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.
In the money: First plans emerge from new JC Penney CEO
Mike Ullman, the man who has returned to turn around department store retailer JC Penney following the departure of Ron Johnson last month, has outlined the first of his plans to improve the ailing business.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Event to focus on 3D body scanning technologies
A conference and exhibition focusing solely on 3D human body scanning technologies, measurement methods and applications is set to take place in California later this year.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Retail apparel prices fall again in April
US consumer prices in April saw their biggest decrease since December 2008, according to the latest government figures, with retail apparel prices falling for the third month in a row.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
UK: Asda claims "strong" Q1 after LFL sales rise
Asda CEO Andy Clarke claimed the UK supermarket retailer put in a "strong performance in a tough market" after booking higher first-quarter like-for-like sales.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
FRANCE: Lectra enhances Kaledo textile design suite
Lectra has enhanced its Kaledo textile design suite to offer a wider range of creative tools along with improved usability for speed, control and accuracy.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Stage Stores Q1 loss widens on one-off charge
Regional department store retailer Stage Stores has reported a deeper first-quarter loss, impacted by a $9.7m one-off charge and cooler temperatures, which hurt sales of seasonal merchandise.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Retail import cargos seen slowing over summer
Import cargo volumes at major US retail container ports are expected to rise 3.3% in May - but growth could trickle to a standstill by the end of the summer.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: YuniquePLM release speeds line planning and costing
The latest release of the YuniquePLM product lifecycle management software features enhanced line planning functionality for designers and merchandisers and new costing capabilities for planning and financial teams.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: JC Penney Q1 losses more than double
Weak sales, clearance deals and promotions have led struggling US department store retailer JC Penney Company to more than double its losses in the first quarter.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Quiksilver unveils plan to improve profits
Surfwear brand Quiksilver has unveiled a multi-year plan to try to return to profit by focusing on its three core brands - Quiksilver, Roxy and DC - globalising key functions and reducing costs.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
just-style's most read stories this week...
The most-read stories on just-style this week include a rush by apparel brands and retailers to sign the new Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a report on what the agreement entails, and plans by M&S to shake up its supplier base.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
GERMANY: Jack Wolfskin commits to cleaner outdoor clothing
As part of plans to remove harmful substances from its production processes and eliminate fluorines by 2020, German outdoor clothing brand Jack Wolfskin is teaming up with two research institutes to develop new fluorocarbon-free textile coatings.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
VIETNAM: KyungBang opens $40m cotton yarn plant
Korean textile manufacturer KyungBang Limited has opened a $40m cotton yarn plant at the Bau Bang industrial zone, in the northern Vietnamese province of Binh Duong.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
SWEDEN: Bjorn Borg Q1 profit slides 35.5%
Swedish clothing company Björn Borg AB has posted a 35.5% decline in first-quarter profit after continued weakness in European retail markets led to lower sales.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
BANGLADESH: Ashulia garment factories re-open
Garment factories in the Ashulia industrial belt near the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka re-opened today (17 May) after a three-day shutdown following labour unrest earlier this week.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Nordstrom first-quarter profit falls 2.7%
Upscale department store retailer Nordstrom has reported a 2.7% fall in first-quarter net profit, with higher costs and unseasonable weather weighing on sales of its spring merchandise.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Wal-Mart shares fall after profits miss forecasts
Shares in Wal-Mart were down today (16 May) after the world's largest retailer posted quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street forecasts - and booked lower US sales.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
INDIA: Arvind Q4 profit rises on revenue growth
Indian textile conglomerate Arvind Ltd has booked a 13.4% increase in fourth-quarter profit on the back of higher revenue growth.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Kohl's Q1 profit beats view despite sales slide
Department store operator Kohl's has reported a 4% decline in first-quarter net profit because of lower-than-expected sales.
Published: 17 May 2013 | Read the full article >
CAMBODIA: Two workers killed in shoe factory collapse
Two workers have died after a Cambodian factory that manufacturers footwear for Japanese sporting goods firm Asics collapsed earlier today (16 May).
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
ITALY: Geox Q1 profit more than halves
Italian footwear business Geox has seen its first-quarter profit more than halve after tough economic conditions in Europe dampened demand for its products.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Apparel groups unveil own Bangladesh safety plans
A group of North American retailers has gone its own way on strengthening safety efforts at Bangladesh garment factories, setting up a new initiative said to offer a long-term solution that also offers flexibility to "respond to an ever-changing environment."
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
HONG KONG: Giordano posts Q1 sales growth
Apparel retailer Giordano International has posted a 6% increase in first-quarter sales, driven by increased demand in Hong Kong and South East Asia.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
SWITZERLAND: Richemont books 30% FY profit growth
Swiss luxury goods company Richemont has reported a 30% increase in full-year profit, driven by favourable exchange rates and higher sales.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
CHINA: Exceed Company Q1 profit plummets 92.3%
The company, which owns the Xidelong brand, said net profit fell to CNY9.9m (US$1.6m) for the three months to 31 March, compared to CNY128m in the same period last year.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Activists call for halt to Uzbek cotton imports
A US-based labour and human rights watchdog has filed a formal complaint with the US Customs service calling for a halt on imports of cotton from Uzbekistan grown and harvested with forced labour.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
Who has signed the Bangladesh safety accord?
A total of 33 companies have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh following the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building last month, which killed more than 1,000 people.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Dillard's Q1 profit rises 23.4%
Department store retailer Dillard's has posted a 23.4% increase in first-quarter profit, boosted by a US$4.4m after-tax gain and more controlled costs, despite unseasonably cool weather.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
US: Skechers swings to Q1 profit on sales surge
Footwear firm Skechers USA has swung to a first quarter profit, helped by strong sales of its lines for men, women and children.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
TURKEY: Colin's fashion brand to grow with PLM
Turkish based fashion brand and retailer Colin's has implemented DeSL's PLM solution to help support its ambitious growth plans.
Published: 16 May 2013 | Read the full article >
