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Editor's Comment: 'Make or break' Christmas is endnote to tough 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, many in the industry will be breathing a sigh of relief. For some, it has been an incredibly difficult 12 months.
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Entries are now open for the Drapers Digital Awards - recognising the best of the best in ecommerce across the fashion industry in the UK and Ireland.
Find out more and enter
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Retail
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Carmel Clothing: a supplier's secrets of success
As the UK’s mid-market faces ongoing challenges, supplier Carmel Clothing is looking overseas for new opportunities.
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Drapers Footwear Awards 19 will recognise and celebrate the footwear's very best from across the UK and Ireland.
We have 18 exciting categories up for contest, including International Footwear Business of the Year and Best Sustainable Initiative of the Year.
Find out more and enter
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Product & Trade Shows
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My Fashion Life: Francesca Aiello, founder of Frankies Bikinis
Francesca Aiello, founder of cult swimwear brand Frankies Bikinis, has a new label, and is getting ready for spring 19
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Business Operations
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Fashion retail's highs and lows of 2018
As this year comes to a close and a new one approaches, Drapers recaps the twists and turns in the retail industry over the past 12 months
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Taking place on 29 November 2018, the Drapers Awards recognises and celebrates the best of the best in the fashion sector.
Book your table now before it's too late
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People
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Carmel Clothing: a supplier's secrets of success
As the UK’s mid-market faces ongoing challenges, supplier Carmel Clothing is looking overseas for new opportunities.
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Who are the most influential people in UK fashion retail in 2018?Subscription
Drapers’ Power 100 list of the people shaping the fashion retail industry today
End-of-year flurry of people movesSubscription
Consumer spend still stagnant Subscription
Online returns to hit £5.6bnSubscription
Moda Operandi appoints new buying boss Subscription
Laura Ashley chair retires Subscription
Losses widen at Cath KidstonSubscription
Fashion hit by £1.6bn peak returns impactSubscription
Debenhams rejects £40m loan from Mike Ashley Subscription
John Lewis Christmas ad crowned YouTube number oneVideoSubscription
Bonmarché warns on profitsSubscription
Sales edge up at Sports Direct Subscription
Marie Chantal to open second London storeSubscription
Richard James opens US storeSubscription
Christmas 2018's best-dressed windowsSubscription
Fashion retail's highs and lows of 2018Subscription
As this year comes to a close and a new one approaches, Drapers recaps the twists and turns in the retail industry over the past 12 months
Carmel Clothing: a supplier's secrets of successSubscription
As the UK’s mid-market faces ongoing challenges, supplier Carmel Clothing is looking overseas for new opportunities.
Independent insight: 2018 trends and bestsellersSubscription
As the year comes to a close, Drapers speaks to independent retailers to reflect on this year’s trends and see what’s in store for 2019.
Canada's golden goose Subscription
With the launch of footwear on the cards and a Beijing flagship about to open, luxury outerwear brand Canada Goose is primed for growth.
Strathberry: from Scotland to the world Subscription
Scottish premium accessories brand Strathberry is growing its retail store estate on the back of a little celebrity sparkle.
High street preview: spring 19Subscription
Get a first look at what the high street and etail’s biggest names are offering for the season ahead.
Denim Première Vision: The trends to know for spring 20Subscription
See Drapers’ pick of the trends from the spring 20 edition of Denim Prèmiere Vision, which took place in London’s Old Truman Brewery on 5-6 December 2018.
Drapers' autumn 19 trade show calendarSubscription
Drapers’ autumn 19 show calendar is your one-stop handy guide to the upcoming trade show season.
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Editor's Comment: 'Make or break' Christmas is endnote to tough 2018Subscription
As 2018 draws to a close, many in the industry will be breathing a sigh of relief. For some, it has been an incredibly difficult 12 months.
Drapers Events
Drapers Footwear Awards 2019 open for entrySubscription
Entries are now open for the Drapers Footwear Awards 2019, which recognise the best of the best in the sector across the UK and Ireland.
Enter Drapers Digital Awards 2019 nowSubscription
Entries are now open for the 2019 Drapers Digital Awards, which recognise the best of the best in digital across the fashion retail industry in the UK and Ireland.
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Debenhams rejects £40m loan from Mike Ashley 4 comments -
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Is an online sales tax feasible? 3 comments -
Mike Ashley: 'Tax the web boys 20%' 13 comments -
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Online returns to hit £5.6bn 2 comments -
Indies look forward to Christmas uplift 1 comment
The Drapers Quiz
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Drapers branded fashion content section Brand Showcase brings you the collections you can't afford to miss
Pantherella steps into new territorySubscription
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Editor's Comment: 'Make or break' Christmas is endnote to tough 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, many in the industry will be breathing a sigh of relief. For some, it has been an incredibly difficult 12 months.
Can Superdry crack the kidswear market?
Struggling Superdry is betting on a new kidswear collection to help turn the business around, but its success will hang on the strength of the product, industry experts have said.
Editor's Comment: Parliament must show teeth to save high street
This week, we were once again gripped by a parliamentary committee hearing, this time featuring the formidable Mike Ashley.
Drapers Awards celebrate another year in fashion retail
This week we gathered the industry’s greatest at London’s Roundhouse in Camden to celebrate the very best of the fashion sector at the annual Drapers Awards.
Editor's Comment: Retailers and landlords must find a compromise
Bricks-and-mortar retailers are under pressure to evolve quickly to meet changing consumer behaviours and landlords must adapt to changing retailer requirements.
Editor's Comment: Blanket discounts make Black Friday a dark day for retail
Black Friday has been plagued with issues since the US shopping event first arrived on these shores.
Retailer Insight: Black Friday or Fraud Friday?
Archie Hume, managing director of independent fashion retailer A Hume Country Clothing, is taking a stand against Black Friday discounting
Comment: High street must be heard over Brexit noise
The high street is changing at a faster pace than ever before, and some town centres are becoming virtually unrecognisable as big-name retailers scale back their store portfolios.
Editor's Comment: Strong medicine is needed to survive in today’s market
This week we gained more insight into how some of the high street’s biggest names are refocusing their strategies to tackle ongoing trading headwinds.
Mary Creagh: on a parliamentary mission to clean up fashion
The environmental audit committee, led by Mary Creagh, is halfway through investigating the social and environmental impact of disposable fast fashion and the wider UK industry.
Comment: Is this fashion retail’s #metoo moment?
The allegations that Arcadia Group boss Sir Philip Green bullied, racially abused and sexually harassed some of his employees have sent ripples through the industry.
Editor's Comment: Selling on social media – the next steps
Social media has become a daily obsession for many consumers, and savvy brands have embraced these channels to maximise engagement and – until now indirectly – drive sales.
Comment: Whatever happened to service, let alone with a smile?
As retailers do everything they can to attract shoppers into stores, why are so many on the high street offering disappointing levels of customer service?
Comment: How are Gen Z shopping for fashion?
Generation Z – those born since 1995 – are the all-important next generation of consumers. So how are they shopping for fashion?
Editor's Comment: Thread has menswear etailing all sewn up
Six years ago, serial entrepreneur Kieran O’Neill launched a small start-up business that combined technology and fashion to offer men a personal styling service. This week, that business has received $22m (£16.7m) in funding, bringing its total investment to more than $40m (£30.4m).
Productivity – the keystone of a successful retail strategy
The definition of “productivity” is “the effectiveness of productive effort, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input”.
Comment: How fashion customers are changing
Drapers’ latest report uses consumer data to highlight how shoppers are changing year on year.
Editor's Comment: The only constant is change – so embrace it
To stand still is to go backwards. This well-known mantra has been quoted a thousand times, but is more relevant today than it ever has been.
Smart choices: why men's tailoring is booming
From formalwear to casual blazers, on the catwalks and on the high street, menswear is smartening up its act. So what is driving the trend?
Next fights back but early Sales are a worrying sign
The bellwether of the UK high street, Next, this week revealed a better-than-expected performance for its first half, despite what it described as a “volatile” trading environment.
Comment: International buyers out in force at Micam
A strong turnout of international buyers at the 86th edition of Milan footwear trade show Micam has cemented its place as the must-attend shoe exhibition in Europe, as UK brands took the opportunity to meet continental buyers before Brexit.
Comment: Why the world looks to London Fashion Week
The spring 19 edition of London Fashion Week (14-18 September) has drawn to a close, and it is clear why it draws visitors from around the globe.
Editor's Comment: What we can learn from innovative indies
Independent retailing is one of the fashion industry’s toughest sectors, but also one of the most innovative – and larger retailers would do well to take note of the initiatives the sector is driving.
Comment: Holly Willoughby lends fire power to M&S
As Marks & Spencer announces Holly Willoughby as its new brand ambassador, is the TV-turned-social media star enough to save the retailer?
Editor's Comment: Can you afford not to have a sustainability strategy?
As the House of Fraser saga rumbles on and the repercussions continue to hit suppliers, there is much debate about who should be held accountable for the department store chain’s demise.
Own brand and experience are partners in John Lewis revamp
John Lewis’s sophisticated Oxford Street redesign is set to put the retailer’s ambitious own-brand focus to the test
Comment: Does 5 Carlos Place deliver for Matchesfashion?
Pitched as a “totally new retail experience”, Drapers discovers whether 5 Carlos Place lives up to expectation.
Comment: It's time for action on the high street
Drapers’ Emily Sutherland questions whether reviews, inquiries and panels really represent the best route forward for the high street.
Comment: UK fashion and textiles firms need more export support
UK clothing and fabric companies could significantly boost export activity with the right support, says Adam Mansell, CEO of the UK Fashion and Textile Association.
Editor's Comment: Neves's dream of integrated retail is not so far-fetched
Back in 2009, a little-known etailer called Farfetch was shortlisted for the Best Etail Innovation award at the Drapers Etail Awards. This week, that same etailer has filed notice of its intention to float on the New York Stock Exchange.
Comment: Reformation's tech-savvy NYC store
The New York retail industry is facing a major transformation. Having been challenged by the increasing popularity of e-commerce, the decline in traditional department stores, alongside the proliferation of mobile and touchscreen devices, retailers are taking radical action to entice shoppers.
Editor's Comment: Suppliers need protection for industry to survive
There have been several times of late that I have urged the government to step in and support this industry, and unfortunately this week is no exception.
Comment: Multichannel is demanding more
The multichannel projects retailers have been working on for years show no sign of getting any easier. Having focused for so hard and so long on joining up the channels, retailers must now also focus on doing everything instantly.
Editor’s Comment: Is Day the new driving force of department stores?
There are very few people that have had such an impact on the industry while keeping such a low profile as Philip Day.
Editor’s Comment: Retailers fight back against tough market conditions
It’s no secret that the market is tough. Brexit, rising rents and rates, digital evolution and changing consumer behaviours have created a challenging period for many fashion retailers.
Comment: an opportunity for trade shows to up their game
The news that ITE – the trade show organiser behind Scoop, Jacket Required and Birmingham’s Moda – had acquired Pure London was the talk of the aisles at the recent London trade shows.
Editor’s Comment: A sad goodbye to industry legend Don McCarthy
It is with a heavy heart that I write this week’s comment following the news that industry veteran Don McCarthy has died. My thoughts go to all of his family and friends at this sad time.
Editor's Comment: Athleisure is fighting fit and raring to grow
The athleisure sector is booming. A quick Google search reveals that the phrase “athleisure” was first used in 1976 on an advert for trainers. But in more recent years several factors have come together to accelerate this trend and push it to the forefront of the fashion industry.
Editor's Comment: Retailers turn to the big guns of fashion product
The womenswear market has always been a highly competitive sector and several key fashion appointments over the last few weeks indicate how retailers are planning to stay ahead.
Comment: The pride of place that can save our high streets
Danny Crump, director of Urbanism at architecture firm Broadway Malyan, which has worked projects including Lefo Mall in Suzhou, China, and Fan in Mallorca, explains how social spaces can reinvigorate the UK’s town centres.
Sustainability is no longer optional for fashion retail
Sustainability and ethical retailing have long been on the agenda for fashion retailers.
Brexit deal or no deal, protect your trademarks now
Stephen Sidkin, partner at fashion law firm Fox Williams explains why brands should review their trademark portfolios now to ensure they are protected ahead of the UK leaving the European Union.
Editor's Comment: Continual evolution will keep the store experience alive
As retailers continue to announce store closures, the future of bricks-and-mortar retail is in question.
Editor's Comment: Product makes or breaks a retail offer
The retail industry continues to be a game of many halves.
Comment: Sustainability dominates at a typically upbeat Pitti Uomo
Menswear trade show Pitti Uomo gets the spring 19 buying season off to a positive start
London Fashion Week Men’s finds strength in dynamic emerging talent
Despite questions over the future of London Fashion Week Men’s following the departure of some big names, emerging labels flourished in the limelight at a successful spring 19 edition.
Comment: House of Fraser shows tough decisions are required to survive
House of Fraser’s announcement today that it is proposing to close 31 of its 59 stores is a sad but necessary development.
Editor's Comment: Footwear's finest march onwards
This week we took the opportunity to celebrate the best that the footwear sector has to offer at the Drapers Footwear Awards. Held at Grosvenor House in London, the awards highlight achievements of footwear brands, businesses and individuals over the last 12 months.
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Drapers Guide: Customer Reviews
How customer reviews are changing fashion, and our step by step guide to making the most of them.
Personalisation for anonymous shoppers
Most of the visitors to a retailer’s website are anonymous. How can the experience be tailored to them without knowing who they are?
The opportunities of off-price fashion
As sustainability - and squeezed margins - continue to put pressure on retailers to improve management of excess stock, off-price fashion has become a hot topic. Drapers’ new report explores its opportunities.
The new rules of digital customer experience
What does the ideal digital customer experience look like today, and who are the retailers leading the way?
What Nike, Asos and Everlane have in common
Join us for a live briefing on what makes a great digital experience, and hear who’s getting it right.
Webinar: The future of data in online retail
Retailers are starting to learn more about their shoppers based on their online behaviour - something that is becoming more important in a post-GDPR world.
Where automation can help
Our new report pinpoints the parts of the customer journey that technology is improving.
Facing fashion's sustainable challenge
Sustainability in fashion is the hot topic of the moment, and was the subject of discussion at Drapers’ latest roundtable.
Mastering mobile as the 2018 peak approaches
The 2018 retail peak is nearly upon us, and mobile will be playing a more important role than ever.
Webinar: Next-generation digital marketing
How are retailers’ email strategies evolving?
Customer insight: How fashion’s multichannel consumers are evolving
Our annual survey of fashion shoppers provides in-depth insight into what shoppers want in a multichannel retail world.
Ecommerce Snapshot: Fashion's Q3 online performance
The Drapers Ecommerce Snapshot gives a comprehensive overview of fashion’s digital performance over the last quarter.
Building a continuous customer view
The single customer view is at the forefront of retailers’ minds, but GDPR and continuing customer concerns about privacy mean it is no easy win
Video: How 3D software is impacting design
Fashion retailers gathered at the Soho Hotel in June to discuss how 3D fashion is changing the industry.
Instagram's new tools for fashion retailers
In partnership with Instagram, Drapers explores the platform’s range of recent new tools - including the launch of IGTV last month - and how they are boosting consumer engagement.
Solving fashion's sustainability problem
Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries.
Digital snapshot: Fashion's Q2 online performance
The Drapers Ecommerce Snapshot gives a comprehensive overview of fashion’s digital performance over the last quarter.
Luxury's Digital Revolution
Despite the success of early trailblazers such as Net-A-Porter and Farfetch, the luxury sector has lagged behind the rest of fashion world when it comes to adapting to a digital future.
Taking the supply chain digital
3D sampling is here, and it is transforming the way companies design, develop and produce fashion.
Webinar: Why RFID is gaining momentum in fashion
Earlier this month Drapers hosted a live discussion with SML and Zebra on how – and why – fashion retailers are adopting RFID at an accelerating rate.
Making multichannel fashion fast, instant and seamless
Fashion consumers today want fast, easy and seamless. Drapers’ report on the growth of instant fashion explores how retailers should respond to this in a multichannel era.
How artificial intelligence is transforming the customer journey
Artificial intelligence is the buzzphrase on everyone’s lips and in this report, we delve into how it is changing the customer experience.
The future of automation in fashion
How retail automation is boosting creativity, innovation and control.
Influencer marketing: Science, strategy and success
The results are in. Only 29% of influencers are asked about their audience demographics, and just 11% of influencers who collaborate with brands on their blogs are asked for their analytics to prove the value of the post or its reach.
International Report: India, Russia and Japan
When UK fashion brands think about going international, Europe, the US and China are often the first port of call.
How to find a brand's most profitable customers
Retailers’ most loyal and profitable customers can be hard to identify and get to know. With so many drowning in customer data, how can we make sense of it?
Drapers Salary Survey 2017
The Drapers Salary Survey provides a glimpse into pay levels across the fashion industry.
Changing the mindset around excess stock
Off-price product, rather than being a problem to avoid, is a part of every retail business and is fast becoming a bona-fide channel in its own right.
Protecting brand reputation while discounting
Mismanaging excess stock can harm a brand and train shoppers to only buy at Sale prices, but you can discount without damaging your reputation
Clearing Excess Stock Beyond British Borders
Offloading excess inventory in international markets can be challenging but some fashion retailers and brands think it is worth doing
