Apparel and textile industry hot issues
Comprehensive coverage of the apparel and textile industry's hottest issues through a compilation of news, analysis and comment.
Cambodia's garment sector faces continued challenges
9 February 2012
With much of the success of Cambodia's garment industry based on its well-publicised commitment to basic labour standards, it's perhaps not surprising that the sector finds itself under a spotlight when it comes to wider worker welfare issues.
January/February 2012 management briefing: Apparel industry issues to watch in 2012
2 February 2012
For this year's annual management briefing on apparel industry issues to watch in the year ahead, just-style asked leading executives for their feedback on the challenges and opportunities likely to emerge in 2012. Their insight provides a fascinating overview of the state of the sector today.
Plassat to face French challenges at Carrefour
31 January 2012
Carrefour has announced it is parting company with CEO Lars Olofsson and will replace him with Vivarte's George Plassat. The move follows a turbulent year for the world's second-largest retailer, which has seen falling sales in France hit profits.
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”.
Key retail technology deployments at NRF 2012
19 January 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.
Upscale and value drive US retail sales in December
9 January 2012
The all-important December sales results shed some light on Christmas trading, with upscale and value-focused retailers the bright spots in a sector that saw weak-to-modest growth overall.
December 2011 management briefing: A year in review
19 December 2011
Global economic turmoil continued to impact on the apparel industry in 2011, and in all sectors, from retailing to manufacturing and sourcing, winners and losers were not hard to find. just-style’s review of the year tracks those for whom 2011 will be memorable in more ways than one, and also takes a look at some of the more unusual stories hitting the headlines.
Mary Portas' High Street Review
13 December 2011
Mary Portas has released her review of the troubled UK high street. The review covers the issues facing the channel, with 28 steps to turnaround the sector.
Sullivan departs as Talbots nears the crossroads
8 December 2011
Recent moves by troubled women's wear retailer Talbots to cut costs and boost higher-margin sections of the business have had little impact. And now the impending departure of CEO Trudy Sullivan has sparked a buyout bid from private equity firm Sycamore Partners.
November sales a mixed bag for US retailers
3 December 2011
US retailers posted a mixed bag of results in November, with earlier opening hours and Black Friday bargains helping to drive consumer traffic over the Thanksgiving weekend for some, but tougher comparisons with the year-ago period and weaker sales during the rest of the month weighing on others.
India set to relax retail rules
29 November 2011
After years of speculation and fierce debate, India looks set to ease restrictions of foreign investment in its booming retail sector. Business organisations and multinationals have welcomed the decision, although there remains some local opposition.
China expansion not without its challenges
25 November 2011
Gap's plans to triple its store network in China next year are hardly surprising given the country's booming consumer market, demand for western brands and, of course, the retailer's own strategic focus on global growth. But it admits the move is not without challenges.
Is own label about to collapse?
16 November 2011
With more and more own label apparel retailers eyeing growth in Asia and Latin America to make up for shortfalls in their domestic markets, will a business formula that's running out of steam at home will now work abroad. Especially if it's fuelled by designers who have little connection to those foreign customers.
Slimmer Liz Claiborne to trim corporate costs
11 November 2011
The new slimmed-down Liz Claiborne Inc, which in recent months has sold several under-performing brands including Mexx and its namesake Liz Claiborne label, has admitted it will also have to trim its corporate costs in line with its smaller footprint - but that an investment in new IT systems is also on the cards.
Australian retail's perfect storm
7 November 2011
Australian apparel retailers are facing a perfect storm. The country is only now seeing signs of the global economic crisis, the strong Australian dollar is driving shoppers to look at international online retailers - and the world's major fast fashion retailers are plotting their entries. Petah Marian reports on how the major firms are faring.
China cashmere market and production booms
3 November 2011
China's domestic cashmere market appears to be booming, according to figures released at the fourth annual Cashmere World trade show in Beijing - but rising costs cause concern.
14 steps to becoming an M&S eco-factory
25 October 2011
Marks and Spencer opened its first eco-factories in Sri Lanka in 2008 in partnership with two of the country's biggest garment producers, Brandix and MAS Holdings. The most recent recipient of the accolade was Courtaulds, whose hosiery plant in Derbyshire became the first UK facility to attain the status less than a fortnight ago. But what exactly does M&S look at as part of its audit, and what does it take for factories to reach eco factory status with M&S?
Retailers should look beyond China for new markets
24 October 2011
Faced with a need to continue to book top and bottom line growth at a time when many developed markets are stagnating, retailers and brands are increasingly enticed by the rapid growth of the middle classes in a number of emerging countries. But instead of focusing on China, opportunities are likely to lie elsewhere.
Has Liz Claiborne reached a turning point?
14 October 2011
Struggling apparel firm Liz Claiborne Inc is to shed more brands, including its namesake line, for $328m as part of ongoing attempts to reduce its long-term debt, and will change its name as the businesses refocuses on three core brands. The company finally believes it has reached a critical turning point.
September retail sales hint at holiday forecasts
9 October 2011
A strong end to the back-to-school shopping season and postponed demand following Hurricane Irene at the end of August contributed to the solid results rung up by many US retailers in September - but consumer caution continues to hang over holiday forecasts.
Tesco increases European apparel sourcing
5 October 2011
The CEO of Tesco has revealed the retailer is shifting more of its apparel sourcing to Europe and Egypt as part of moves to shorten lead times on clothing.
Apparel sourcing rules start to unravel
3 October 2011
Did the underlying principles of apparel sourcing completely change at the beginning of this month? Two events, happening more or less simultaneously in the US and Bangladesh, may well signal a complete reversal of how sourcing works.
World Retail Congress 2011
28 September 2011
The world's leading retailers have headed to Berlin this week to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. A stagnant economy, low consumer confidence across the US and Europe, multi-channel strategies, emerging markets and rising costs are among the issues on the agenda.
Uniqlo means business with ambitious global plans
21 September 2011
Fast Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, thinks big, talks big and has big ambitions - and analysts believe the company does indeed have what it takes to become the biggest clothing retailer in the world within the next decade.
Apparel and textile industry divided by TPP pact
16 September 2011
If ever there was an issue set to divide apparel brands, retailers and textile companies, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact is surely it. Described as the most significant negotiation for the US and its regional trade partners since the NAFTA agreement, the yarn forward rule of origin has emerged as one of the most divisive issues.
Mexx sale a win-win for Liz Claiborne
9 September 2011
The deal revealed last week by Liz Claiborne Inc to sell its loss-making Mexx business to a joint venture led by private equity firm The Gores Group is a win-win for all concerned, the company believes. But analysts suggest more non-strategic brands could still be in the firing line.
US retail sales weather the storms in August
5 September 2011
US retailers weathered a number of storm fronts in August, with a solid start to the back-to-school shopping season helping to mask the impact of higher prices, growing concerns about the economy, and a hurricane that battered the East Coast.
California law on supply chain transparency
30 August 2011
Apparel retailers and brands are already closely scrutinised on corporate social responsibility issues across their supply chains - but a new law coming into force in January adds another dimension to the accountability of large retailers and manufacturers trading with the US state of California.
Marks & Spencer commits to traceability scheme
24 August 2011
As part of Marks & Spencer's Plan A initiative, it intends to launch a traceability project called String which will track every single clothing product it sells from raw material through to store. Petah Marian spoke to Mark Sumner, the retailer's sustainable raw materials specialist, about the scheme.
Women's business continues to drag on Gap
20 August 2011
With its turnaround efforts continuing to be hampered by the stagnant economy, markdowns, and rising product prices as the higher cost of cotton puts pressure on margins, specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc has yet another thorn in its side: women's wear.
