UK news and archive

Employment, IP, and sustainability: UK regulatory reforms for fashion and retail

The UK regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly, and 2025 has seen a series of changes that will shape how fashion and retail businesses operate in 2026. From employment and apprenticeship reforms to intellectual property, sustainability and cyber security, these updates impact staffing, supply chains, product claims, and compliance obligations....

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New report finds Leicester garment exploitation claims overstated

A new review presented to UK Parliament has found that allegations of worker exploitation and modern slavery in Leicester’s garment sector were not supported by evidence from formal investigations. The report, ‘Lessons Learned from Operation Tacit’, published in November 2025 by the director of labour market enforcement, Margaret Beels, suggests...

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Modella saves 156 Claire's UK stores, future uncertain for remaining stores

The future of the iconic high street retailer Claire's has been partially secured after specialist investment firm Modella Capital agreed to acquire more than half of its business and assets in the UK and Ireland. The deal, confirmed by administrator Interpath, involves the purchase of 156 Claire's stores for an undisclosed sum, a move that...

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UK government launches consultation to reform IP protection for design sector

The UK government has launched a new comprehensive consultation to explore potential reforms for the region’s design sector, with a particular focus on modernising intellectual property (IP) protection in a post-Brexit landscape. With this, the government said it is seeking expertise from the UK’s design community, from independent creators to...

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Alohas opens permanent store in Paris and arrives in London

Madrid – Alohas, the Spanish footwear, accessories and on-demand fashion brand, continues to consolidate its global retail network with the opening of a permanent store in Paris. A new point of sale will be added at the end of September: the brand’s first store in the UK. As part of its commitment to physical retail as an "experiential" way to...

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Trump tariffs: Levi's UK flags 'anti-American' risk

Levi's UK has identified a potential threat to its business in the form of "rising Anti-Americanism" stemming from Trump Tariffs and other U.S. governmental policies. The company fears that this sentiment could cause consumers to shift their preferences away from U.S. brands, opting instead for "national / European products". This concern,...

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Mango scales up Mango Teen in the UK with its first store outside London

Madrid – Mango continues to drive its teen fashion line, Mango Teen, internationally with the opening of a new standalone store in the strategic UK market. The company has chosen to scale up operations for this line, launched in 2021 as part of its diversification strategy. This marks the first standalone Mango Teen store to open outside London,...

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India-UK FTA: Balancing trade dynamics amid US tariff concerns

The highly anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and India has been officially signed, promising to significantly reshape the trade landscape for both nations. The agreement, signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer, is expected to increase annual trade by 34.53...

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Founder of Inditex acquires 49 percent of British port company PD Ports

Madrid – Amancio Ortega, founder and majority shareholder of Inditex, the owner of Zara, continues to expand and diversify his investment portfolio. He has increased his list of logistics assets with the purchase of 49 percent of the British port company PD Ports. PD Ports is one of the UK’s leading port groups and the statutory body for the...

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Saucony opens first UK flagship store

US footwear brand Saucony has opened its first flagship store in the UK. The new store is located at 4 James Street in London and officially opened on June 21, as announced by the Wolverine World Wide Inc. subsidiary on Wednesday. The London location is intended to be more than just a retail space: with an integrated café, rooms for community...

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Middle East tensions: What will be the impact on fashion’s supply chain?

As military tensions escalated between Israel and Iran, global trade held its breath. At the heart of concerns was the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic maritime corridor through which nearly one-third of the world's oil passes. If this passage were to be blocked or seriously disrupted, the repercussions would not be limited to energy markets. The...

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WRAP’s Textiles 2030 becomes UK Textiles Pact

Textiles 2030, the UK’s voluntary initiative supporting businesses and organisations within the fashion and textiles industry, will from now on be called the UK Textiles Pact. According to a press release by WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), the climate action NGO behind the initiative, the move will “bring the agreement in...