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.
Dick’s Sporting Goods initiates layoffs at Foot Locker
Nearly a year on from its acquisition of Foot Locker, parent company Dick’s Sporting Goods has begun a series of layoffs within the operations of the sportswear retailer. The news was confirmed to Footwear News by unnamed sources. FashionUnited has contacted Dick’s with a request to comment. Some employees were reportedly asked to ‘return to...
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AllSaints names Nichole Strydom as chief merchant
British fashion brand AllSaints has appointed Nichole Strydom as its new chief merchant, a position she will take up from May 5. In the role, Strydom has been tasked with leading the company’s global merchandising strategy, overseeing buying, merchandising and sourcing across all regions and channels. She will work alongside chief creative...
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Marks & Spencer crosses the pond, debuts clothing range in US
Marks & Spencer is debuting its clothing line in the US through a new partnership with Nordstrom. A range of the British department store’s womenswear collection will be stocked across 30 Nordstrom locations, spanning Los Angeles to New York. Both in-store and online, the American premium retailer will offer over 60 items from Marks & Spencer,...
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Patience, precision, purpose: The intentional new guard defining Moldovan Brands Runway
The Moldovan Brands Runway SS26, held from March 18 to 22 in Chișinău, showcased a regional fashion scene transitioning from traditional manufacturing roots towards a sophisticated, brand-led economy. Across four days, 19 designers from Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine presented collections that prioritised “identity, restraint, and intention” over...
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Superdry plots 21 new store openings amid European expansion
Superdry is accelerating its retail growth strategy with plans to open 21 new stores across the UK and Europe in 2026. Speaking to Drapers, CEO Julian Dunkerton confirmed that 15 of these locations will be situated in the UK, while the remaining six will bolster the brand's presence in mainland Europe. Among the confirmed European sites are...
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Misto Holdings accelerates Korean fashion expansion in Greater China
Misto Holdings is strengthening its position as a strategic brand hub, driving the expansion of Korean fashion labels across the Greater China region. Leveraging its retail operations and brand development expertise, the company is scaling its multi-brand portfolio while enhancing integrated online and offline capabilities. The company has...
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Textile Exchange introduces first LCA study on cotton's environmental impact
Textile Exchange has released the first in a new series of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies, aimed at improving the quality and consistency of environmental impact data across the fashion and textile industry. The initial report focuses on cotton, providing updated data across key producing countries and covering a range of systems including...
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Joseph Ribkoff names new CEO amid strategic relaunch
Canadian fashion brand Joseph Ribkoff has announced a strategic relaunch, alongside the appointment of Stephen Belfer as chief executive officer, signalling a new phase of global growth and digital development. The relaunch reflects a renewed direction for the heritage label, with a focus on modernising its brand identity, expanding e-commerce...
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The minds behind Skims and Good American: Who are Jens and Emma Grede?
Celebrity brands are not a new phenomenon, yet in the present day, their size rivals traditional conglomerates, competing through scalable models fuelled by the monetisation of star power and social influence. Husband-and-wife team Jens and Emma Grede have become major players in this world, operating behind the scenes to prove that reach and...
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Fashion SVP to launch Leather Pavilion at April 2026 edition
Sourcing trade show Fashion SVP is preparing for its upcoming edition, during which it will debut a Leather Pavilion to reflect the growing demand for specialised production. The event will return to Olympia London on April 28 and 29, maintaining the mission of catering to both sides of the supply chain. While buyers will be given access to...
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