The European Commission’s plans to regulate imports of leather shoes from China and Vietnam are in disarray, after EU member states rejected its latest proposals. The Commission wants to introduce a formal system of import duties, to replace emergency measures introduced in April. The temporary system was introduced following allegations that shoes were being “dumped”…
Read moreH&M to launch Harmony
Swedish fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz has introduced Harmony, a new one-off collection for women which will launch in September. The collection will feature soft, body-skimming, feminine pieces that easily transcend the separation between evening, homewear and athletic wear. H&M wants to show women how to mix and match to carry over from day to…
Read moreClaire’s comp sales rise
US accessories and costume jewellery chain Claire’s Stores Inc has reported a comparable store sales increase of 4 percent in the four weeks ended 27 May. Total sales for the period rose 8 percent to $102.5 million. “Our international comparable store sales remained in positive territory, delivering growth in the low single digits,” said co-chairman…
Read moreMatalan finally sees sales rise
sales rise for the first time in two years. Total sales gained 2.2 percent in the eight weeks ended 26 August. Like for like sales grew 1.3 percent, up from a slide of 3.1 percent during the same period last year. New space increased 3.2 percent. Gross margins gained 0.2 percent, lifting margins for the…
Read moreNo model behaviour
What is it with models these days? It’s been a violent week and no model behaviour in the land of the beautiful. The Guardian reported that last week Danish Victoria’s Secret star May Anderson was wrestled off Martinair Flight 643 charged with battery, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, after she allegedly hit an air stewardess…
Read moreSS07 fashion show dates revealed
The season may only just have ended, but the dates for the spring/summer 07 catwalk shows have been set. This time there seems to be less conflict and overlap between cities, however tradeshows dates are still to be confirmed. The women’s ready-to-wear shows will commence in New York from September 11-16, followed by London from…
Read moreSpending shifts from High Street to internet
It is estimated that by 2010, UK consumers will be spending £18.5 billion a year on the internet that otherwise would have been spent on the high street, according to research by leading global payments system PayPal and Datamonitor. This is the first time that the shift from high street to internet has been calculated…
Read morePatrick Cox for sale
Patrick Cox, the Canadian born London-based shoe designer has put his shoe emporium up for sale. The price tag is a hefty £10m. Cox enjoyed enourmous success in the early 90’s with his famous loafer outselling the one million mark. The intellectual property rights to the loafer design, however, are ownbed by Italian footwear manufacturer…
Read moreLandmark courting New Look
The Dubai-based Landmark Group is said to be courting fashion retailer New Look. Last week the British high-street retailer revealed that it was mulling over various options, such as a possible floatation on the London Stock Exchange or a sale to another private equity firm. The Dubai-based retailer told the Scotsman that it was in…
Read moreDaisy Lowe to launch dress collection
Model and London party fixture Daisy Lowe is to launch her own clothing line. The model will work with her mother, Pearl Lowe, who’s known for her delicate lace dresses, to launch a diffusion line in the same vein. “It’s in the embryonic stages,” said a spokeswoman for Pearl Lowe. “The collection will be in…
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