A week of headlines on just-style

By: Joe Ayling - 13 June 2011 11:28

Designing responsible children's wear was the focus of widespread media attention in the UK early last week, with new guidelines rolled out to high street retailers.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) launched new recommendations amid a Government review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children.

Retailers including George, Next, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and Tesco are signed up to the BRC initiative, which bans items such as padded bras and high heels.

UK: Retailers sign up to guidance on children's wear

In further signs that the cotton market is beginning to stabilise, major producer India raised its cap on exports of the raw material from 5.5m to 6.5m bales late last week.

Volatile cotton prices began to creep down last month, having peaked at record highs earlier in the year. India's government first decided to halt exports, to curb the soaring prices domestically, in April last year - a measure that is gradually being eased.

INDIA: Government raises raw cotton exports by 1m bales

In other news last week, Swiss luxury goods group Labelux continued on the acquisition trail with the purchase of outdoor apparel retailer Belstaff for an undisclosed amount. It comes hot on the heels of its investment in luxury shoe maker for over GBP500m (US$813.7m) last month.

SWITZERLAND: Labelux snaps up Belstaff

Meanwhile, Italian fashion firm Benetton Group looks set for a brand makeover after appointing You Nguyen as its new chief merchandising officer and creative director last week.

Alessandro Benetton, executive deputy chairman of Benetton Group, said former Levi Strauss & Co executive Nguyen's international experience will help "write a new chapter" for the fashion brand.

ITALY: You Nguyen hired as Benetton's creative director