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.
Founders of members-only platform Mile acquire Matches, prepare for 2026 relaunch
After a tenuous period that brought uncertainty to the future of Matches, it appears the ailing British e-tailer may have found a more promising home. Hulcan, a new luxury group created by the co-founders of members-only platform Mile, has stepped up to acquire the company as it prepares for a 2026 relaunch. The deal – financial details of which...
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Bestseller and John Lewis among Circulose’s latest partners
Recycled textile manufacturer Circulose has announced a slew of new partners as it continues to push forward with its renewed strategic direction focused on securing long-term commitments from brands. The latest additions include Bestseller, John Lewis, C&A, Filippa K, Reformation, Faherty, Bobo Choses and Zero. Their commitment comes on the...
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Lotto to relaunch in North America through new lifestyle apparel license
The parent company of Lotto, WHP Global, has established a new licensing partnership that will see the Italian brand enact its “most significant North American fashion relaunch to date”. The deal was struck with Pure Cotton Global Group, which has been tasked with designing, manufacturing, and distributing a lifestyle apparel line across the US...
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VF Corp’s UK and Ireland arm faces job losses as yearly profit slips
US fashion group VF Corporation has cut almost 100 jobs across its UK and Ireland business as turnover and profit slipped over the year to March 31, 2025. According to a filing with the UK’s Companies House, the company’s Northern European division saw its employee numbers drop from 709 in the year prior to 623. FashionUnited has contacted VF...
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How the FullBeauty and DXL merger reshapes the Big & Tall market
Last week, two major players in the US’ size-inclusive apparel category joined hands. FBB Holdings I, Inc. (FullBeauty) and Destination XL (DXL) announced a major merger in a move that intends to accelerate respective growth plans and scale the presence of a “category-defining retailer for inclusive apparel”. Framed as a “merger of equals”, the...
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Rick Owens bans fur from future collections
Just days after launching a protest campaign against Rick Owens, the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT) has confirmed that the American designer has committed to not using fur in future collections. In an email, Owens, together with his Parisian business entity Owenscorp, told CAFT that the company has been working to reduce and...
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Fashion for Good endorses Spinnova’s consortium model
Finnish fibre tech firm Spinnova has found allyship in Fashion for Good, an accelerator and collaboration platform hoping to help contribute to the establishment of an industry ecosystem to scale textile innovation. Fashion for Good’s involvement follows the introduction of Spinnova’s revised strategy earlier this year. The Finland-based firm...
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Ganni strengthens leadership with three new appointments
Ganni is embarking on its next phase of growth. To prepare, the Danish fashion brand has appointed three new seniors to its leadership team, each tasked with contributing to their respective divisions. Among them, Marcelo Noschese has been named president, Americas. From New York, Noschese, the former CEO for Prada Group’s Americas business,...
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Footfall rises ahead of festive period despite adverse weather conditions
New figures by MRI Software have shown an increase in footfall over the past week, despite adverse weather conditions temporarily discouraging travel. According to the data platform, for the period December 7 to 13, footfall across all UK retail destinations rose 3.1 percent compared to the week prior, largely driven by a 5 percent uptick in...
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Next said to be among suitors for Russell & Bromley takeover
British retailer Next is reportedly among a string of suitors eyeing an acquisition of Russell & Bromley. The family-owned footwear business announced in October that it was seeking external financing as part of the next phase of its ReBoot turnaround plan. Next is said to be among the interested parties, according to sources for Sky News, with...
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