Sports buys Peter Werth and Pink Soda

27 May 2011
JD Sports Fashion has acquired the major assets of Brand Acquisitions, the business behind menswear brand Peter Werth and contemporary womenswear brand Pink Soda, which went into administration earlier this month.
PPR hires Rothschild to sell off Redcats

27 May 2011
Home shopping giant Redcats could be set to be sold by French luxury group PPR, which has reportedly hired an investment bank to arrange a finance package for potential bidders.
Ethical labels the focus at Lily & Bow

27 May 2011
Contemporary womenswear indie Lily & Bow has opened in Esher in Surrey, putting ethical yet affordable clothing at the top of its agenda.
Indies’ anger over car parking hikes

27 May 2011
Indies have lambasted plans by councils around the country to ramp up town centre parking charges, branding the strategy a footfall killer.
Guess predicts challenging year after profits fall

26 May 2011
Denim brand Guess has said the year ahead will be challenging as it saw first quarter profits fall 15.2% despite revenues rising 9.8 % to $592.2m (£363.6m).
Polo Ralph Lauren plots European expansion

26 May 2011
Premium US fashion house Polo Ralph Lauren is to focus its international expansion on Europe after the company reported a 7% sales growth for its fourth quarter.
Bubble London to hold free seminar programme

20 May 2011
Kidswear show Bubble London will hold a free retail-oriented seminar programme to help provide independent retailers with specialist business advice.
Gap warns of rising costs after profits drop

20 May 2011
Profits at US casualwear giant Gap dropped by 23% in its first quarter as the company warned it expected its performance to be heavily impacted by rising costs.
Superdry launches quick-response line

20 May 2011
SuperGroup has hit back at its critics with the launch of its first short-order Superdry collection for stockists of its womenswear.
Coggles retail boss moves to York rival

20 May 2011
The former head of retail at York premium indie Sarah Coggles has joined new York premium womenswear indie Siamo as it plots rapid expansion.
Young talent invited to sign up to Fashion Bootcamp

20 May 2011
The Centre for Fashion Enterprise (CFE) at the London College of Fashion is to hold a Fashion Fast-track Bootcamp to provide budding young entrepreneurs with advice from a panel of industry experts.
French Connection confident on full-year forecasts

18 May 2011
French Connection is confident it will hit its targets for the year following a good reaction to its autumn 11 ranges, a rise in wholesale volumes and an improvement in trading the lead up to Easter and the royal wedding.
StylistPick appoints buying director

17 May 2011
Former Shop Direct head of buying for footwear and accessories Savina Barnes has joined StylistPick, the subscription-based buying website for footwear and accessories shoppers.
Dockers new president appointed

17 May 2011
Dockers, the US casualwear brand, which is part of the Levi Strauss stable, has appointed Anne Rohosy as executive vice-president and president of its global business.
Former Harrods boss to head up Anya Hindmarch

16 May 2011
Luxury accessories label Anya Hindmarch is to appoint former Harrods chief executive James McArthur as chief executive.
Fashion Tailoring Academy in plea for funding to save skills

13 May 2011
Fashion Tailoring Academy course director Sandra Kotei has appealed to the industry and the Government to pledge resources towards salvaging technical tailoring skills, echoing calls made by Drapers as part of the Save Our Skills (SOS) campaign.
John Galliano to go on trial in June

12 May 2011
Designer John Galliano will go on trial in Paris on June 22 for allegedly abusing three people with anti-Semitic and racist slurs in February.
Indie sales slip 4.7% in Q1

12 May 2011
Clothing and footwear indies saw a 4.7% drop in sales in the first quarter of 2011, accelerating the decline seen over the last 12 months.
Drapers Footwear Awards winners revealed

12 May 2011
Former Clarks chief executive Peter Bolliger picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Drapers Footwear Awards 2011 last night at London’s Grosvenor House.
SuperGroup Q4 sales jump 61% but retail growth slows

12 May 2011
SuperGroup, the young fashion business which owns the brand Superdry and chain Cult, grew total sales by 61%1 to £66m in the three months to May 1 but retail lagged far behind wholesale.
Sales at Hermes soar 26%

11 May 2011
French luxury goods group Hermes saw sales surge by 26% during the first quarter of 2011 fuelled by strong growth across all divisions.
Strong non-food sales drive profits at Sainsbury's

11 May 2011
Sainsbury’s will expand its lingerie and accessories offer after a strong full year performance from its non-food offer.
VIDEO: Lipsy launches online video series to mark new Pixie Lott collection

10 May 2011
Young fashion brand Lipsy has launched an online documentary series to mark its third collaboration with pop-star Pixie Lott.
Easter and sunny spells help April sales

10 May 2011
Shoppers were spurred on by the sunny weather and bank holidays to spend on fashion in April with menswear and kidswear seeing strong growth, however comparisons were skewed by the later fall of Easter this year.
BFC Colleges awards announced

9 May 2011
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the winners of the BFC Colleges Council Graduate Preview Day Awards with the University of Salford, London College of Fashion and De Montford University all scooping up prizes.
Chloe hires Clare Waight Keller as Hannah MacGibbon leaves

9 May 2011
Hannah MacGibbon, creative director at luxury womenswear brand Chloe, is to leave her role and will be replaced by former Pringle creative director Clare Waight Keller.
New Look showcases real women in ad campaign

9 May 2011
New Look, the value chain, has launched a summer advertising campaign starring ‘real women’.
Alexander McQueen reigns supreme after royal duty

6 May 2011
The Alexander McQueen label is primed for a surge in sales after Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, chose creative director Sarah Burton to design her wedding dress, catapulting the label to stratospheric levels of exposure around the world.
Clarks’ record profits driven by US demand

6 May 2011
Pre-tax profits at footwear company Clarks broke the £100m barrier for the first time in its 185-year history, driven by an “unprecedented surge” in demand in North America.
G-Star launches legal action against Bestseller

5 May 2011
Denim giant G-Star has started legal proceedings against Danish brands house Bestseller Retail Europe, which operates young fashion chains Jack & Jones and Vero Moda, accusing it of allegedly copying its designs.
Ferragamo to list 25% of capital

5 May 2011
Italian luxury brand Ferragamo may float up to 25% of the company on the Milan stock exchange by the end of June.
Puig becomes majority shareholder in Jean-Paul Gaultier

4 May 2011
Puig, the Spanish parent company of beauty brands Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci and Paco Rabanne, has acquired a majority stake in fashion house Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Pierre Cardin and Halston up for sale

3 May 2011
Two key fashion labels could be set for new owners with luxury labels Pierre Cardin and Halston reportedly up for sale.
LK Bennett seeks new chief executive

3 May 2011
LK Bennett has appointed head hunters Odgers Berndtson to find a new chief executive.
Kate Middleton wedding dress replicas to hit the shelves

3 May 2011
Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton has said designing Kate [Catherine] Middleton’s wedding dress was “the experience of a lifetime” as replica dresses began to hit the high street shelves within days of its reveal.
Wedding gives stores a royal opportunity

28 April 2011
Harrods has commissioned luxury brands Missoni and Matthew Williamson to design tiered wedding cakes for a royal wedding-themed window display, as retailers capitalise on the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton tomorrow.
Moss revamps shops to include Bespoke

28 April 2011
Menswear retail group Moss Bros is to roll out its made-to-measure services and overhaul its stores in a bid to demonstrate its full offer to customers.
Warm weather boosts John Lewis’ sales

21 April 2011
Fashion sales rose 5.4% at John Lewis last week with warm weather helping to boost both menswear and womenswear.
Jones Group in the running to buy Jimmy Choo

20 April 2011
US brand house Jones Group has become the latest party to join the bidding war for luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo.
American Apparel seeks rescue financing

20 April 2011
American Apparel, the beleaguered US fashion chain, reportedly has to secure $10m (£6.1m) in rescue financing to avoid filing for bankruptcy.
LVMH first quarter sales rise

20 April 2011
LVMH, the luxury goods group that owns Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, saw first quarter sales in its fashion and leather goods division rise by 17% thanks to strong performances from Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Donna Karan and Celine.
Burberry forecasts profits at top end of expectations as sales soar

19 April 2011
Burberry, the luxury British brand, said it expected full year pre-tax profits to be at the top end of market expectations as sales surged 33% in its fourth quarter.
Overseas shoppers boost West End retail

18 April 2011
London’s West End retailers will see an additional £2bn going through their tills in 2011 due to increased spending from overseas shoppers.
H&M’s like-for-likes drop in March

15 April 2011
Swedish fast fashion giant H&M group’s like-for-likes dropped 5% in March but it attributed the fall to strong Easter sales last year.
Urban Outfitters president resigns

15 April 2011
President of US lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters Stephen Murray has resigned from his role after a year at the company.
John Galliano 'sacked from John Galliano'

15 April 2011
British designer John Galliano has been sacked by his eponymous label just a month after he was ousted from his role at Christian Dior for alleged anti-Semitic comments, according to reports.
Moss Bros non-exec director reshuffle

15 April 2011
Moss Bros non-executive directors Mark Bernstein and Tony Bogod are to step down from the menswear group’s board next month with former interim chief financial officer Bryan Portman taking up the same role in July.
Indies hope wage rise will boost confidence

15 April 2011
Independent retailers believe next October’s national minimum wage increase could bring a much-needed boost to consumer confidence.
Sportswear Suka Sport aiming for Olympic success

15 April 2011
Men’s sportswear indie Suka Sport will open its first store this week in an effort to cash in on the 2012 Olympic Games.
The University of the Arts London to increase fees to £9,000

12 April 2011
The University of the Arts London, which comprises both Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and the London College of Fashion, has confirmed that its tuition fees will rise to £9,000 from 2012 as it is set to lose nearly all the teaching funding it normally receives.
Rampant Sporting opens first store

12 April 2011
Sports heritage brand Rampant Sporting opened its first store this week and has plans for further retail expansion.
Jean-Paul Gaultier attracts new interest

12 April 2011
Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido has joined forces with private equity partnership Fung Capital to put forward a bid for French fashion house Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Shop Direct brings manufacturing home

11 April 2011
Home shopping giant Shop Direct has added further weight to Drapers’ Save Our Skills (SOS) campaign with the revelation that it is now producing some garments in the UK.
Vogue's Fashion's Night Out dates announced

11 April 2011
Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out, the global shopping event, will be held in the UK on September 8.
Christian Louboutin sues Yves Saint Laurent

11 April 2011
French footwear designer Christian Louboutin is suing luxury label Yves Saint Laurent for alleged trademark infringement.
Prada extends Made to Order service

11 April 2011
Luxury fashion house Prada is to launch an online ‘Made to Order’ service where customers can tailor footwear, leather accessories and sunglasses to their liking.
Wrangler appoints new president

8 April 2011
Denim band Wrangler has appointed Frans van Zeeland as president, replacing Dieter Jacobfeuerborn who has been promoted to president, emerging markets for brand owner VF Europe.
John Lewis' fashion sales soar

8 April 2011
Fashion sales surged by 16% at John Lewis last week boosted by the sunny weather and Mother’s Day gift buying.
Womenswear joins Canterbury line-up

8 April 2011
Canterbury of New Zealand is to launch womenswear for the first time in spring 12 in a bid to offer the wholesale equivalent of lifestyle chains Jack Wills, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister.
Fashion Fringe open for entries

7 April 2011
Fashion Fringe, the competition to support up-and-coming British design talent, is open for entries for its 2011 programme.
Coach to grow menswear sales

7 April 2011
Luxury US accessories brand Coach is aiming to grow its menswear business from 3% to 10% of its total sales in the next five years, with Asia key to expansion.
Miu Miu launches online store

7 April 2011
Italian luxury label Miu Miu has launched its first online store allowing customers to order its ready-to-wear clothing, bags, footwear, accessories and eyewear directly from the website.
Christophe Decarnin to leave Balmain

6 April 2011
Balmain creative director Christophe Decarnin is to leave the French luxury brand after six years at the company.
Moncler group set to float on Italian stock exchange

6 April 2011
Premium sportswear company Moncler Group is poised to float on the Italian stock exchange, with a value of up to €1.1bn (£965.8m).
Jack Wills banned from re-printing 'provocative' catalogue

6 April 2011
Young fashion chain Jack Wills has been banned from re-printing its latest catalogue after complaints the images it featured were inappropriate for young teenagers.
Abercrombie & Fitch predicts rapid sales growth

6 April 2011
American casualwear giant Abercrombie & Fitch has forecast its sales will double to $7.5bn (£ 4.6bn) by 2015.
WGSN Global Fashion Awards entry opens

5 April 2011
The entry period for the second WGSN Global Fashion Awards has now opened with both individuals and businesses from the fashion industry set to be honoured by the trend forecasting website.
White Stuff chief denies sale process underway

5 April 2011
Lifestyle retailer and brand White Stuff has strongly denied weekend reports that it is preparing for a sale or floatation.
Velvet sells stake to private equity firm

5 April 2011
LA-based premium womenswear label Velvet has sold a significant stake in the company to private equity firm Snow Phipps Group.
Puig in talks to buy Jean-Paul Gaultier

5 April 2011
Puig, the Spanish parent company of beauty brands Carolina Herrera, Nina Ricci and Paco Rabanne, could be set to buy fashion house Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Hermes to sell its Jean-Paul Gaultier stake

4 April 2011
Luxury goods group Hermes is in talks to sell its 45% stake in fashion house Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Dolce & Gabbana cleared of tax evasion

4 April 2011
Dolce & Gabbana designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana will not stand trial for tax evasion.
White Stuff set for £150m sale or flotation

4 April 2011
Lifestyle retailer and brand White Stuff is understood to be preparing for a sale or flotation, which could value the business at £150m.
IMAGE GALLERY: Lee opens new London store

1 April 2011
Denim brand Lee has today opened its second London store in west London shopping centre Westfield.
VF Corporation completes Rock & Republic deal

1 April 2011
VF Corporation, the US owner of brands including Wrangler, 7 For All Mankind and Lee, has completed the acquisition of premium denim brand Rock & Republic for $57m (£35.6m).
Scotts move signals menswear shake-up

1 April 2011
Scotts repositions as premium chain and Officers Club enters administration.
Liberty blasted for Grazia promotion

1 April 2011
Premium indies have lambasted department store Liberty after it launched a 20%-off promotion with women’s glossy Grazia.
Hot Tuna sales drop

31 March 2011
Sales at surfing brand Hot Tuna dropped by over £200,000 in the six months to December 31 due to challenging retail conditions and poor consumer confidence.
Moss Bros narrows pre-tax losses

30 March 2011
Menswear group Moss Bros narrowed its pre-tax losses from £3.9m to £2.7m in the year to January 29, as like-for-likes moved into positive territory.
Officers Club in administration

29 March 2011
The rising cost of raw materials has forced discount menswear chain Officers Club into administration, but young fashion chain Blue Inc has saved half of its stores.
Officers Club on the brink of administration

29 March 2011
Discount menswear chain Officers Club is understood to be on the brink of administration, with young fashion chain Blue Inc a frontrunner to snap up some of its stores.
Pringle appoints Alistair Carr as design director

28 March 2011
Luxury knitwear brand Pringle of Scotland has hired Balenciaga designer Alistair Carr as its new design director.
Jimmy Choo's bid for eponymous brand backed by Malaysian government

28 March 2011
Jimmy Choo, the entrepreneur who founded the eponymous footwear and accessories business, has the backing of the Malaysian government in his £500m bid to buy the business back.
Preen and Jonathan Saunders in second Bicester Village pop-up shop

28 March 2011
British designers including Jonathan Saunders, Holly Fulton and Preen are to feature in a second collective pop-up shop at discount shopping centre Bicester Village.
Burberry plots expansion in Saudi Arabia

28 March 2011
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry is to enter Saudi Arabia as part of a joint venture with retail group Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair.
Liberty launches Grazia promotion

25 March 2011
Iconic department store Liberty has launched a 20% off promotion with women’s glossy magazine Grazia.
25 Ten prepares to open second floor

25 March 2011
Young fashion indie 25 Ten is to double its floor space and add concessions from up-and-coming brands.
Seasons branches out with Leeds store

25 March 2011
Premium men’s and women’s wear indie Seasons has opened a second store and launched a loyalty card to reward its customers.
Visitor numbers leap at Off-Price Show

24 March 2011
Discount exhibition the Off-Price Show saw a surge in attendees at its two-day edition, with visitor numbers up 42%.
Luxury brands to donate money to quake-stricken Japan

24 March 2011
French luxury group PPR, the business behind brands including Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, is to donate €2m (£1.75m) towards ongoing relief efforts in Japan.
Flagship store revamp for Miss Sixty and Energie

24 March 2011
Young fashion brands Miss Sixty and Energie are to kick off a revamp of their flagship UK store on Carnaby Street, London to clearly define areas for the two brands.
Ted Baker pre-tax profits soar

24 March 2011
Full-year pre-tax profits at premium brand and retailer Ted Baker have soared, driven by a strong performance from its wholesale arm both overseas and in the UK.
Adidas improves cotton with sustainability drive

23 March 2011
German sportswear giant Adidas has pledged to use ‘Better Cotton’ across its entire clothing offer by 2018 as part of its environmental strategy.
Jon Dorman dies after short illness

22 March 2011
Jon Dorman, long-established agent at JD Agencies, sadly passed away today aged 62 after a short illness.
Henleys retail arm in administration

22 March 2011
Young fashion brand Henleys has shut its 18 stores blaming poor trading and difficult leases for its demise. Its wholesale business is unaffected.
PPR launches sustainability initiative

22 March 2011
French luxury group PPR, the company behind Gucci, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, has launched a new sustainability initiative to help reduce its impact on the environment.
A Suit That Fits rescues Sartoriani assets

22 March 2011
Savile Row tailor Sartoriani has been fully bought out of liquidation by A Suit That Fits, two months after the specialist etailer took control of its stock and orders.
Leading retailers axe denim sandblasting

21 March 2011
Diesel, Primark, Next and George at Asda are among the companies phasing out sandblasted denim products after concerns mounted over the damage the process does to the health of those carrying it out. New Look, H&M, Levi’s and Marks & Spencer have already banned the process.
Nike's spring orders set to boost poor profits

18 March 2011
Sportswear giant Nike said it was set to have a strong spring 11 season with an increase in orders despite revenues sliding across Western Europe in its third quarter.
Brands relocate in Japan amid nuclear fallout fears

18 March 2011
Swedish young fashion retailer H&M and French luxury group PPR have temporarily relocated from their offices in Tokyo as the threat of radioactive fallout looks increasingly likely.
London College of Fashion fees to double

18 March 2011
The London College of Fashion, one of the world’s leading fashion colleges, has been forced to almost double its course fees to more than £6,000 for its 2012 intake due to cuts in government funding.
Impact on Japanese orders too early to call after quake

18 March 2011
Fashion retailers and brands had begun reopening their stores in Japan as Drapers went to press but the medium-term impact on sales in the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake remained unclear.
JD Sports Fashion rescues Fenchurch from administration - but axes all staff

17 March 2011
JD Sports Fashion has rescued streetwear brand Fenchurch from administration - but has made all of its staff redundant.
Guess' profits leap but still fall short of expectations

17 March 2011
Denim brand Guess has said its first quarter sales will be lower than projections despite a 19% increase in profits in the fourth quarter.
Reiss to launch in Bloomingdales

17 March 2011
Premium retailer Reiss is to launch a new range to mark its 40th anniversary and has signed a deal to open in US department store chain Bloomingdales.
French Connection UK retail arm slips in to the red

16 March 2011
French Connection has notched up a full-year loss at its UK and European retail division and warned that margins are under pressure from rising input costs.
Puma promotes Koch to chief executive

15 March 2011
German sportswear brand Puma has promoted Franz Koch to chief executive officer as Jochen Zeitz steps aside after 18 years in the position.
Stock prices tumble and Japan Fashion Week cancelled as quake takes toll

15 March 2011
Stock prices have continued to tumble both in Japan and in London in the wake of last week’s earthquake and tsunami as retailers and brands have pledged their support to affected businesses and people.
LVMH potential buyer for Jimmy Choo

14 March 2011
French luxury goods group LVMH is among the bidders for luxury footwear and accessories business Jimmy Choo, according to reports.
Matalan launches review after kids padded bra expose

14 March 2011
Value chain Matalan has launched a review after it was found to be selling padded bras for children as young as eight.
Mulberry to beat profit expectations

11 March 2011
Luxury brand and retailer Mulberry has said sales and profit for the year to March 31 will exceed market expectations.
JD Sports Fashion and JJB Sports deal is off

11 March 2011
Sale talks between JD Sports Fashion and JJB Sports have broken down after JJB failed to reveal key information about the business.
Catwalk brights bode well for premium chains

11 March 2011
Premium high street retailers are confident that the bright colours, statement outerwear, trouser shapes and long-length silhouettes will translate to strong sales this autumn, as the international catwalks drew to a close in Paris this week.
Chevignon returning to UK after 17 years

11 March 2011
French men’s casualwear brand Chevignon is relaunching in the UK for autumn 11 after a 17-year absence.
Coneys sees profits soar after takeover

11 March 2011
Profits at contemporary indie Coneys in Boston, Lincolnshire, have spiralled in the past year after the department store was taken over by the owner of fellow Midlands indie Gere.
Vivienne Westwood duo in kids’ launch

11 March 2011
Former Vivienne Westwood designer James New and pattern cutter Jessica Richard are to launch a babywear and kidswear brand, to be manufactured exclusively in the UK.
Coach drives into UK market

10 March 2011
Luxury US accessories brand Coach is to open its first UK store on Friday in west London’s Westfield shopping centre.
Paris Fashion Week: Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Valentino

9 March 2011
If Alexander McQueen’s creative director Sarah Burton were to be designing Kate Middleton’s wedding dress then the collection of white gowns shown on the Paris catwalk yesterday could provide a hint of what is to come on April 29.
Burberry shares bolstered by Bulgari deal

8 March 2011
Burberry shares soared after luxury goods house LVMH acquired accessories giant Bulgari with speculation that the luxury British heritage brand could be the latest to be snapped up.
Paris Fashion Week: John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier and Hermes

7 March 2011
Spectators turned out in force to witness John Galliano’s eponymous collection for autumn 11 at Paris Fashion Week, despite the racism row which surrounds him and the decision to axe his scheduled catwalk show in favour of a lower-key “tableau vivant”.
White Stuff plans foreign foray as chairman steps down

7 March 2011
Lifestyle retailer and brand White Stuff is to push into foreign markets and has launched a search for a new chairman to replace Vince Gwilliam who is stepping down.
LVMH takes over Bulgari

7 March 2011
LVMH, the luxury goods group behind Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, is to take control of accessories giant Bulgari.
Alexander McQueen 'making Kate Middleton’s wedding dress'

7 March 2011
Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton is understood to be designing Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, although the label has denied the claims.
Experts predict Galliano racism row will be ‘just a blip’ for Dior

4 March 2011
The Christian Dior label will emerge unscathed from the John Galliano racism row because of its swift decision to sack him, brand experts have claimed, but opinion is divided over what its next move should be.
Choice to open store in Westfield Stratford

4 March 2011
Premium indie Choice is to open its sixth store, in shopping centre Westfield Stratford, with a new-look shopfit set to cost about £1m.
Theo Paphitis

4 March 2011
The retail entrepreneur has returned to lingerie with his Boux Avenue chain, confident he has spotted a gap in the market. So why should his rivals beware the TV dragon?
Woodhouse expands shop and brand mix

4 March 2011
London menswear indie Woodhouse has relocated its shop to a unit more than double the size of its previous one.
Dolce & Gabbana 'could merge' with D&G brand

3 March 2011
Premium brand Dolce & Gabbana is considering merging its diffusion line D&G into its signature line so the company can focus on a single brand, according to reports.
John Galliano could face jail

3 March 2011
John Galliano could face up to six months behind bars as he stands trial for his alleged anti-Semitic comments.
John Galliano apologises - sort of

2 March 2011
British designer John Galliano has apologised “unreservedly” for his recent outburst - but denied claims of anti-Semitic behaviour and said he would sue the people who made them.
Fenchurch in administration as cotton prices claim first victim

2 March 2011
Streetwear brand Fenchurch has gone into administration, blaming spiralling cotton prices and labour costs.
Christian Dior sacks John Galliano

1 March 2011
Christian Dior has formally severed ties with its head designer John Galliano.
John Galliano collection to show in Paris

1 March 2011
The latest collection from John Galliano will show at Paris Fashion Week on Sunday after the British fashion designer was arrested for alleged anti-Semitic remarks.
Kim Jones named Louis Vuitton style boss

1 March 2011
Louis Vuitton has named British designer Kim Jones, the former creative director of Alfred Dunhill, as style director at its menswear division.
Natalie Portman condemns John Galliano

1 March 2011
John Galliano’ reputation has suffered a further blow today after American actress Natalie Portman publicly condemned his alleged anti-Semitic comments.
Kenneth Cole chief executive steps down as losses are cut

1 March 2011
American contemporary brand and retailer Kenneth Cole’s chief executive officer Jill Granoff has resigned, as the company announced it had significantly narrowed its losses in the fourth quarter.
Retailers back eco-label clothing plan

1 March 2011
H&M, Gap and Marks & Spencer are in talks to launch a universally-recognised garment labelling scheme, showing the environmental impact of individual garments.
John Galliano to counter-sue for defamation as shocking video emerges

28 February 2011
Head designer at Christian Dior John Galliano is to counter-sue the couple who accused him of racism for defamation, as a new video purporting to show the designer making anti-semitic remarks was released.
John Galliano suspended from Christian Dior

25 February 2011
British fashion designer John Galliano has been suspended from his role at French couture house Christian Dior after being arrested for allegedly making anti-Semitic remarks. His suspension comes just days before he is due to show his two collections at Paris Fashion Week.
John Galliano detained after making “anti-Semitic” remarks

25 February 2011
British fashion designer John Galliano has reportedly been detained by police in Paris for alleged assault and making anti-Semitic remarks.
Milan Fashion Week: MaxMara

25 February 2011
MaxMara’s pared down autumn 11 collection displayed a large array of outerwear with clean lines and neutral colours giving the range a simple modern feel.
Walpole supports call for more women in the boardroom

25 February 2011
Walpole, the luxury brands trade body, has pledged its support for government recommendations that more women should be represented in the boardroom.
Wade to bolt trade show onto Boxpark

25 February 2011
Roger Wade, founder of pop-up mall Boxpark in London’s Shoreditch, is to launch a trade show to give brands that have signed up to the scheme a platform to showcase future collections to the trade.
Moda Menswear

25 February 2011
The strongest collections focused on outerwear and knitwear for autumn 11.
Milan Fashion Week: Gucci and Alberta Ferretti

24 February 2011
Milan Fashion Week kicked off on Wednesday with an abundance of colour from Gucci and 1960s prints from Alberta Ferretti.
Hot Tuna appoints Ball as non-exec director

24 February 2011
Surfwear brand Hot Tuna has appointed former Littlewoods group business development director Francis Ball as non-executive director.
Roberto Cavalli back in the black

23 February 2011
Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli has said it will post a profit for the year to December 31 when it reports its results in April.According to reports the group will be back in the black for the end of 2010 and Cavalli said the second half had “confirmed the positive performance” in the first six months of the year.
VF Corporation full year profits jump 24%

23 February 2011
Profits at VF Corporation, the parent company behind brands 7 For All Mankind, Vans and Lee, rose 24% to $713.2m (£439.1m) in the year to December 31.
Londonedge to launch new skate inspired trade show

21 February 2011
Streetwear trade shows Londonedge and Londoncentral will launch a new show next season after overseas attendance increased to 45% at its latest edition.
Stitch attendance increases

21 February 2011
Visitor numbers at menswear trade show Stitch grew to 6,000 with website registrations growing by 64% compared to the previous edition of the show in July.
Henleys streamlines offer for autumn 11

18 February 2011
Young fashion brand Henleys is to relaunch and refocus its collection for autumn 11 after axing its four sub-brands and creating a new logo and identity.
Burberry to stream London Fashion Week show at Piccadilly

17 February 2011
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry is to stream its London Fashion Week show live at Piccadilly Circus.
London Fashion Week: Buyers line up wish lists

17 February 2011
Buyers will flock to London Fashion Week tomorrow looking for outerwear and catwalk inspiration from the likes of Acne and Richard Nicoll.
LFW Exhibition adds 60 new designers

17 February 2011
The Exhibition at London Fashion Week will play host to over 170 exhibitors this season, including 60 designers who are new to London Fashion Week.
Robert Polet to leave Gucci group

17 February 2011
Gucci Group chief executive officer and president Robert Polet is to step down from his role.
Hobbs to feature in BBC series

16 February 2011
Premium womenswear chain Hobbs is to feature in a BBC series about teaching young people about the world of work.
New York Fashion Week: Narciso Rodriguez, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Rodarte

16 February 2011
Day seven of New York Fashion Week and collections by Rodarte, Narciso Rodriguez and Marc by Marc Jacobs provided prairie prints, geometrics and 1970s disco.
New York Fashion Week: Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera

15 February 2011
Another day on the New York Fashion Week catwalk saw Marc Jacobs come out in spots, Donna Karan use subtle colours and ladylike elegance from Carolina Herrera.
VIDEO: Levi’s is California dreaming with new online video

15 February 2011
Denim brand Levi’s is to launch its first ever social media viral for its underwear, socks and swimwear range.
New York Fashion Week: Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein

14 February 2011
Menswear shows at New York Fashion Week from Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger featured warming winter jackets complete with classic tailoring and chunky knitwear.
New York Fashion Week: Victoria Beckham, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang

14 February 2011
The New York Fashion week catwalk served up a feast of autumn 11 collections over the weekend with Victoria Beckham showcasing her sixth collection, Alexander Wang mixing smart with casual, Tommy Hilfiger turning bohemian and Diane Von Furstenberg heading to the Wild West.

DrapersVictoria Gallagher

Drapers
Victoria Gallagher