The most-read stories on just-style this week include a look at the growing threat of Amazon’s e-commerce presence, a closer look at China’s role in the apparel industry and a boost in the development of engineered spider silk yarns.
The Flanarant – Is China really going through a slump?
Slowing economic growth and growing competition are hitting the profits of Chinese retailers, while the country’s clothing exports to the US dropped 39% year-on-year in March. Mike Flanagan takes a closer look at what this might mean for the apparel industry.
Patagonia collaborates on synthetic spider silk yarns
A California-based biotechnology firm has raised an additional $50m in funding and is working with outdoor firm Patagonia to develop its engineered spider silk yarns.
JC Penney shifting merchandise mix from apparel
After its apparel sales took a hammering from unseasonably cold spring weather in the first quarter, US department store retailer JC Penney is shifting its focus away from clothing and onto less weather-sensitive categories instead.
“Un-Amazon-able” retailers most likely to win
Retailers most likely to shrug off the growing threat of Amazon’s e-commerce presence are those who offer a proposition that is “un-Amazon-able”, analysts say.
US retailers set out potential benefits of TPP
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has set out its case for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, pointing to its potential to lower sourcing costs and improve labour and environmental standards.

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By GlobalData