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.
Lululemon: Activist investor reportedly secures one billion dollar stake
An activist investor is believed to have snapped up a stake worth over one billion dollars in Canadian athleisure brand Lululemon. According to sources for Reuters, Elliott Investment Management has been working with former Ralph Lauren executive Jane Nielsen as it circles the currently unoccupied helm position. FashionUnited has contacted...
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Lululemon prepares to launch into six new markets for 2026
Canadian athleisure giant Lululemon has confirmed plans to expand into six new markets in the new year as part of a franchise partnership model that responds to growing demand. Making up what is set to become a “record” year in market rollouts, the company is due to enter Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Romania through a new partnership...
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Tommy Hilfiger joins Spinnova consortium
US premium brand Tommy Hilfiger has become the newest partner of Spinnova, a Finnish fibre tech firm backed by Fashion for Good. The company has joined Spinnova’s consortium, a model the firm introduced earlier this year to encourage fashion brands to back efforts in scaling its flagship fibre offering. Aptly dubbed Spinnova, the textile is made...
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Wax London reports strong year bolstered by international expansion and wholesale growth
British menswear brand Wax London has hailed 2025 as a “milestone” year, with performance bolstered by retail and wholesale growth. With this, the company is now preparing to move into its next phase, eyeing further international expansion. The company has utilised the period to expand its physical presence, opening its fourth standalone store...
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Jessica Alsing: Bringing Toms into the present day as its first woman CEO
Earlier this year, Californian-born footwear brand Toms, long-recognised for its signature Alpargatas shoe and social-impact ethos, entered a new phase of reinvention. To oversee that transition, the company appointed industry veteran Jessica Alsing as its new chief executive officer, marking the latest step in its ongoing repositioning. Known...
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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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