Articles by Rachel Douglass
Rachel has been with FashionUnited since mid-2021. Descending from the UK, she moved to the Netherlands in 2014 to attend Amsterdam Fashion Institute, where she studied a BA in International Fashion and Branding with a specialisation in Journalism.
At FashionUnited, Rachel covers daily news, from store openings to acquisitions, alongside which she focuses on research-based stories, interviews and on-the-ground event reporting. Her topics of interest include digital fashion, independent retail and current trends.
Reviving British shoemaking: Why footwear brand Lanx prioritises factory capacity over retail expansion
Around a decade ago, when Marco Vaghetti began researching Lancashire’s shoemaking history, the county’s manufacturing industry was already in steep decline. Once home to around 200 shoe factories, Lancashire had just a handful of manufacturers remaining. Eight years after founding Lanx, Vaghetti has established a footwear brand with its own...
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BFC unveils 50 New Wave: Creatives for The Fashion Awards 2026
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has unveiled its 2026 New Wave: Creatives list, recognising 50 emerging talents working across the global fashion industry. The selected creatives will be celebrated at The Fashion Awards 2026, taking place on November 30 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The selection spans disciplines including photography,...
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AlixPartners: shoppers demand greater value as AI reshapes fashion retail
Fashion shoppers are placing greater emphasis on quality, transparent pricing and in-store service, while remaining cautious about artificial intelligence (AI) making purchasing decisions for them, according to new research from AlixPartners. The consultancy’s 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index, based on a survey of more than 9,000 US consumers...
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John Lewis Partnership signs collective agreement with Usdaw
The John Lewis Partnership has signed a collective agreement with UK trade union Usdaw, establishing a framework for consultation on health and safety, equality and training across its businesses, including John Lewis, Waitrose and John Lewis Money. The agreement, which comes into effect on October 30, follows legislative changes in regards to...
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Chanel’s Bruno Pavlovsky appointed co-chair of The Fashion Pact
Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion activities at Chanel and president of Chanel SAS, has been appointed co-chair of The Fashion Pact, joining existing executive members Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Inditex, and Paul Polman, co-founder of The Fashion Pact. The industry coalition has also appointed Ermenegildo Zegna Group executive chairman...
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Only makes London outlet debut at The O2
Danish fashion brand Only is set to make its London outlet debut at Outlet Shopping at The O2, joining a series of retail additions and reinvestments at the south-east London destination. The retailer has signed for a 4,000-square-foot store, where it will offer womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, footwear and accessories. The location will sit...
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Debenhams Group launches faster payments solution for marketplace sellers
British fashion giant Debenhams Group has partnered with financial services provider Storfund to give its more than 30,000 brand partners faster access to sales revenue ahead of the Christmas trading period. The solution, called Daily Advance, is now available across the group's marketplaces and allows eligible sellers to access up to 80 percent...
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Kizik, Skechers European legal dispute arrives at ruling
Skechers and HandsFree Labs (HFL), the parent company of Kizik, have both claimed victories in a European patent dispute over hands-free footwear, following a ruling by the Unified Patent Court in Munich. Skechers said the court rejected infringement claims concerning three of four shoe styles challenged by Kizik, describing the case as “largely...
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John Lewis expands rapid delivery through Deliveroo and Uber Eats
Department store giant John Lewis is expanding its rapid delivery service to cover around 10,000 products, offering delivery in under 30 minutes through Deliveroo and Uber Eats across eight stores in London and selected areas of Hertfordshire and Kent. The expansion coincides with the 25th anniversary of the retailer’s online store, which...
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Castore reportedly in talks with Anta and Li-Ning over potential deal
British sportswear brand Castore is reportedly in discussions with Chinese sportswear groups Anta and Li-Ning over a potential deal, as investors seek to exit the business. According to the Financial Times, the Manchester-based company has held further talks with US footwear brands as it mulls options for its next phase of growth. No agreement...
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