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Comment: Why STEM roles are right for retail
Lee Lucas, principal of the Fashion Retail Academy, explains why retail leaders of the future will need to blend creativity with tech know-how.
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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.
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Retail
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How Jay Parker built Gym King
Gym King’s Jay Parker has built a thriving athleisure brand in a competitive market before his 30th birthday. He talks to Drapers about keeping the business fighting fit and cracking the US.
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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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Blaiz: a home for Latin American glamour in London
With her womenswear retailer Blaiz, Stephanie Mordehachvili brings the best of Latin American brands to London shoppers.
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Business Operations
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Retail lessons from award-winning independents
Previous winners of Drapers Independents Awards share their essential insight into what makes a successful indie.
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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.
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How Jay Parker built Gym King
Gym King’s Jay Parker has built a thriving athleisure brand in a competitive market before his 30th birthday. He talks to Drapers about keeping the business fighting fit and cracking the US.
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Retail lessons from award-winning independentsSubscription
Previous winners of Drapers Independents Awards share their essential insight into what makes a successful indie.
Profits plummet at DebenhamsSubscription
Debenhams reveals stores to close under CVASubscription
Tricker's opens first store outside UK Subscription
Forever 21 to shut Chinese online businessSubscription
Amazon profits almost doubleSubscription
Matalan to make Wolverhampton debutSubscription
Laura Ashley warns on profitsSubscription
Number of Asian shoppers in UK to rise Subscription
Almost half of BHS stores still empty Subscription
AI could replace 42% of UK wholesale and retail jobs Subscription
GMB Asda members welcome supermarket merger block Subscription
Shop Direct Raven Mill deal to safeguard 200 jobs Subscription
Footwear industry 'optimistic' for spring 19 Subscription
Just Consultancies to open showroom in DublinSubscription
Retail employment evades UK upliftSubscription
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News Analysis
A new start for New LookSubscription
With retail veteran Nigel Oddy driving operations, a lighter debt load, and a leaner store estate and menswear offer, the fast fashion retailer is primed for a resurgence.
Day's routes to rehabilitate Bonmarché Subscription
It was lining up to be the next retail victim to hit the headlines: a high street chain struggling to survive amid a series of profit warnings. That was until Bonmarché’s white knight arrived in the shape of retail tycoon Philip Day.
Five must-listen business podcasts for retailersSubscription
Podcast listenership in the UK has almost doubled over the past five years, rocketing from 3.2 million weekly listeners in 2013 to 5.9 million last year. Drapers rounds up the best of the bunch for keeping retailers in the know.
Footwear specialists stand out in Drapers' Hit or MissSubscription
Dedicated footwear retailers came out on top of Drapers’ Hit or Miss review of Intu Watford’s spring 19 offer, despite some strong product in fashion stores.
The high-tech new standard for sampling Subscription
Digital sampling technologies require brands to change their approach, but could significantly speed up lead times and reduce waste
How Jay Parker built Gym King Subscription
Gym King’s Jay Parker has built a thriving athleisure brand in a competitive market before his 30th birthday. He talks to Drapers about keeping the business fighting fit and cracking the US.
Comment: Why STEM roles are right for retailSubscription
Lee Lucas, principal of the Fashion Retail Academy, explains why retail leaders of the future will need to blend creativity with tech know-how.
Drapers Events
Enter the Drapers Awards 2019Subscription
Entries are now open for the Drapers Awards 2019 – the “Oscars” of the fashion retail industry.
Drapers Independents Awards 2019: enter now Subscription
Entries are now open for the 2019 Drapers Independents Awards, celebrating the best fashion retailers and brands in this valuable sector across the UK and Ireland.
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The Chapar exceeds £1m crowdfunding target 2 comments -
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Sustainability takes centre stage at Fashion SVPSubscription
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Comment: Why STEM roles are right for retail
Lee Lucas, principal of the Fashion Retail Academy, explains why retail leaders of the future will need to blend creativity with tech know-how.
Retailer Insight: Making sense of declining wholesale relationships
Elizabeth Hanley, owner of independent store Magpie’s Nest in Stalybridge, Cheshire, explains how she has identified a significant shift in wholesale relationships and brand loyalty.
Comment: Safety in Bangladesh is a joint responsibility
Today marks six years since the Rana Plaza tragedy. Mostafiz Uddin, managing director of Bangladeshi manufacturer Denim Expert, examines the progress that has been made.
Comment: Sustainability is gathering momentum – what are your views?
Last Wednesday evening, John Lewis celebrated the launch of the new festival-themed rooftop experience at its Oxford Street flagship, where guests were presented with an array of eco-friendly sunglasses from eyewear brand Parafina.
Editor's Comment: A tale of two store strategies
In the midst of several high-profile company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), retailers are fighting to prove that evolution is the key to survival – particularly when it comes to the high street.
Comment: Understanding the evolution of luxury
Luxury is not just about a hefty price tag any more – so what does the word mean for today’s fashion industry?
Comment: It is time for retailers to be bold
Retailers must take control to survive a perpetually postponed Brexit, says Mary Anderson-Ford, managing director of merchandising recruitment specialist Aqua Retail.
Comment: Death by design for Coal Drops Yard
The King’s Cross retail destination had a great vision – but may have overlooked customer appeal.
Comment: What does fashion’s gender pay gap data actually tell us?
Thousands of UK companies – including 139 fashion, footwear and accessories brands and retailers – have filed their gender pay gap figures for 2018/19, shining a spotlight on the issue of gender equality in the workplace.
Editor's Comment: Debenhams must act to head off demise
The UK high street took another hit this week as Debenhams entered a pre-pack administration and its lenders took control.
BRC: A perfect Brexit is no longer an option
The government must compromise to deliver Brexit and give retailers much-needed clarity, says Mat Morris, external affairs adviser on Brexit for the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Richard Hyman: Yesterday's assets are today's liabilities
Traditional signs of retail strength – such as a large store portfolio – can now be weaknesses, says retail analyst Richard Hyman.
Comment: Brexit deadlock is a disaster for business
Planning for Brexit is like to trying to pack for a holiday with no idea of where you’re going, the method of travel or even what factor of sunscreen you’ll need.
Comment: Nigel Oddy brings operational gravitas to New Look
Over the past few years, there have been a number of unexpected appointments to the top rungs of traditional fashion retailers, as they have sought to break away from accepted thinking.
Editor's Comment: Fashion faces up to its sustainable future
Sustainability has been a key theme in the fashion industry over the last 12 months but hosting the first ever Drapers Sustainable Fashion event last week highlighted how widespread the ambition is for fashion businesses to move towards a greener future.
Visual search to AI: 2019’s biggest multichannel trends
Long-term success in fashion depends on brands’ ability to adapt to broad, structural changes in the way consumers want to shop.
Christopher Raeburn: 'Small steps lead to big differences in sustainability'
Ahead of his talk at the Drapers Sustainable Fashion event tomorrow, London Fashion Week designer and Timberland global creative director Christopher Raeburn reveals how he puts sustainability at the heart of business.
Editor's Comment: Lack of long-term leader left LK Bennett directionless
LK Bennett has become the latest high street casualty, closing five stores and making 55 redundancies after going into administration last week.
Editor's Comment: It's time for fashion to smash the glass ceiling
International Women’s Day has become a fixture in the fashion retail calendar, and prompts an increasing number of campaigns.
Editor's Comment: Don’t forget to celebrate UK fashion's successes
When in the midst of challenging times, it can feel like a constant battle to keep persevering to stay afloat. It is often easy to brush over small successes and forget to celebrate all of this industry’s ongoing achievements.
Comment: Is leopard print fashion’s most enduring trend?
As the Drapers editorial team settled at their desks one morning this week, we surveyed each other and noticed almost everyone was wearing something leopard print.
Editor's Comment: Why a 1p garment tax misses the point
Fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries. Implementing and executing sustainability targets must be a priority of every fashion leader today.
Autumn 19: a great British fashion week
The autumn 19 edition of London Fashion Week (15-19 February) hosted a strong showing from the city’s diverse pool of talent.
London Fashion Week: day five, buyer diary
On the final day of London Fashion Week, Lydia King, director of womenswear for luxury department store Selfridges, shares her highlights.
Comment: 'Kaiser' of fashion Karl Lagerfeld's influence will live on
Karl Lagerfeld was one of the industry’s most iconic designers, straddling the worlds of fashion and pop culture in a way no other has.
London Fashion Week: day four, buyer diary
Harvey Nichols’ group buying director, Laura Larbalestier, shares her highlights from the penultimate day of London Fashion Week.
London Fashion Week: day three, buyer diary
Day three at London Fashion Week was dominated by big names, including Burberry and Victoria Beckham.
London Fashion Week: day two, buyer diary
Lisa Aiken, fashion director at American online retailer Moda Operandi, shares her highlights from the second day of London Fashion Week.
London Fashion Week: day one, buyer diary
London Fashion Week (LFW) kicked off its autumn 19 edition with a first day packed with creativity and new names. Stavros Karelis, buying director of London store Machine A, shares his highlights.
Editor's Comment: Indies are keeping the high street alive
Spending time at the London womenswear trade shows this week highlighted that the high street is far from dead. Both Pure London and Scoop were busy and vibrant, and I spotted many an order being placed.
If you entered fashion to be creative, don't fear automation
Until recently, technology and fashion and may not have seemed natural bedfellows, and yet today, from design to marketing, from production to distribution, technology is influencing every facet of our industry.
Brexit dominates discussions at Micam
Brands reported a sedate but satisfying autumn edition of footwear trade show Micam in Milan, as Brexit uncertainties dominated discussions.
Rally in the aisles at autumn 19 Pure London and Scoop
Updated layouts encouraged brisk business at the autumn 19 editions of trade shows Pure London and Scoop, which ran on 10-12 February
Five things brands can learn from Fyre Festival
The shocking story of the botched attempt to organise a new, luxury music festival in the Bahamas has gripped the nation thanks to a recently released documentary by Netflix.
Editor's Comment: Debenhams descends deeper into the doldrums
It feels like not a week has gone by this year without speculation on the future of Debenhams, and this week was no different as rumours mount that it is heading towards a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
Comment: Beat Brexit by buying British
Although the dreaded “B” word was a key topic of conversation at the recent edition of menswear-focused trade show Jacket Required, British heritage brand Peregrine helped lift my Brexit fatigue, at least for a while.
Comment: Who’s that girl? Why Laura Jackson is fashion’s new muse
This week, Warehouse becomes the latest high-profile brand to launch a collaboration with TV presenter, author and Instagram star Laura Jackson.
Busy Copenhagen shows heat up chilly Denmark
Autumn 19 editions of trade shows CIFF and Revolver pulled in international buyers, as Copenhagen’s fashion week also grew from strength to strength.
Editor's Comment: Cost efficiencies take top priority in troubled times
The traditional trade show format has been in a state of flux for several seasons now, and the evolution is continuing with the emergence of some new, smaller events.
Comment: A fond farewell to Missguided Stratford
Just over two years since it flung open its doors in a shower of golden confetti, Missguided has announced it will close its Westfield Stratford City flagship.
New layout welcomed at steady edition of Jacket Required
UK buyers were pleased with the revamped autumn 19 edition of menswear-focused trade show Jacket Required on 23-24 January.
Editor's Comment: May must now listen to British business
It has now been more than two and a half years since the Brexit vote. Since that fateful day, the UK has been mired in uncertainty and, unfortunately, it is showing no signs of abating.
Comment: Clarks U-turn is not the end for Made in UK shoes
Clarks’ decision to close its Somerset factory does not reflect the state of the wider UK textile manufacturing industry, argues Make it British founder Kate Hills.
Comment: New names mix with Italy's power brands in Milan
Gaps left by some of the big-name designers leaving the Milan Fashion Week Men’s schedule presented opportunities for smaller brands to shine this season
Editor's Comment: Sharp business focus buoys Boohoo Group
In a flurry of mixed Christmas trading results Boohoo Group has smashed through the mediocrity with another stellar performance.
Pitti proves positive once again
The autumn 19 buying season kicked off to a flying, if slightly foggy, start at menswear trade show Pitti Uomo in Florence this week (8-11 January).
Comment: The perfect antidote to the post-Christmas blues
This Christmas was a tense affair for the fashion industry as retailers waited anxiously to see if consumers would defy the gloomy economic outlook and hit the shops. Happily, it seems I’m not the only one who overspent over the festive period.
Sales v margins: which is the best Christmas strategy?
Today’s crop of Christmas trading updates underlined the extent to which discounting now holds fashion retailers to ransom.
Customer reviews are changing the way fashion is sold
Retailers are starting to reap the benefits of customer reviews. Our new Drapers Guide explores why..
Fashion industry leaders' predictions for 2019
With Brexit looming, consumer confidence dwindling and retailers seeking new ways to offer the best experience for shoppers, Drapers speaks to fashion leaders across the industry to see what they predict for the year ahead.
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Five ways AI is working for fashion retailers
It’s not just a buzzword – artificial intelligence is changing how retailers do business in tangible ways. In our new report, we speak to some of the retailers using the technology about how AI is changing things for them.
Drapers multichannel trends report 2019
Drapers’ multichannel trends report explores the most important trends in cross channel retail this year. Download it here for interviews with River Island, M&S, Mango and more.
If you entered fashion to be creative, don't fear automation
Until recently, technology and fashion and may not have seemed natural bedfellows, and yet today, from design to marketing, from production to distribution, technology is influencing every facet of our industry.
What sold well online over Christmas 2018?
Drapers, in partnership with Ebay, provides a quarterly snapshot of data on online fashion retail’s KPIs and trends.
Coming up: Drapers multichannel roundtable
Drapers’ multichannel breakfast will explore how the cross-channel mix is evolving in fashion in 2019.
Webinar: Lessons from Christmas 2018
Drapers’ webinar explores key lessons and insights from Christmas 2018.
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.
