UK: Marks & Spencer to cut more than 1,000 jobs? (MEM)

UK retail giant Marks & Spencer is poised to announce the axing of more than 1,000 jobs after registering the company’s worst Christmas trading performance in 80 years, according to reports.

Wanted: new skills for a new garment industry 

The global garment industry is changing quickly and radically, with the worldwide recession exacerbating this change. Old jobs are disappearing and new ones emerging. But, as David Birnbaum points out, the new jobs are invariably on the supplier side and they not only require the right skills but also the right people.

US: End of apparel duties seen as key to economic recovery (MEM)

The end of safeguard restrictions on textile and apparel shipments from China at the beginning of this year has prompted a US trade group to call on the Obama Administration to eliminate apparel duties as part of a wider economic recovery package.

• PAKISTAN: Power cuts threaten textile sector shutdown (MEM)
  Pakistan’s textile industry is threatening a national shutdown in protest at chronic power cuts across the country.
• UK: Fashion focus helps New Look sales rise 2.8% (MEM)
  Value fashion retailer New Look today (6 January) reported a strong Christmas performance with UK like-for-like sales up by 2.8%, but said it expects the market to become more difficult in 2009.
• US: Skechers signs licensing deal for children’s clothing
  Footwear maker Skechers USA has signed Adjmi Apparel Group as the licensee for a new Skechers-branded children’s clothing line due to launch this autumn.
• US: MacDowell takes helm at Charming Outlets (REG)
  Apparel retailer Charming Shoppes has appointed MaryEllen MacDowell as the company’s new president of Charming Outlets, with immediate effect.
• UK: Debenhams gains market share despite sales decline (MEM)
  Department store operator Debenhams claims it has continued to gain market share from rival retailers, despite announcing a 3.5% fall in like-for-like sales in the 18 weeks to 3 January.
• UK: Next like-for-likes drop 7%, but profit on target (MEM)
  Fashion retailer Next recorded a 7% slump in like-for-like sales in the run-up to Christmas, but said profit remained on target as it stuck by its no discount policy.
• KOREA: Fashion house Kukdong to drop Australian wool (MEM)
  Korean fashion house Kukdong Corporation has become the first Asian clothing giant to join the growing international boycott of Australian wool.

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New Year, bad news
5th January 2009 17:32

We’re less than a week into the New Year and already there’s another slew of bad news from the high street – confirming fears that disastrous holiday sales will spark a domino effect of store closu...

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• Global market review of luxury apparel – forecasts to 2014 (download)
  Published Dec 2008 - (£ 595.00)
• Clothesource Sourcing Kit 2009
  Published Nov 2008 - (£ 1750.00)
• Global market review of outsize clothing – forecasts to 2014 (download)
  Published Dec 2008 - (£ 595.00)
• Performance apparel markets: business update, 3rd quarter 2008
  Published Dec 2008 - (£ 215.00)
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  Published Nov 2008 - (£ 900.00)

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just-style’s review of the apparel industry in 2008

2008 was a year of surprises for the international clothing and textile sector, many of them unpleasant. It was of course the year when the first global recession since the early 1990s hit the world, and inevitably this has impacted on international trading patterns and the fortunes of industry players, big and small... But the clothing and textile sector is known for its resilience and innovation so there was plenty of progress in 2008 as well. Its ability to change direction fast to meet new markets and tastes will be essential in 2009, as the sector starts the long climb out of the current economic slump. Here just-style reviews 2008, month by month.

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