just-style bloggers
Leonie Barrie
Record inventories weigh on cotton prices
14 May 2012 18:58
International cotton prices for July delivery fell to a low of 77.16 cents a pound last week after a US government report forecast record inventories for the second season in a row. While prices subsequently rebounded, they are still sitting at around one-third of the cotton price peak reached in March last year.
Petah Marian
The future for Walmart is smaller stores
24 April 2012 10:49
Walmart should focus its attention on smaller stores as consumers shift away from out-of-town shopping centres, according to Kantar analyst Bryan Roberts.
Katie Smith
St George's Day protests against A&F
24 April 2012 16:38
St George's Day - a celebration marking the patron saint of England famously slaying the dragon. The people of Chap magazine certainly celebrated in style - or at least they thought they did.
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
Record inventories weigh on cotton prices
By: Leonie Barrie - 14 May 2012 18:58
International cotton prices for July delivery fell to a low of 77.16 cents a pound last week after a US government report forecast record inventories for the second season in a row. While prices subsequently rebounded, they are still sitting at around one-third of the cotton price peak reached in March last year.
How low can clothing prices go?
By: Leonie Barrie - 9 May 2012 19:44
"Margin-slashing discounting cannot be sustained forever," is how the director general of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this week greeted figures that showed the price of clothing and shoes on sale in UK stores continued their downward slide in April.
Apparel acquisitions see an upswing
By: Leonie Barrie - 8 May 2012 17:46
After the warmer weather and early Easter helped US apparel retailers to higher same-store sales in March, it was perhaps not surprising there would be a slowdown in April. Add in tough comparisons with the same month last year, which was in turn boosted by a late Easter, and it's easy to see why many US retailers fell short of expectations.
Could Burma be the next sourcing frontier?
By: Leonie Barrie - 30 Apr 2012 15:53
In its constant search for cheaper and cheaper production bases around the world, there are few places the apparel and textile industry has left untouched. But could Burma be the next frontier?
St George's Day protests against A&F
By: Katie Smith - 24 Apr 2012 16:38
St George's Day - a celebration marking the patron saint of England famously slaying the dragon. The people of Chap magazine certainly celebrated in style - or at least they thought they did.
The future for Walmart is smaller stores
By: Petah Marian - 24 Apr 2012 10:49
Walmart should focus its attention on smaller stores as consumers shift away from out-of-town shopping centres, according to Kantar analyst Bryan Roberts.
UK retail sector in the spotlight
By: Leonie Barrie - 23 Apr 2012 17:33
The spotlight last week fell firmly on the UK retail sector. Marks & Spencer saw its fourth-quarter clothing sales hit after running out of stock on a number of its best-selling women's wear lines, and supermarket giant Tesco promised to improve its clothing offer after booking a fall in full-year profit in its UK business.
What now for British manufacturing?
By: Petah Marian - 19 Apr 2012 14:35
With all of the hot air surrounding clothing retailers and brands bringing their manufacturing operations back to the UK, today's announcement that Aquascutum's Corby site will close is just another nail in the sector's coffin.
Green steps to offset sourcing risks
By: Leonie Barrie - 16 Apr 2012 16:59
Environmental groups are calling on 48 apparel brands and retailers including H&M, Nike, Wal-Mart, Levi's, Adidas, Gap and Marks & Spencer to make greener purchases after accusing them of sourcing clothing from suppliers who illegally discharge polluted water in China.
Weather warms March retail sales
By: Leonie Barrie - 10 Apr 2012 18:51
A winning combination of warmer weather, an earlier Easter, new spring fashions and an improving economy helped a number of US apparel retailers to higher same-store sales for March. Data released last week showed Target, Macy's, Limited Brands and Gap all managed to book strong gains during the month.
just-style takes an Easter break
By: Leonie Barrie - 6 Apr 2012 13:13
Here in the UK we're heading off for an Easter break and customary long weekend - which means there will be no site updates or email newsletters on Friday (6 April) or Monday (9 April). We'll be back with your daily news and insights on Tuesday (10 April).
The next China is China – except when it's not-China
By: Leonie Barrie - 3 Apr 2012 14:16
Back in the UK after a week in Hong Kong, what is there to report on the issues sitting at the top of the apparel and footwear industry's agenda?
M&A speculation continues
By: Petah Marian - 3 Apr 2012 09:46
The M&A rumour mill continued apace last week, with suggestions that department store operator Sears has been in discussions with a number of private-equity firms to sell its Lands' End brand, and speculation that South Korean conglomerate E-Land is preparing a US$1.8bn bid for footwear company Collective Brands.
Adapt or die - why profitable companies go broke.
By: Petah Marian - 26 Mar 2012 14:59
The garment industry has one of the highest bankruptcy rates of any commercial sector. What makes the industry different to any other sector is the large number of long-established, previously profitable companies that go broke, argues garment industry consultant David Birnbaum. "We have a pattern: we create innovative companies that rise and prosper, only to decay and die," he says.
Gearing up for Prime Source Forum
By: Leonie Barrie - 24 Mar 2012 13:55
As a barometer of the latest challenges and opportunities facing the apparel supply chain, the annual Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong is hard to beat. Bringing together senior executives from across the global apparel industry supply chain, it really does offer an unrivalled opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions as they relate to the sourcing of clothing and footwear - and more often than not throws up as many new questions as it does answers.
Water use remains high on the agenda
By: Petah Marian - 21 Mar 2012 12:37
Today (22 March) is World Water Day, and reducing the amount of water used by the apparel industry and ensuring that it remains unpolluted remains high on the agenda.
Production moving closer to home?
By: Leonie Barrie - 19 Mar 2012 12:16
Rising costs and pressure on margins are likely to force increasing numbers of retailers to rethink their pricing and sourcing strategies this year - with several hinting that British manufacturing could be poised for a comeback.
India in cotton confusion
By: Petah Marian - 12 Mar 2012 17:11
To say last week was a confusing one on the cotton front would be something of an understatement. In the space of just seven days India, the world's second-biggest cotton producer, imposed and then scrapped a ban on exports amid protests from growers, traders and China, its largest customer.
The future of the high street is multi-channel
By: Petah Marian - 9 Mar 2012 08:26
Marks and Spencer today announced plans to trial free customer wi-fi in ten of its stores as part of the High Street's inexorable shift towards omnichannel.
Fashion personnel more confident of job stability
By: Petah Marian - 7 Mar 2012 17:57
Despite the swathe of high profile designer moves happening just now, the improving economy has helped workers in the fashion sector to become more confident about their job stability, according to Celeste Gudas, the founder of fashion industry recruitment company 24 Seven.
Spring has sprung early for US retailers
By: Leonie Barrie - 5 Mar 2012 18:07
Warm weather might have weighed on winter sales of coats, boots and other cold climate basics at the start of the season, but spring appears to have sprung early for many US apparel retailers in February.
Fashion industry in transfer window
By: Petah Marian - 28 Feb 2012 14:40
The fashion world has entered its version of a football transfer window, with Stefano Plilati out at YSL and Raf Simons ending his run at Jil Sander.
Gap pleased with progress
By: Leonie Barrie - 27 Feb 2012 18:54
Despite booking a 40% drop in fourth quarter profit amid higher costs, promotions and lower sales, US specialty retailer Gap Inc claims it is moving in the right direction when it comes to improving its revenues and earnings in the year ahead.
Trying Triumph's Fantasy Mirror
By: Petah Marian - 27 Feb 2012 17:21
Triumph launched a virtual Fantasy Mirror alongside a new range of lingerie with brand ambassador Helena Christensen last week.
US retail sales see underlying uncertainty
By: Leonie Barrie - 20 Feb 2012 18:56
January sales for many US retailers built on the momentum of a strong holiday shopping season, with gift card redemptions, discounting and promotions helping to drive sales during the month, according to figures released last week.
What size am I?
By: Petah Marian - 15 Feb 2012 15:18
Sizing issues are hitting the headlines again in the UK, with the launch of a website that allows consumers to find out what size they fit in different brands.
Spotlight on sustainable manufacturing
By: Leonie Barrie - 14 Feb 2012 15:40
Sporting goods giant Nike Inc last week revealed it 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 across the apparel industry.
Diesel hijacked by shock tactics
By: Leonie Barrie - 7 Feb 2012 19:03
Efforts to draw attention to the rights of women garment workers have taken a somewhat sinister turn after a hoax website was set up purporting to launch a new campaign by Italian fashion label Diesel.
A mixed bag for retailers in January
By: Leonie Barrie - 6 Feb 2012 18:32
For many retailers January is the quietest month of the year as shoppers tighten their belts after Christmas and stores try to clear unsold inventories. But post-holiday discounts helped many US retailers lift their sales in January, according to monthly figures released last week.
M&S breathes sigh of relief at Plassat appointment
By: Petah Marian - 1 Feb 2012 14:36
Marks and Spencer will have breathed a sigh of relief following the appointment of Georges Plassat as CEO of Carrefour.
