Leonie Barrie's apparel and textile industry blog - from just-style.comLeonie Barrie's apparel and textile industry blog - from just-style.comBattle of the fakes- June 30, 2008 When LVMH first embarked on legal action against online auction site eBay for selling fake copies of its products, one of the key issues was who, exactly, is ultimately responsible for the fakes that are listed on the internet. Should eBay police the site itself and make sure counterfeit goods aren't traded, or are the brands responsible for chasing down the people selling the fake items Well the answer, according to today's ruling by a Paris court, is that companies like eBay do seem to...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1472 Nike knock-back- June 26, 2008 What's not to like about Nike's results I thought when they landed on my desk this-morning. After all, fourth quarter profit was up 12% to $490.5m, sales rose 16% to $5.1bn, and while the strongest sales growth was seen in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas (up 39%, 19% and 30% respectively) a rise of 4% in the US surely wasn't too bad given the current economic climate. But that's not how the market sees it at all. Nike Inc shares today saw their biggest drop since 2001 over fears of a...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1471 Team USA LZR Racer- June 26, 2008 If you're intrigued enough about Speedo's "revolutionary" record-breaking LZR Racer swimsuit to want to see it in action, here's a video of the new Team USA suit which was launched today for the Beijing Olympics.http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1470 Custom footwear experience- June 25, 2008 How about this for taking the custom footwear experience to a new level LaCrosse Footwear subsidiary Danner is offering customers the chance to buy a 'premium package' when they order a pair or personalised boots, which includes a two-night hotel stay in Portland, Oregon, where the company is based, a private factory tour, custom boot fit and even the option to personally hand select the leather hide from which their boots will be made. The cost Well it does come in at $1500 - but of course...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1469 Sainsbury's exec takes notice- June 24, 2008 It's a huge retail coup for Tesco to have lured Richard Jones away from Sainsbury's, where he was head of its non-food and general merchandise and had been credited with growing the Tu fashion brand from a standing start to annual sales of GBP300m in just four years. But his role at Tesco is still shrouded in secrecy. A spokesperson for the retailer told just-style Jones will work on non-food sourcing and range development across the group, but admitted a start-date still has to be...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1468 Heelarius baby heels- June 23, 2008 Retailers ranging from Bhs to Asda to Tesco have all been criticised for selling "inappropriate" clothing for young girls, including padded bras and G-strings. But what, I wonder, do children's charities make of the latest offering: high heeled shoes aimed at babies up to six months. Heelarious, the American company behind the new line of hot pink, black and leopard print stilettos, say the $35 heels are just for show and will collapse if any weight is put on them. The company's name is...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1467 What's in a word- June 20, 2008 What do Scotch whisky, Parma ham, Champagne, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Whitstable oysters have in common The answer is that they are all legally protected regional names. But sadly for the tailors on London's Savile Row, they won't be swelling these ranks after losing right to use the word "bespoke" to refer exclusively to their own handmade suits. They might have trade-marked the term "Savile Row bespoke," and even set out a strict code of practice for its use stipulating that suits...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1466 A discount destination- June 19, 2008 Asos is one of the UK's biggest retail success stories of recent years, so when it reveals plans to launch an online discount operation in September the rest of the industry sits up and takes note. Under the brand Asos Red, the e-tailer will sell end-of-line or clearance brand names at a discount of up to 75%, and hopes to take a slice of the market away from rivals such as TK Maxx and even eBay. Asos CEO Nick Robertson told just-style the concept is an extension of its existing clearance..http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1465 Knocking your socks off- June 18, 2008 Imagine the response you would get pitching a business plan for an idea that consisted of selling mismatched polka-dotted and striped socks in packs of three to encourage girls to express themselves. Well the last laugh is on the founders of LittleMissMatched, which since its launch in 2004 has seen a five-fold rise in sales to $25m. The company has expanded its products into lines for women, babies, toddlers, boys and even men - and has just secured $17m in funding and a deal to open...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1464 Primark should learn from labour Gap- June 17, 2008 Compare and contrast the stances taken by two fashion retailers in almost identical circumstances after child labour was found in factories making their clothes. Last October, children were discovered in an Indian sub-contracting unit that was embroidering girls' tops for the GapKids label. Gap's policy was to investigate the issue, work with suppliers to come up with a solution and, as its strategy on child labour advises: "Remove the child from the workplace, provide it with access to...http://www.just-style.com/blogdetail.aspx?ID=1463 |