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

Apparel firms failing on conflict minerals reporting 11 October 2019

Companies have been accused of complacency on in the action and reporting on conflict minerals and cobalt – with the average score for apparel manufacturers and retailers falling on last year.

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Quiz sales slide as fast fashion appeal wanes 11 October 2019

British fast fashion retailer Quiz Plc has warned conditions on the high street are "very challenging" as it reported falling revenues in the six months to September.

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Birla Cellulose claims carbon neutral in Scope 1 & 2 emissions 11 October 2019

Birla Cellulose, the pulp and fibre business of Indian textile conglomerate Aditya Birla Group, claims to be the first viscose manufacturer to be carbon neutral in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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Haiti apparel exports lead Caribbean trade programme 9 October 2019

Haiti's apparel sector continues to be one of the main beneficiaries of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) – but US T-shirt producers have most likely have faced negative effects due to competition from imports under the trade preference programme.

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Building value through a sustainable cotton supply chain 4 October 2019

Fashion brands and retailers are far removed from the farmers growing the cotton used in their clothes – but bringing the two together is key to understanding the raw material’s environmental impact and making true sustainability claims about the cotton contained in their clothes.

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The North Face launches first Futurelight waterproof apparel 4 October 2019

The North Face has launched the first outerwear garments featuring its new FutureLight waterproof fabric that is soft, light, flexible and comfortable – but also durable and sustainably designed.

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Vidalia Mills – Weaving a new vision for US denim 30 September 2019

The closure of the last US selvedge denim mill two years ago might have marked the end of an era. But thanks to the vision of Daniel Feibus and his team, the original looms have found a new home at Vidalia Mills as part of plans to build a cutting-edge, transparent and sustainable denim manufacturing chain in the United States.

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How clothing firms can fuel growth through strategic PLM 24 September 2019

Clothing companies can reap rich rewards from using a product lifecycle management (PLM) system, with faster time-to-market one of the clearest advantages of using these tools. And major advances in the software’s capabilities now make it the core data hub that brings together planning, design, sourcing, production, logistics and replenishment.

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Rwanda steps into Africa’s apparel sourcing mix 18 September 2019

For years now, Ethiopia has garnered the spotlight for its ambitions to become the world’s next big destination for textile and fashion production. But another East African country – Rwanda – is also gearing up for a slice of the action, with the country’s newest export-led garment factory quickly making up for lost time.

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3D printing onto fabric may unlock new fashion potential 16 September 2019

A new technique for 3D printing directly onto fabric could mark the next step in unlocking 3D printing’s commercial viability in the fashion industry – as well as a raft of new colour and texture combinations.