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.
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...
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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,...
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AlixPartners: shoppers demand greater value as AI reshapes fashion retail
Fashion shoppers are placing greater emphasis on quality, transparent pricing and in-store service, while remaining cautious about artificial intelligence (AI) making purchasing decisions for them, according to new research from AlixPartners. The consultancy’s 2026 Consumer Sentiment Index, based on a survey of more than 9,000 US consumers...
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Chanel’s Bruno Pavlovsky appointed co-chair of The Fashion Pact
Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion activities at Chanel and president of Chanel SAS, has been appointed co-chair of The Fashion Pact, joining existing executive members Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Inditex, and Paul Polman, co-founder of The Fashion Pact. The industry coalition has also appointed Ermenegildo Zegna Group executive chairman...
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Kizik, Skechers European legal dispute arrives at ruling
Skechers and HandsFree Labs (HFL), the parent company of Kizik, have both claimed victories in a European patent dispute over hands-free footwear, following a ruling by the Unified Patent Court in Munich. Skechers said the court rejected infringement claims concerning three of four shoe styles challenged by Kizik, describing the case as “largely...
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Castore reportedly in talks with Anta and Li-Ning over potential deal
British sportswear brand Castore is reportedly in discussions with Chinese sportswear groups Anta and Li-Ning over a potential deal, as investors seek to exit the business. According to the Financial Times, the Manchester-based company has held further talks with US footwear brands as it mulls options for its next phase of growth. No agreement...
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Authentic Brands Group appoints Clément Smadja as chief legal officer
Authentic Brands Group has appointed Clément Smadja as chief legal officer, succeeding Jay Dubiner, who will remain with the business as executive vice chairman. Smadja joins the US brand management group from Fox Corporation, where he served as senior vice president, advising on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, compliance and...
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Benetton reportedly closes Oxford Street flagship amid restructuring
Italian retailer United Colors of Benetton has reportedly closed its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street after eight years, according to a report by The Sun. Benetton has not publicly confirmed the Oxford Street closure or disclosed how many employees may be affected. Posts on social media showed a 70 percent closing down sale. The...
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Quince launches in UK as first expansion beyond North America
US-based retailer Quince has launched in the UK, marking its first expansion beyond North America. The company's regional website offers womenswear, menswear, children’s clothing and homeware, with free delivery and a 365-day returns policy. The initial selection will be tailored to British shoppers, with categories expected to expand. In a...
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Selfridges and Dazed launch open call for young creatives
Selfridges has partnered with media platform Dazed to launch an open call for emerging creatives, offering six successful applicants the opportunity to showcase their work in the luxury department store’s Oxford Street windows in London. The initiative is open to people aged 18 to 35 working across creative disciplines, including fashion design,...
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