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.
Sports Direct enters Africa with first stores in Kenya
Frasers Group-owned Sports Direct has entered the African market with the opening of two stores in Nairobi, Kenya, marking another step in the parent company's international expansion. The stores, located at Sarit Centre and Galleria Mall, cover 930 and 725 square metres, respectively. They stock international sportswear brands including Nike,...
RetailMemberloading...
Modella Capital reportedly considers acquisition of Joseph
Modella Capital, the former owner of Claire's, is considering a potential acquisition of British fashion brand Joseph, according to The Times, as the investment firm explores another retail deal. The group, which owns TG Jones, is reportedly among parties considering the label. According to reports earlier this year, Joseph appointed PwC to...
BusinessMemberloading...
Poundland faces administration as owner rejects rescue bid
Poundland has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators after its owner, Gordon Brothers, rejected an offer to buy the discount retailer as a going concern, putting around 12,000 jobs at risk, according to the Financial Times. While Martin Property Group had submitted a rescue proposal, the deal failed to move forward. The notice gives...
BusinessMemberloading...
ATG acquires Lowe Alpine brand IP ahead of UK and European relaunch
ATG Brands & Data Limited has acquired the intellectual property of outdoor equipment brand Lowe Alpine from Equip Outdoor Technologies, including its trademarks, logo and associated brand assets. The transaction is an intellectual property sale, with no stock, employees or premises transferring from the prior owner. ATG, a China-based apparel...
BusinessMemberloading...
The Very Group reports record earnings as Very UK revenue rises
The Very Group, which operates online retailers Very and Littlewoods, has reported record adjusted earnings for the 52 weeks to June 27, 2026, despite challenging market conditions. Adjusted EBITDA before securitisation interest increased 3.4 percent year-on-year to 317.5 million pounds, while the margin reached a record 15.2 percent. Group...
BusinessMemberloading...
Frasers makes 'best and final' offer for Accent takeover deal
British retail giant Frasers Group has declared its 0.65 Australian dollar-per-share takeover offer for Australian footwear retailer Accent Group “best and final”, confirming it will not increase its bid as the two companies continue their dispute over the proposed acquisition. Frasers is urging Accent shareholders to accept the unconditional...
BusinessMemberloading...
From the runway to the street: Where WGSN x Coloro’s AW28/29 colour palette has been spotted
For AW28/29, WGSN and Coloro have derived a key colour palette of hues that reflect the increasingly intentional choices of consumers seeking out emotional grounding, self-expression and resilience. “Consumers will be navigating the threshold of a new decade, and this sense of liminality informs the palette,” Gemma Riberti, director of colour,...
FashionFeaturedloading...
Oxford Street goes traffic-free: London’s most famous shopping street enters a new era
Oxford Street has begun its most significant transformation in decades, with almost a kilometre of the central London shopping street permanently closed to through traffic. From Monday, cars, buses, taxis and bicycles are barred from the stretch between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, freeing up roughly half of the 1.2-mile retail...
RetailFeaturedMemberloading...
Reviving British shoemaking: Why footwear brand Lanx prioritises factory capacity over retail expansion
Around a decade ago, when Marco Vaghetti began researching Lancashire’s shoemaking history, the county’s manufacturing industry was already in steep decline. Once home to around 200 shoe factories, Lancashire had just a handful of manufacturers remaining. Eight years after founding Lanx, Vaghetti has established a footwear brand with its own...
Business|Interview FeaturedMemberloading...
BFC unveils 50 New Wave: Creatives for The Fashion Awards 2026
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has unveiled its 2026 New Wave: Creatives list, recognising 50 emerging talents working across the global fashion industry. The selected creatives will be celebrated at The Fashion Awards 2026, taking place on November 30 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. The selection spans disciplines including photography,...
Fashionloading...