Peacocks enters administration
Peacocks has formally entered administration, with KPMG appointed as administrators to the UK value clothing retailer.
Limited Brands, Fairtrade challenge child labour claims
US retailer Limited Brands and certification body Fairtrade International have challenged a series of allegations that claim child labour is used on farms in Burkina Faso that grow Fairtrade organic cotton used in Victoria's Secret garments.
UK shop prices grow at slowest pace for 16 months
UK shop prices grew at their slowest pace in 16 months during December as retailers discounted clothes, footwear and electrical goods, according to research from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Vietnam textile and garment exports soar 38% in 2011
Vietnam's textile and garment exports jumped 38% year-on-year in 2011 to reach a record US$15.6bn, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Webinar: Sourcing in China: what's the alternative?
Attend this one hour webinar to find out whether there is an alternative to sourcing apparel from China. Date: February 1, 2012. Time: 4pm UK / 11am US / 12am HKT / 5pm EUR.
Chinese reserve system boosting world cotton stocks
Purchases by the Chinese government are absorbing a large portion of the 2011/12 global cotton crop, according to data released earlier this month, with efforts to rebuild the national reserve likely to lead to a recovery in world stocks.
Latest apparel and textile news 
FRANCE: Fung Brands poised to acquire Sonia Rykiel
27 January 2012
Hong Kong based investment firm Fung Brands is in exclusive talks with French luxury fashion brand Sonia Rykiel to take an 80% stake in the company.
US: Lawsuit filed to prevent nanosilver's use in textiles
27 January 2012
The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a lawsuit in the US federal court to try to limit public exposure to antimicrobial nanosilver used in clothing and other textiles.
US: Penney revamp targets US$900m in savings
27 January 2012
The wholesale revamp of retailer JC Penney’s operations will cost US$800m in capital expenditure in fiscal 2012 – but the company is targeting $900m in cost savings over the next two years.
Chinese deal could herald new era for African cotton
A recent Chinese-African cotton agreement could usher in a new era for the African cotton industry - but not in the short-term, say industry experts.
Hot issue
JC Penney “fresh air” revamp a bold vision
Few incoming CEOs have put their stamp on their new company as quickly as JC Penney’s Ron Johnson. His former life as head of retail at Apple is evident in the title of the new strategy for the ailing department store business: “In Praise of Fresh Air”.
Latest comment
Viewpoint: Will Bangladesh be the next sourcing hotspot?
The global clothes sourcing bandwagon is forever looking for the next hot spot, especially as nearly two decades of apparel deflation comes to an end and as worries continue to escalate about raw material and labour costs, capacity issues and the overall competitiveness of China. But is Bangladesh ready to step into the role of sourcing country of choice?
FRANCE: Carrefour to make CEO announcement in days
27 January 2012
US: Class action launched against Collective Brands
27 January 2012
INDIA: Indorama in new petrochemical venture
27 January 2012
DENMARK: Sustainable fashion initiative launched
27 January 2012
US: Unveils global supply chain security plan
27 January 2012
US: Delta slips to Q2 loss on markdown
27 January 2012
Top stories on just-style this week...
27 January 2012
US: Southern Plains drought set to hit organic cotton
27 January 2012
US: Nike announces senior management changes
27 January 2012
Marks & Spencer women's wear sales take a hit
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland has admitted that women's wear sales fell during the third-quarter, even though heavy promotions lifted the retailer's overall clothing sales.
Hot issue
Key retail technology deployments at NRF 2012
The retail industry's NRF 'BIG Show,' which took place in New York this week, is an annual opportunity for retailers to tap into the latest technologies for improving everything from customer analysis to mobile commerce. Here we round up some of the retail technology deployments unveiled at the event.
Latest insights
Spotlight on...JC Penney “fresh air” revamp a bold vision
26 January 2012
Few incoming CEOs have put their stamp on their new company as quickly as JC Penney’s Ron Johnson. His former life as head of retail at Apple is evident in the title of the new strategy for the ailing department store business: “In Praise of Fresh Air”.
Viewpoint: Will Bangladesh be the next sourcing hotspot?
25 January 2012
The global clothes sourcing bandwagon is forever looking for the next hot spot, especially as nearly two decades of apparel deflation comes to an end and as worries continue to escalate about raw material and labour costs, capacity issues and the overall competitiveness of China. But is Bangladesh ready to step into the role of sourcing country of choice?
just-style's research roundup
23 January 2012
Highlights from just-style's research store this week include reports on specialist apparel retailers in China and Greece, trends in world textile and clothing trade, fibre prices, production and consumption, and an evaluation of the European footwear manufacturing sector.
Economic growth boosts Brazil's textile and clothing industry
17 January 2012
Brazil's fast growing economy and the population's buoyant spending have resulted in a large increase in textile and clothing consumption per head in the country - and a knock-on boost to production, new research shows.
In the money: Tesco looks online as clothing sales fall
16 January 2012
At the same time as Tesco revealed falling clothing sales over the Christmas period, the UK's largest supermarket retailer also signalled a shift away from expanding its hypermarket presence and a renews focus on its online offer.
just-style's research roundup
16 January 2012
Featured reports from just-style's research store this week includes a look at the global apparel market, a report on the growing footwear market in Morocco, and a review of the denim and jeanswear industries, as well as a SWOT analysis of Levi Strauss.
Successful brands rewarded by consistent fit strategies
12 January 2012
Brands and retailers who apply the latest 3D body shape data and consistent fit strategies to their product development practices are reaping the rewards of repeat business, reduced returns, higher prices and full-price sell-throughs, according to a fit and sizing seminar organised by Dutch fashion trade association Modint.
Chinese deal could herald new era for African cotton
11 January 2012
A recent Chinese-African cotton agreement could usher in a new era for the African cotton industry - but not in the short-term, say industry experts.
In the money: Marks & Spencer women's wear sales take a hit
10 January 2012
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland admitted today (10 January) that women's wear sales fell during the third-quarter, even though heavy promotions lifted the retailer's overall clothing sales.
Mexican makers plea for tougher transport security
Mexico's apparel association has asked the government to toughen security on the country's roads amid rising crime against clothing cargoes aimed at the export market.
Get connected:
Reports in focus
Key Opportunities for Apparel in Western Europe
This briefing aims to cover three of the most important issues affecting companies operating within the apparel industry. The first is sourcing – which countries have become major global production hubs and what the next ones will be. The second deals with a global demographic issue – the ageing of the world’s population and what it means for apparel. The final issue is distribution trends within the apparel industry, using Western Europe as a primary focus.
Published Jan 2012 - ($ 2000.00)
- Bangladesh Apparel Industry Analysis
Published May 2011 - ($ 500.00) - Clothing Retailing - Italy
Published Oct 2011 - ($ 883.00) - World Textile and Apparel Trade and Production Trends: the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, December 2011
Published Dec 2011 - ($ 520.00) - Apparel: Dealing With Price Pressure and Cutting the Cloth Accordingly
Published Dec 2011 - ($ 2000.00)
Latest just-style research
- Tomorrow’s apparel industry: products, markets, sourcing and processes – forecasts to 2017
Published Sep 2011 - ($ 1190.00) - Report package: Tomorrow’s clothing retail; and Tomorrow's apparel industry – forecasts to 2017
Save 25% with this special report package
Published Sep 2011 - ($ 1780.00) - Apparel product extension: development, marketing and brand opportunities
Published Jul 2011 - ($ 1190.00) - Global market review of performance outdoor apparel – forecasts to 2016
Published May 2011 - ($ 1190.00) - Global market review of denim and jeanswear – volume 1: market facts and forecasts to 2017
Published Feb 2011 - ($ 1190.00)
The just-style blog
Retail sales paint too rosy a picture
By: Leonie Barrie
23 Jan 2012
Heavy discounting by clothing and footwear stores in the run-up to Christmas helped UK retail sales edge up in December, according to official figures released last week. Sales volumes rose 0.6% between November and December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, and were 2.6% higher than December last year.
Clothing sales driven by Christmas promotions
By: Leonie Barrie
16 Jan 2012
New Year, same old issues
By: Leonie Barrie
09 Jan 2012
Sponsored features
Sri Lanka and the Business of Sustainable Apparel
Resilience, Reliability & Assurance – Sri Lanka Apparel’s core differentiators in a global perspective provide the perfect balance in creating a premier apparel outsourcing hub.
Dress to Impress at the Christmas Work Do
Party season is well underway and amidst the festive cheer is panic and dread over what to wear to the office Christmas party. This annual event is a fashion minefield, with potential pitfalls at every turn, so selecting the perfect outfit can take considerable planning.
