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.
Qasimi’s Q Rising platforms emerging Indian talent ahead of 2025 cohort applications
Last week, Q Rising, the talent incubator to London-based brand Qasimi, platformed Indian designers in a Mumbai activation ahead of the launch of its application process for its next cohort of 2025. Over March 12 and 13, the organisation set out to provide exposure and mentorship opportunities for select Indian designers, offering them a chance...
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Frasers Group to cut 30 percent of design and editorial roles
Frasers Group, the parent company of Sports Direct and Flannels, is said to have entered into a consultation with staff in its design and editorial teams as part of its latest restructuring. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the news to Retail Gazette, to which they said that 30 percent of employees in the affected teams will be impacted....
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Is the fall of the microtrend upon us?
Tomato-girl summer. Coastal cowgirl. Coquette. Blokette. These words may not, at this moment, mean much to you, but at one point their grasp on the fashion industry was palpable. So much so that they had retailers in a scramble to update their collections, just to keep up with the hype. Their influence was short-lived, however. One day, content...
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Guess and WHP strike licensing deal for Rag & Bone accessories
Guess and WHP Global, the joint owners of Rag & Bone, have partnered with Signal Brands on a five-year licensing deal for the New York label’s accessory line. The agreement intends to develop and further expand Rag & Bone’s handbags and small leather goods category. It further underlines the brand’s commitment to global expansion, a press...
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Shein chairman confirms IPO plans
Fast fashion giant Shein has confirmed plans to float on the stock market. In conversation with The Times, executive chairman Donald Tang said he wished for the Singapore-headquartered firm “to embrace the accountability and transparency of being a public company”. Tang declined to comment on the timing, valuation and destination of the listing,...
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Gucci names Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia as creative director
Kering has found its new creative lead for Gucci. Balenciaga’s Demna, who dropped his last name Gvasalia for professional purposes in 2021, has been appointed as the Italian luxury house’s new artistic director. He will take up the post early July 2025, a press release from Kering has revealed. The group’s decision to turn to Demna leant on his...
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Donatella Versace to step down from creative helm, Dario Vitale named CCO
It’s the end of an era. Donatella Versace, the sister to Versace’s eponymous founder Gianni, is letting go of the creative leadership to the Italian luxury label. The designer, who has led the brand as chief creative officer since Gianni’s passing in 1997, will be stepping back into the position of chief brand ambassador from April 1, 2025. In...
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Seasalt warns of redundancies as budget burdens take hold
Cornish retailer Seasalt has warned of redundancies across its business as it prepares for incoming impact from “increased tax burdens” following the implementation of the UK’s budget in April. Speaking to Retail Gazette, the fashion retailer confirmed that a cost review involved “looking at efficiencies and overall productivity, a...
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Vince chief financial officer to step down
John Szczepanski, the chief financial officer of Vince Holding Corp, has announced his intention to step down to “pursue another opportunity”. He will leave the position from March 28, 2025, after which Yuji Okumura, VNCE’s current vice president, controller, will assume the role in an interim capacity. In a release, VNCE’s chief executive...
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KNS International acquires footwear brand Birdies
KNS International has announced its acquisition of women’s shoe label Birdies, which will become a flagship brand under the US footwear group’s portfolio. In a release, Birdies co-founder, Bianca Gates, said the partnership with KNS marked an “exciting new chapter” for the brand, “enabling us to scale our mission of delivering both comfort and...
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