Monthly Archives: January 2009

January 29, 2009

Ethics of outsourcing: not just Tesco’s problem

In “Keep ethical trading in fashion”, a letter to The Guardian newspaper, veteran radical lawyer Benedict Birnberg raises concerns regarding leading UK retailer Tesco’s plan to launch its own-label online clothing store, as reported in Drapers. While recognising the attraction of this proposal for Tesco customers he writes: “My concern, however, is with its outsourced [...]
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January 26, 2009

Will the latest “pre-pack” trend continue despite the recently introduced SIP 16?

The biggest business trend at the moment within the fashion sector is the “pre-packaged” sale. This is the process where a buyer is lined up for a struggling business before it actually goes into administration. Since pre-packs generally don’t require approval of either the courts or creditors, the deals can be put together quickly, often [...]
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January 23, 2009

India’s Fashionistas

Despite the global downturn which is hampering India’s ambition to reach double digit growth, consumers’ appetite for shopping is still clearly visible in the shiny newly built shopping malls spreading across the country. While organised retail is a relatively new phenomenon in India, the FT reports some commentators predicting that the Indian retail sector to [...]
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January 20, 2009

When should a trouser be quilted?

Milan Fashion Week was launched into controversy over the weekend. As reported in the Guardian today and on Radio 4′s Today programme, Giorgio Armani has alleged that Dolce & Gabbano’s latest collection (unveiled on Friday) contains a pair of quilted trousers (see image) that were a copy of his design from a previous season. Armani [...]
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January 19, 2009

Just an idea

Writing in The Independent, an article by Susannah Frankel (“Elasticated waist bands – the last word in fashion credibility”) runs with the strapline “Ready to Wear: Prada proposes we wear her elasticated waist bands with just a bra on top”. Fashionista has her own views on the sartorial dimensions of this proposition, but she’s happy [...]
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January 14, 2009

The Icelandic effect shows no signs of thawing

Fashionista has been pondering how the fate of one retailer in particular could change the face of the UK high street more dramatically than any other. As is evident from the recent administrations of a number of Icelandic backed retailers, including Blooming Marvellous, Hardy Amies and Ghost (all owned by Icelandic investor Arev) and from [...]
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January 13, 2009

Is patriotism the answer to recession?

Since Christmas the headlines have been filled with daily news of fashion retailers going bust. 2009 heralded a slew of administrations involving well-known names including Viyella, Emma Somerset, The Officer’s Club, Morgan and Kate Kuba. In order to support UK retailers in these troubled times, Retail Week has this week launched its “Backing UK Retail” [...]
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January 12, 2009

Primark’s luck

If you’re a 140-shop high-street fashion chain and the media have just been making allegations that you’ve been sourcing your products from a supplier employing near-slave labour, it really helps when the bad news is hidden beneath the big story of the day — the shock horror revelation that Prince Harry used the P*** word [...]
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January 8, 2009

Economic Hope?

In the current economic climate, landlords and shopkeepers are adapting to harsh realities. House of Fraser has recently negotiated with landlords throughout the UK to pay rent on a monthly basis. It is believed that it has successfully done so on 15 of its 63 stores including Lakeside and Medowhall shopping centre. There have been [...]
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January 7, 2009

You thought we wouldn’t notice …

Fashionista is not one to spend her precious time online when she can be surfing her boudoir mirror instead. However, she just has to tell you how much she enjoyed her little flirtation with You thought we wouldn’t notice … , an open weblog that brings you a delightful collection of copied ideas. Categories of [...]
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