COVID 19 news and archive

Hong Kong tailors take to livestream in pandemic survival fight

Assistants wielding multiple livestreaming mobile phones are now as crucial to Roshan Melwani's tailor shop as the measuring tapes, needles and fabrics that have made his Hong Kong family business so famous. The Melwani family has dressed everyone from American presidents to aristocrats and celebrities over the decades. But the pandemic nearly...

BusinessFeatured

Aldo Group finalises restructuring two years after bankruptcy filing

The Aldo Group has announced that it has “successfully” completed its restructuring process, a move it initiated in May 2020 when it filed for bankruptcy protection. The Canadian footwear retail chain joined a number of retailers hit by the effects of the pandemic and its resulting store closures. The group began its restructuring process in...

Business

Crocs’ ‘Free Pair for Healthcare’ programme returns

Footwear brand Crocs has announced the return of its Free Pair for Healthcare initiative which sees it partner with Figs, a healthcare apparel label. For this year’s edition, Crocs and Figs will be giving away 10,000 pairs of Crocs shoes and 10,000 pairs of Figs scrubs to healthcare workers across the US, during National Nurses Week. Up until...

Business

Wales to cautiously scrap covid measures

Following in England’s footsteps, Wales is now preparing to scrap emergency measures as it looks to plan how to safely live with coronavirus in the long term. Measures in the region have been in place for two years but the government has now announced that by March 28 all legal requirements may be removed, in consideration of the public health...

BusinessFeatured

UK to scrap all covid restrictions from Thursday

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has set out plans for “living with covid”, including the scrapping of self-isolation when testing positive. Addressing the House of Commons, Johnson said that all remaining domestic restrictions in law will be removed from Thursday while he continued to encourage safer behaviour through public health advice,...

Retail

UK retail union expresses concern over decision to end all restrictions

The UK’s retail trade union Usdaw has urged the government to not end free test kits and the requirement to self-isolate, a move it is planning to implement throughout the country from next week. It comes as the union expressed concern over the current high infection and death rates from covid-19, despite an overall decline, as the government...

Business

Levi’s brand president claims she was forced out due to beliefs on covid school closures

Levi Strauss & Co.’s former brand president, Jennifer Sey, has said she was “pushed out” of her job after she spoke up about her beliefs against California’s pandemic school closures. Detailing the events in a guest post for Bari Weiss’ Common Sense newsletter, the longtime Levi’s employee, who had been with the company since 1999, stated it had...

Fashion

Tom Ford cancels NYFW show

Tom Ford will no longer be closing out New York Fashion Week next month, after announcing that he has been forced to cancel his catwalk show due to the Covid-19 omicron surge. The show was scheduled for February 16, but the designer said that the pandemic has affected his staff in Los Angeles, within its design studio and atelier, and at its...

BusinessFeatured

England to scrap Plan B covid-19 measures as it reports booster success

The UK government has announced England will be returning to Plan A on January 27 following the success of the country’s booster programme. From January 19, the government has stated it will no longer ask people to work from home and, from today, face coverings are no longer advised in schools for both staff and students. By January 27, the...

Fairs|Report Featured

Pitti Uomo: Good news from Firenze

Florence - The new fashion year begins in a minor way, but with a dash of optimism. The men’s fair, Pitti Uomo, which traditionally opens the new season in Florence, has experienced some quick reorganisation. Guest of honour Ann Demeulemeester cancelled her scheduled event last week. Brunello Cucinelli, a usually consistent main exhibitor at the...

Fashion

CFDA releases schedule for upcoming New York Fashion Week

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has revealed the schedule for the upcoming New York Fashion Week, which is set to take place from February 11 to 16. A number of big names will be returning to present either runway shows or digital activations, including Gabriela Hearst, Michael Kors, Cate Holstein of Khaite, Tom Ford, Stuart...

Fairs

Scoop x Pure will go ahead with new measures

The organisers of the womenswear trade show, Scoop x Pure, have said that the “show must go on”, after confirming the event is to continue with renewed safety measures. Scheduled to take place at the Truman Brewery London from February 8 to 10, the trade show has said it will be asking all attendees, including visitors, exhibitors, contractors,...