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.
Clothing welcomes modest growth as retail sales edge up in June
Total retail sales in the UK rose by 3.1 percent year-on-year in June, as soaring temperatures and sports events encouraged shoppers. This was against a decline of 0.2 percent reported in June 2024, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. While food sales were up 4.1 percent, non-food sales rose 2.2 percent YoY,...
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Chair of JD Sports Audit and Risk Committee to step down
Helen Ashton, non-executive director and chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at JD Sports Fashion Plc, has announced her intention to exit the sportswear retailer. According to a regulatory filing, Ashton, who joined the group in November 2021 initially as interim chair, is stepping down “in order to focus on her other commitments”. During her...
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Judge dismisses 25 million dollar NFT lawsuit against Dolce & Gabbana’s US arm
A New York federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Dolce & Gabbana USA Inc. that had accused the retailer of abandoning a non-fungible token (NFT) project and failing to deliver on promised benefits. The case was originally filed in May 2024 by Luke Brown and later amended in September. The plaintiff had claimed that both Dolce & Gabbana...
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UK government introduces new trade measures for developing countries
The UK government has introduced new measures that intend to simplify imports from developing countries. The changes come under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme and, according to a press release, aim to “lower prices on everyday goods while supporting growth in some of the world’s poorest nations”. The measures particularly address...
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Marks & Spencer enters Australia through David Jones partnership
British retailer Marks & Spencer has debuted in Australia via a new partnership with local department store David Jones. The exclusive deal will initially see Marks & Spencer’s core lingerie and sleepwear range, including T-shirt bras, lace styles, shapewear and thermals, introduced to David Jones stores and its online website from July 14. The...
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Amazon launches creative grants in UK for underserved communities
Marketplace giant Amazon has launched a new initiative designed to help support underserved creative communities in the UK. The Regional Creatives Fund offers grants of up to 30,000 pounds to charities looking to pursue creative ambitions. While the project is open to organisations backing the fashion industry, it is also welcomes those...
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Marks & Spencer warns of store closures as Chancellor eyes property tax increases
British retail giant Marks & Spencer has said that it could be forced to close a number of its stores if UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves increases tax on large properties. The department store chain is said to be leading a wider group of retailers, including Tesco, Primark and Asda, in opposing Reeves’ plan to increase property tax in her next...
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Next and Frasers said to be in running for Seraphine rescue deal
Following Seraphine’s descent into administration last week, speculation over potential saviours are beginning to swirl. Among them, British retail giants Next and Frasers Group are said to be frontrunners in potential deals to rescue the maternity wear brand. According to sources for Drapers, dubbed “several industry veterans”, the two firms...
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Claire’s eyeing US bankruptcy, reportedly appoints advisors in UK
New reports have emerged speculating on the position in which accessories chain Claire’s finds itself in. In the US, it is believed that the teen-focused retailer is mulling a Chapter 11 filing, while in the UK, advisors are said to have been appointed to oversee a rescue plan. The reports come weeks after rumours surrounding a potential sale of...
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Louis Vuitton confirms UK customer data stolen in cyber attack
LVMH is facing what is now its third cyber attack in a matter of three months. French luxury label Louis Vuitton has confirmed that some UK customer data has been stolen in a hack that took place on July 2. In an email to customers seen by multiple news outlets, including Bloomberg, which first reported the attack, Louis Vuitton said an...
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