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.
Hollister ventures into homeware in Target collaboration
Hollister is venturing into the home and decor category as part of a collaborative collection with Target. The US lifestyle label has designed a line for college dorm rooms or bedrooms, marking an expansion beyond apparel alone to cater to evolving consumer needs. The first drop, set to launch June 28, includes nearly 60 pieces across men’s and...
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Deckers loses infringement lawsuit against Quince over Ugg ‘dupes’
Deckers Outdoor Corp has lost a high-profile lawsuit against Quince over look-alike iterations of Uggs’ Australian shearling boots. A federal jury in California found that while Quince’s boots may have infringed on Deckers’ design patent, the patent itself was invalid due to functional, indefinite, and obvious design characteristics. Deckers had...
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Decathlon grants 2,000 euros worth of free shares to global employees
Sportswear retail giant Decathlon is doubling down on its employee ownership model by introducing a new scheme that grants eligible employees 2,000 euros in free shares or asset incentives. Dubbed ‘The Decathlon Seed’, the initiative intends to “reflect the diversity of the group while maintaining a shared principle of fairness and value sharing...
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Pitti: Original Penguin unveils accessible luxury pivot and European expansion plans
Original Penguin is venturing in a new direction. Under brand director Laura Colagrande, the US lifestyle brand is moving towards the accessible luxury sector for its spring/summer 2027 collection, which was unveiled for the first time at Pitti Uomo. At the Florentine menswear fair, the label is housed in both a showroom and outdoor deck, where...
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Dr. Martens CEO snaps up 85,600 pounds in shares following return to profit
The chief executive officer of Dr. Martens, Ije Nwokorie, has purchased around 85,600 pounds worth of shares in the footwear specialist, signalling a boost in confidence after the company reported a growth in profit for the fiscal year 2026. A London Stock Exchange filing showed Nwokorie had snapped up 112,500 ordinary shares at a price of 0.761...
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Woolmark broadens criteria for next edition of international prize
Global wool authority Woolmark has launched applications for the next edition of its annual International Woolmark Prize, this time with expanded criteria. The platform is now opening up the initiative to designers who have garnered experience within established brands and organisations, alongside those who have built independent labels....
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Former Allbirds CEO tapped as president of Sorel
Joe Vernachio, the former chief executive officer of Allbirds, has been named president of outdoor apparel and footwear brand Sorel. The appointment marks a return to Sorel’s parent firm Columbia Sportswear Company for Vernachio, who had previously served as president of the group’s Mountain Hardwear label between 2017 and 2021. Prior to this,...
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Matalan narrows annual losses, boosts revenue amid strategic transformation
British retail giant Matalan has narrowed its annual losses and achieved a slight increase in total revenue for the full year, driven by its ongoing strategic transformation, improvements in its product ranges, and strong online performance. For the 53 weeks ended 28 February 2026, total statutory revenues rose by 0.2 percent to 987 million...
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American Exchange Group partners with WSG Brands on Allbirds acquisition
American Exchange Group (AEG) has announced a new partnership with WSG Brands in finalising the acquisition of Allbirds. The group, which revealed plans to acquire the US footwear brand in March, said it would split ownership and capabilities as part of the deal. While WSG will serve as a key operating and growth partner, AEG will oversee design...
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The rise of British farm-to-fashion: 3 Companies spearheading the return to local production
In a fashion landscape defined by increasingly complex supply chains and globalised tensions, the UK’s ‘farm to fashion’ movement has emerged as a stabilising presence. Such setups are not exactly new in the way of localisation, yet the format is being revived and modernised alongside a cross-industry call for a return to “Britishness”. Many of...
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