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.
AAFA calls for transparency in Canada's Forced Labour Ban proposals
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has called for greater transparency and due process as Canada moves to strengthen its ban on goods produced with forced labour. The US trade association, which represents more than 1,100 apparel, footwear and sewn product companies, submitted comments to Global Affairs Canada on August 21 on the...
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Frasers calls on ASA to reconsider RRP approach
British retail giant Frasers Group has called on the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to reconsider its approach to recommended retail prices (RRPs), arguing that current guidance risks creating unnecessary barriers to price competition. In a letter dated August 28, Frasers chief financial officer Chris Wootton said the group believed...
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The great department store reset: Why Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols are taking different paths
Department stores in the UK are navigating a consumer environment dictated by unlimited online choice and cautious discretionary spending. What has transpired as a result is a two-sided challenge for retailers that have to both work to keep stores open, while also giving customers a reason to visit them. In this context, the traditional...
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Roxoa enters administration after 19 years
UK jewellery company Roxoa Group Ltd has entered administration, placing its portfolio of four online jewellery brands under uncertainty after nearly two decades in business. According to a notice published in The Gazette, Iain David Nairn and Sean Williams of Leonard Curtis were appointed joint administrators of the Gateshead-based company on...
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Brandon Blackwood and Etsy CEO join New York's inaugural Business Advisory Council
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has named fashion entrepreneur Brandon Blackwood and Etsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal among the inaugural members of a new Business Advisory Council, bringing retail and fashion representation into discussions around the city’s economic growth. The 15-member council will meet quarterly with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor...
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WGSN’s 2028 trend Joyful Audacity: What is it and how can retail leverage it?
In a landscape influenced by financial pressure, uncertainty, and fatigue, shoppers are naturally gravitating toward positivity. Rather than passively seeking it, however, consumers are actively claiming happiness in ways that extend beyond previous fashion industry trends. While dopamine dressing and vibrant campaigns signaled efforts to offset...
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Harvey Nichols to close Irish store
Department store chain Harvey Nichols is set to close its Irish location after it was unable to reach an agreement to maintain trading. According to the Irish Times, Grant Thornton, joint liquidator for the insolvent Harvey Nichols Dublin, which employs 33 staff, has confirmed the outlet will shutter September 13. In a statement to the Irish...
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Authentic acquires Drake’s OVO, VNCE to lead global expansion
Authentic Brands Group has snapped up a majority stake in October’s Very Own (OVO, the lifestyle brand founded by rapper Drake. The deal will also see involvement from Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE), which will serve as the core apparel and retail licensee in the deal. As part of the transaction, Authentic will own 51 percent of the business under a...
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Lefties takes first physical steps into UK with Liverpool store
Inditex-owned Lefties has made its brick-and-mortar debut in the UK with a new store in Liverpool. The Spanish retailer occupied a 27,000 square foot space in Liverpool One, where, over two floors, it offers women’s, men’s, teen, kids, baby, newborn, home, accessories and footwear collections. The flagship will also house a selection of retail...
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David Pemsel to step down from the BFC after 10 years
David Pemsel is stepping down as chair of the British Fashion Council (BFC) and exiting the organisation, bringing to an end a decade-long tenure. Pemsel’s departure is scheduled for September 30 following the anticipated announcement of his successor, the BFC told WWD. He will stay on to oversee the transition period before formally stepping...
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