Latest apparel and textile news 
Comprehensive coverage of the apparel and textile industry's latest, breaking news brought to you by just-style's leading network of international journalists.
Top stories on just-style this week...
The most-read stories on just-style this week included news that Nike has lent its support to a new waterless fabric dyeing process, the recommendation that international brands and retailers address the low wages of Cambodian garment workers, and reports that despite facing a tough year, China's textile and clothing industry is set for further growth.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
FINLAND: Investments weigh on Marikekko FY profit
Finnish fashion and textiles firm Marimekko Group today (10 February) posted a 57% drop in full-year operating profit as changes to its domestic distribution network and investments in its international expansion overshadowed higher sales.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
PHILIPPINES: Uniqlo to open first store in June
Japanese retail giant Fast Retailing Co Ltd is to open its first Uniqlo casual clothing store in the Philippines later this year, to add to its growing presence in South East Asia.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Cotton stockpile figures weigh on futures prices
Cotton prices for March delivery have dropped to 90.3 cents a pound on the ICE Futures US exchange in New York after the latest monthly figures from the US Department of Agriculture forecast a rise in production and a fall in consumption for the current season.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
SRI LANKA: Hirdaramani factory in carbon neutral "first"
A Sri Lankan firm's eco-friendly garment factory has been awarded CarbonNeutral certification - making it the first apparel plant in Asia to achieve this accolade and helping shore up the country's reputation as a leader in ethical and sustainable manufacturing.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
GERMANY: Gerry Weber to buy insolvent retailer Wissmach
German fashion firm Gerry Weber International AG is taking over the assets of insolvent women's wear retailer Wissmach Modefilialen GmbH, the company revealed today (10 February).
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
UK: Woolmark relaunches Cool Wool campaign
The Woolmark Company is hoping to boost uptake of lightweight Merino suiting fabrics this summer with the reintroduction of its 'Cool Wool' campaign.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
FRANCE: Dassault pursues fresh strategy after Netvibes buy
Design software and PLM expert Dassault Systèmes has signalled a change of strategy after acquiring dashboard intelligence technology specialist Netvibes.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
CANADA: Trimera to speed domestic design and production
Apparel maker Trimera Group is opening two domestic development and production facilities next month to provide customers with on-site design centres as well as seamless knitting capabilities to help cut the time it takes to commercialise, test and launch products.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
SWEDEN: New Wave Q4 profit dips in “tough year”
Brand developer New Wave Group’s fourth quarter profit dipped on the back of static sales, concluding a “tough year” for the company.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Crocs to expand beyond footwear
Footwear business Crocs is exploring a number of new licensing opportunities as the company looks to expand the scope of its namesake brand.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: People’s Liberation changes name, business model
Apparel business People’s Liberation is to change its name and business model after raising up to US$14.5m in funding from private equity group Tengram Capital Partners.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: True Religion Q4 profit dips, sales robust
Luxury jeanswear brand True Religion Apparel recorded slightly lower fourth quarter profits, but increased sales on the back of a 23.7% revenue surge in US retail.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
GERMANY: Hybrid yarn developed for sport and leisure wear
Researchers in Germany have developed an innovative new yarn for sport and leisure wear which is based on regenerated cellulose fibres and said to combine the benefits of synthetic and woollen fibres.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Perry Ellis inks men's wear deal with Duckie Brown
Apparel maker Perry Ellis International Inc has tapped men's wear designer duo Duckie Brown to create a new apparel collection for the Perry Ellis sportswear brand.
Published: 10 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Zero discharge initiative "should include suppliers"
Plans by six apparel and footwear brands and retailers to eliminate the discharge of hazardous chemicals from their supply chains by 2020 have been widely praised by a group of stakeholders - but are aiming for a challenging deadline and should have been expanded to include suppliers, they say.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
SWEDEN: Strong Q4 profit gain boosts Björn Borg
Apparel business Björn Borg boosted full-year profits by 10% thanks to a strong fourth quarter performance which brought annual sales level with 2010.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
GERMANY: Hugo Boss hits FY record after buoyant Q4
Designer fashion house Hugo Boss recorded strong revenue and earnings growth in the fourth quarter to reach record levels of sales and profits for 2011.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
CANADA: Gildan Q1 loss blamed on destocking
Gildan Activewear slid to a first quarter loss as sales fell by 8.3%, and despite a strong retail showing thanks to new acquisition Gold Toe Moretz.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Ralph Lauren ups FY guidance after buoyant Q3
Luxury apparel business Ralph Lauren Corporation increased its full-year revenue guidance after a double-digit third quarter sales increase and a marginal rise in profit.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Jones Group nearly halves Q4 loss
Footwear and apparel business Jones Group nearly halved its fourth quarter net loss as revenues edged up – but still fell short of expectations.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
INDIA: Rising interest rates a "mounting crisis" for exporters
The chairman of the group that represents Indian apparel exporters has warned of a "mounting crisis" as rising interest rates and a slowdown in demand from customers in the US and EU weigh on businesses.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Rising costs push yarn maker Unifi to Q2 loss
Yarn maker Unifi Inc has reported its first quarterly loss in over two years after high raw material prices and weak demand overshadowed higher sales.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
SOUTH KOREA: Hyosung develops new dyeable elastane
South Korean yarn producer Hyosung has developed a new dyeable version of its Creora elastane fibre, which it is launching next week in partnership with European Stretch Fabrics.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
UK: Retailer Shoon collapses into administration
Family owned footwear and clothing retailer Shoon Limited has collapsed into administration after failing to sell some of its loss-making shops.
Published: 9 February 2012 | Read the full article >
CAMBODIA: Tribunal urges "immediate steps" on garment pay
A two-day hearing in which over 200 Cambodian garment workers gathered to give evidence on pay and conditions at factories has recommended that international brands and retailers take "immediate steps" to address the issue of poverty wages for factory workers.
Published: 8 February 2012 | Read the full article >
FRANCE: 3 Suisses managing director quits post
Laurence Paganini, the managing director of French home shopping group 3 Suisses, has quit her post.
Published: 8 February 2012 | Read the full article >
UK: M&S recycles 100m hangers in six months
Retailer Marks & Spencer says giving its customers the option not to take coat hangers home with them has led to 100m hangers being recycled in the last six months - as well as raising GBP370,000 (US$585,000) for children's charity UNICEF.
Published: 8 February 2012 | Read the full article >
EU: Industry group backs anti-counterfeiting pact
The body representing the European textile and apparel industry is urging the European Parliament and EU member states to adopt legislation designed to combat global copyright infringement - despite mounting public opposition to the treaty.
Published: 8 February 2012 | Read the full article >
US: Nike backs waterless fabric dyeing process
Sporting goods giant Nike Inc has teamed up with a Dutch textile machinery company that has developed a way to dye fabrics without using water - and says it hopes to boost the technology's uptake throughout the apparel industry.
Published: 8 February 2012 | Read the full article >
