just-style bloggers
Leonie Barrie
Lululemon's light-hearted 'CEO wanted' ad
19 June 2013 15:00
Can you communicate in Sanskrit, hold a headstand for at least 10 minutes, break all the rules, down wheatgrass and tequila shots on a Friday, and have Chip Wilson, Bill Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey on speed dial? Then Lululemon Athletica could be looking for you.
Petah Marian
Closed loop continues to gain traction
14 June 2013 14:14
Much seems to have changed in the four months since I last looked at closed loop.
Katie Smith
Texprocess trade fair opens next week
5 June 2013 17:32
The Texprocess sewn products, sourcing and equipment trade fair will open its doors for the second time next week with more than 1,600 exhibitors.
The just-style guest blog
Tech advances make work a home from home
28 September 2011 12:54
Launch shows for new software applications into the apparel industry are, I must admit, not a regular entry in my diary.
Latest just-style blogs
Lululemon's light-hearted 'CEO wanted' ad
By: Leonie Barrie - 19 Jun 2013 15:00
Can you communicate in Sanskrit, hold a headstand for at least 10 minutes, break all the rules, down wheatgrass and tequila shots on a Friday, and have Chip Wilson, Bill Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey on speed dial? Then Lululemon Athletica could be looking for you.
Realigning sustainability visions and values
By: Leonie Barrie - 17 Jun 2013 11:32
Lululemon Athletica's recall of its black Luon pants back in March continues to have repercussions. Last week it was revealed that CEO Christine Day is to quit as the company announced a first-quarter write-off of US$17.5m linked to the recall.
Closed loop continues to gain traction
By: Petah Marian - 14 Jun 2013 14:14
Much seems to have changed in the four months since I last looked at closed loop.
Fashion takes over UK Houses of Parliament
By: Petah Marian - 12 Jun 2013 16:32
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the first ever fashion show to be held in the Houses of Parliament.
International pressure on Bangladesh intensifies
By: Petah Marian - 10 Jun 2013 14:59
International pressure on Bangladesh intensified last week, with the UK and US governments calling on the apparel industry to improve the safety of their supply chains in the country.
Texprocess trade fair opens next week
By: Katie Smith - 5 Jun 2013 17:32
The Texprocess sewn products, sourcing and equipment trade fair will open its doors for the second time next week with more than 1,600 exhibitors.
Proenza Schouler women's wear designer of the year
By: Katie Smith - 4 Jun 2013 16:53
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) named New York-based upscale apparel accessories brand Proenza Schouler women's wear designer of the year.
Primark launches online at Asos
By: Katie Smith - 3 Jun 2013 17:11
UK value fashion retailer Primark has today (3 June) stepped into the world of e-commerce by launching its products at online clothing firm Asos.
The end of badly-fitting bras?
By: Leonie Barrie - 31 May 2013 16:37
With research showing that 75% of women have difficulty finding a bra that fits properly and a staggering 85% are wearing the wrong size, it's perhaps surprising that the current system of sizing has not been changed for 80 years. Clearly something isn't working.
Safety focus shifts to Cambodia
By: Leonie Barrie - 29 May 2013 10:21
After more than a month in the spotlight for its failings on fire and building safety, the focus last week started to shift from Bangladesh to Cambodia after the collapse of structures in two factories killed and injured garment workers.
Harris Tweed wins two Fashion & Textile awards
By: Katie Smith - 28 May 2013 14:22
Harris Tweed Hebrides won two awards at this year's UK Fashion and Textile awards. The Scottish textile manufacturer, which accounts for around 90% of Harris Tweed production, was awarded textile business of the year and let's make it here UK manufacturer of the year.
Bangladesh safety plans leap forward
By: Leonie Barrie - 20 May 2013 19:04
Some of the largest retailers and brands sourcing apparel from Bangladesh - including H&M, Primark, C&A, Tesco and Inditex (operator of the Zara stores) - last week committed to support a new Accord on Fire and Building Safety, intended to improve safety in the country's clothing factories.
Abercrombie & Fitch under fire over plus-sizes
By: Katie Smith - 20 May 2013 10:41
Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has come under fire over the issue of plus-sized clothing - or lack of it in the case of this teen apparel retailer.
Sense of urgency on factory safety
By: Leonie Barrie - 13 May 2013 14:31
Just two weeks after the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex near Dhaka, where the death toll has now risen to over 1,000, another fatal fire at a Bangladesh apparel factory has killed eight people.
JC Penney begs customers to come back
By: Petah Marian - 3 May 2013 14:57
JC Penney has released a series of ad begging for consumers to give it a second chance, following the departure of former CEO Ron Johnson after his ambitious plan to transform the business failed.
John Lewis bags top retailer award
By: Katie Smith - 3 May 2013 08:37
Department store operator John Lewis has reclaimed its title of the 'UK's best retailer' after its online sales passed the GBP1bn mark earlier this week - a year ahead of schedule.
Bangladesh building disaster
By: Leonie Barrie - 29 Apr 2013 14:59
A single story dominated the news headlines last week, with Bangladesh's worst-ever industrial accident once again throwing the country's garment manufacturing industry into the glare of the global media spotlight.
Gap's speed to market focus
By: Leonie Barrie - 22 Apr 2013 11:38
As turnaround efforts finally start to take hold at US specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc, the company is now focusing on leveraging its global brands to gain a larger share of the $1.4trn global apparel market.
Another mis-step for JC Penney
By: Leonie Barrie - 16 Apr 2013 19:10
Ron Johnson, the man tasked with turning around struggling US department store retailer JC Penney, has left the business after less than two years in the post.
New Billabong bid signals major step down for founder
By: Petah Marian - 10 Apr 2013 14:19
The news yesterday that Billabong has entered exclusive talks with a consortium led by former Americas boss Paul Naude after the bid was cut by 45% was lost in the frenzy around the the news that JC Penney's Ron Johnson has been dismissed from the ailing retailer.
Industry challenges and opportunities
By: Leonie Barrie - 9 Apr 2013 10:01
Always a good barometer of the latest challenges and opportunities facing the apparel industry and its supply chain, this year's Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong was no exception.
Target's Manatee label weighs on communication
By: Petah Marian - 8 Apr 2013 15:18
The importance of internal communication was highlighted last week when a Target consumer discovered a product naming discrepancy that some plus-sized shoppers found offensive.
The only constant is change
By: Petah Marian - 4 Apr 2013 17:21
It's easy to forget how much the apparel industry has developed over the past 30 years. The apparel sector has evolved from being a slow moving local industry, with few suppliers based a short distance away, to the complex, fast-moving business it is today.
Bangladesh strikes cause apparel industry concerns
By: Petah Marian - 2 Apr 2013 14:38
Ongoing general strikes in Bangladesh are raising concerns among apparel manufacturers that foreign buyers will shift their orders to other countries as they face difficulties fulfilling orders on time.
A change is as good as a rest
By: Leonie Barrie - 29 Mar 2013 17:25
The theme of change was a common thread running through this year's Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong.
just-style takes an Easter break
By: Katie Smith - 28 Mar 2013 17:22
We're heading off for the Easter break here in the UK, which means there will be no site updates or email newsletters on Friday (29 March) or Monday (1 April).
Lululemon caught out by fabric recall
By: Petah Marian - 25 Mar 2013 15:31
US active wear brand Lululemon suffered an embarrassing and costly error last week after it had to recall black trousers made with its Luon fabric after discovering they were sheerer than expected.
Preparing for Prime Source Forum
By: Leonie Barrie - 22 Mar 2013 11:27
I will be making my way to Hong Kong this weekend for what has become something of an annual pilgrimage to attend Prime Source Forum (PSF).
How skinny can jeans get?...
By: Katie Smith - 21 Mar 2013 17:03
...so skinny that teenagers will feel like they're wearing nothing at all, according to American Eagle Outfitters.
China cracks down on pollution
By: Leonie Barrie - 18 Mar 2013 11:56
China's textile sector is one of seven industries being targeted by efforts to prevent and control chemical pollution in the country by 2015. The five-year chemical management plan issued by the Ministry of Environment will see the government come up with phase-out, restriction and elimination lists - with 58 chemicals blacklisted for the first time.
