just-style authors and correspondents

Biography

Leonie Barrie joined just-style as managing editor 17 years ago, and during that time has been instrumental in steering the site's editorial content and direction. Under her leadership, just-style has raised its profile internationally, and today boasts a team of contributors around the world who provide a unique blend of up-to-the-minute news, research and analysis on the apparel and footwear industry and its supply chain.

An experienced business journalist with a background in fashion and textiles, Leonie has written extensively about global sourcing and production, technology, emerging markets, as well as retail, brand and marketing strategies. She has also interviewed industry leaders across the globe. As managing editor Leonie has travelled around the world to gain first-hand experience of the industry in various countries, and continues to deliver keynote speeches, chair roundtable and panel sessions at conferences, and write about the international apparel industry and the challenges and opportunities it faces. 

Articles by Leonie Barrie

More brands named for failing on order commitments 27 May 2020

An online tracker launched last month to monitor the response of leading apparel and footwear brands and retailers to their suppliers and workers during the coronavirus crisis, has been updated to show some are still refusing to make no commitment to pay in full for orders completed and in production.

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UK suffers record fall as April clothing sales plunge 50.2% 22 May 2020

UK retail sales volumes fell by a record 18.1% in April – the first full month of lockdown – with the volume of clothing sales half that of the previous month.

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Serai apparel trade platform taps Coats Digital and Res.Q 22 May 2020

HSBC’s new invitation-only apparel trade platform Serai is partnering with Coats Digital and Res.Q to provide companies across the apparel industry with access to their inter-connected digital solutions.

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Crystal collaborates on fully traceable upcycled denim 22 May 2020

Hong Kong based manufacturing giant Crystal International Group has collaborated on a fully traceable upcycled denim collection with The R Collective.

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VF Corp aligns with post-pandemic health and wellness shift 20 May 2020

Apparel powerhouse VF Corp believes it is well-positioned to emerge as a winner from the coronavirus crisis – with an increased consumer focus on the outdoors, health and wellbeing set to boost its activity-based lifestyle brands.

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Indian states slammed for diluting labour laws 19 May 2020

Unions have slammed some Indian states for suspending or amending existing labour laws and increasing working hours to try to curb the impact of the Covid-19 mandated lockdown, with the changes affecting a number of industries, including textiles.

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How fashion sourcing has reacted to the corona crisis 8 May 2020

Covid-19 has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry’s global sourcing and production operations – as revealed by a new survey of sourcing executives’ immediate response to the crisis, and their plans for the future.

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HanesBrands sees US$300m sales opportunity in PPE 7 May 2020

T-shirt and activewear maker HanesBrands is ramping up the production of masks and protective garments in response to the global coronavirus pandemic – and says the business could become a permanent part of its portfolio. 

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Distressed US apparel retailers face surge in defaults 5 May 2020

The US retail and apparel sector faces surging defaults over the next 12 months as companies succumb to pressures mounting from the lengthy shutdown and potentially slow recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, a new forecast suggests.

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Export collapse weighs on China factory activity in April 5 May 2020

A sharp fall in export orders as the Covid-19 pandemic caused global demand to slump meant factory activity in China contracted in April.