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.
Fred Perry sees profits grow in 2024 despite dip in revenue
British premium brand Fred Perry reported a slight decline in revenue for the financial year to December 31, 2024, as a reduction in discounting and other macroeconomic factors impacted performance. In a filing with the UK’s Companies House, the label reported a revenue decrease of 3.7 percent compared to the year prior, amounting to 143.6...
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Paul Smith promotes Richard Woollams to CFO
British luxury brand Paul Smith has named Richard Woollams as its new chief financial officer. The appointment is a promotion for Woollams, who was most recently serving as director of financial planning and analysis for the label. Woollams announced his new role on his LinkedIn, where he said it was an “honour and a privilege” to become CFO. “...
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Abercrombie & Fitch to open new distribution centre in Ohio
US lifestyle retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) is set to open a new distribution centre in Ohio as part of an expanded partnership with supply chain and logistics firm Bleckmann. Set to open in the summer of 2026 in Columbus, the new facility builds on A&F’s long-term growth strategy, strengthening its fulfillment capabilities in the North...
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Ebay becomes strategic partner of Global Fashion Agenda
Marketplace giant Ebay has been named the new strategic partner of Global Fashion Agenda (GFA). The duo are combining their efforts to “accelerate the shift to a circular fashion system” by tackling the current linear model of the fashion industry. Through the partnership, GFA and Ebay will work together with industry peers that are already a...
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Digital Brands Group bets on 36 billion dollar sports merchandise market as NIL sector booms
The global licensed sports merchandise market is a rapidly growing segment of the wider apparel industry. The sector, valued at 36.4 billion dollars in 2024, is expected to increase in value to 49 billion dollars over the next five years, according to Grand View Research, as the number of sports enthusiasts and their fervour for casualised...
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Vestiaire Collective taps Bernard Osta as CEO
Luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective has named Bernard Osta as its new chief executive officer. Osta succeeds Maximilian Bittner, who has served in the helm position since 2018. Osta’s appointment marks the beginning of a “new phase of growth”, Vestiaire Collective said in a release. The executive has already been with the company since...
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White Stuff welcomes sales increase amid ongoing transformation plan
British fashion retailer White Stuff reported strong results for the full year to March 29, 2025, as its ongoing transformation strategy continues to roll out. Over the reporting period, sales rose 20.3 percent compared to the year prior, amounting to 184 million pounds. The company attributed the increase to its “continued focus on what...
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Chinese firm reportedly submits ‘interesting’ bid for Golden Goose
A leading Chinese venture capital and private equity firm is believed to have come forward with an “interesting” bid for Golden Goose. Italian publication La Repubblica reported that HongShan Capital, a spin off of US venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, has emerged as a potential frontrunner to takeover the Italian footwear specialist....
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John Lewis names new director of merchandising
Department store John Lewis has appointed Anna Milne as its new director of merchandising. With this, Milne, who is to take up the role from November 17, will also join the company’s management board. Milne, who brings almost 20 years of experience in retail to the role, most recently served as merchandising director for luxury e-tailers...
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Bestseller denies ‘damaging’ child labour allegations
Danish fashion giant Bestseller – the parent company of Jacks&Jones, Vero Moda and Only – has denied claims made against it by broadcaster TV 2 alleging evidence of child labour among its supply chain. In a public statement, Bestseller specifically referenced two documentary episodes aired by the Danish media firm via TV 2 and TV 2 Play which...
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