Articles by Guest Contributor
Guest contributors write for FashionUnited on a voluntary basis to share their expertise and highlight topics that matter to fashion industry professionals.
Women are finally leading global brands. So why is fashion still failing them?
By announcing Berta de Pablos-Barbier as its next CEO, Pandora – the world’s biggest jeweler – has done something that fashion continues to resist: put women in charge. The appointment feels like a door cracked open in an industry that depends on women at every level but rarely allows them to lead. Now the rest of the industry must decide...
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Making sense of UKIPO's design law consultation: Key areas of reform
Are you involved in or affected by UK design laws? Do you have views on the current design registration and protection regime? Now is your chance to make a difference! On 4 September 2025, the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) launched a major consultation on potentially significant reforms to the UK’s designs framework. This was...
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How performance reviews in the fashion industry have come under pressure
Does this sound familiar? A member of the creative team has missed their deadline; a member of the sales team has failed to meet their targets. As a manager, you want to discuss this in a normal, professional way. Yet, during performance reviews, the comment “I don’t feel safe here” is becoming increasingly common. It is a statement you cannot...
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Asos tackles the 'hidden workers' in retail supply chains
Asos has become the first major e-commerce retailer to sign a legally-binding human rights agreement with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). The September 2025 deal covers direct transport operations and logistics of the British fashion company —plus all subcontractors. This makes Asos the first retailer with union...
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Expert HR advice to stand out amongst fashion and luxury candidates
Summer is often synonymous with slowing down and taking a well-deserved rest. For the most strategic candidates, however, this period also represents a valuable opportunity: to take a step back, refine their positioning and prepare for their next career move. In a sector as coveted as fashion and luxury, standing out requires preparation. Here...
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The Breuninger case: the sale of Germany's last independent premium department store stalls
A year ago, rumours of Breuninger being up for sale surfaced. Since then, things have gone quiet. What could complicate a potential deal and which investors are even possible prospects? An analysis by Dirk Boventer, partner at the management consultancy Atreus. One year of sale intentions and no deal in sight Breuninger is considered one of the...
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“Brat Green” and beyond: What fashion designers can learn about colour trade marks
When Charli XCX dropped her album “Brat” last year, she didn’t just spark a music frenzy - she launched a colour moment. The acid-lime shade dubbed “Brat Green” flooded social media, merchandise, beauty and fashion. Designers such as Prada, McQueen and Fendi adopted the colour, making it one of 2024’s defining visuals. Fast forward to Summer...
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Bold, brilliant, blue: How 2027's colour of the year sets a new standard for brand activations
There's something undeniably magnetic about a bold, saturated colour when it takes over a physical space, and WGSN's Colour of the Year for 2027, Luminous Blue, proves this in spectacular fashion. Described as "both mysterious and eccentric," this rich, potent blue has become a beacon for brands daring enough to wield colour as a full-bodied...
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Why fast-fashion is harming second-hand – and what we can do about it
June ended with yet another blow to Europe’s struggling post-consumer textiles sector: Texaid Germany filed for insolvency. This is a significant setback for the group and for the broader reuse and recycling ecosystem. Just as European policymakers begin to treat textile waste with the seriousness it deserves, the very infrastructure needed to...
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How to avoid a sad beige ending: Lessons drawn from the 'Sad Beige Influencer' case
How can a trailblazer influencer protect themselves from others who mimic their style to unfair commercial advantage? A short, sharp answer is to build a ‘brand’, not just an ‘aesthetic’. Vague claims and vanilla imagery don’t stand up in court. To be effectively enforced, intellectual property needs to be concrete, specific, and original –...
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