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.
House of Fraser rebands to Frasers in premium retail push
Frasers Group’s flagship retailer House of Fraser is undergoing a rebrand as it pursues a rejuvenated positioning in the retail market. The group has renamed the department store chain to ‘Frasers’, reflecting a continued pivot towards establishing a more premium fashion and lifestyle experience. According to a press release, the rebrand builds...
Retailloading...
UK Spring Forecast 2026: Economic outlook for retail businesses
The UK government has set out its new Spring Forecast 2026, with chancellor Rachel Reeves telling Parliament that her economic plan is “the right one” for a more uncertain world. For retail businesses, the key talking points were reports of inflation falling, borrowing allegedly being lower than expected, and household incomes that are...
BusinessMemberloading...
Textile recycler Circulose joins Spinnova’s consortium to boost commercialisation efforts
Circulose, a textile-to-textile recycling company, has become a new member of Spinnova’s consortium, building on efforts to scale the Finnish firm’s manufacturing technology that turns wood pulp into textile fibre. Through the collaboration, Circulose will integrate its own pulp, made out of recycled cellulosic-rich textile waste, into Spinnova’...
BusinessMemberloading...
SWAIA Native Fashion Week refines curation in consolidated format
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is set to host a new curated format for this year’s edition of SWAIA Native Fashion Week. Taking place May 8 to 9, the event will now be held in one location – Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico – as opposed to multiple sites. According to the organisers, this setup provides a more...
Fashionloading...
Landbell USA selected as PRO of California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act
Nonprofit organisation Landbell USA has been appointed as the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) for California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707), overseeing the management and stewardship of regulated textile products in the state. In the role, Landbell USA will be responsible for developing a Producer Responsibility Plan,...
BusinessMemberloading...
Farfetch performance improves yet Coupang swings to loss in Q4
Since Coupang’s acquisition of Farfetch, it has been hard to gauge how well the British luxury e-tailer is performing, particularly as its South Korean parent company tackles broader market challenges. In the group’s latest earnings call for Q4, however, its CEO and chairman, Bom Kim, confirmed things were looking up. “At Farfetch, this quarter...
BusinessMemberloading...
In Pictures: Topshop releases collaborative capsule with Tolu Coker
British fashion brand Topshop has unveiled its entire 18-piece capsule collection designed in collaboration with British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker. The line, now available via Topshop’s e-commerce site, merges Topshop’s own design heritage with the creative vision of Coker, incorporating specifically the designer’s approach to tailoring. Much...
Fashion|In Pictures loading...
California sets deadline for climate data reporting
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has outlined a reporting deadline for California Greenhouse Gas Reporting (SB 253) after approving the adoption of the bill. Based on stakeholder feedback, the organisation has pin-pointed August 10, 2026, as the first-year reporting deadline. For the inaugural year, companies must include only Scope 1...
BusinessMemberloading...
From sea to shore: How Starboard Group is holistically redefining travel retail experiences
Cruise retail is no longer a niche within a niche. It is a fast-growing global market that fashion brands are starting to take more seriously, and now, it is moving beyond the ship. According to TechSci Research, the global luxury retail market specific to cruise liners was valued at 17 billion dollars in 2025 and is projected to reach 31.88...
Business|Interview FeaturedMemberloading...
Who was the founder of River Island, Bernard Lewis?
Bernard Lewis passed away at the weekend at the age of 100. According to reports, the influential British businessman and founder of retail chain River Island was surrounded by his family in his final hours. Lewis’ interest in retail was established in his youth, when his family owned a fruit and veg stall that he eventually transitioned into a...
People|Obituary loading...