UK news and archive

UK government lays out plan to tackle PFAS

The UK government is joining a broader effort towards addressing the use of PFAS in consumer products. A PFAS Plan has now been outlined, setting out what the government said is an “evidence-based approach to tackling these persistent chemicals”. The decision to address PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’, comes amid growing concern over...

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Employment, IP, and sustainability: UK regulatory reforms for fashion and retail

The UK regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly, and 2025 has seen a series of changes that will shape how fashion and retail businesses operate in 2026. From employment and apprenticeship reforms to intellectual property, sustainability and cyber security, these updates impact staffing, supply chains, product claims, and compliance obligations....

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New report finds Leicester garment exploitation claims overstated

A new review presented to UK Parliament has found that allegations of worker exploitation and modern slavery in Leicester’s garment sector were not supported by evidence from formal investigations. The report, ‘Lessons Learned from Operation Tacit’, published in November 2025 by the director of labour market enforcement, Margaret Beels, suggests...

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Logicbroker acquires Virtualstock to expand dropship network

Logicbroker, the firm behind the intelligent commerce network used by some of the world's largest retailers, has announced its acquisition of UK-based online retail technology leader, Virtualstock. The combined entity will create a new global leader in multi-party commerce, forming one of the largest international dropship supplier networks with...

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Modella saves 156 Claire's UK stores, future uncertain for remaining stores

The future of the iconic high street retailer Claire's has been partially secured after specialist investment firm Modella Capital agreed to acquire more than half of its business and assets in the UK and Ireland. The deal, confirmed by administrator Interpath, involves the purchase of 156 Claire's stores for an undisclosed sum, a move that...

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UK government launches consultation to reform IP protection for design sector

The UK government has launched a new comprehensive consultation to explore potential reforms for the region’s design sector, with a particular focus on modernising intellectual property (IP) protection in a post-Brexit landscape. With this, the government said it is seeking expertise from the UK’s design community, from independent creators to...

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Alohas opens permanent store in Paris and arrives in London

Madrid – Alohas, the Spanish footwear, accessories and on-demand fashion brand, continues to consolidate its global retail network with the opening of a permanent store in Paris. A new point of sale will be added at the end of September: the brand’s first store in the UK. As part of its commitment to physical retail as an "experiential" way to...

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Trump tariffs: Levi's UK flags 'anti-American' risk

Levi's UK has identified a potential threat to its business in the form of "rising Anti-Americanism" stemming from Trump Tariffs and other U.S. governmental policies. The company fears that this sentiment could cause consumers to shift their preferences away from U.S. brands, opting instead for "national / European products". This concern,...

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Mango scales up Mango Teen in the UK with its first store outside London

Madrid – Mango continues to drive its teen fashion line, Mango Teen, internationally with the opening of a new standalone store in the strategic UK market. The company has chosen to scale up operations for this line, launched in 2021 as part of its diversification strategy. This marks the first standalone Mango Teen store to open outside London,...

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Founder of Inditex acquires 49 percent of British port company PD Ports

Madrid – Amancio Ortega, founder and majority shareholder of Inditex, the owner of Zara, continues to expand and diversify his investment portfolio. He has increased his list of logistics assets with the purchase of 49 percent of the British port company PD Ports. PD Ports is one of the UK’s leading port groups and the statutory body for the...

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Saucony opens first UK flagship store

US footwear brand Saucony has opened its first flagship store in the UK. The new store is located at 4 James Street in London and officially opened on June 21, as announced by the Wolverine World Wide Inc. subsidiary on Wednesday. The London location is intended to be more than just a retail space: with an integrated café, rooms for community...

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Middle East tensions: What will be the impact on fashion’s supply chain?

As military tensions escalated between Israel and Iran, global trade held its breath. At the heart of concerns was the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic maritime corridor through which nearly one-third of the world's oil passes. If this passage were to be blocked or seriously disrupted, the repercussions would not be limited to energy markets. The...